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 the rich eastern goldfields, he went to Melbourne with a fixed object in view. In the Victorian capital he formed a company to assist him in prospecting, after which he returned and went to Menzies. The field had only been a few months in existence, but Mr. Schlam believed in its future. He thoroughly prospected Mulline, and was one of the first in this part of the fields. His luck was not sensational, and early in 1896 he commenced business in Shenton Street, Menzies, as a stock and share broker, mining agent, and mining engineer. With his shrewd business qualities he was not long in making headway, and he very soon became an important factor in the Menzies mining world. He refused the interests of the Menzies people in their own mines, and led off by floating locally the Golden Wonder for £5,000. Branching out more extensively, Mr. Schlam floated a much larger property in the shape of the Menzies Tornado Mine for £43,750—this capital being subscribed in the colonies. His next flotation was the Menzies Kensington, for £25,000, and then followed in succession the Menzies Kensington Main Lode Development Company, for £12,500; the Menzies Kensington East, for £25,000, and the Menzies Kensington West, for £25,000. All these should turn out good properties, and with Mr. Schlam on the directorate of the majority of them it is scarcely necessary to add that they have been well developed.

Mr. Schlam stood for the mayoralty of Menzies in November, 1896, and was only defeated by the retiring mayor (Mr. Harry Gregory) by a very narrow majority. At an extraordinary election in December of that year he was returned by a large majority as a member of the Menzies Council. Naturally enough, he is prominently connected with the Menzies Stock Exchange, and occupies the position of vice-president. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Mining Engineers. In the many local clubs of a social and athletic nature Mr. Schlam takes a good deal of interest, and has been instrumental in promoting a number of them. He was well known in the world of sport in Victoria, and as an amateur in the art of self-defence he had very few serious rivals. He is president of the A.N.A., Menzies branch.

Mr. Schlam has seen a considerable amount of Western Australia during his sojourn here. He has travelled over its broad acres on camel, with pack-horse, and by bicycle; and for many weary miles on more than one occasion has he carried his "bluey." He is a Fellow of the Geographical Society, Adelaide branch.

Mr. Schlam's energy and resource have acquired for him a very substantial income, and he deserves it. Happy and smiling at all times, he has made innumerable friends in Western Australia.

[Since. this sketch was written Mr. Schlam has been elected Mayor of Menzies.]

DR. JAMES WILLIAM HOPE, F.R.C.P., J.P.

AMLET'S advice, "to throw physic to the dogs," though often repeated is never followed by those whose misfortune it is to need the noxious compounds. In health we pay little attention to the medical profession, but let the smallest sign of disease enter our system and we manifest a wonderful amount of interest in the careers of those to whom we look for relief. Health is too often cast aside as foolishly as the spendthrift throws away his patrimony. And the physician's science to the invalid, as the usurer's gold to the spendthrift, may bring temporary relief, but the inexorable laws of nature demand payment in full for the overdraft of youth, and frequently result in the moral and bodily ruin of the poor debtor.

The duty of the physician in the community, according to Ruskin, is to keep it in health, and it is with this object that public health officers are appointed in centres of civilisation. Their qualifications for the position must be of the highest, or their opinions would not receive that respect and attention necessary to ensure the adoption of precautionary measures to avoid sickness. Before the colony was granted Responsible Government the inducements for professional men to settle in Western Australia were so small that the Imperial Government had to make the appointments from Downing Street, and they naturally made their selections from the ranks Of young medical men who had distinguished themselves in their collegiate careers. It was by this means that the colony obtained many accomplished physicians, who now practise in her towns and cities, and among them is Dr. J. W. Hope, F.R.C.P., J.P., medical officer to the Fremantle Prison and Convict Establishment at Rottnest Island, and also health officer to the port and town of Fremantle.

Dr. Hope was born in 1851 in Hay, Wales. He was educated in his native town, and after passing his preliminary examinations went to Westminster Hospital, where be remained for twelve months, proceeding thence to Bartholomew's Medical School to complete his curriculum. In 1874 he was made a licentiate, in 1878 a member, and in 1885 he took his degree as a Fellow of the Royal