Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/376

 350 ADHLAIDK AXO VICINITV A"^' Mr. John Darlino-, jun., M.P. RlCl'LTl'RAL produce, ;i great national resource of South Australia, lacked ior many vears a convenient and systematic form of expansion and export. A few. citv' merchants and large farmers attempted to open up markets across the seas for uid their success limited by the colonial produce ; but their proceedings were irregular ;: comparative smallness of their undertakings. Mr. John Darling, the father of the subject of this biography, with a far- seeing eye — a clear, calculating instinct -opened up a channel of extensive and expanding business activity in connection with the grain trade of .South Australia. Mr. John Darling, jun., became a partner with his father, and the business eventually assumed very large pn)i)ortions. John Darling, jun., was born in Edinburgh on January 24, 1852. h'our years after his birth his parents left their native shores for Adelaide. The son was some time afterwards sent to school, and in the meantime the father — of whom a biographical sketch is given in succeeding pages — ■ entered into business pursuits. His capabilities were soon asserted in the Province. He saw his course, he planned his Hammer c- Co., t^tiuto Career, and started his commercial machinery. Considerable difficulty was experienced at first in organising his intentions and methods of procedure; but Mr. Darling, sen., graduallv surmounted all obstacles, and with great financial acutene.ss carried his business on with ever-increasing success and [)rofit. When, in 1866, Mr. John Darling, jun., colnpleted his education, he entered the counting-house of his father. After gaining a thorough accpiaintance with the various details of the business, he became a partner in 1872, and the firm was thereafter known as J. Darling & .Son, millers, grain and general merchants. Mr. Darling had worked hard during his term of a])prenticeshi|), and, as a partner, showed an exhaustive, well- accjuired knowledge of the work in which he was engaged. The busine.ss grew rapidly.