Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/610

 5S4 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY The late Mr. Gilbert Wood IN the eventful "fifties," when most Australians were beside themselves with excitement, begot of stories of gold finds, the late Mr. Gilbert Wood opened a small grocery shop in Angas Street, Adelaide. In 1856 the Province was returning to life and activity after the depression caused by the exodus of people to the Victorian goldfields, and Mr. Wood took advantage of the improvement to increase his business. Almost from the incep- tion the concern was a succe.ss, and soon its locale was removed to Rundle Street. Mr. Gilbert Wood was born in 1828, in the Shetland Islands, whence, no doubt, he inherited that adventurous and roving dis- position which marked the earlier years of his career. Wont to be rocked asleep with the lullaby of the sea-waves in his ears, he con- ceived, as a outh, a wish to become a sailor. He was gratified, and spent several years voyaging from country to country. Eventually, after wandering to and fro, he proc(eded to Melbourne as chief mate on the brig Sca/oii, of Aberdeen, of which his brother, Mr. Gifford Wood, was master. He remained on the Australian coast for some time in charge of the schooner Grenada^ trading from port to port. Duryea, Photo Mr. Wood was thus engaged at the time of the Victorian gold-rush, and on one occasion evinced the possession of commercial talent, the results of which probably influenced him to engage in shore competition. He carried a cargo of flour from a port in South Australia to Victoria on behalf of the late Mr. S. White, of Aldinga. The Hour was sold to a Melbourne firm, who, after the contract was signed, Mr. Wood learnt was hopelessly insolvent. By skilful and delicate management he succeeded in cancelling the sale, and resold it to another house at a considerable advance in price. The shrewdness of this deal marked his commercial career in Adelaide.