Obituaries Australia

Mr. Edward Smith Hill died on the 17th March, at the age of 61. The deceased gentlemen was well known and highly respected among a large circle of friends and acquaintances; and was an earnest worker in several branches of science. He was a native of Sydney, and was born in the year 1819. The earlier part of his mature life was passed in the business of a wine and spirit merchant, but eventually he retired from business, and for the last eighteen years lived very privately at his residence on the Point Piper Estates—now better known as Woollahra—his leisure being employed in the indulgence of his scientific tastes. He was a man of considerable intelligence, and wrote some valuable papers and pamphlets upon the flora and also upon the natives of the islands in the South Seas, whither he made a voyage after his retirement from business. He also wrote a report for the New South Wales Government upon the flora of Lord Howe Island, and upon the condition of the European inhabitants of that island. To the Herald and to the Sydney Mail he was at various times a contributor of interesting and valuable papers, one series of articles from his pen being a description of the fishes found in the harbours and rivers of this colony and along the coast. In the science of geology he took so great an interest that the late Rev. W. B. Clarke frequently expressed his regret that Mr. Hill had not been educated for the profession of a geologist. In a special degree he was the friend of the aborigines of the colony, and none who knew him will more sincerely regret his decease than his sable acquaintances, who looked upon him as a chief, and who, whenever they came to Sydney, made his grounds their head-quarters. Five years ago he suffered an attack of paralysis, which was followed by a softening of the brain, and for nearly a year previous to his death he was confined to his room. Much regret was expressed by his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson that Mr. Hill could not proceed with him to New Zealand, for the purpose of seeing if the voyage and the new Zealand climate would improve his health. The deceased gentleman was a brother of Mr. Richard Hill, J.P., and late member for Canterbury, and Mr. George Hill, J.P., who for several years was Mayor of Sydney, and has been both a member of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, and he was also a brother-in-law of Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart. He leaves a widow, but no children. The remains of the deceased were interred at Randwick.