Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/176

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NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

and stumps off the South Park Lands. He also contracted for several up-country mails, and had conveyances running between Port Adelaide, Gawler, Kapunda, the Burra, and the city. Mr. Mellor was the founder of the Agricultural Implement Factory in Adelaide, now conducted by his sons, Mellor Bros., with its branches at Kapunda, Jamestown, and Quorn. The implements turned out at these establishments are favourably known and in great request, not only in South Australia, but the adjacent colonies. He introduced a great many new ideas and novelties, and was the first here to suggest wood-paving, by sending a wheel tire to the Corporation filled in with wood blocks about the year 1860, but the idea was not entertained. He won the first gold medal for his reaper in a match in 1856, and has manufactured several hundreds of the Ridley Reaper and Thresher combined. He was an active, industrious, and honourable man, ever ready to welcome new arrivals to the colony; and he, with his, worthy wife, entertained them hospitably under their roof, and did much to cheer and help them on their way. Though he took small interest in politics, he contested one election with the late F. S. Button for the County of light, but was an unsuccessful candidate. Mr. Mellor died at the Semaphore, December 28, 1880, aged 72.


Rev. Peter Maclaren,

NATIVE of Scotland, and for several years minister of the Presbyterian Church, Port Adelaide. He died on board the s.s. Garonne on his homeward voyage. May 31, 1878, aged 52. Mr. Maclaren, who was a profound student of theology, arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1871, and after about a year came to South Australia. He was the author of several religious works, which were characterised by great vigour and thoroughness, and exhibited traces of a ripened scholarship and forcible style.