Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/439

 M^-JCowan ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 413 Up to this time everything hatl gone well with Mr. Cowan ; but, as the result of severe depression all over the Province, heavy inroads were made into his capital. The climax came with the failure of the Commercial Bank of South Australia, which seriously affected him with so many others. But his fmancial difficulties were merely temporary. Mr. Cowan had the good fortune to buy shares in the Broken Hill Proprietary Company when they could be had at a low price, and the wonderful rise in their value again made him a rich man. He set about recovering the farming and other properties he had previou.sly lost, and also purchased three stations— one at Charlotte Waters, one at Alice Springs, and one on the River Murray. He assisted in the formation of a Coke Company at Port Pirie, became a shareholder in John Hill & Co.'s coaching business, and a j^artner in an Adelaide furnishing warehouse. He purchased the residence of the late Mr. James Stuart Sanders at Burnside, one; of the most beautiful homes in the Province ; and there his wife and he lived to the time of his death. Mr. Cowan took an active interest in geographical matters, and was a promoter of the Tietkins E.xploration Party, which went into Central Australia. He was associated with the Council of the Zoological Society, and made several gifts to that institution. He was a Justice of the Peace, and in April, 1890, was elected to the House of Assembly for Yatala. When Parliament met, Mr. Cowan made an immediate impression on members by the intelligence and knowledge displayed in his addresses and his powers as a debater ; and he was looked upon as a possible Minister of the Crown in the near future. He was appointed a member of such important bodies as the Eree Trade and the P'ederation -Select Committees of the House. But at this stage in his career his life was cut short. While driving with Mr. Bullimore, electrician, across the railway line near Dry Creek, on July 21, 1890, his horse jibbed on the rails, and, before it could be moved, a train dashed into the vehicle and killed the two gentlemen instantly. This untimely end to so prominent a man caused heartfelt and general sorrow. Mr. C. H. T. Connor ONE of the principal representatives of the paramount industry of South Australia, wheat-growing— in the milling side — is Mr. Charles Hawkes Todd Connor, who was born in Ireland in 1836, and came to South Australia in 1853. Immediately on his arrival in the Province he joined the firm of John Hart & Co. Mr. Connor eventually founded the Adelaide Milling and Mercantile Company. In 1883 the Company was changed, and became the Adelaide Milling Company, Limited, of which Mr. Connor has since been manager. The Company manipulates an immense quantity of wheat, which it draws from every part of the Province, and has numerous branches at Two Wells, Gawler, Wallaroo, Gladstone, Snowtown, Moonta, Port Pirie, Hawker, Jamestown, Quorn, and Port Adelaide. In 1861, during the term of office of Governor Eergusson, Mr. Connor proceeded to Calcutta as Commissioner for South Australia, with the object of opening up a ready market for South Australian products ; and he was commended for the work he did in this direction. He was for many years a member of the Marine Board of South Australia, and of the Adelaide Hospital Board. He was one of the founders and original members of the District Council of Glanville. He is a member of the Church of England Synod, and was for 14 years on the Committee of the North Road Cemetery.