A SPLENDID RECORD.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 175, 24 April 1903, Page 4

A SPLENDID RECORD.

Mr Samuel Smiles's lesson in "Selfhelp" was never taken more to heart than bj' the late Mr Mark Knowles, 1 arrister, who started as a shop-boy and by persevering work and study became a barrister of standing and repute. He was left fatherless at Blackburn when four years of age. He was a cripple, and his parents were in very poor circumstances. He first commenced to work as a shoemaker's boy at Blackburn for 2s per week, and at the age of seventeen he was advanced to 6s. He afterwards became an accountant, and set up business in Blackburn in 1854- He patented the machine known as the Knowles and Blackburn compound expanding comb, which was capable of working any number of threads upon any width of beam, and is now used in every part of the manufacturing world. From this time onwards the story of Mr Knowles' life is so public as to make repetition needless. The story of the way in which he was called to the Bar might, however, be told. He was desirous to enter Parliament, but he would either enter as a member of the English Bar or he would not enter it at all. So, on May 8, 1875, at the age forty-one, he took his first lesson in Latin Grammar. In the preliminary examination held in October, upon which so much depended, Mr Knowles carried off certificates in three of the subjects, including Latin-English com position. In the January following, the son of the Blackburn handloom werver entered upon his three 'years' curriculum as student of the Middle Tempie, and having completed his terms and eaten his dinners, he passed his final examination, and in November. 1878, was called to the Bar. He won his first case, being retained on behalf of the South Metropolitan Gas Company in the Lambeth County Court.