Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/482

 456 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The late Mr. William Hill THE pioneers of South Australia who, full of years and honor, have gone to their well-earned rest, left behind them many lessons well worthy to be learned and examples to be studied. Not the least of these is a sturdy independence of action, coupled with a staunch conscientiousness. They were as little afraid of undergoing bodily hardship as of announcing cherished religious convictions, whether popular or not. They did not mind soiling their hands, and in Christian principle they were as milestones to those who would follow in the same road. A man of this stamp was the late Mr. William Mill, who was born at Wendoon, Cornwall, on April 2, 1830. He came to this Province as a young man, and, after acquiring a good general ex- perience, entered, in 1853, the .service of the pioneer millers, Messrs. John Dunn & Co. A memoir of this historical family appears in another place in this volume, and it was in their con- nection that Mr. Hill performed much valuable work for South Australia. He was soon appointed head manager of the Adelaide branch of the business, and some years later, was admitted into part- nership with the proprietors. He became a very active member of the firm, and helped considerably in bringing it to so successful and flourishing an issue. The firm extended its operations into every corner of South Australia, into the other colonies, and even beyond the continent. It was by the earnestness, business application, and enterprise of the partners that this great business was built up. It is to be regretted that circumstances have arisen which have resulted in the break up of the business so ably carried on in the earlier history of the Province. George & Walton, Photo Mr. Hill was especially known for his practical application of religious principle to every day life. This was not done with dramatic show or with the accompaniment of false glorification, but in a quiet, unobtrusive, and kindly fashion. As a consequence, he