elected senior member for the Perth Metropolitan Province, Previous to that he had for some years been a nominee member.
To turn from the public life of Sir George Shenton to other matters more private, but of nearly equal importance, we find that he has helped materially in mining, social, and religious natters. For twenty-four years he has been a director of the West Australian Bank, and for many years its chairman. He is chairman of the local board of the Commercial Union Assurance Company, and of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company. He is agent at Fremantle of the world-famous Lloyd's. In the past he has filled many offices in business affairs, has worked earnestly to give stability to commercial matters, and to instil a high standard of integrity in commercial men. He has assisted the mining industry, and was an original member of the syndicate which despatched L. A. Menzies on the prospecting tour resulting in the discovery of the Menzies Goldfields. Sir George is now a director of the Lady Shenton and Gold Estates Mining Companies. He was for some years a member of the Central Board of Education until it ceased to exist in 1895, and is a governor of the High School. He is a trustee of the Public Library and Museum, and when the Public Hospital of Perth was placed under a board of management he was appointed the first chairman. Sir George is most actively identified with religious affairs, and strives to establish a happy connection between religion and political matters.
In 1868 Sir George Shenton was married to Julia Theresa, only daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Eichbaum, of the Imperial Army. He has a beautiful residence, Crawley Park, on the banks of the River Swan. Surrounded by 200 acres, well laid out, this mansion is one of the finest in the colony.
The dominant characteristics of Sir George Shenton seem to have been honesty and sincerity. In the varied positions which he has held his deportment and actions have suggested integrity. As business man, Colonial Secretary, President of the Legislative Council, and Knight, his character has preserved an even tenor.
THE HON. EDWARD HORNE WITTENOOM, J P., M.L.C.
THE MINISTER OF MINES, POST AND TELEGRAPHS, AND EDUCATION.
THE mining industry is assuming such remarkable proportions - in Western Australia that the administration of the Mining Department becomes more and more difficult. A few years ago, although minerals were known to exist, their production was so limited that they had very little influence over the colony's prosperity. But a wonderful change has taken place. To-day we have substantially the eyes of the world attracted as by a magnet to the mineral fields of the colony. Mines exist over immense areas, and nearly every day their number is being added to. The discoveries have been nothing less than sensational, and territory which, up till the last four years, was deemed valueless, now promises to be the richest in the whole land. In every colony gold forms an excellent beginning; let its production but be encouraged and stimulated by the Government, and prosperity must smile on every other industry. By gold capital and population are attracted, and by facilitating the application of these two primary agencies the basis of a brilliant future is laid by Government. For attention shall soon be diverted to other and surer channels of enterprise, and a prosperity shall be ensured in a year or two which would take a quarter of a century in realising without the yellow medium.
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Photo by THE HON. E.H. WITTENOOM, J.P., M.L.C. Greenham & Evans. |
It was very necessary that as the various fields were opened up laws and regulations should be enacted to at once assist and protect the mining industry. These rules had to be subject to the peculiar conditions existing on the fields, and the work of the Administration was indeed difficult and fraught with keen anxiety. Then so many other departments were naturally severely tried that the difficulty of the situation grew apace. The Forrest Government, as a whole, and the Minister of Mines in particular, has sincerely endeavoured to rise to the occasion. Since the Hon. E. H. Wittenoom took office in 1894 the greatest progression on the fields has taken place; the hon. gentleman, after recondite study, formulated his schemes—his rules and regulations. Some of these did not meet with the support of all the goldfields residents, but by full consideration of their views Mr. Wittenoom has given way to them where he thought it was to their interests.
