South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), Saturday 10 October 1885, page 5


DEATH OF MR T. G. WATERHOUSE.

Private telegrams were received in Adelaide on Friday afternoon reporting the death, at his residence, Sunnyfield, Hampstead, London, of Mr. T. G. Waterhouse, whose name has long

been most prominently associated with South Australia. The announcement was somewhat of a surprise, for although Mr. Waterhouse was 76 years of age, the belief was enter-tained that be was in the enjoyment of good health. In fact, a letter which was only received by yesterday's mail indicated that nothing had occurred to warrant apprehensions in respect of his physical con-dition. The news will certainly be received with deep regret all over the colony. For years past the name of Mr. Waterhouse has been connected with innumerable charities in one form or another, and, indeed, it may be said that he is only known to later colonists by his philan-thropic deeds. But in the early days of the province Mr. Waterhouse was a promi-nent citizen, respected as a straightforward business man, and admired as one who by his actions signified that he considered the acquisition of wealth of service only or chiefly as a means of doing good. Mr. Waterhouse was fortunately not one of those who had for many years to struggle against adverse circum-stances before achieving a competency. He seemed from the first to have foreseen the future of Adelaide, for his investments up to the time he retired from busi-ness, consisted chiefly in land purchases, and up to the time of his death he continued to acquire city property. His occupation was that of a grocer, and he carried on a huge grocery business in partnership with his brother at what is now known as Moss's corner, at the comer of King William-street and Rundle-street. He retired from this busi-ness in 1861, his income consisting principally of ground rents from the best parts of the city. In 1868, after having lived an unostenta-tious life in the suburbs, be proceeded to England, and finally decided to reside there altogether, as the summer climate here was rather too much for his constitution. Mr. Waterhouse had been a most munificent sup-porter of the Wesleyan Church of the colony, and on his leaving he was entertained at a public breakfast in the Pirie street Wesleyan lecture-hall. It would take up too much space to enumerate the many acts of charity and other good works done by the deceased gentleman. Prince Alfred College was established chiefly through him, and indeed the hind on which it is built was obtained through his instrumentality. As our readers are aware, the development of the college has been largely owing to his princely gifts from time to time. Many Wesleyan churches in the colony have been partly or wholly freed from debt through his purse, and wherever there was an opportunity for effecting a good purpose inconnection with charitable or religions institutions Mr. Waterhouse's aid could nearly always be depended upon if the case was properly placed before him. His absence in England made little or no difference in this re-spect. Mr. Waterhouse was greatly impressed by the arguments of the Bev. William Taylor, in favor of systematic beneficence. He was in-duced to devote one-tenth of his income to charity, and when once convinced of the rightness of a cause he was undeviating. His benefactions in England were on a huge scale. A gentleman who visited him some time since learned incidentally that his benefactions that year were over £7,000, besides direct gifts to every conceivable object in the colony. The Rev. S. Knight has, we believe, distributed on his behalf about £13,000 since he left the colony. His religious life was one of conviction rather than emotion; fidelity to principle predominated. A letter received shortly before the telegram yesterday announcing his death speaks of "Our Master as the wonderful thing in life and its sunshine." This letter expresses great interest in the talked-of Methodist Ladies' College. It is only just to state that with all Mr. Waterhouse's munificence Mrs. Waterhouse was in full sympathy. Mr. Waterhouse leaves four children, namely, Mr. Arthur Water-house, who married a daughter of Sir William Morgan, and is now in Adelaide; Mr. Leonard Waterhouse, who has recently returned to England from Australia; Mr. Walter Water. house, who lately married a daughter of Mr. T. Fotheringham, of Gawler, and is now on his way to England; and a daughter married to a gentleman in London.