Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/445

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

iMr. H. R Dixson ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 419 1889. In that year he went to Western AustraHa, and estabHshed an extensive connection there, with Fremantle as the distributing centre. He remained in the West until 1893, and during that period became well known and popular among its chief commercial men. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Dixson returned to Adelaide and took over the local connection from the trustees. He employs in Adelaide alsout 100 hands, principally in the manufacturing department, and among the brands of tobacco sold are the "Conqueror, " American Eagle," " Yankee Doodle," and " Champion." He also intrduced to .South Australia the " Dixson's No. i Cigarette," of which nearly two million packets are now made up annually. Even this short sketch will be sufficient to show to how large an extent Mr. Dixson is representative among the commercial men of the city. But in other respects he has manifested talent of a useful order. He has occupied many honorable j)ublic and Semi-public positions in the Province, and has proved himself willing to devote lime and money to the public welfare. He represented Gawler Ward in the City Council in 188S-9, He evinces an interest in sport, and was for some time Treasurer, and also Chairman, of the South Australian Rowing Association. He is a patron of music also, and liberally supports local musical societies. He has officiated on the committee of several choral societies, and has taken part in many concerts as a soloist. In more recent years he has been prominent in mining affairs, and was one of the fortunate early shareholders in the Coolgardie Syndicate which sent out the prospectors who discovered the famous Boulder group of mines. Mr. Dixson's commercial talents were so highly esteemed that, when on a visit to London in 1897, he was deputed, in conjunction with Mr. George Brookman, by the Adelaide shareholders to represent them at the annual meeting of the Great Boulder Company. He was successful in the desired object to get a considerable alteration made in the Articles of Association, and to obtain the establishment of an Adelaide Board of Directors. In political matters Mr. Dixson has taken much interest, and at the recent Assembly elections, he contested the District of North Adelaide, and was only defeated by the sitting members by a narrow margin. He is at present a Vice-President, and also Chairman, of the Council of the Protectionist Association of South Australia. He is possessed of shrewd business intelligence, and his judgment in commercial matters is highly esteemed. In the management of the extensive branch of local industry of which he is proprietor, he is enterprising, active, and thorough, and the destinies of the firm are safe in his hands. He is as popular with his employes as with the public. Dr. William Lennox Cleland, M.B. DR. WILLIAM LENNOX CLELAND, the present Colonial Surgeon and Medical Officer for Parkside and Adelaide Lunatic Asylums, was born at Hong Kong, of Scotch parents, on July 18, 1847. When about 24 years of age he entered upon the medical course at Edinburgh University, and in 1876 took the M.B. degree. Dr. Cleland practised privately for about a year in South Australia, and then accepted the appointment of Medical Officer to the Parkside Lunatic Asylum, which he has held ever since. On the resignation of Dr. Paterson in 1895, Dr. Cleland assumed the position of Resident Medical Officer at North Terrace Asylum, as well as being appointed Colonial Surgeon.