Page:History of West Australia.djvu/607

Rh Australian knack of being able to stick to the saddle, Mr. Holmes found his riding qualities put to a very severe test when following a law-breaking native, or scouring the rugged country in search of an offender fleeing from the wrath that was to come in the courts of law. He displayed marked ability whilst in the Williams district, and this was rewarded by his being transferred to the Irwin district as 0fficer in charge. Mr. Holmes was stationed at Dongara, and had an area of 700 miles to control. He was indeed a man of many parts, for in addition to his duties as head of the police, combined with the role of Crown Prosecutor, he was clerk to the magistrates, clerk to the local court, electoral registrar, and customs officer. Whilst filling these many positions his experiences were varied and interesting. At one time and another serious troubles arose among the blacks, who were only too eager to rob the settler of his flocks. Bringing these offenders to justice meant much work for Mr. Holmes, whose district embraced 700 miles of territory. Having had three years of this life he returned to Perth and Fremantle, where he threw in his lot with the then starting firm of Holmes Brothers, and aided one by another the brothers have pulled splendidly together in the business world. Mr. William Johnston Holmes, earlier in the history of the firm, managed the Perth establishment, but in 1897 he took over the control of the goldfields branches at Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Menzies, and Kanowna. Mr. R. Holmes does the whole of the extensive buying for the firm, and on Mr. G. D. Holmes devolves the task of the management of the Fremantle branches.

Mr. W. J. Holmes, who was made a J.P. in May, 1897, has been for three years a lieutenant in the local volunteer forces. He has ever shown his faith in the country of his birth by the consistent manner in which he has invested capital.

No one begrudges the success of the four brothers. While they may each be different in disposition, they give to us severally and individually the brighter and happier phases of human kind.

JOSEPH JOHN HOLMES, J.P.

TURDY independence is a characteristic of the Australian native. A student might discover the explanation in the unlimited opportunities the country affords. No man in the prime of life need be in such penury that he has no hope of obtaining affluence. A little versatility, a strong persistency, leavened with a concentrated direction of effort, will quickly lead him to the goal.

Happily, it is not an unusual circumstance to find an Australian possessing qualities which enable him to reach the top of the commercial and the professional world when competing against those of wider experience from Europe and Great Britain. He is quick in adopting the superior methods which he may observe; he is no conservative.

Mr. J. J. Holmes deserves honourable mention in his work. He is the senior member of the firm of Holmes Brothers, who are known throughout the length and breadth of the colony, and, in addition to this, he represents one of the most important constituencies in Western Australia.

Joseph John Holmes was born at Mandurah, Western Australia, in 1866, and after leaving school followed pastoral and agricultural pursuits for a number of years. This peaceful occupation gave him a splendid insight into the business which he embraced in after years. Leaving the pastoral and agricultural industry, of which he had acquired a thorough knowledge in the Murray district, he went to Fremantle, where he was engaged for seven years in the house of a leading firm in the principal Western Australian port. Having thus had a sound commercial training, he, in conjunction with his brothers—R. H., W. J., and G. D. Holmes—launched the now well-known firm of Holmes Brothers and Co., meat purveyors. This was in 1890, and the success of the brothers was remarkable. When the golden days of prosperity set in for Western Australia in the early nineties, bringing in their train the great influx of Eastern colonists and people from all over the world, the brothers saw their opportunity, and were not slow to grasp it. They opened butchering establishments in the rising suburbs of Perth, and at Coolgardie they were one of tle first to introduce fresh meat—a pleasant relief to the toil-wrung pioneers from the monotonous "tin dog." Their enterprise was extended to all the different centres as they were opened up. Just as Western Australia has made leaps and bounds, so has the firm of Holmes Brothers, and they stand as an example of what foresight and perseverance will do. To Mr. J. J. Holmes has fallen the task of carrying out the financial portion of he firm's work, and he does it skilfully.

In returning Mr. Holmes their representative, the East Fremantle electors in 1897 chose one of solid merit. His large property