Obituaries Australia

We regret to announce the death of Mr. C. [Charles] Lort Smith a leading solicitor, which occurred at his residence Denham place, Toorak, yesterday evening, after a short illness. Mr Lort Smith was particularly well known in racing circles. He had been a solicitor for the Victoria Racing Club for 40 years, and for the Victoria Amateur Turf club for many years. He drafted the Australian rules of racing at present in force, and he was a recognised authority on racing law.

Mr Lort Smith was the elder son of Mr Charles William Lort Smith, who was a gold buyer for the Bank of Australasia in Bendigo in the heyday of the gold industry. He was born at Epsom, near Bendigo. As a lad he went to England with his parents, and was educated at Hereford Proprietary School, where he was dux in classics and music. He lived for some years at The Brook, Worcester, owned by his father. Returning to Australia, he served his articles in the office of Crabbe and Kirby, solicitors, at Bendigo, and after he had been admitted to practise as a solicitor he joined the firm of Bennet, Attenborough, Wilks and Nunn, and subsequently became a partner in the firm which was known for many years as Attenborough, Nunn and Smith. Later, on the death of Mr. Attenborough, it was known as Nunn, Smith and Jefferson, and now as Nunn, Smith and Crocker. The firm acted for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank Ltd., and Goldsborough, Mort and Co. Ltd., in addition to many other large businesses and institutions.

Mr Lort Smith's widow was formerly Miss Louise Montgomery, daughter of the late William Montgomery, of The Heart, Sale, Gippsland. The burial will take place at Sale tomorrow.