Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/602

 576 ADP:LAIDE and vicinity Mr.W. H.VVadey vears, for a portion of the period as chairman. He has greatly helped in improving that suburban centre, and its by-laws bear the imprint of his energy and foresight. In the realm of friendly societies he has been especially active. It has been his endeavor to render these intluential bodies all the assistance in his power. Mr. Wadey has occupied the highest positions in the M. U. I.O. O. F., the Foresters, and the Druids. He has been associated with such societies since he was 19 years old, and has filled the Grand Masters chair of the M. U. I.O.O.F. He was elected President of the South Australian Friendly Societies' Association in November, 1896, and re-elected in November, 1897. This Association comprises all the friendly societies of South Australia, and represents many thousands of members. He is now on the Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity Friendly Society. Mr. Wadey has been connected with the .Australian Natives' Association since its inception, and has occupied the positions of President of the Adelaide branch, and President of the .Association in the Province. In January, 1890, he attended, as a delegate from South Australia, the convention of the Association held in Melbourne to consider the question of federation. It is now generally accepted that this conference of Australians sub- stantially intluenced the advancement of the cause. Being a man of large views and earnestness of character, whatever he undertakes is done heartily and well. Mr. Wadey was made a Ju.stice of the Peace in the year 1886. He is a Commissioner for taking Affidavits in the .Supreme Court of South Australia, and also a Commissioner for Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and New Zealand. JVlr. Thomas Noakes Stephens I")1''RHAP.S in no s])here can the citizen render such enduring and patriotic .service to his country as in the Civil Service. In this, as in other professions, talent invariably rises to the top and assumes the place that it merits. Time service is not everything, for competition rules there as everywhere. Mr. T. N. Stephens was born in South Australia, and was educated at Mr. R. C. Mitton's Academy, Waymouth Street, Adelaide. After entering the Civil Service as a messenger, he rose to the highest and most responsible offices under Government. On July i, 1864, he joined the Customs Department of the Province. Tran.sferred to the Treasury Department, he occupied several positions in that branch of the service, including that of chief clerk, until January, 1877, when he was appointed to succeed Mr. G. S. Wright as secretary to the Marine Board. His knowledge of the detailed work of the department enabled the Government to leave vacant the office of president, and to appoint Mr. .Stephens head of that branch. In 1890 he became Under Treasurer, and in the following year he was appointed Acting Collector of Customs and President of the Marine Board. His duties as Under Treasurer required him to act as Comptroller of Imperial Pensions in the Province and Secretary to the Minister having the direction of the affairs of the Northern Territory. On May i, 1894, he was appointed to the offices of Collector of Customs and President of the Marine Board. He is also Registrar of .Shipping under the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, Chief Ins])ector of Excise, and Chief Inspector of Fisheries. He is a Justice of the Peace.