Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/590

 564 ADELAIDP: and vicinity Mr. J. Xidmarsh small branches therefrom. Considerable other railway work followed, and Mr. Tidmarsh's last employment in the old country was to lay out the centre line of the " loop " between Boston and Lincoln, and also to "get up" the contract surveys for that line, work that was done under Messrs. Sherrard & Hall, civil engineers, of London. In March, 1849, Mr. Tidmarsh left Plymouth for Australia in tlie ship Madaivaska, bound for Port Adelaide, Port Phillip, and Sydney. It was his intention to proceed to Sydney, to which place his letters of introduction were addressed ; but he was so taken with the appearance of Adelaide and its surroundings, that he remained there, having arrived in July. 1849. He sought to obtain employment in his profession, but the remuneration offered was so low that he determined to adopt some business or trade. By accident, he met the late Mr. W. M. Letchford, who gave him employment as a candlemaker, then a simple occupation. In association with this engagement, he was appointed surveyor and valuator to the first building society established in Adelaide — the General Land and Building Society — it being understood between him and Mr. Letchford that he would be always at liberty to attend to the society's work when called upon. After a short interval he left Mr. Letchford and entered into partnership with the late Mr. W. Moore (of Moonta), under the style of Moore & Tidmarsh, candlemakers. They were fairly successful from the start, and eventually purchased Mr. Letchford's business in Start Street, .Adelaide. In 1852 Mr. Tidmarsh left his j^artner in control of the joint concern, and went to the Victorian goldfields. He had not been there long, however, before Mr. Moore joined him, having relin(|uished the business. Mr. Tidmarsh travelled to different rushes, sank claims, roamed through the lonely bush, and gained all that unrivalled e.xperience incidental to such abnormal occasions. The herding together in one gully of representatives of every civilised nation, cultured and illiterate together, taught many lessons to the gold-seekers, and helped to fit them for their work as pioneer colonists. In 1853 Mr. Tidmarsh returned to Adelaide, and reconstructed his candle and soap making business. The partnership with Mr. Moore was in the course of time dissolved, but, requiring more capital to extend the connection, he took Mr. Letchford in with him. Under the style of Tidmarsh & Co., the firm made headway. Buildings were erected, all necessary improvements were carried out, and a large trade with a good name was established. Then Mr. Letchford's state of health became indifferent, and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Tidmarsh thenceforth carried the business on alone. From time to time he imported improved machinery ; and he was the first to introduce the manufacture of stearine candles in .South Australia. Years later his health failing from excessive work, the concern was offered, through an agency, to a Melbourne firm. Messrs. W. H. Burford & Sons, hearing of this, made proposals, and eventually purchased the business. In his residence at Glenelg, Mr. Tidmarsh has since passed a quiet career. He has given little attention to active public affairs, although for two years he was a member of the Corporation of Glenelg. Mr. Tidmarsh retains a vivid remembrance of Adelaide during nearly 50 years of its history, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he contributed his full share to its progress.