South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Thursday 13 June 1878, page 1


THE LATE JOHN HOWARD CLARK.

BlOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow that we record the death of Mr. John Howard Clark, one of tho Pro-prietors and the Editor of this paper. The

event cannot be called unexpected. For years Mr. Clark's state of health has been exceedingly critical, and for months it has given cause for the most serious misgivings. His tenacity of life has been no great, however, that up till within the last three or four weeks it was hoped that he might rally. But during that time his case has been known to be hopeless. Attack after attack of bleeding from the lungs had so prostrated him that he had no strength to withstand the inroads of his constitutional complaint — consumption. Early in March he had sought the repose of Port Willunga, and here, on Monday, May 20, he peacefully breathed his last, life having slowly and steadily ebbed away. His death, long looked for although it has been, will not only be sincerely mourned by those with whom he was connected in the ties of family, friendship, and business but will, we are sure, be the occasion of profound regret to all the colonists of South Australia to whom he was known by name or reputation. Gentle and unassuming, pursuing his useful and influential career without ostentation or

pretension, he has yet left an indelible mark upon the community in which he has so long lived and laboured, In every relation he has occupied, whether public or private, he has so acted as to command the respect and affectionate esteem of those with whom he has been brought into contact. Few men had a larger circle of real friends. In England even there are scores of the associates of his earlier years who for a quarter of a century have remained warmly attached to him, and who will be deeply pained to hear of his death. John Howard Clark was born at Birmingham on January 15, 1830, so that he had latetly completed his 48th year. His father, Francis Clark, was engaged in business in Birmingham. His mother, whose death in South. Australia only preceded his own by a few months, was a sister of the well-known originator of the penny postal system, Sir Rowland Hill, who still lives full of years and full of honours. His cousins — Miss Hill and Miss' Florence Hill — who not long ago paid a visit to Australia, have rendered themselves famous by their philanthropic efforts for the benefit of the poor— a work, it may be added, in which other members of the family have distinguished themselves. At an early age the deceased developed a great liking for literary pursuits, and shortly after leaving the Birmingham and Edgbaston Proprietary School, where he received his scholastic training, he employed his pen freely in the production both of prose and verse. Bis tastes in this direction were fostered by the course of study which, he set himself, and by listening to the lectures of the late Charles Cowden Clarke. Under the inspiration of the teachings of this great interpreter of the immortal Bard he de-voted himself to a diligent perusal of Shakspeare, with, what good effect those who have had the pleasure of hearing his expositions of the poet's works can testify. Few men in South Australia, it may safely be said, had a deeper or truer insight into Shakspeare, and the knowledge served him in good stead when in after years he acted, although, not for any lengthened period, as theatrical critic for the Register. It furthermore helped to give him a liking for dramatic representation, in which as an amateur he proved himself somewhat of an adept. His abilities as a reader and elocutionist were, moreover, of a high order, and as a public speaker he was both fluent and effective. When only a lad John Howard Clark entered the employ of a large iron-smelting firm at Dudley, in the Black Country, and for some time held in this service a responsible position. Failing health caused him to abandon this work, and in 1849 he was prostrated by a severe illness. Upon his recovery his father, acting under medical advice as to the necessity of seeking a warmer climate, both for him and his mother, set out for Adelaide, where he arrived in June, 1850. The deceased, who was then in his 21st year, began by seeking to turn to account the competent knowledge of chemistry which he had acquired at home, and opened business as an assayer. In this he found but scant employment, and soon afterwards he joined his father in the firm of Francis Clark & Son, accountants and merchants. His duty was chiefly con-nected with the accountantship branch, of the business, in which he soon attained a degree of proficiency probably surpassed by none in the colony and certainly approached by few. Not content with a mere mechanical acquaintance with, his duties, he studied closely the principles of account-keeping, commerce; and finance. The special knowledge he thus gained caused him to be sought after as auditor, accountant in insolvency matters, liquidator, and arbitrator. Several mer-cantile disputes involving abstruse questions of account were submitted to his judgment, and his awards gave general satisfaction. During all this time he did not, however, confine himself entirely to business pursuits. Very shortly after reaching the colony he assisted in the formation of the Adelaide Philosophical Society, and held the position of Secretary for some years. His deep interest in scien-tific matters has been shown in many ways, amongst others by his attention to the question of the rainfall of the colony — a subject upon which, it will be remem-bered, he delivered a valuable lecture before the Smithfield Farmers' Club. Mr. Clark further lost no time in identifying himself with philanthropic movements, and up to the period in which failing health rendered it necessary for him to withdraw from active participation in public affairs he was one of the warmest supporters of the benevolent institutions of the country, working for them, lectu-ring to raise funds for their support, and generally approving himself as having a heart open to the claims of "melting charity."' It is not to be imagined, however, that only in this way did he show his sympathy with suffering. Never was there one more ready to help the needy. No tale of want or distress was lost upon him, and no applicant for aid who could bring proof of his being a fitting subject for relief was sent empty away. In the arduous preliminary work of establishing the present South Austra-lian Institute Mr. Clark took an impor-tant part. In conjunction with Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell and the late Sir R. D. Hanson he pre-pared the Act of Incorporation, and as an evidence of the conscientious care with which he did his share of the duty it may be mentioned that the Bill was revised and recopied by him thirteen times before he could satisfy himself of its being fully suited to the requirements of the case. That it was a carefullyconsidered measure is indicated by the fact that no amendment of it has been necessary during twenty-two years. Sir. Clark was not one of the first three Governors, all of whom were nominated by His Excellency ; but he had the distinction of being the first representative Governor elected by the subscribers to the Institute. This event occurred in October, 1857, and during fifteen years he was a member of the Board. With the exception of one year his tenure of the office was continuous, and he only retired finally in 1873. While on the Board he took a most active part in the work of management, interesting himself particularly in the cause of country Institutes, which from small beginnings have now grown into institu-tions of no little importance as a means of adult education. In the preparation of the regulations, programme of subjects, and so forth of the Institute examinations, which may be viewed as the forerunner of the University of Adelaide, Mr. Clark likewise did good service. His lively concern in the training of the youthful as well as the adult portions of the popula-tion has from first to last been conspi-cuously shown. As a friend of Mr. John L. Young he especially interested himself for years in the Adelaide Educational Insti-tution, but the cause of education generally has always found in him an earnest pnd consistent advocate. On various grounds Mr. Clark steadily rejected all overtures to him to enter either House of Parliament. Again and again he has been invited to do to, but the response has invariably been

the same. This, however, has not prevented his resorting to other means of gratifying his love of politics. While a resident of East Torrens he busied himself in Parliamentary matters, and many a clever election squib has been written by him. In the stirring times preceding the granting of the Constitution of 1857 he was no inactive spectator of events, but worked with ardour in the popular cause. The Constitution having been granted it became a question whether the mixed Legislative Council should not at once cease to be. Mr. Clark took the view that it was functus officio, and at a meeting called in his office and pre sided over by Sir Arthur Blyth it was decided to make the subject the occasion of a popular demonstration. A mass gather-ing of the citizens took place at Green's Exchange, and in accordance with a petition to the Governor then and there adopted the House was dissolved, and the regime of responsible government and universal suffrage was duly inaugurated. In later years Mr. Clark made common cause with the claimants for the Moonta leases, and had much to do with keeping alive the agitation, which was not quieted for years, and then only by a compromise. In 1860 he joined the Volunteer Force as a private, but was immediately chosen by his company a non-commissioned officer. He was afterwards successively elected lieutenant and captain, and from the latter position was promoted by the Governor to the rank first of adjutant, and then of major. As was his wont in all that he undertook he bent his best energies to qualifying himself for his work, and succeeded so far as to become one of the most efficient officers in the service. Upon the disbandment of the Force he entered the Reserve, and although rarely assuming the title of Major he possessed up to the time of his death the right to use it. We have said that Mr. Clark early betrayed a taste for literary pursuits, and this taste only strengthened as he ad-vanced in life. Soon after arriving in South Australia he became a contributor to the Register of fugitive compositions mostly in the form of verse under the nom de plume of Pleeceman X. A few years later he wrote with tolerable frequency for the Telegraph, an evening paper edited by the late Mr. Frederick Sinnett, one of Mr. Clark's most intimate and most valued friends. In 1865 he made arrangements to join the proprietary of what was then the Register and Observer, but which is now the Register, Observer, and Journal. He in the first place took the position of Commercial Manager, but in 1870 assumed that of Editor. With what measure of ability he has discharged the duties of that office it may be left to the public to judge. He has certainly brought to bear in the performance of his work a cool and delicately-balanced judgment, and all the resources of a capacious and cultured intellect, a well-stored and versatile mind, a lively and wellregulated imagination, and a sparkling and refined humour. As a prose writer his style was marked by perspi-cuity, fluency, and force. To use a figure which will be readily understood, his weapon was rather the lancet than the sledgehammer. Trenchant some of his criticisms upon men and things unquestionably were ; but his forte was rather incisive home-thrusts, which lost none of their effect from the circumstance that he was most patient in collecting his facts before pro-ceeding to draw conclusions from them, and most ready to retract frankly and generously any comments which proved to be based on incorrect information or a mistaken judgment of the matter under review. Gifted with a keen sense of honour and of what is just between man and man, he would have been untrue to his instincts had he refrained from making the amende when shown to have dealt unfairly with an opponent. His mis-takes were never of design, and his worst blemish was the amiable one of a bias more or less unconscious towards those who had done him a kindness Reverting to his talent for versification it is doing him no more than justice to say that many of his compositions breathe the true poetic spirit. He himself would never dignify them with any higher title than "verses;" but there have been men who have built up a reputation as poets upon a much less substantial foundation. His skill in rhyming was repeatedly called into requisition in the writing of prologues and epilogues; and not infrequently his muse took an ambitious flight, and disported itself in the fields of dramatic composition. Two or three at least of his burlesques deserve to survive the passing events which gave them birth. Numbers of his best productions have found a place in "Echoes from the Bush" — a fact which gives a semblance of justification for the popular but mistaken impression that he and he alone was the Geoffry Crabthorn who for so many years enriched the pages of the Register with his contri-butions, and whose memory is still kept green in the weekly records of the Crab-thorn Club. We have thus hastily and imperfectly sketched the more public features in the career of one whose sun may be said to have gone down while it was yet day, but who has during his comparatively short life worthily filled his place in the great world's plan. Dealing with matters of a more private nature, it may be stated that he was a member of the Unitarian Church, and in conjunction with the Rev. J. C. Woods and Mr. Robert Kay took an active part some time ago in framing for the congregation meeting in Wakefield-street a special set of forms of liturgical prayer. Mr. Clark has been twice married, and he leaves behind him his second wife and several children. Besides these there are, as we have said, a large circle of his personal friends and acquaintances who feel that his death leaves a gap in their ranks which cannot be filled up. In him they have lost one of the most genuine, genial, and tenderly thoughtful of friends, and their sorrow is scarcely mitigated by the re-membrance that he who has thus passed away exercised while in life an influence as pure and healthful as it was widespread. Critical Critical Estimate of his Character. Through the death of John Howard Clark the colony has lost one whom it can ill spare— a man of the highest- principle, of the broadest philanthropy, of the most unselfish patriotism, and withal a man endowed with that practical ability which is essential for turning these qualities to the best account. Men there are possessed of high principle, keen human sympathies and an ardent longing to do good in their day and generation, who for the want of this practical ability sink into the position of mere dreamers. Others there are who, possessing both the disposition and the power to be of eminent service to their fellows, are diverted from their course by overweening vanity, or reckless ambition, or some other of the per-nicious influences which lure men from the right way. The path of public life is thus strewn with the wrecks of promising careers cut short or marred by a weak pandering to ignoble impulses. In John Howard Clark were united not only the qualities which go to

make up a good citizen and a useful public man in the best sense of the term, but also the moral strength needful so far to control the selfish passions as to pre-vent their having undue influence in moulding that man's public action. The hunger for popularity and for the rewards attendant thereupon which is at the root of so much of the dishonesty of politics never gained command over him. Although far from destitute of ambition, and far from being indifferent to the approbation of his fellows, he was yet able to subordinate considerations of self to his high sense of dealing honestly with the public. It may be that the fact of his not being in constant con-tact with politicians as one of themselves placed him at an advantage, inasmuch as he was kept aloof from the deteriorating influences which unquestionably are also ciated with active participation in the active business of politics. But conceding this, he was on the other hand called upon to resist, and did effectually resist, other not less insidious or powerful inducements to a departure from the strict course of duty. In every capacity he held, and peculiarly in his capacity as Editor, his 'record' will bear the minutest inspection. If it were required of us to sum up in one word the leading principle of Mr. Clark's career, we should adopt the recent judgment of a mere casual acquaintance of his and say it was ' conscien-tiousness. ' He - '"reverenced his conscience as his king;" and we are doing no injustice to the memory of the illustrious dead immor-talized by the Poet Laureate if we quote further and say of him he ' spake no slander, no, nor listened to it.' Moreover that his 'glory was redressing human wrong;' and that through his all too short ' tract of years' he wore ' the white flower of a blameless life.' To him every public duty was a sacred trust to be discharged faithfully and at any cost of trouble to himself. To the truth of this all can testify who have been associated with him in the many public movements with which he has been identified and who have had experience of him in the positions he has been called upon to filL His fellow- officers in the Volunteer Force can speak of his unwearying and painstaking attention to the arduous work devolving upon him. The idea of playing at soldiers had no countenance or sympathy from him, and every step in his promotion to the rank of Major was earned by honest laborious service. When called upon to perform judicial functions either as a Magistrate or in arbitration suits his rigid impar-tiality was as marked as was the businesslike shrewdness and penetrating intelligence which enabled him to sift to the bottom the merits of the whole matter in difference. In his relations towards various educa- tional institutions and in the discharge of his editorial responsibilities he proved himself to be animated by the same con- scientious spirit. No duty was perfunc-torily performed — no conclusion was rashly come to. Having by a careful study of the bearings of a question, in the light of all the evidence obtainable, formed an opinion, that opinion shaped itself into a rooted conviction, to which he felt himself bound to give expression. In his eyes meanness and lack of principle were the unpardonable sins in public men, and his endeavours to promote a high standard of political morality sprang from an overpowering sense of this beiug essential to the safety and permanent prosperity of the State. But it is upon his labours for the promotion of the mental culture of old aud young in the colony that his claim to be held in grateful remembrance by the people of South Australia chiefly rests. From his first entrance into the colony until the inroads of mortal disease rendered him helpless he never inter-mitted his efforts to further the cause of popular education or of the intellectual, social, and aeesthetic advance-ment of the masses. For years he bent his best energies to the establishment of an efficient school system, and he has had the satisfaction of living to see improvements introduced in this respect which must inevitably be the forerunners of a thorough and satisfactory reform. It is not too much to say that the keen conscientiousness of which we have spoken contributed not a little to hasten the fatal event which we have now to deplore. His sense of physical weakness and the knowledge he possessed of his constitu-tional frailty, so far from impressing upon him the necessity of living as far as possible a retired and tranquil life, seems only to have inspired him with a restless activity, an overmastering desire to be up and doing so long as strength was left to him. It is only upon this hypothesis that it is possible to account for the manner in which, after the terribly enfeebling attacks to which he was again and again subjected, he in defiance of bodily weakness returned to business. Whatever may be the fact, we can but deplore his premature loss. He has lived long enough to impress his stamp upon the legislation and the institutions of the colony, and to leave behind him a bright example which those who are desirous of earning the gratitude of the country will do well to follow ; but the wise guide, the friendly counsellor, the faithful and sympathizing friend, the considerate em-ployer, and the affectionate head of the family is gone, and has left a dreary blank in the community for which he laboured, in the business with which he was con-nected, in the friendly circle in which he was so conspicuous an ornament, and in the household of which he was the honoured chief. The Funeral. The remains of the late Mr. John Howard Clark were interred at the West-terrace Cemet-ery on Wednesday, May 22. The funeral was inducted in the most simple way. There was no formal procession, only the chief mourners and a few relatives following from the late residence of Mr. Clark but a large assem- blage, numbering about 300, and representing all classes of the community, met the hearse on its arrival at the Cemetery. The chief mourners were Messrs. F. H. Clark, eldest son of the deceased, Messrs. A. S. and M. S. Clark, brothers, Messrs. J. Crompton, H. M., B. M., and F. Martin, W. and W. M. Cook, and J. Wright, relatives. There were also present His Excel-lency the Acting-Governor (Mr. Chief Justice Way), attended by Captain Haggard ; Messrs. W. K. Thomas, C. Day, J. H. Finlayson, and R. K. Thomas, proprietors ef the Register, Observer, and Journal newspapers, the late partners of Mr. Clark. There were as well 80 members of the various departments of the above-mentioned journals, including Messrs. P. Saunders, W. Holden, T. 'W. Harris, W. T. Bednall, D. M. Magill, J. C. F. Johnson, P. Benjamin, H. Conigrave, J. H. Crawford, F. Bond, A. H. Davis, C. J. Stevens, and F. Bathurst, members of the literary staff ; Messrs. H. Hele, J. F. Hillier. J. W. Reed, R. J. Rigaud, A. H. Scarfe. L. A. Bristow, Oliphant, Brailey, H. Charlick, and W. O. Whitridge, commercial department ; Messrs. G. Wilson, G. L. Cooper, J. Ferguson, S. Whit-more, T. B. Murphy, W. C. Calder, J. Nan-carrow, and C. H. Franklin, and many others of the various printing departments ; Mr. T. King, M.P., proprietor of the Advertiser, and the following gentlemen connected with that journal: ? Messrs. F. Burden, J. P. Stow, J.P., T. G. Ponton F.Z.S., J. L. Bonython, J. Opey, T. Wright, A. B. Cockburn, P. Sansom; the Very Bev. the Vicar-General of the Anglican Church (Dean Russell), Rev. Canon Coombs, Rev. W. B. An-

drews, Rev. J. Pollitt, Rev. H. Howitt, Rev. F. T. Whitington, Rev. R.K. Miller, Rev. A. T. Boas, Rev. Richardson Reid, Rev. Professor Davidson ; the Hon. J. P. Boucaut (Treasurer and Premier), Hon. W. Morgan (Chief Sec-retary), Hon. J. Fisher, M.L.C., Hon. W. Sandover, M.L.C., Hon. A. Hay, M.L.C., Hon. R. C. Baker, M.L.C., Mr. W. Townsend, M.P. (Chairman of Committees), Hon. L. Glyde, M.P., Messrs. W. H. Bundey, M.P., W. J. Magarey, MP., R. Rees, M.P., F. Basedow, M.P., J.L. Parsons, M.P., G. S. Fowler, M.P., E. T. Smith, M.P., J. C. Bray, M.P., W. R. Mortlock . M.P. ; G. W. Goyder, Surveyor-General ; W. T. Sheppard, Under-Treasurer ; E. W. Hitchin, J.P., Auditor-General; J. A. Hartley, BA, B.Sc, President of tie Council of Education ; R. C. Patterson, Chief Assistant Engineer, .Robert Kay, Secretary of the South Australian Institute; R. S. Bentham, Librarian; F. G. Waterhouse, Curator of the Museum ; Dr. W. Gosse, Dr. C. Gosse, Messrs. J. Acraman, J.P., J. M. Stacy, J.P., J. Scott, J.P., M.Salom, J.P., C. Smedley, J.P., S. Higgs, J.P., T. Magarey. J.P., W. D. Allott, J.P., J. R. Spenee, J P., J. H. Bagster, J .P ; L. G. Madley, Principal of the Training College ; A. Clark, Principal of the Model School ; T. D. Smeaton, J.P . C. D. Aston, D. W. MeMn, R. Vanghan, W. Hitchcox, C. N. Collison, J. Robin, G. N. Birks, J.P., E. C. Longson, A. J. Baker, W. Eggers, J. Evans, Herbert Evans, G. W. Smith.F. 0. Bruce, J. Hemingway, W. B. Sowter A Harvey, J. M. Linklater, J.P, T. Linklater, T. G. Brown, J. F. Conigrave, J. Hosking, J. L. Young, F. Wicksteed, W. L. Wicksteed, L. Wicksteed, T. Duffield, 'W. Reynell, G. H. Cargeeg, E. Kay, W. J. Gollin, E. H. Hallack, T. Good, S. Toms, A. Simpson D. McKenzie, J. McDonald, 'W. C. Rigby, G. H. E. Gee, J. B. Austin, N. J. Hope, R. Hay, J. Kemp Penney, W. H. Gray, J. C. Minns, A. M. Cook, D. Robin, The service was read by the Rev. J. C. Woods. BA, after which the remains of the deeply-mourned deceased were lowered into the family vault, and the assemblage dispersed. During the day the flags at a large number of places of business in the city were half mast high, and the South Australian Institute as well as the Register Office was closed at the time of the funeral. Mr. C. A. Wilson informs us that he and many others were desirous of paying the last mark of respect to their old and esteemed friend, but the notice of the time and place was seen by them too late to allow of their doing so. The Hon. Neville Blyth (Minister of Education) requests us to state that his absence from the funeral was occasioned by indisposition, and that it was deeply regretted by him. The Rev. W. R. Fletcher, Messrs. T. S. Reed and D. C. F. Moodie, of the Portonian, and Mr. T. S. Carey, of the Methodist Journal, also sent apologies for non-attendance. Funeral Sermons. In some of the city churches on Sunday, May 26, allusion was made to the death of Mr. John Howard Clark. There was a large congregation at the Unitarian Church in the morning, when every portion of the service had some reference to the death of Mr. Clark, who was a member of the denomination. The opening voluntary was a funeral march by Dr. Holloway ; the hymns were Nos. 401, 365, and 183, from ' Hymns for the Christian Church and Home'' ; the anthem was ' Blessed are the departed,' from Spoor's 'Last Judgment ;' the voluntary after the sermon, Mendelssohn's 'Farewell;' and the concluding voluntary, the Dead March in ' Saul.' The singing of the choir was excellent and the playing of Mr. Oughton on the organ deeply expressive. The Rev. J. C. Woods. B.A., delivered a sermon from John ii., 35—' Jesus wept.'1 At its conclusion he made the following remarks in reference to Mr. Clark : — ' On Wednesday last the mortal remains of the late Mr. John Howard Clark were consigned to the family vault in the presence of a great number of people, including representatives of almost every denomination and party in the province. Mr. John Howard Clark was a man of distinguished mental ability and of very varied intellectual acquirements. While not wanting in profoundness of judgment he wag especially remarkable for the quickness of hia mind to perceive the bearings of any subject brought under his notice and for the readiness with which he could happily express his opinions. He had a keen appreciation of wit and humour in others, and, as his writings have proved, he had much original power as a humorist himself. He had a sincere love of literature. Ho had a great admiration for Sh&kspeare, and it is probable he had a more minate acquaintance with the works of that great dramatist than any «ne in this country. He was a very able lecturer, a good speaker, and an effective writer both in prose and verse. For obvious reasons I refrain from speaking of bis influence on the political questions which have arisen in this colony since he became connected with the newspaper Press. I will, therefore, remind you of what he was to this congregation. He was one of its original members, and he supported it by his purse, by his pen, and by his voice. Brought up in the Uuitariiui Church, his opinions and principles had & stability not always pos*ea»ed by those who are converts to our viewB, and while his mind was open to the reception of new truths he held firmly by the faith of which the Rer. Dr. James Martineau may be regarded as the greatest living ornament. I have not infrequently heard the late Mr. John Howard Clark called by some ot his fellow-worshippers ' the pride of the congre gation.' The subject of this notice was not ouly a very clever man and a distinguished citizen — he was a most courteous gentleman. He wa» regarded by his intimate friends with a love that nearly amounted in some cases to worship, and he gained both the esteem and affection of his partners in buniness and of those whom he employed. As a son, a brother, a husband, and a father, the plainest statement of what he really was and is known to have been would be the highest eulogy. All his charitable deeds, his wise and kindly advice to those in difficulty, his efforts to serve those in trouble, I cannot tell ; but I know that he earned and received the thanks and lifelong gratitude of the widow and the fatherless. The exertions he made for those most dear to him, amidst weakness of body and failing health, were simply heroic ; and his strength of will seemed almost to overcome the delicacy of his physical frame. His removal from us is a great loss to this province and to this Church, and an irreparable one to his friends. We shall see his beautiful, genial, intelligent face no more. But we trust he has gone to his reward, and let us humbly hope that we may meet him again in bfaven. Let us not only praise, let us also imitate his virtues.' Memorial Fund. A preliminary meeting of persons desirous of perpetuating the memory of the late Mr. John Howard Clark by some public memorial was held it White's Arbitration Room on Saturday morning, June 8. The Chief Secretary (the Hon. 'Wm. Morgan, M.L.C.) presided, and among the other gentlemen who took an active part in the proceedings were Mr. W. Townsend, M.P., the convener ; the Hon. W. Sandover, M.L.C., the Hon. L. Glyde, M.P., Mr. J. L. Parsons, M.P., Mr.T. King, M.P., Mr. J. H.Finlayson, Mr. C. Todd, C.M.G., and Mr. C. A. Wilson. It was suggested that a large oil painting of Mr. Clark should be placed in the South Australian Institute, of which the deceased gentleman was for many years a Governor; and also that if practicable a Clark Scholarship should be esta- blished in connection with the Adelaide Univer-sity. The Hon. W. Morgan, Mr. Townsend, Mr. Finlayson.Hon. L. Glyde, Mr. T. King, and Mr. Todd were appointed an organizing Committee, with power to add to their number. A meeting of the Committee appointed to decide what form the proposed memorial of the late Mr. John Howard Clark shall take was held on Tuesday morning, and after due consideration it was resolved to carry out the two ideas suggested at the meeting on Saturday last, namely, a life-size oil portrait to be presented to the South Australian Institute, and a scholarship in connection with the Adelaide University. It was agreed that circulars should be sent out with a view of soliciting contributions on behilf of the objects referred to; and Messrs. W. Townsend, MP., and Richard Allen, jun., were appointed a Committee to draft the circular In Memoriam. Willunga, to thy coast, wave-stormed and broken, 'We turn this Autumn day, For, dear beyond the love that can'be spoken, A soul hath pass'd away.' Vainly thy breezes bluster'd of a morrow Made glad by health restored, And how his weakness of thy strength should borrow And gather of thy hoard. O cruel winds ! unkindly in your failingWhy murmur hope, yet leave Us lonely and sweep onward ever wailing, As if for him ye grieve ! Still do the flapping gulls sail by and screaming Dive where the breakers hiss, Still ocean pnrples in fresh sunsets gleaning Only his form we miss. No more the rugged cliffs and shell-strewn reaches May feel his step who pass'd But late where Seagull Rock towers oer the beaches, Nor knew that time the last.

O brothers ! in this land of promise golden 'With hope of what may be, Ye know how well bis blameless life was holden, A beacon all might see. In the stain'd marts of commerce did he offer Rare honour. None bereft Now curse his name, for ne'er a well-fill'd coffer He deem'd excuse for theft. Not bound by creeds, nor deaf to mild tradition, Impartial, unafraid — Alike the schoolboy and the politician Sought and obtained his aid. With cheerful quip he screened hia body's frailness Till they who knewhim best Marvell'd how such a mind's imperial haleness Could be that body's guest. A gentle soul, a holy goul and human ! If e'er beneath the sun There breath'd a nobly-wise, large-vision'd true man, This man indeed was one. Low lies be now — we stand and wonder blindly If what we sow we reap, If the All-Father kindly or unkindly Hath given him quiet sleep. 'We scarce can know, and pace with tears and laughter Along the narrow shore ; O ! let us in his goodness follow after Him who has gone before. [From the Crabthorn Club Papers.] The pen has fallen from his hand, His ceaseless toil is done at last, And mutely think we of the past, As sadly by his grave we stand. No more again the kindly jest, 'Which spoke his presence, shall we hear; The voice is hushed we held so dear, The busy brain is now at rest. Oh brain too active, hast thou been To frame thy match in strength allied, Perchance our friend would not have died Till grey old age his eyes had seen. Oh ! strange that one like him we mourn Should see his sun go down at noon, Should in life's journey reach so soon The earthly traveller's lasting bourne. Oh ! strange a heart so warm, so trne, With love of brave good work aye filled, By Death's chill touch should thus be stilled While cold hearts are not rare nor few. Oh ! hard indeed of finding out The ways of God appear to men. We wonder now, but haply then Twill all be plain and free from doubt. We only know we loved him well, We only know we miss him sore. Yet could we have him back once more, Say, would we! Ah ! 'tis hard to tell. Life's work we know at be3t is hard, And hardest aye to those who feel Its solemn ends, and work with zeal, As he did, now beneath the sward. And though beside his grave we weep, We scarce would call him back, for oh ! His rest was earned, and this we know, God ' giveth His beloved sleep.' Farewell, 'tis but a few short years. Our brother, kind adviser, friend, And then when life's brief stage shall aid We'll meet beyond the vale of tears. . . ' -