Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/338

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312 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY sir c. Todd the colonies. Sir Charles was awarded warm thanks for his valuable labors, by notable representative bodies in all parts of the world. In the undertaking" Sir Charles was ably assisted by Mr. R. R. Knuckey. who shared his enthusiasm and not a little of his scientific ardor. For this achievement the Queen bestowed on Sir Charles the order of C.M.G. At a later date (1893) he was further honored by receiving the order of K. C.M.G. On the amalgamation of the Post and Telegraph Departments in 1870, Sir Charles became Postmaster-General, and in this official capacity he has taken part as the representative of South Australia in almost all the Australian Conventions assembled to discu.ss matters connected with the postal service. In 1885 he represented the Province at the International Telegraphic Conference held at Berlin. Much valuable information was acquired by him at this scientific gathering, and the interchange of useful and progressive opinion among the authorities at this meeting was not without good effect in connection with the postal service of South Australia. On the breaking up of the Convention (in 1886) Sir Charles proceeded to England, where he delivered a paper before the Royal Colonial Institute on " Telegraphic enterprise in Australia." P"or his many services in the interests of '.science and commercial advancement, he received from the Senate of Cambridge University the honorary degree of M.A. [honoris causa). As Government Astronomer of the Province, Sir Charles has pursued careful investigations and instituted many researches in this department. An extensive series of astronomical and meteorological observations has been tabulated under his direction, and has proved of great .service to the Province from time to time. Sir Charles is a Fellow of the Royal Society of England, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical .Society, a Fellow of the British Meteorological Society, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal .Society of Edinburgh. Over and above the.se enviable distinctions, he has been elected a member of two advanced European scientific institutes. In South Australia he has been a hard and successful worker for the advancement of science. The Royal Society and the Institute of Surveyors of South Australia have both received from him prominent and ready support, and his large fund of general as well as special information has contributed no little to the prestige of these two scientifically promotive institutions. The University of Adelaide found in him an able adviser as well as a genial sympathiser. He is still a member of the Council of the University, for whose welfare his energies are ever ready. He sits on the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art (jallery, and was for many years a member of the Council of the .South Australian School of Mines. His enthusiasm is not apparently focussed on one point. It radiates in whatever direction he can render assistance in the way of educational or intellectual advance. Few Australians can look down the valley of their past official life, as he can, and .see .so many monuments of serviceable work and so many evidences of worth and skill. Certainly few e.xceed .Sir Charles in the length of official service; for, in 1891, he had the unu.sual happiness of celebrating the jubilee of his entrance into the Government .service. Congratulations and good wishes for his prolonged health flowed in pleasantly on that occasion, and .Sir Charles could not, on these manifestation.s, but feel gratified that the results of his life-long, arduous labors were duly appreciated by those whom he had served.