Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/316

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268
NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

same year they landed at Kangaroo Island, where they remained until sent by Colonel Light to Holdfast Bay. Mr. Gilbert, who had charge of the Government stores on board the "Cygnet," received the appointment in England, on March 3, 1836, of Colonial Storekeeper, and he also acted as Postmaster until December 13, in the same year. The former position he retained till Dec. 31, 1854, when he retired with a pension of £200 per annum, which he enjoyed for the remainder of his life. He was one of the earliest appointed magistrates, and a regular attendant at the meetings of the Bench. Perhaps no man in South Australia had a larger circle of attached friends, and he was really beloved by all who had the pleasure of his intimate acquaintance. At the time of his death, which took place in Adelaide on May 30, 1873, he was in his 87th year.


Rev. Henry Higginson

WAS educated for the Unitarian Ministry at Manchester New College, England, but after a few years relinquished his ministrations and studied the profession of a civil engineer, for which he had naturally a great aptitude. He came to Adelaide in 1849, and was soon after appointed one of the surveyors under the Central Road Board, but was subsequently transferred to the Draftsman's Department under Captain Freeling, then Surveyor-General, where he was largely employed in compiling maps and plans. He was afterwards appointed secretary to the Port Adelaide Railway Company, and held that position for several years. In I860, on the occurrence of a vacancy in the pulpit of the Melbourne Unitarian Church, Mr. Higginson offered his services, which were accepted, and he continued to act in the capacity of preacher until ill-health caused him to retire. As a minister he was singularly thoughtful and original. He died in Melbourne on April 17, 1873.