Mr.G. McEwin ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 479 McEwin, the son of the founder. Mr. McEwin thus ros<; to an inlluential |)osition, and was able to devote himself to questions of public utility. Out of his experience, gained by study, observation, and experiment in i)lant-life, he was able to tender good advice to colonists. He was an authority on liorticultural and agricultural matters, and contributed largely to the Press on these subjects, but especially on horticulture. His work, " The Vigneron's and Gardener's Manual," went through several editions, and was of very practical use to those concerned. Many articles from his pen also appeared in local newspapers on fruit-trees and vines and ornamental trees. He obtained a gold medal from the Scottish Arboricultural Society for a paper on "The Natural Forests of South Australia"; and in 1877, from the same source, he won a silver medal for the best essay on "Arboriculture," and the souvenir is now in the possession of his family. He was for years a member of the Forest Board and of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Besides excellent advice given on subjects which by occupation he was specially interested in, he rendered service to the public in other respects. He was appointed by the Government a member of the Central Road Board, and was for many years Returning Officer for the district of Gumeracha, a position in which his son has succeeded him. He was a justice of the Peace, and was quite celebrated throughout his district for his decisions. Having made some study of the law, he was able to adjudicate with more than the usual success of the unpaid magistrate, and fulfilled a still higher function by so advising many who called upon him on the legal aspect of their claims and complaints that cases were .settled out of court with dispatch and satisfaction. After about two month's illness, Mr. McEwin died on August 8, 1885, in his 70th year. His wife had predeceased him, and both were highly esteemed and beloved. Mr. F. D. Harris, LL.B. AMONG the most influential men of Gawler is Mr. F. D. Harris, who has the distinction of being the first native-born to occupy the position of Mayor. He was born on July 15, 1864, and is the youngest son of the late Mr. James Harris, founder of the well-known country firm of James Harris & Sons, storekeepers, of Gawler and Kapunda. He was educated at -St. George's School, (Jawler, conducted by the late Mr. L. S. Burton, and at the Glenelg Grammar .School, the principal of which was the late Mr. Frederick Caterer, B.A. Late in 1881 he was articled to Sir John Bray, and served under Bray and Sheridan and Bray & Hackett. Law .seemed to be a congenial study, and in December, r886, he took the LL.B. degree at the Adelaide University, and in the same month was admitted to the Bar. Almost immediately after resuming his residence in Gawler, Mr. Harris began to take a part in local {)ublic movements, and he has since occupied the most influential offices in the gift of the townspeople. He was elected to represent the East Ward in the Gawler Corporation in December, 1893, and, after serving for three years, was elected to the mayoralty in 1896-7. Mr. Harris in later years has been associated with numerous local bodies and societies, to follow which must occupy a great deal of his time. He is a Past Worshipful .Master of the Gawler Lodge of Freemasons.
