Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/510

 484 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. d. Moody and was the youngest of a family of ten sons and four daughters ; seven of the sons became South Australian colonists, four still surviving It has been a hardy family, and one brother, residing in Ireland, is now in his 90th year ; while a cousin who died recently attained the extremely venerable age of 98. Mr. David Moody has been interested in South Australia since his infancy, his brothers having resided in the Province for seven years before he left Ireland, in 1857. At about that period Melbourne, in the mind of the average Britisher, included the whole of Australia, and, beyond that then mushroom city, and the Victorian goldfields, he knew [)ractically nothing of the distant continent. As a consequence, during the goldfields excitement, few ships but those specially engaged in local trade sailed direct from Great Britain for South or Western Australia, or even for New South Wales ; and passengers for any of these colonies had frequently to ship to Melbourne and then make their way to their destinations as best they could, in many cases their want of knowledge of the country landing them in serious difficulties on the journ<;y. Many instances are recorded where emigrants from the old country, in coming to settle among friends in other colonies, cheerfully took passage to Melbourne, believing that, u|)on their arrival, they could comfortably walk from one colony to another. The consequence was that they had to endure much hardship and delay before they could join their friends. Mr. Moody, however, was not so badly informed. He possessed a fair knowledge of Australia, and knew what was before him when he arrived in Melbourne. He was fortunate in securing an early passage to his destination in South Australia ; for, although he ate his Christmas dinner in the sister capital in 1857, he partook of the following New Year's Day meal in Adelaide. Mr. S. B. Moody, one of the brothers, had previously been engaged in farming in the Truro district of the Province; but in March, 1858, Messrs. D., W. A., and S. B. Moody purchased land in the Light (Kapunda) district, where they entered largely into agricultural operations. Mr. David Moody shortly afterwards proceeded to the Ovens gold-diggings in Victoria ; but though he worked laboriously on the claims, he obtained sufficient returns only for what would be termed good wages in these days. While he was awav, his brother, Mr. W. A. Moodv, died; and, after i; months' absence, Mr, D. Mood) returned to Kapunda to assist in the management of the property. .Subsequently, Mr. .S. B. Moody dissolved partnership with his brother; and about 1878 the rabbits in the district became so troublesome that Mr. S. B. Moody sold his property and settled in Yorke Peninsula, Mr. D. Moody remaining in the Light district. He is now the possessor of a fairly extensive estate in that part, which he has cultivated for over 40 years. Although it cannot be said that Mr. Moody has shown very great predilection for public life, he has yet taken an active part in important movements at Kapunda. He was elected at the head of the poll at the first election of District Councillors in that town. He did not remain long in the Council, but on several occasions since has held a seat in the chamber. In 1878 he was elected to the House of Assembly as member for Light, his colleagues being Mr. James White and Mr. James Shannon. The rabbit plague was an absorbing topic of conversation in the neighborhood, its ravages having caused serious loss to the farmers and graziers. It was made an election cry, and with good reason; for Mr. Moody, at a low estimate, set down his losses in 1879, through damage