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TEN BEST
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MEN
Achievements for State
To select unhefitatingily 10 men who
have been most outstanding in the
history of South Australian develop.
ment, and to give reasons for suoh
selectlon, is no easy task.
But response to such a request from
"The News" to men peculiarly fitted
to do so has proved that it is not only
possible, but can be achieved with
credit to tihose who essay It, and with
justice to those grand old characters
who have figured prominently down
through the years.
Mr; A.. A. Simpson, C.M.,G. (president
of the Royal Geographical Society of
Australasia) said:
"There are, many men who as Pre
miers have given woldorful servijceu-men
like the late Sir Henry .Ayers, Charles
Cameroif Kinigston, Sir Richard Butler,
and Archibald Henry Peake."'
Mr. Simpson's "ten" and his reasons
for choosing are:--Capt, Charles Sturt,
who by his journey down the Murray
in 189 and his exploration was respon
sible for the settlepment of South Aus
tralia in the Rift Valley; George Fife
Angas, for his work in the foundation
of the State; John Ridley, for his in
vention of the stripper, which first made
wheat farming a profitable business; Sir
Samuel Davenport, because of his great
work in horticultural development; Prof.
William Lowrie (still living), for what
he did in extending the use of super
phosphates and laying down the founda
tions for scientific farming.
George Woodrofe Goyder, whose "line
of rainfall" definitely established tl}e
bounds of reasonably s'afe and hazardous
farmilig; Sir Thomas Elder, for many
services in financing exploration, and
above all for the. introduction of
camels, which made extension of territory
possible; John MIcDouall Stuart, for his
exploration; Sir Robert Torrens, because
of the introduction of his system .of land
transfer; and Henry J. Holden, a cap
tain of industry, who, by the establish
mnent of great works, gave employment
that provided sustenance for 12,000
people.
University Opinion
,r. A, Grenfell Price (master of St,
Mark's College, University of *Adelaide)
confines his selection to the period before
1850, naming Capt. Mlatthew Flinders, dis
coverer of South Australia; Capt. Charles
Sturt, discoverer of the lower Murray
(whose book had an immediate effect in
causing the foundation of the colony),
afterward Surveyor-General, -Assistant Resi
dent Commissioner; and great inland ex
plorer.
Edward Gibbon 'Wakefield, "Father and
Chief Founder of the Colony," who played
the principal part in securing the Founda
tion Act of 1834; Robert Gouger, secretary
to the National Colonisation Society and
the South Australianll Association, and
first Colonial Secretary; Robert T'orrens
(father of Sir Robert Torrens), chairman
of the South Australian Commnission, 1835
to 1840, and in thlat capacity beifr!ng the
main: brunt of the practical fo?iida'tion
arraigenenit.4- Georgej- 'ife A-ngas, -)gl:eat
pioneer, founder of the South Australian
Company, who largely financed the colony.
Col. William Light, who selected the site
of Adelaide and was founder of the city;
George Gawler, whose draft provided the
"necessary permanent outfit," who super
vised the first surveys and inaugtlrated
country settlement; David McLareh, first
commercial manager of the South Atus
tralian Companly, which constructed Portl
road and McLarea Wharf at Port Ade
!aide: Sir George Grey, who carried the
province through the crisis of 1841-2.
ChoiQe of Veteran Legislator
Sir Lancelot Stirling (President of the
J4egislative Council) selects Geoxge Fife
Angas, Sir Robert Torrene, Sir James
Boucaut, John Ridley. George Woodrofo
Goyder, Sir Samuel Way, the explorers
Stuart, Sturt; and Eyre, and Sir Samue!
Davenport, for his viticultural piolcering,
What Journalists Think
'("With so manyv potable figures of the
past, distinguished in their own ]particular.
spih.e, I question the wisdom of limiting
the field of selection to so few," remarked
Mr. Fred Johns, autlhor of "Notable Als
tra!inns" and his more recent work,
"Who's Who in Australia."
"I would say," he continued, '"thlat
aniong the most outstanding men in South
Australian history George Fife Agnag,
known as 'the Fthelv of South Austriali';
Capt. Charles Sturt, who made known this
qountry through his early explorations;
Chief Julstice Thu!!sonl wlh.o drafted our
Constitution; Sir Samuel Way, Charles
Cameron Kingston, and R[obert Barr
Smith; the two founders of the University
of Adelaide, Sir Thomas EL~der and Sir
William Watson Iughes; Archibald Henry
Peake, and Tom Price.
"If you want another iame I would sug
gest John Ridley, famnous as the ilventor
of the stripper,, a man well wortlhy of the
IUo?inent for tlhe erection of wlhich a
movement is proceeding. But no list can
be considered comnplete which omlits the
names of those mighty pioneer squlatters,
the brothers Drs. Browne, benefactors
and pastoralists like.John Howard Angas,
and others, who have a strong claim to
national remembrance."
Mr. Radney Cockburn, Adelaide iour
nalist, who compiled "The Nomenclature
of Saouth Australia," commemmted;.- "A
good idea, but one associated with widely
varying opinion." This is his list:-
Capt. Matthew Flinders, who chirted
most of the coastlipe; Edward Gibbon
Wakefield, upon whose plan in regard to
land disposal South Australia wxas colo
niged; Col. Williao7 Light, Sounder of Ady
laide; Capt. Charles Sturt, pioneer navi
gator of the River Murray and land ex
plorer; George Fife Apggs, partiocnlarly as
representing the South Australian Colih
pany; John McDouall Stewart, explorer;
John Ridey or J. W. B?ul!, whieh:ver
one of them really invented the stripper;
Sir .Thomas Elder, patro, of exploratiop,
pastoral magnate, and general benefactor;
Sir Chai'les Todd, who suggested and sup
erintepded the construction of the tra~u
continental telegraph, and Prof. Wilhiam
Lowrie, who demonstrated the value of
sup.erphosphates.
"I am tempted to strike out one of the
foregoipg ten to imake roomu for Robert
Thomas, founder of the South Austr.alian
press," concluded 1Mr, Coclqhurn,
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