Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/278

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
234
NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

in partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Labatt; was concerned in many important lawsuits, and acted as leading counsel for the claimants in the celebrated Moonta case. After the passing of the Constitution Act of 1855, Mr. Bagot became a Member of the House of Assembly for the district, of Light. He sat in the House during the two succeeding: Parliaments, and was returned as member for the Legislative Council, and had a lengthy experience of political life. He held the position of Solicitor-General in Mr. Baker's Ministry from August 21 to Sept. 1, 1857, of Commissioner of Orowa Lands in the Reynolds' Ministry from May 1860 to May 1861, and of Chief Secretary in Mr. Strangways' Ministry from November 3, 1868 to May 6, 1870. The aggregate number of days for which he held office was 960. He was Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons, Irish Constitution, and through a period of twenty years' residence in South Australia took a prominent part in public affairs. Mr. Bagotwas of a cheerful disposition, urbane in manner, and possessed most of the amiable traits of the Irish character. His death, in his 52nd year, occurred suddenly from pulmonary apoplexy at North Adelaide, on August 6, 1870, and was universally regretted by a wide circle of friends.


Very Rev. John Smyth,

VICAR-GENERAL of the R. C. denomination, died in Adelaide, June 30, 1870, aged 47. Born in 1824 at Kilmore, Westmeath, Ireland. Received his elementary education at Mr. Brady's classical school, Cavan, from which he went to the Diocesan Seminary of Navan in 1846. In. the following year he entered the college of the Propaganda at Rome, and was ordained as priest on June 10, 1852. He arrived in South Australia in May 1853. After the death, of Dr. Geoghegan he was appointed Administrator Apostolic^ which important position he retained until the arrival of Dr.