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OBITUARY.
Mr. William Peacock.— In the obituary
notice of Mr. . William Peacock, who died
on the 20th insi, we chronicle the decease
of another member of the rapidly-thinning
rank of South Australian pioneers. Mr.
Peacock arrived in the colony in the ship
Glenalvon on December 28, 1838, the ship being
chartered and freighted by him. Within
three years of landing he identified
himself with public matters by taking
part in an important meeting, held in
April, 1841, to consider the position of
the province. In the following year he served
in the City Council as Alderman and Councillor.
The deceased always advocated the voluntary
system in religion, and took an active
part in meetings on the subject in 1846. In
1848 and the following year Mr. Peacock was
associated with the movement for the introduc-
tion of responsible government, and in 1851
was returned as member for Noarlunga, polling
a majority of 42 votes over Major O'Halloran,
who opposed him. Four years afterwards the
same constituency re-elected, him as their
representative, and he retained his posi-
tion till the end of 1856. Not till 1861
did the deceased again appear in the poli-
tical are, but in that year he took a
seat in the Legislative Council. His retirement
by effluxion of time was in 1869. As a politician
deceased was decidedly Liberal. Mr. Peacock
will be remembered in commercial circles as the
founder and head of the well-known tanning
and wool-scouring firm of W. Peacock & Son.
He was also an extensive holder of real property,
and a large shareholder, as well as at one time a
Director, of the Burra Mines. In religious
matters the deceased was long and favourably
known, being at first a member of the Freeman
street Congregational Church, now known at the
Stow Memorial. Upon severing himself from
that Church he built, at his own expense, the
Ebenezer Chapel in Rundle-street, and promoted
the formation of what is now the Hindmarsh
square Congregational Church, in which he
long held office as a Deacon. With this Church
he remained identified with but a brief interval
up to the time of his death. For some time Mr.
Peacock has been in feeble health, especially
during the last three months, and it was evident
that his constitution was rapidly decaying, con-
sequently his death on Tuesday, January 20,
at about 7 o'clock, was not unexpected. Mr.
Peacock was in his 84th year, and retained con-
sciousness up to nearly the close of his life. Of
his children, one son, Mr. Caleb Peacock, J.P.,
for some time past the manager for the firm,
with a daughter, Mrs. Weston, relict of the late
Dr. Weston, of Victoria, alone survive
him. He has also left a widow. On Thurs
day afternoon, January 22, the remains of
deceased were interred. A number of friends
and relatives met at Palm-place, Hackney;
and the cortege, which was headed by over 40
of the workmen in the employ of Messrs.
Peacock & Son, and consisted of six mourning
carriages and about fifteen other vehicles, pro
ceeded to the West-terrace Cemetery. The
service was conducted impressively by the
Rev. F. W. Cox, and there was a large atten-
dance of persons who desired to show their
regard for one who had long resided in South
Australia, and at one time taken a prominent
part in public affairs. Among those who
surrounded the grave there were noticed—
Mr. Caleb Peacock, son of deceased; Messrs.
James and Percy Dobson, grandsons; Messrs.
J. Kirkpatrick, G. Scrymgour, J. Mann, Her-
bert and James Evans, the Rev. H. Cheetham,
Sir Henry Ayers, K.C.M.G., Captain Bickers,
W. D. Allott, Mayor of Adelaide; Messrs. W.
C. Buik, G. Scrymgour, sen., S. Whitmore, J. S.
Symon, E. T. Smith, M.P., H. C. E. Muecke, E.
B. W. Glandfield, W. Lewis, J. Paxton, W.
Paxton, W. H. Burford, W. Burford, A. Dowie,
H. H. Mildred, H. Bowen, G. W. Cotton, J.
M. Stacy, E. Hodge, Jos. Mellor, G. Miller, G.
R. Shadgett, and D. Fisher,
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