Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/58

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NOTABLE SOUTH AUSTRALIANS;

recent days might emulate. Mr. Finlayson wished to act as missionary to the natives, but he was unable to carry out his design except to a modified extent. He for a year or two resided in Adelaide, and assisted the Rev. T. Q, Stow, the first Congregational minister here, in the erection of the little reed-thatched place of worship in which he began his ministrations. Entering the employ of the South Australian Company, he and his wife took up their quarters a few miles from Adelaide, and often, in the absence of her husband, whose name is to be found in the list of the early explorers, Mrs. Finlayson found herself alone with hundreds of savages, who, however, never attempted to molest her, but treated her with profound respect and submitted themselves implicitly to her directions. Not long after coming to the colony, Mr. and Mrs. Finlayson settled on a farm near Mitcham, to which the name of Helenholme was given, where they continued for something like a quarter of a century. As their children grew up the parents removed to Adelaide, but three or four years ago returned to their former residence. The deceased lady studiously avoided taking part in public movements, but much of her time was devoted to deeds of kindness and charity. Her motto throughout life was "Better are the blessings of the poor than the praises of the rich," and scores of those who have been the recipients of her kindly counsel and generous help affectionately cherish her memory and genuinely mourn the death of one ever ready with consolation and succour. Mrs. Finlayson had reached her 73rd year when she fell a victim to an illness beginning with inflammation of the lungs, which kept her a prisoner for five months. She left a husband, four sons (Messrs. E. K. Finlayson, W. Finlayson, J. Harvey Finlayson, and E. Finlayson), five daughters, and twenty-four grand-children.