Segerlind, Hjalmar (1855 - 1925) [sv]

Hjalmar Philipp Segerlind, one of the most prominent citizens of Port Adelaide, where he was a boarding officer attached to the Police Department for several years. Mr. Segerlind was born in the south of Sweden on February 6, 1855, and arrived in South. Australia 45 years ago. An agricultural career was mapped out for young Segerlind, and with that view he attended an agricultural school in Sweden for three years, thence proceeding to Germany to complete his studies at the College of Grunhoff. After three months there he accepted the position of inspector in the State of Frauenhagen, in Brandenburg, where he remained for two years, after which he entered the commercial house of a brother in Sweden, and later on his own account tried his hand at cattle export to England, Denmark ,and Germany with varied success. After having travelled extensivelv in most of the European countries, Mr. Segerlind eventually came to South Australia. Mr. Segerlind immediately went north in quest of work, and after roaming about the country for several years he joined the Police Force in 1880, and was soon promoted to the then newly instituted office of police boarding officer at Port Adelaide. He could recall many interesting stories concerning the prodigious number of offenders who had been intercepted and brought to justice by him when they were endeavoring to flee from the country. During the war his special knowledge of languages proved of great value to his adopted country, and on his retirement from the Police Force the Federal authorities, recognising his ability in this direction, retained his services for a time for the purpose of dealing with undesirable enemy subjects. He was created a Justice of the Peace and only recently was a member of the Bench dealing with a case in the Port Adelaide Court. He was made a detective in 1900, and retired from the force in 1916. Mr. Segerlind's father was well connected in Sweden, where he owned the then largest hotel, Gota Kallare, and the present public gardens (Tradgards Foreningen), which he presented to Gothenburg. Mr. Segerlind married Miss Martha Martin, of Moonta, in 1882, and leaves a widow, two sons (Messrs. R. O. Segerlind, of Torrensville, and H. L. Segerlind, of Semaphore), and one daughter (Mrs. H. Warn, of Semaphore).