B. Herschel Babbage,
A NEAR relative of the celebrated inventor of the calculating machine. Educated as an engineer, he, for a considerable time, followed his profession in Europe. He was Assistant-Engineer at the Bristol end of the Great Northern Railway for four years, and subsequently for two years on the works between Chippenham and Swinden, of the same railway. He was afterwards engaged in superintending the construction of the Bristol half of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway, and laid out for Mr. Brunei a railway across the Appenines, from Genoa to Milan. The laying-out of this work and preparation of plans occupied four years, during which Mr. Babbage held a commission from the Government of Piedmont to report upon a line across the Alps, by way of Mont Cenis. After reporting on this and many other gigantic works, he was appointed Engineer-in-Chief in laying out and constructing a railway from Florence to Pistoga. He resided in Tuscany for four years, when the progress of the line was interrupted by the revolution, and he returned to England. The line was afterwards completed by Italian engineers. Soon after arrival in England he was appointed Engineering-Inspector under the General Board of Health, to report upon the water supply, sewage, and sanitary condition of English towns. Arrived in South Australia by the ship "Hydaspes," November, 1851, and received the following appointments:—Commissioner to issue Gold Licences, Geological and Mineral Surveyor, Government Assayer, and Justice of the Peace. He was also Corresponding Member of the Philosophical Society xmtil his death. He will be well remembered as the first Engineer of the Port Railway. He was an explorer of some note, having, in December, 1856, been to Lake Torrens, when he discovered the McDonnell River, St. Mary's Pool, Blanchwater, and the surrounding country. Elected to the first Parliament, under the new Constitution, when he represented Encounter Bay in the Assembly, in conjunction with Mr. A. F. Lindsay. He retained this position for nine months, and resigned in December, 1857, to take the command of a Northern Exploring Expedition. He was a candidate for membership for the Council in 1878, but was not elected. Mr. Babbage resided for many years at St. Mary's, South-road, Adelaide, where he had an excellent vineyard, and devoted a great deal of time to winemaking. Died October 22, 1878, aged 63 years.