406 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Messrs. W. H. & W. Burford dishonoring its bills. But the hardy colonist was not at a loss ; and, beino- observant, he rapidly turned his energy to another promising sphere. At that time this Province, like Western Australia, suffered from a great scarcity of candles and soap. In the Western colony as much as los. was sometimes paid for a small cake of the latter commodity, and often the article could not be obtained at any price, nor did the settlers possess the ingredients for makin<^ it. In South Australia as much as 6d. was paid for a single candle at this time ; and Mr. Burford was not slow to appreciate the fact. In 1840 he turned his hand to the manufacture of candles and soaj), a trade which he had fortunately learned in England. He erected a modest plant, and agreed to pay the butchers 7^d. per lb. for fat. He was able to supply a good article ; but he then found he had to fight competition, local and intercolonial. Several years passed, and gradually the business increased. When the copper mines were opened up he secured large contracts from the companies owning them, which, with his general connection, made him the posses.sor of a thriving factory. Since then the plant has from time to time been enlarged, and at the present day the business is one of the most substantial and important of local industries. In 1878 he took his two sons, Messrs. Benjamin and William Burford. into partnership; but in 1886 Mr. Benjamin Burford retired. It is now principally carried on in an e.xtensive range of buildings with frontages to Sturt, Russell, Norman, and Gilbert Streets, Adelaide ; but there are branches also at Hindmarsh, Port Pirie, Port Augusta {in South Australia), as well as at Broken Hill (N.S.W.), and Perth (W. A.). The sum of ^16,000 a year is disbursed in wages ; and some 4,000 tons of coal are consumed in running the machinery. Although very actively engaged in controlling and assisting this rapidly-growing business, Mr. W. H. Burford yet found time to devote to extraneous matters. The struggles of a young colony are calculated to bring out the best that is in the community, and Mr. Burford, although unostentatious, and preferring the seclusion of private life to the glamor of high positions, soon proved that he was not merely a stout-hearted colonist and a clever business man. In October, 1841, three years after his arrival from England, he was elected a member of the Common Council in Adelaide. He was thus one of the municipal fathers of the capital, for it was only in 1840 that the municipality was founded. Then, in the agitations for responsible government, in the " fifties," Mr. Burford took an active part. He gave the movement an earnest support, and, upon the granting of the new Constitution, he was elected, on March 9, 1857, to the House of Assembly for the City of Adelaide, together with five other representatives of the same constituency. He .sat for two session.s, resigning on April 29, 1859. One so earnest as Mr. Burford was certain to take a keen interest in debates on important questions and principles. In 1857 he unsuccessfully advocated a land tax on large holders. He supported the Real Property Act of Sir Richard Torrens ; and on more than one occasion Sir Richard publicly announced to how great an extent he was beholden to Mr. Burford for his help. The first copy of his book on "Law Reform" this statesman presented to Mr Burford, on June 1, 1859, with the following in.scription : — "This, the first completed copy of my work, I present to my friend, W. H. Burford, hoping that he will accept it as testifying my esteem for his steadfastness and integrity of character, and my gratitude for the assistance rendered by him in carrying the Real Property Act through the Legislative Assembly, especially on the occasion of the second reading."
