Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/586

 56o A L) E L A I D E AND V I C I N I T Y ^'■■- « «• Thomas /^e<;/s/cf' office. In 1882 he relinquished reporting for the absorbing claims of management, and whilst one of the three partners, Mr. Day, was absent in England he had charge of the commercial work of the office. On the retirement of Mr. Day from the firm in 1890, Mr. Thomas took over the permanent control of the business affairs of the partnership, Mr. Finlavson retaining the oversight of the literary department. This arrangement of duties was a happy one, and was eminently successful. In 1899 the firm was extended by the admission into partnership of Mr. William J. Sowden and Mr. Evan Kyffin Thomas, the younger brother of the subject of this notice, Mr. Sowden taking the position of editor in succession to Mr. Finlayson, who is representing the Register and its allied papers in London. The firm has recently introduced improved machinery, notably a magnificent three reel Hoe machine, capable of printing 24,000 twelve-page papers an hour, and has equipped the office with the linotype, a modern invention that has, to a great extent, revolutionised newspaper production. The relations between the proprietary and staff are most cordial, and the general management has proved so satisfactory, that it may safely be said that the Rcgistci' is in a stronger position now than in any [)revious period of its career. Mr. Thomas is highly esteemed among all who know him for his geniality, straightforwardness, and shrewdness, and among business men in South Australia he holds a high and honorable position. In i888 he was made a Justice of the Peace. He is a Freemason, and in 1898 was Worshipful Master of the Lodge St. Alban of Adelaide. His two elder sons are engaged in the office of the papers of which he is a proprietor. 'llie late Mr. William Everard IN December, 1S19, Mr. William Everard was born in London, and came to South Australia in 1836. The father, the late Dr. P'verard, was one of the original 18 Legislative Councillors elected on the establishment of responsible government. For many years Mr. William Everard and his brother, Mr. Charles J. Everard, worked Myponga Station. For nearly 20 years Mr. W. Everard was a director of the National Bank ; also of the Executor, Trustee, and Agency Company, and was largely interested in the Payneham and Paradise and Goodwood Tramway Companies. He was a member of the Council of the Adelaide University from its commencement, and was a long time one of the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Art Gallery, and Museum. In 1865, and until his death, he was one of the governors of the Botanic Gardens. Dr. Everard had 12 years of political life, and his son William followed in his footsteps, entering the House of Assembly in March, 1865, as member for Encounter Bay, being again returned at the general election in 1868. Though elected again in December, 1871, he was unseated in February, 1872, on a petition, by tTie Court of Disputed Returns. Fourteen months later, however, he was elected to the Legislative Council, when the Province voted as one constituency, and retired from active politics on August i, 1878. Mr. Everard was Commissioner of Public Works in the Hart Ministry from .September 24 to October 13, 1868; Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration in the Blyth Ministry from July 22, 1873, to June 3, 1875 ; and Minister of Education in Mr. Boucaut's reconstructed Ministry of March, 1876. Mr. P^verard died in .August. 1889, at his home, Ashford, Bay Road.