Alfred Watts,

WELL known in commercial and social circles, died on November 29, 1884. Arrived in the colony in 1838, as accountant to the South Australian Company. Married the second daughter of Mr. William Giles, Manager of the Company. In 1857 Mr. Watts joined the well-known firm of P. Levi & Co., and after remaining there for a number of years joined the firm of Watts & Wells. The latter gentleman (Mr. Percy Wells) will be remembered as the agent for some prominent English engineers connected with the construction of several South Australian lighthouses and jetties. In 1855 Mr. Watts was elected a member of the mixed Legislative Council, as the representative of Flinders, one-third of the members being nominees, and the remainder elected. He took part in the framing of our present Constitution, and was a member for Flinders in the third and fourth Parliaments under the new régime. On account of his financial knowledge he was appointed a member of the Royal Commission formed to enquire into the state of the public accounts, and gave material assistance in drawing up a valuable report on the subject. For many years he was a local Director of the Bank of Australasia. He was a man of quiet demeanour and gentlemanly deportment. In Parliament he spoke seldom, and never took up time in referring to subjects which he did not thoroughly understand. Owing, it is believed to business troubles, Mr. Watts's intellect became weakened, and for some time prior to his death he disappeared from the commercial world, to the sorrow of a large circle of friends and well wishers.