Page:History of West Australia.djvu/494

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84
WEST AUSTRALIA.


in the country, were of even greater value in the more varied business in which he embarked, and it goes without saying that he prospered. The business at the present time is among the most extensive of its kind in Fremantle, and is carried on in commodious premises situate in Henry Street. The management of the business was conducted by Mr. Moore up to three years ago, when he retired. A capacity for hard work enabled Mr. Moore to spare time to undertake responsible duties in connection with several important institutions. He was one of the most prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce, occupying the position of president for ten years, and he only retired from the chair eighteen months ago. He has been a director of the Western Australian Bank for seventeen years, is chairman of the local board of directors of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and on the board of advice of Dalgety and Co. Mr. Moore has large pastoral properties and farms on the Swan River, one being the beautiful estate known as "Millendon," and the other, "Oakover," where he was born. He was also the owner of "Cheriton," a splendid station property situate at Gin Gin, which he recently sold to Messrs. J. Edgar and Co. Mr. Moore, in 1870, was a member of the first elective legislature, representing Fremantle. After remaining in Parliament for three years, however, his multitudinous duties in the commercial world took up so much of his attention that he could not spare any time for politics, and he retired. In 1890, he was appointed a nominee member of the Legislative Council under Responsible Government and occupied a seat in the Upper House.

His knowledge of the country and its requirements, combined with his commercial experience, made him an invaluable member of the newly-constituted Parliament, and laws relating to the commercial and pastoral interests owe much to his acumen. It was, therefore, with regret that his fellow councillors heard of his determination to retire from public life.

This descendant of the worthy family of Moore gives an object lesson in his biography worthy of emulation. Pluck, energy, and observation were the qualities which brought him to his successful position.




CR. TIMOTHY FRANCIS QUINLAN, J.P., M.L.A.

AUSTRALIA gives remarkable opportunities for the acquisition of wealth. Not only this, it presents to the intelligent and observant the advantages of a public life. Comparable with old countries these felicities are most marked. Young men, who in Great Britain and Europe would be little likely to rise above the sphere into which they were born, may here have a prominent career before them. All that is needed is application and determination and intelligence. It is a trite saying in a young country that anyone starting out in life with the determination to become wealthy will have his wish gratified. The same applies to some extent to those desiring a public career. The opportunities before them are without number, and if they watch carefully and work persistently they will catch one of them.

Photo by
TIMOTHY FRANCIS QUINLAN, J.P., M.L.A.
Greenham & Evans.

This book (in fact, any representative book on Australia) contains abundant proof of our statement. Councillor Timothy F. Quinlan, J.P., had the misfortune to lose his parents while in his boyhood. He was given a fair education, and then began to work out his own destiny. That he has been successful his biography will show. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1861, and was still in his infancy when his parents left the much-loved Isle for Western Australia. They reached these shores in 1863. His father went to Newcastle (W.A) but did not remain there long, for in 1864 he joined a Government party which was commissioned to proceed to Camden Harbour on the north west coast. He parted with his wife and they never met again on earth. While in the north-west country he was drowned. [See History, chapter xvii.] Meanwhile, by a strange coincidence, Mrs. Quinlan breathed her last at Newcastle. At the same time that the news of the husband's death was being transferred south the information of the wife's was going north. Although the son was but an infant, these were great misfortunes. A generous helper was soon found in Bishop Gibney, who found a home for him with Mr. J. T. Reilly, a storekeeper of Perth, and now proprietor of the Northam Advertiser. When fourteen years old Mr. Quinlan left school, and entered the well-known mercantile house of Mr. J. H. Monger in Perth, and was associated with that gentleman for a number of years. There he was able to learn the means by which fortunes in general business might be amassed. He was like a mechanic with a big work before him—say the construction of an engine. If he has