Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/530

 504 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr. VV. Parkin member of the syndicate which took over the Advertiser newspaper in 1S64 ; and was otherwise a very considerable factor in the local commercial world. In his time Mr. Parkin was a well-known Member of Parliament. He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1860, and sat until 1862. On November 26, 1866, he entered the Ltigislalive Council, and retired on February 2, 1877, thus having been in Parliament for 13 years. He carried out his political duties conscientiously, and is best remembered in this connection for his "quaint, humorous, but intelligent addresses." His name was associated with some useful measures. During- his latter years Mr. Parkin lived in close retirement. He was widely and affectionately known for his philanthropy, and was a jjrominent and liberal member of the Congregational Church Freeman Street, under the pastorateship of the late revered Rev. T. O. Stow ; while for 20 years he was a member of the Glenelg Congregational Church, presided over by the late Rev. C. Manthorpe. He founded the "Parkin Trust" in 1876, by a gift of money and land estimated at ^10,000, to provide for the support and training of Congregational ministers, for the erection of schools and churches, and benefactions for the widows of ministers. On August 24, 1881, when he attained his 80th year, the governors of this trust presented him with an address of congratulation. Mr. Parkin also founded, in 1887, the "Parkin Congregational Mission of South Australia," the objects of which are to maintain missionaries in unsettled portions of South Australia (and particularly in the Northern areas), and to aid each year 20 widows over 60 years of age who may be chosen by the governors as worthy of assistance, by giving them ^5 each at Christmas. These are a small portion of Mr. Parkin's philanthropic contributions, and it is estimated that his benefactions altogether amounted to the sum of about ^40,000. On May 31, 1889, he died, being then in his 88th year. Many mourned his demise, and numerous eulogiums were passed upon his life and character. He deserves an honorable niche in South Australian history, for, whether in business, or in Parliament, or in religious and philanthropic matters, he rendered good and faithful service. Two memorial windows have been placed in the Glenelg Congregational Church — one by his widow and one by the Governors of the Trust and mission abovementioned. Mr. William Johnstone, S.M. MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, S.M., is a native of this Province, having been born at North Adelaide on March 8, 1843. After instruction in private schools, he entered the Albert House Academy, Angas Street, Adelaide. He next went to St. Peter's College, and afterwards finished his education at Mr. J. L. Young's school. For a period Mr. Johnstone was in the employ of the Advertiser proprietary, and subsequently gained a position in the office of the Official Assignee in January, 1866; and in December, 1870, the Chief Clerkship of that department was conferred on him. On April 5, 1882, he was promoted to the Clerkship of the Local Court of Adelaide. His intimate acquaintance with the practice of Local Courts enabled him to materially assist in their important work the Special Commission appointed to frame "The Local Courts Rules and Forms, 1887." In September, 1892, Mr. Johnstone was appointed a Special Magistrate for the Province, and Stipendiary Magistrate of the Local and other Courts of Port Adelaide.