he entered into business on his own account as cattle and stock agent at Hindmarsh-square. In June, 1856, Mr. Baker received the appointment of manager of the horse department at the Burra Burra mines, but in consequence of an inability to dispose of his Adelaide business he was compelled to resign the appointment, and continued as before. It was in the October of this year that Mr. Baker and his wife' suffered a great bereavement by the accidental drowning of their only son Arthur, an intelligent youth, then nearly sixteen years of age, in endeavouring to ride across the River Torrens at the Frome Bridge ford, at the time of a freshet. Mr. Baker next turned his attention to the running of omnibuses on the Bay road, and continued this till 1858, in September of which year he joined Major Warburton's exploring party, and was out three months with them. He afterwards took Mr. Peter Ferguson over the same ground, and assisted in driving in cattle to stock the country taken up. In 1859 he made another trip to the N.W. of Stuart's Creek, and on his return took up some fine country for squatting purposes. Interesting and remarkable as Mr. Baker's adventures undoubtedly were up to this point, it is his long connection with the South Australian Fire Brigades that has rendered his name familiar throughout the land. In December, 1859, he accepted the offer made by the Fire Insurance Companies through Mr. H. Scott, of organising: and working a tire brigade in Adelaide, and was appointed Superintendent of Fire Brigades January 1, 1860, and drew up rules and regulations for the working of same. He also drafted a short Fire Brigade Bill, which was passed through l)oth Houses of Parliament and was assented to by Hi& Excellency, Sir Dominick Daly, on 21st October, 1862. In. December, 1862, he was elected councillor for Gawler Ward in the Adelaide Corporation, and served till 1864. On 15tlL October, 1878, Mr. Baker, whose health had suffered from, injuries received during twenty years' active service at fires,
