and colonial stock have been established and constructed in a practical manner under his supervision. Mr. Valentine will have completed his twentieth year of office during 1885, He is at present in Europe, in which quarter it is supposed his abilities and judgment will be materially exercised for the benefit of the colony. Prior to Mr. Valentine's departure from the colony he was presented with a handsome gold watch and chain by a number of leading stock holders, as a token of their appreciation of his good qualities.
William McMinn,
BORN May, 1844, at Newry, County Down, Ireland; died at North Adelaide, February 14, 1884. Arrived with his parents in South Australia in 1850: was for a time engaged in studying architecture in the office of Mr. J. Macgeorge, and afterwards entered the Government service. In June, 1864, the first expedition to the Northern Territory was organised, the Hon. B. T. Finniss being the leader of the party, which Mr. McMinn accompanied as surveyor. During the time of Mr. Finniss's government, the well known "Forlorn Hope" voyage took place, when Mr. McMinn and others accomplished that perilous trip of 2,000 miles in an open boat, from the Northern Territory to Champion Bay. In 1870 he was appointed Government Inspector of the Port Darwin end of the contract for constructing the Overland Telegraph line, but acting under instructions annulled the contract, which led to Mr. Patterson, Assistant Engineer, being sent to Port Darwin, and afterwards to the establishment of the Roper River party, under Mr. C. Todd, C.M.G., Superintendent of Telegraphs. On his return from the Territory Mr. McMinn practised his profession as architect in Adelaide, and was severally associated in that capacity with
