Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/475

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Mine-Superintendent H. R, Hancock ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 449 On the eve of his departure from Moonta, Captain Hancock was tendered a banquet, at which all the representative men of Yorke Peninsula congregated to do honor to the departing guest. The speeches were marked with the highest eulogy of him ; and in presenting him with a beautiful illuminated address, as expressive of the esteem and honor in which he was held, the Mayor of Moonta dwelt on Captain Hancock's inestimable services to the district and to South Australia generally. The address was signed by the Mayors of Kadina, Wallaroo, and Moonta, and all the leading residents on the copper-fields, as well as by representatives of the officers and of the workmen on the mines. Captain Hancock's successor as Superintendent of the mines is his eldest son, Mr. H. Lipson Hancock, a gentleman who studied under his father and has a thorough knowledge of mining in every department. Captain Hancock has for a number of years been a member of the North of England ■ Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers. He served as a Councillor on the Australian Institute of Mining Engineers from its formation, and in January, 1898, was elected Vice-president for a term of three years. During his visit to England in 1895 he was elected a member of the Royal Colonial Institute. He is also a member of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. After a life of much toil and of great usefulness to his adopted country. Captain Hancock is now living in comparative retirement at his beautiful home, " Ivy Meade," Burnside, near Adelaide. His striking personality and commanding ])hysi(iue suggest that he is a born leader of men. His name must be ever associated with the history of a leading industry of the Province, and he is the possessor of a reputation almost without parallel in the mining annals of Australasia. Mr. Joseph Fisher ONp; of the notable colonists of South Australia is Mr. Joseph P^isher. He was born in Bughouse, Halifax, Yorkshire, on September 14, 1834, and came to South Australia in the ship Pestonjee Boiiumjec, on board of which was Governor Gawler, who was proceeding to the assumption of his vice-regal duties in the Province. The vessel arrived on (October 12, 1838, and Josiah P^isher, with his son Joseph, disembarked on the new and little known territory. On arrival in Adelaide Mr. Josiah P^isher, Joseph's father, engaged in business in Hindley Street. His demise on September 3, 1841, was deeply regretted by the whole community. Mr. Joseph Fisher's education was begun and completed at the Oddfellows' School, under Mr. J. W. Disher. On leaving school, the youth went in October, 1846, into the ofifice of Mr. Anthony P'orster, ahd remained there till March, 1848. Then he entered the office of the Register newspaper. He succeeded by dint of perseverance in rising to a position of prominence in his new sphere, and in 1853 he joined six other gentlemen in purchasing the Register, retiring from the firm in 1864. In April, 1868, Mr. Fisher stepped into the political arena, and was returned at the head of the poll for the District of Sturt ; and in 1873 he was elected a member of the Legislative Council, a position which he ably held till 1881. He sought re-election, but was unsuccessful, and then severed his connection with active political life.