Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/467

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 44' T in his own, and he throws his whole soul into them. I Mr. Caleb George Gurr HE best business man is a busy man on all occasions. In the hours set apart for his duties he does not waste his time in idle discussions on abstract theories. His interests demand his earnest attention. The interests of his clients are included He lives two lives ; his business life, and his social and home life — a wide line of demarcation lying between the two. In the interests of his business he forgets all el.se ; while into his social and home existence he never allows business to enter. Mr. Caleb George Gurr, a typical business man, was born in Adelaide in 1856, and was educated at the private establishment of Mr. T. Burgan, who tutored quite a number of prominent South Aus- tralians. His first essay in the working world was as a clerk in a solicitor's office. The mustiness of legal tomes and legal arithmetic possessed no particular attraction for him, and he entered the Post Office Department. He remained in the Civil Service for .several years, gaining a good official educa- tion, but one hardly comparable with that obtained in an active and up-to- date business house. Certainly, the clerk is able to form some conception Hammer & cn.. Photo ^f Hqw State business is carried on, but he gets only a superficial view for many years ; and when he may be said to have mastered the whole routine, he is often too old or mechanically unfit for more active duties. Mr. Gurr became accountant in the firm of Henning, Bruce, & Aldridge, leading auctioneers in Adelaide. He proved himself so adept in his work that, on their retirement from premises in Grenfell Street, he, with Mr. J. G. Jenkins, the present Chief Secretary, became the owner of this large auctioneering business. In 1887, the Hon. J. G. Jenkins, having accepted office as a Minister of the Crown, retired from the firm, and Mr. Gurr took over the whole control and possession of the concern, which has now been in existence for 20 years. Mr. Gurr carries on a large auctioneering, land, and real estate agency business.