# Notable South Australians/Ebenezer Ward, M.P.

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Ebenezer Ward, M.P.,
BORN in 1837, in Essex, England, son of the Rev. Joseph Ward, the well-known Baptist Minister. On reaching his eighth year he was sent to Dumpton Hall, near Ramsgate, an establishment for the education of the sons of Baptist Ministers. He remained there till March, 1849, when he left the school, and began life as a proof-reader's boy in a printing office, and entered the office of the Morning Post newspaper, where he filled a similar position for three years, acquiring meanwhile a knowledge of shorthand. Left England, and arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, in 1859. Associated with the Morning Herald, under Mr. Geo. Collins Levy, C.M.G., as proof-reader and reporter, until 1860, when he came to Adelaide with G. V. Brooke, the tragedian, and played as an amateur in his troupe, in the Old Victoria Theatre. On his return to Melbourne he rejoined the Press, working again for the Herald and the Age, In 1861 he returned to Adelaide, and joined the "Hansard" staff until 1863. Visited and described all the orchards and vineyards in the colony, and subsequently published on these a small volume. In 1863 he joined the late Mr. Sinnet as subeditor of the Daily Telegraph, then published in Adelaide. A year afterwards was appointed clerk and accountant to the Finniss Northern Territory Expedition. Revisited Adelaide in January, 1865, and resumed his position on the Telegraph ​Upon Mr. Sinnett's departure for Melbourne, Mr. Ward was promoted to the editorship, and six months later received in addition the appointment of Parliamentary shorthand writer. Resigned the other position, and coupled with the shorthand writing the work of Secretary to the Agricultural Society. In 1868 he wrote a little book, under the title of "The South-Eastern District of South Australia; its Resources and Requirements." He has displayed a good deal of newspaper enterprize at one time and another, and started the Gumeracha Guardian, the Southern Argus at Port Elliott, and other papers in Clare, Kapunda, and Adelaide. Mr. Ward first essayed to enter Parliament in 1868, when he offered his services to the electors of Gumeracha, but was beaten by a few votes. In 1870, however, he was elected with Sir Arthur Blyth, and for three successive Parliaments immediately following was re-elected at the head of the poll. In 1880 he resigned his seat, but at the general election in 1881 was chosen by the Burra constituency, which he represented during the term of last Parliament. Returned at the head of the poll by the District of Frome, for which he is now the senior member. He has been twice a Minister of the Crown, sat as Minister of Agriculture and Education in Mr. Boucaut's first Ministry from June 3, 1875, to March 25, 1876; and again in the same position in the Colton Administration from June 6, 1876, to October 26, 1877. He introduced the present Education Act in a speech of great power and effect. "Whilst a Minister of the Crown he, with Sir Henry Ayers, in 1877, represented the colony at the Eighth Intercolonial Conference, which met in Sydney, to devise a scheme for the duplication of telegraphic cable communication between Europe and Australia. On July 1, 1884, he was elected Chairman of Committees, a position he appears eminently qualified to fill.