improvement of the town, and all credit him with the glory of the present advanced condition of Coolgardie. He allowed even his private affairs to remain in the background, so that he could more thoroughly serve the growing centre. Subsequent generations at Coolgardie will have good cause to thank him, by whose instrumentality her ably-engineered streets were planned. Though the Government officials actually and directly did the surveying, great pressure was exerted on them by the mayor to make them conform to his ideas. He remained in office for seventeen months, when he felt himself bound to retire—in November, 1895.
His life on the goldfields was one continual web of worry and work. His energies became exhausted in watching closely the fluctuations of investments, in managing mines, and last and chiefly in taking active part in any new cause for the advancement of rising goldfields towns. Kalgoorlie was fast growing in importance, and his advice was eagerly sought on many points of importance to that centre, and as eagerly given, and he rendered yeoman service in placing that town under municipal law. Finally, in the summer of 1895-6, his health again compelled him to go to New Zealand. Banquets were given to him prior to his departure, and were attended by all the leading goldfields people. The most notable was that held on the night before he left Coolgardie, when the Premier (Sir John Forrest) attended. For whole-souledness, enthusiasm, and all-embracing fellowship and verve, perhaps none of the many celebrations held on the goldfields equals this one. Mr. Shaw made his trip, and returned to Coolgardie again renewed in health, and took up the thread of his busy and altruistic life.
Mr. Shaw was one of the owners of the famous Londonderry Mine, floated in London for £700,000. He has large interests in the Bayley's South Extended, Oroya, Ivanhoe, Lake View, Mount Charlotte, Golden Age, and Crusoe Companies.
Of a versatile and catholic frame of mind, his love for sport is keen and great. He was president of the first Coolgardie Cricket and Football Club, and a patron of the Cycling Club. .He supports them by his presence as well as by his purse, and waxes enthusiastic on these manly pastimes. In a different stratum, he has been vice-president of the Chamber of Mines from its earliest constitution, and a member of the Stock Exchange. He is a Freemason of the eighteenth degree. Every new public departure and scheme at Coolgardie, if feasible and promotive of felicity, is readily and enthusiastically assisted by him. There his voice is the voice of authority, commanding and guiding the party who seek his chieftainship. He was asked to stand for the Upper House of Parliament in 1896, but declined in favour of Mr Howard Taylor, whose candidature he strongly supported.
Mr. Shaw is a traveller of no mean reputation. Every nook and corner of the North and South Islands of New Zealand has been visited by him, and he has traversed a wide circle of the sandy region of this colony, adding to his knowledge fresh points on chemical and geological formation. In all these places he is hailed as "Chief." He was married at Kyneton, Victoria, to Miss Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, of Brookville, Kyneton. Last year his eldest son died of typhoid fever at Coolgardie. His death, in the flower of manhood, greatly affected his sorrowing father. Mr. Shaw's other son is a medical student at the Melbourne University.
All the noble, commendable utilitarian principles of Mr. Shaw have gained him the affection of his country, for goodness of heart and mind compel applause. The fluid-like element of human opinion adjudges the benefactor, and raises him to a pedestal. No one in Western Australia finds a closer and firmer resting-place in the hearts of the people than "Chief" Shaw. In him is the essence of true charity, and hundreds of needy people have cause to revere his name. The struggling prospector, the poverty- stricken unemployed, the anxious business man who cannot pay his way—each has come within the range of his benefactions. Silently and secretly, with no pharisaic crying from the housetops, he has freely given in Western Australia many hundreds of pounds, and raised the downcast from the slough of despond. The figure of the "Chief" is loved in Adelaide and Coolgardie—indeed, wherever he has been.
CHARLES ANTHONY PATERSON.
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Photo by CHARLES A. PATERSON. Greenham & Evans. |
HAPPY the corporation which has amongst its members professionally trained men, who are willing to disseminate their knowledge for the good of the town or city over which they municipally rule. The professionally cultured mind is as essential in the municipal chamber as it is in the legislature. So many
