I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.

I think I was well brought up, for my father and mother were of one mind regarding the care of the family.

My brothers went to the parish school, one of the best in the county.

Our South Australian farmers left their holdings in the hands of their wives and children too young to take with them, but almost all of them returned to grow grain and produce to send to Victoria.

After the break up of the municipality and the loss of his income my father lost health and spirits.

I had learned what wealth was, and a great deal about production and exchange for myself in the early history of South Australia - of the value of machinery, of roads and bridges, and of ports for transport and export.

The Town Clerkship, however, was the means of giving me a lesson in electoral methods.