Treasurer of the Hope Lodge, M.U. of Oddfellows, for twenty-seven years; for two years Treasurer of the Perseverance Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was the founder of the Allied Lodge U.O.A.D. To him belongs the distinction of being the father of the first white boy born in South Australia. This first of native-born South Australians came into the world on Feb. 22, 1837, and was named "William Josiah." This fact is borne out by an entry in the diary of Sir. J. H. Fisher, as follows—"The first white boy born in this colony was born of black parents." William Josiah Black was killed at Currency Creek in Nov. 1846. Mr. Black died on Feb. 17, 1884. Apropos of this subject it may be mentioned that Mrs. Morgan, the eldest daughter of the Hon. B. T. Finniss, was the first female child of European descent born in South Australia. She died at Norwood, May 30, 1865, aged twenty-eight years.[1]
William Robert Smith Cooke,
ONE of the earliest of South Australian settlers, and wellknown amongst surviving old colonists as the head of the firm of August Cooke & Co., Merchants, of Adelaide. He was a man of great perseverance and energy, and these qualities were most prominently shown during the great depression of 1843, when he, in common with others in commercial pursuits, suffered losses. He was afterwards connected with the brewing interests, and next came to the front as a wheat speculator and miller. He built the Victoria Mill in Grenfell-street, now a part of Messrs. Milne & Co.'s wine and spirit store; and died in the year 1852.
- ↑ Mr. Hiram Mildred informs me that the first white boy born in South Australia was the son of a Mr. Hoare, and that he is still living. What construction then can be placed on Sir J. H. Fisher's statement on the same matter?—Author.
