Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/611

 ^i^- G.Wood ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 585 While situated in Rundle Street the business rapidly grew, and in 1876 Mr. Wood took his son, Mr. Peter Wood, and Mr. James Gartreli (his chief clerk for many years), into partnership, and from that date traded under the style or title of G. Wood, Son, & Co. At this time the business combined the retail with a wholesale trade, but after a short lapse of time, the retail portion was sold. But Mr. Wood was something more than a staunch commercial man. He demonstrated a warm and earnest interest in Church and philanthro|iic matters, and was for years a deacon in the Clayton Congregational Church. He also took a great interest in friendly societies, particularly the Druids and Foresters, with whom h(was more closely connected, having attained to the rank of Past Arch in the former. His wife, who survives him, materially assisted his efforts in a good deal of unobtrusive charity. In 1 88 1 Mr. Wood took a trip to England for the benefit of his health, but gained no permanent good. He died on September 24, 1886, of heart disease, and the eulogiums passed upon his character were numerous and heartfelt. Some time before his death, Mr. Wood was made a Justice of the Peace. To-day the firm of G. Wood, Son, & Co. is foremost among the principal wholesale grocery merchants in South Australia, with numerous travellers and resident representatives in various parts of the colonies. 'i"he firm has now large premises at Port Adelaide, Eremantle (Western Australia), Broken Hill (New South Wales), and offices in London ; whilst their commodious premises at North Terrace is undoubtedly one of the chief ornaments of our city. The credit for the earlier extension of the business was largely due to Mr. Gilbert Wood, who, by shrewdness and straightforward dealing, won the respect of the business world and the confidence of the public. Hon. Richard Butler, M.P. ALTHOUGH not a South Australian, the Hon. R. Butler was but four years of age when he came with his parents to South Australia. He was born at O.xford, England, on December 3, 1850, and educated at St. Peter's College. Subsequently he engaged in farming and grazing pursuits. He has represented the district of atala in the House of Assembly since 1890, and in 1898 became Minister of Education and Agriculture in the Kingston Ministry. Upon the reconstruction of the Holder Ministry, caused through the retirement of the Hon. F. W. Holder upon his election to the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Butler became Treasurer and Minister of Agriculture. T Hon. Thomas Henry Brooker, M.P. 'HE Minister of Education and Industry has much in common with his colleague, the Treasurer. They were born in England in the same year, were the same age when they arrived in South Australia, and both have continuously represented their respective districts in Parliament since they were elected in April, 1890. Mr. Brooker was educated by the late Messrs. J. Chambers and H. David.son, at Hindmarsh. In 1897 he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Botanic Gardens, a position he still holds. ^ ^'