Officiating in the first instance in a tent, and subsequently in a wooden structure sent out from England by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Mr. Howard ultimately commenced the erection of Trinity Church, Adelaide, becoming involved thereby in pecuniary difficulties which embittered his last days. This devoted pioneer of the Church of England in South Australia died in 1843, at the early age of thirty-three. His widow married in 1845 the Very Rev. James Farrell, first Dean of Adelaide (q.v.).
Howe, Hon. James Henderson, M.P., is member for Gladstone in the Legislative Assembly of South Australia, having formerly represented Stanley; and was Commissioner of Public Works in the Downer Ministry from June 1885 to June 1887, and in that of Dr. Cockburn from June 1889 until May 1890, when he succeeded Mr. Burgoyne as Minister of Lands, holding the latter office till July 1890, when he resigned.
Howitt, Alfred William, the well-known explorer, who is Secretary for Mines in Victoria, is a son of the late William and Mary Howitt, the distinguished authors, and went to Victoria while still a youth. Whilst engaged in squatting pursuits, he gained a reputation as a fearless and energetic bushman; and when the relief party which was sent in quest of the Burke and Wills expedition was projected in 1861, Mr. Howitt was chosen leader. Near Swan Hill he met Brahe returning with the intelligence that Burke had not returned to the depôt. Mr. Howitt was reinforced and sent forward. He crossed the Darling near Wilcannia, and directing his course towards the Stokes ranges (reached and named by Sturt in 1845), passed McAdam Range, Wilkie's Creek, Mount Shillinglaw, McLeays Plains, and finally the depôt at Fort Wills, on Cooper's Creek, on September 8th. On the 16th the party found King, the survivor; two days after they buried the remains of Wills, and on the 21st those of Burke. The relief party, with King, returned to Melbourne on Nov. 28th, 1861. It having been determined that the remains of Burke and Wills should be brought to Melbourne, Mr. Howitt was again sent to Cooper's Creek with a stronger party. They left Melbourne on Dec. 1st, 1861; reached Fort Wills on Feb. 18th, 1862, after making several excursions in various directions and discovering Baleman's, Burrell's, Phillip's, O'Donneld's, and Williams' creeks, and Lake Short. Mr, Howitt finally left Cooper's Creek in Oct. 1862, arriving, with the remains of Burke and Wills, in Adelaide on Dec. 11th, and in Melbourne on Dec 28th, 1862. Mr. Howitt, for these and other services, was appointed police magistrate of Victoria and stationed in Gippsland, where he resided first at Bairnsdale and latterly at Sale. He has made a profound study of the ethnology and characteristics of the natives of Australia; and in 1880 published a work, in conjunction with the Rev. L. Fison, on the marriage customs of two noted tribes. Mr. Howitt has also made a scientific and practical study of gold mining, and was the leader of more than one Government prospecting party. His exceptional capabilities in this direction were recognised by his appointment in 18— as Secretary for Mines in Victoria, a position he still holds. Mr. Howitt married a daughter of the late Judge Boothby, of Adelaide.
Howitt, William, the well-known author, was born at Heanor, Derbyshire, in 1795, and was educated at the Quakers' School at Ackworth, Yorkshire. He married, in 1823, Miss Mary Botham; and, after a successful career of joint authorship, in 1852 visited Australia, where his brother, Dr. Godfrey Howitt, was practising with great success as a physician in Melbourne. He returned to England in 1854, and, as the result of his tour, published "Land, Labour and Gold," "Letters on Transportation," and "The History of Discovery in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand." Mr. Howitt died at Rome on March 3rd, 1879.
Hughes, Henry Kent, was a leading settler in the colony of Victoria, but ultimately removed to South Australia, and was member for Victoria from 1868 to 1870 and for Port Adelaide from 1871 to 1874 in the Legislative Assembly of that colony. He was Treasurer in the Strangways Ministry from Nov. 1868 to May 1870, and in that of Mr. (now Sir) Henry Ayers from Jan. to March 1872. Mr. Hughes, who sat in the Legislative Council from April 1877 to May 1880, died on August 30th, 1880. His widow, who died in London in 1890, left several legacies to Adelaide charities.
241
