Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/389

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr, J. W. Shannon, M.R GIVEN a good rainfall, and parts oi Yorke Peninsula contain agricultural lands as remunerative as any in South Australia, and the town and district of Maitland has especial claims in this respect. Nature in Australia has been somewhat indiscriminate in her gifts. She places in the heart of a useless wilderness a beautiful oasis, or within a fine stretch of soil a barren centre. It is not always possible to judge from the summit of one hill what class of soil lies beyond the summit of the next. This is true of some parts ot Yorke Peninsula. After a dreary enough drive from Moonta, the traveller ascends a hill, whence he sees as charming a town and valley as any in South Australia. This is the town and district of Maitland, which Mr. Shannon repre.sents in Parliament. Mr. John Wallace Shannon is the youngest son of the late Abraham Shannon, of Moculta, South Australia, where he was born on April 28, 1862. He received the main portion of his education under Mr. Leonard, B.A., at Angaston. After leaving school, he started farming on the Murray P'lats ; but not altogether satisfied with the neighborhood, he migrated thence in 1887 for Maidand, Yorke Peninsula. Here Hammer &^ Co., Photo he engaged in farming and auctioneering pursuits, and the wisdom of his change of residence was soon borne home to him. The agricultural lands of Maitland are rich, the rainfall is reliable, ajid the pasture capable of sustaining a good percentage of stock to the acre. Hence Mr. Shannon, in both branches of his business, was successful and he ro.se to be one of the most influential men in the district. After his arrival in the Peninsula, Mr. Shannon began to associate himself with public affairs, and he was gazetted a Justice of the Peace, being then but 26 years of age; and about the same time he was elected to the Yorke Peninsula District Council— V2