Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/552

 526 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The Sepp.it Family and tin; output for the: year is over 50,000 gallons. The cordial factory now occupies the original cellars of Seppeltsfield, and it was here that the late Mr. J. E. Seppelt first started his business in a humble way. Here are quaint, grey old vaults, reminiscent of early Continental wine-making centres. In addition to the manufacture of many cordials, /i s. such as Maraschino and Curacoa, are produced. The cooperage is an important department, in which ten men are employed all the year round in the manufacture of casks, etc. Mr. Seppell's operations do not, however, end here, for he has a fine bacon-curing establishment. Vov the purpose of securing the best bacon, he has blended Berkshire and Esse.x pigs, large herds of which are always kept on the farm. Mr. Seppelt has also about 1,000 pure merino sheep, which run on the pleasant pastures round the homestead. This description of Seppeltsfield would be incomplete without a passing reference to the laboratory, which is under the skilled supervision of Mr. Oscar Seppelt, Mr. Benno Seppelt's eldest son. As all the manufacturing processes are conducted on scientific lines, the laboratory is a first necessity, with its apparatus for chemical microscopical testing, e.xamination, and experiment. Mr. Oscar Seppelt had a trained education in a leading Austrian viiicultural college, and the experience acquired in the Continental school has niiftle him a valuable lieutenant to his father. Mr. Camillo Seppelt is also a useful assistant; and it is well that Mr. Seppelt has such sons to fill positions of responsibility in connection with his large business. Mr. A. I). Bruce is Mr. Seppelt's Adelaide manager, and when it is stated that the annual sales of Seppeltsfield wines alone amount to 300,000 gallons, some idea of the commercial work entailed on that gentleman is indicated. Mr. Bruce has ably helped to make Seppeltsfield products known in colonial homes, foreign exhibitions, and P2nglish houses. Mr. Benno Seppelt has lived to see his father's and his own efforts mature in full fruition. A man of many parts, he leads a busy life, and bears the impress of that stamp of enterprising colonists who tend to make history by expanding industries in all their usefulness. Mr. Seppelt has never sought after public life. He prefers to attend unrestrainedly to his own business. Mr. Peter Dowling Prankerd AMONCi the number who established an excellent reputation in South Australia for enterprise and astuteness is Mr. Prankerd. He was born at Langport, Somersetshire, I'Lngland, on July 14, 18 19. He took to the sea, and passed several years in the .South Sea Islands. In 1850 Mr. Prankerd came to South Australia, and for 22 years he aided in developing the young country. He engaged in business as a land and estate agent. After a time he entered into partnership with Mr. Peter Stuckey. He was prominently associated with the Wallaroo and Moonta copper mines. So successful was Mr. Prankerd in South Australia that he amassed considerable wealth, and in 1872 proceeded to ICngland. He there purchased an estate called the Knoll, Sneyd Park, near Bristol, where he now resides.