Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/468

 442 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. coGurr For some years Mr. Gurr was associated with the Unley Municipal Council as auditor for the Corporation, and for several later years as representative for the Fullarton Ward. His knowledge of the district and its internal interests has conduced to make him a valuable member, and his advice on civic administrati(jn has been appreciated as well by his brother councillors as by ratepayers. In 1891 he was elected Mayor of Unley by a large majority of the townsmen, and he was again elected Mayor in 1900. Having a kindly feeling for field sports, he set to work to open the Unley Oval, which, with the kind co-operation of Lord and Lady Kintore, was successfully accomplished, and the Oval is now in the occupation of the Sturt Electorate Cricketing Association. Perhaps, however, the most solid work he has performed was in reference to preserving the public health by establishing complete supervision over dairies and regulating the milk supply by stringent bv-laws, which must have taken a large amount of labor to prepare. They were adopted by the Municipal Association of South Australia, a leading article in the South Anstraliau Rci^istcr stating : — " If Mr. Gurr's by-laws are adopted, they should go far towards creating confidence in the purity and wholesomeness of an important article of diet, and in the healthy conditions under which it is distributed. The general object in view commends itself to the cordial approval of the community at large, and Mr. Gurr is deserving of thanks for the trouble he has taken to make the by-laws bearing his name effective to ensure protection to the public." The 20 municipal and district councils comprising the " metropolitan area " have shown their great confidence in him by electing him their representative on the Central Hoard ot Health. Mr. Gurr devotes considerable attention to politics, and being able to express himself clearly, and having opinions of his own which would be useful to the country, he is likely to enter Parliament. He has taken a great interest in Freemasonry, and was for two years Worshipful Master of the Holdfast Lodge under the South Australian Constitution. He also holds office in the higher branches of Ma.sonry — in the Mark Master Masons and the Royal Arch Chapter, also in the Knight-Templar Encampment and the Rose Croix, having taken the i8th degree, the highest obtainable in these colonies. He is an active man, quick to perceive a point, and brisk in the conduct of his business. As an auctioneer, he is regarded as one of the most prominent in the city. Endowed liberally with bqth mother-wit and courtesy, as well as business acumen, he is a man bound to make his mark in whatever sphere he chooses to exert himself Mr. James Richard Fowler, iM.A MITCHAM, near Adelaide, was the birthplace of Mr. J. R. I-'owler, who was born May 25, 1865, being the eldest son of the late Mr. G. S. P'owler. As a boy, Mr. j. R. Fowler attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, for some time, and then he proceeded to F^ngland and studied at Amersham Hill .School, near Reading. In 1883 he registered his name at .St. John's, Cambridge, and in 1886 he took honors in the Historical Tripos, and received his M.A. degree. He returned to .South Australia in 1887, and entered the house of I). & J. Fowler, in order to help his father. In 1892 he was admitted to a partnership in the firm. He has for years been superintendent or teacher in the school attached to the Glen Osmond liaptist Church, of which he is a prominent member.