Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/459

ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 43.> Mr. H. D. Cell A DISTINGUISHING feature of the hitter half of the nineteenth centurv is to be found in the increase of educational facihties. By the aid of certain institutions, the poor as well as the rich are able to obtain a most liberal education, to follow contemporary literature in periodicals and books, and to have entry to a lii)rar- of a class that at the beginning of the century was o|)en only to the wealthiest. This great beneficial change a veritable revolution in educational methods - - has been wrought by the formation of [)ublic libraries, and what are popularly known in Australia as mechanics' institutes. In f(nniding these and other useful institutions in South Aus- tralia, Mr. H. 1). Gell has been especially active. Harry Dickson Gell, who was gazetted a Justice of the Peace in 1884, was born in Chelsea, P^ngland, in 1845, and arrived in South Australia in September, 1849, with his parents. His fuher, Mr. Charles Cjell, was Manager tor the then well-known firm of Morewood & Rogers, inventors and patentees of galvanised iron. At the age of 13 years, H. I). Gell became cashier at Hamilton Bros.' store. Port Adelaide. Two years later Hammer &- Co., Photo ^^ procecded to the W'allaroo district, and this was soon after the copper mines were discovered. He filled several positions on the Peninsula, and in 1866 went to Robe, in the South-Iiast, under engagement to Messrs. Ormerod & Co., shipping and general merchants. He was associated with this firm for several years, after which he joined Kingsborough & Chapman, in Adelaide, and continued with them until 1874. In that year he became Secretary ol the City Permanent Building .Society, a position which he retains in connection with that ot an accountant, and a land, estate, and general commission agent. In all these capacities he has pursued a career notable for its integrity and openness. But it is to the educational work with which Mr. Gell has identitied himself that