R. G. Symonds
WAS born of British parents on December 21, 1810, in the Island of Madeira, where his father, a London merchant, up to 1834 had a branch house. Mr. Symonds arrived in South Australia by the "Cygnet," as an assistant surveyor, appointed in London by the S. A Commissioners, in Sept., 1836, and was present at the proclamation of the colony. He commenced in January 1837 with Mr. G. S. Kingston, the Deputy-Surveyor General, to measure off the main lines of the then proposed city of Adelaide, Colonel Light personally starting the parties from the point at the N. W. comer of South Adelaide, but on account of the dispute relative to the site of the proposed capital, the survey was discontinued for some days. Mr. Symonds was then directed by Colonel Light to measure off the bends of the river Lei ween the hills and the Reedbeds, but did not further assist in laying out the Adelaide allotments. With Messrs. B. T. Finniss and other surveyors, in April 1837, he commenced the survey of the country sections, and in September 18.SS Mr. Symonds left the survey department. In December of the same year he selected and purchased Port Adelaide sections C.F. and H., five sections on the Torrens, two sections near Glenelg, and other sections, in all 1,088 acres. He visited Tasmania in 1842, and remained until 1848, when he returned to Adelaide, and with a view of extending the town of Port Adelaide, laid out his section H—(North Arm) for the proposed township of Newhaven. Although in one sense, a "successful colonist," Mr. Symonds has not been enriched by his outlay and incessant endeavours to promote the advancement of the land of his adoption. In the evening of his days he is well-known as a teacher of bookkeeping in Adelaide, and it is much regretted that something cannot be done to aid the interests of this old pioneer colonist, who in England was intimately associated with Sir Geo. Kingston, Thos. Gilbert and others, who were instrumental in establishing the colony of South Australia.