Obituaries Australia

The death took place on Saturday morning of Mr Bartholomew Harris, one of Wellington’s best known and most respected residents at the age of 64 years, after an illness which commenced over 12 months ago. The deceased, who was a native of the Wellington district, was one of several brothers and sisters who have lived for so long in our district, and the name of Harris has long been honoured and respected in our midst, and although his death did not come as any surprise to his legion of friends, genuine regret was expressed when the sad news was spread that he had passed away. “Battie” was a great favourite with everyone. He had a most genial and happy disposition with a smile and a cheery word for young and old, while his acts of kindness were innumerable. His horses and drays, ploughs, or any other implements were at the use of all who cared to ask for them, in fact he would suspend his own work in the field for the sake of obliging someone in need. No-one ever went away from his home without getting what they asked for. It was no wonder then that his death caused genuine regret, for everyone liked this good-natured, genial native. Being an Australian, it was only natural that he should be fond of horses, and in his young days he was a noted buck-jump rider, and it took a real outlaw to master him. In the early days he also rode at races at the meetings which were then held in various parts of the district, and there was no better judge of speed or better finisher in an exciting struggle than he. Later on he took up farming at Suntop, as well as carrying on dairying on the Wellington Flat, both of which he made a success of. He had seen this district grow from a sparsely populated village to its present size. He also ran the mail from Wellington to Bournewood in the early days. He did not lose his interest in sport as he grew older, being a most ardent supported of both the Wellington Jockey Club and Garryowen Race Club, being a lover of all good clean sport. He married a Miss O’Brien, another member of a well-known family in Wellington, who survives him together with a grown-up family of sons and daughters. The sons are Messrs Eric (Binnaway) and Bartholomew (Wellington), the daughters being Mrs J. Ahearn (Lingerlonga, Queensland) and Nellie (Wellington). His brothers are Messrs James (Wellington), John (Suntop), Mrs J. Tuite (Neurea), Miss Mary Harris (Wellington), Mrs E. Heaton (D’Aquilar, Queensland) are sisters. The remains were laid to rest yesterday afternoon in the family portion of the old Curra Creek cemetery. The body was first brought to St Patrick’s Church where after prayers for the dead had been recited, the funeral cortege wended its way to the cemetery mentioned. Notwithstanding that heavy rain fell all day, the funeral procession was a very long and representative one, a token of the respect in which he was held. The pall bearers were Messrs C. Stinson, W. Bracken, T. Reidy, B. Veech (Knightsbrook). The Rev. Mons. Long officiated both at the graveside and the church. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs J. Thompson and Son.