Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 18 August 1928, page 2


PERSONAL IND ANECDOTAL

(By 'Carbethon')

The investigation of the claim by Soutb Australia for a special grant from the Commonwealth will not suffer from any lack of reasoning power or business ability on the part of the members of the Royal Commission. It requires something - more than

mere luck for a man to begin^lue as .a coalminer and to attain the eminence of Prime Minister of Australia- and. High Commissioner in London. Such ie the record of Sir Joseph Cook, PC, GX1M.G. (chairman of the commission). An opportunity to return to the arena of his' former political triumphs will be afforded him in Npvember. Mr. Herbert Brookes was formerly a member of the Tariff Board, his experience on which will be helpful in a thorough understanding of the- case for. the corridor State. He is a brother of Norman Brookes, the former tennis champion. Mr. A. E. Barton is a New South Wales business man of high standing and probity, who has been associated with quite a number of important official enquiries for Commonwealth and State Governments. Mr. Brookes is a son-in-law of the late 'Mr. Alfred Deakin. Live. Wire of Wayvllle West Mr. Harold J. Finnis, who is about to stage his third important show at Wayville West, has had a truly rural career. Before being appointed secretary to the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, in succession to Mr. J. A. Riley,

he was in the Crown Lands Department, and was editor of 'The Journal of Agriculture' and secretary to the Advisory Board of, Agriculture. With a birthday at the end of this month he will still be less than 40 years of age. He is a grandson of Capt. John Finnis, who married the widow of CoL Cameron, and thus became stepfather to Mrs. G. S. Kingston, mother of Charles Cameron Kingston. George Strickland Kingston (afterward Sir George), was one of the earliest secretaries of the Agricultural Society before the word 'Royal' was tacked onto its title, and it is singularly appropriate that Mr. Harold Finnis should now be filling the office. The grandfather of the latter came to Adelaide from Sydney with Capt. Charles Sturt in August, 1838, as a member of an expedition which introduced 400 head of cattle. He afterward had an adventurous seafaring life, but settled down and died in Adelaide. Distinguished Baptist Dr. Cecil Mead, BJL, one of the lecturera at the University of Adelaide, spent many years of his life as a medical missionary in the Furreedpore district of India. The late Rev. Silas Mead, -mJl (bis father), was one of the professors at Union College in Adelaide, from which institution sprang the University. White's Rooms, now the Majestic, were not always used for theatrical entertainments. The father of Dr. Cecil Mead began services there in the Baptist cause On July 13, 1861, with a membership of 25. Two years later the church in Flinders street, Adelaide, was built; Before he went to India Dr. Mead was organist of the church. Another Kind of Pact Writing of pacts last week reminds one that many years - ago a ? pact created - much embarrassment for Sir. Hugh Denison — who returned recently , from representing Australia in the United States— when he was plaia Hugh Dixson. He changed his name because of the serious inconvenience it caused through clashing with that. of another well-known mas, Mr. Hugh Dixson, of Sydney. Sir Hugh Denison represented North Adelaide in the South Australian Assembly, and, much against his generous impulses, yielded to the entreaties of poorer, members to sign a pact against accepting honorary positions with athletic ciubs which involved, a contribution to the funds. The ink was hardly dry when along came an intimation that tie KortL Adelaide Cycling Club had elected him a vice-president, and Sir Hugh in a courteous letter declined the appointment and gave- his reason whyThen the milk boiled over. The executive of the .North Adelaide Club had also signed a pact resolutely to refuse any monetary gifts offered by its honorary officers, whose selection was intended to be a real and genuine compliment. Sir. Hugh Denison would have given man; guineas to. have avoided that situation. ' The North Adelaide Cycling Club-now a fine social institution — is entering upon its forty-^ixth year. -Mr.N. A. Claxtoa is chairman, and one of his predecessors for a long term was the Hon. H. Homburg (Attorney-General) . Not Retiring Bowlers will be glad to learn that arrangements have Ijeen made for Mr. Thomas Crase to continue as secretary of the South Australian Bowling Association, the announcement of his retirement having been made prematurely. Mr. Crase is a native of Kapunda. It was a common saying that , his father, James Crase, a Cormshman, built half of Kapunda^ The father made a lot of money when the copper mine was in full swing, and lost most of it in the slump that followed the cessation of mining operations. Mrk J. H. Potter, MA., was Thomas Crase's schoolmaster at Kapunda, / and when the dominie moved to Port ' Willunga the pupil followed him and entered his boarding school. Later Mr. Crase matriculated. Mr. Potter gave close individual attention to all his charges, and none was known to fail in an examination. Asa youth Mr. Crase entered the employ of Messrs. Donaldson, Andrews, and Sharland, now Donaldson, Limited, Adelaide, and, as was the general custom in those days, drew no salary for six months. Eventually be became a partner in the firm, and withdrew in 1905 to enter business on his own account. Mr. Crase is now in Jus eighteenth year as secretary of the Bowling Association, and Mr. S. J. Jacobs has been president throughout that long term, which has seen the affiliated clubs increase from. 15 to 66. They are two ideal men for their positions. Mr. Crase married a half-sister of the late Mr. Paris Nesbifc, £&.

MR. HAROLD J. FINNIS secretary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, who is about to stage hie third important show at Wayville West.

MR. HAROLD J. FINNIS secretary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, who is about to stage hie third important show at Wayville West.