Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Tuesday 3 September 1912, page 9


DEATH OF MR. W. P. AULD.

The death of Mr. W. P. Auld, which occurred on Monday morning at his residence, Knightsbridge, removed one of the most valuable citizens of the State. Not only did he help to set the founda-tions of a community, which in after years he was permitted to see rise to be one of the most flourishing in the Com-monwealth, but he also served his adopted country well by participating in the explo-ration of the northern portion of Aus-tralia under the leadership of the late Mr. J. McDouall Stuart. Mr. Auld was bom in England in 1840, and arrived in South Australia with his parents two years

later. In 1849 Mr. P. Auld, sen., dis-posed of his wine and spirit business which he had established in Hindley-street, and returned to England, and Mr. W. P. Auld took up his studies at King's College. He returned to this State in 1853, and com-pleted his education at Mr. J. L. Young's academy. His father meanwhile had pur-chased a block of land from the Govern-ment, and laid out the Auldana vineyards, opening an office in Gilbert-place, where he conducted a substantial local business. Mr. P. Auld went to England again in 1871, and pioneered the sale of South Australian wines on the market there. His son began as a cadet in the office of the late Mr. G. W. Goyder. C.M.G., then Surveyor-General of South Australia, and became associated with survey work. He then joined the expedition of J. Mc-Douall Stuart, who twice previously had

made unsuccessful attempts to cross the

The late Mr. W. P. Auld.

continent from south to north. The party

left Adelaide on November 7, 1861, and on July 24, 1862, they planted the Union Jack on the beach of Van Diemen's Gulf. Mr. Auld was also a member of the party

which left for the Northern Territory

under the Hon. B. T. Finniss in 1864,

and on returning to the city turned his attention to his father's business. He then married a daughter of the late Mr. W. S. Strawbridge. His father died early

in 1886, and he subsequently decided to relinquish the vineyard. With his son's, Messrs. W. G. and E. P Auld, the firm of W. P. Auld & Sons Ltd., wine and spirit merchants, was established. Mr. Auld was appointed bv the Government to adjudi-cate upon South Australian wines at the

Melbourne Exhibition. He was elected president of the South Australian Vigne- rons' Association in 1893, and for many

years was a committeeman of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Besides acting as judge at many shows held in the State, he was chairman of the

wine committee of the society. In hunt-

ing circles he was widelv known, for he was associated with the Adelaide Hunt Club from its inception, and many years ago had a reputation as an amateur actor, his favorite character being Middlewick in "Our Boys." He had also been president of the Australian Natives' Association. His Excellency the Governor last week on behalf of the State Government, handed to Mr. W G. Auld a gold watch and chain for his father in recognition of Mr. W. P. Auld's services as a member of the

McDouall Stuart expedition. The de- ceased gentleman leaves a widow and sister (Miss Auld), two sons (Messrs. W G. and E. P. Auld), and a daughter Mrs. E. E Cleland). The funeral takes place this afternoon.