Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/451

 The Dunn Family yDRLAIDE AND VICINITY 425 . Mr. F". E. H. W. KrichaufF to represent the Mount Barker District. H(had previously been for some years a member and chairman of the Mount Barker District Council. It may here be mentioned that the pioneer legislators for Mount Barker were wont to walk over 20 miles to attend the sittings of the House. Mr. Dunn, successively with the Hon. B. T. F"inniss, Messrs. Allan MacFarlane and James Rankine, represented Mount Barker in the Assembly until r86S. In that year he was first defeated ; but, upon a petition, one of the candidates, Mr. W. Rogers, was unseated. Another election took place, and Messrs. Dunn and John Cheriton were returned ; but, in the next month, Mr. Dunn's election, amid great excitement, was declared void. On March 19, 1869, when the whole Province acted as one electorate, he was returned to the Legislative Council, and sat imtil February, 1877. Mr. Dunn had thus passed 20 years in Parliament, and during that period he was able to render good service to .South Australia. He was essentially a sensible legislator, and rendered useful help in the passage of the Torrens Real Property Act. Of the Wesleyan Church, Mr. John Dunn, sen., was an earnest adherent. For decade after decade he served the; denomination in many sLi!)stantial ways, and in 1884 he presented a church, costing /, 4,000, to th(Mount Barker Circuit. He was a charitable man, and during his later years distributed his money with an open hand. Among other donations, he built a row of c<jttages at Mount Barker for the aged poor and infirm. The veteran was spared to witness the growth of his enterprise with the expansion of the Province. Upon his 80th birthday he was presented by the employes of the firm with an illuminated address, and he was tendered another address when he retired from business in 1889. In consequence of the death of one of his sons a grand public demon.stration, arranged to celebrate his 90th birthday, was postponed for some months. When it was held in 1892, Mr. Dunn testified his thankfulness by presenting a piece of land — Dunn Park— near the Mount Barker Railway .Station to the people for recreation purposes. At the same time he showed his gratefulness by giving sums of money to his employes, many of whom had been associated with him for a long term of years. On August i, 1894, the Mount Barker mill presented a gay scene. But apart from the gaiety, it was a unique occasion, the like of which seldom occurs anywhere in a young country. The firm of Dunn & Co. on that date attained its 50th birthday ; and for half a century it had uninterruptedly helped to supply the market. Besides the people of Mount Barker, there were several representative citizens of Adelaide, and old pioneers, present at this gathering ; and for the last time the honored pioneer was seen in public. The old gentleman, who .seemed much affected, was helped on to a platform amid the cheers of the sympathetic assemblage, and he delivered a short and impressive address, during which he referred to the establishment and growth of the firm. He related a few interesting reminiscences, and then handed his grand.son, Mr. P. W. Dunn, the tide deeds of the property on which they stood. A few weeks later, on October 13, 1894, the founder died at his residence, The Laurels, at the age of nearly 93 years ; and with him went one of those who helped to establish the Province on a strong and sound foundation. During the last 30 or 40 years Mr. John Dunn, jun., had been the most active