Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/380

 354 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. William Gilbert, M.R IT is to the possession of common-sense, intelligence, and businesslike method that Mr. William Gilbert's excellence and value as a legislator must be ascribed. During a long parliamentary carets he has been an indefatigable worker, and as an earnest supporter of the principle of Bible-reading in .State schools, local option, Sunday closing, and in other social reforms, he has been particularly prominent. William Gilbert is a native of Aylesbury, Bucks, and was born in 1829. He was brought up to the engineering and machinery business with his father, and carried on himself a large concern in that line for many years. Leaving this business he engaged in milling pursuits at Wooburn, near Maidenhead, England, which not proving satisfactory, he came to .South Australia. At one time, in England, Mr. Gilbert evinced a special interest in the Corn Law agitation ; his activity in this direction causing him to be summoned to the bar of the House of Commons to oive evidence in an election enquiry arising from the historical turmoil. In 1869, already 40 years old, he came to South Australia, and a few years later began that series of public services so well appreciated in the Pro- vince. He entered into business as a hay and chaff merchant and wheatbuyer in Adelaide Mr. C. Willcox joining him two years later; subsequently the latter gentleman became sole proprietor, Mr. Ciilbert carrying on a similar business with his nephew, Mr. Payne, at Gawler and Adelaide. He has also, for the past 29 years, been interested in farming pursuits in Yatala, the district he represents in Parliament. Until 1878, Mr. (iilbert was gaining a focjting in South Australia, and cpiietly mastering the conditions of government and society in the Province. In that year he was elected a member of the Adelaide City Coimcil, and he has been continuously serving the public in some prominent cajjacity ever since. In 1879 he retired from the Council, and in 1881 was elected to the House of Assembly for the Yatala constituency. So satisfied Hammer & Co., Hhoto