Obituaries Australia

By the death of Mr. Edward John White, F.R.A.S., which occurred on Saturday at his residence, the Domain, South Yarra, an old colonist and well known citizen has passed away. Mr. White was born in Bristol in 1831, and arrived in Australia in January, 1853. By training a mechanical engineer, he superintended the erection of some of the earliest mining machinery in Bendigo. From an early age he studied astronomy, and he was appointed chief assistant at the Melbourne Observatory, in 1860. He was Acting Government Astronomer of Victoria in 1875-76, and had charge of the party sent to Hobart in 1882 to observe the transit of Venus. Mr. White retired from active official astronomical work in 1882. He compiled the General Star Catalogue of the Melbourne Observatory, and wrote scientific papers in connection with the Royal Society of Victoria, as well as many astronomical periodicals. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1868, and its president 1902-1903, and fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1869. The deceased gentleman has left a widow and family of eight. The only son is Rev. E. J. White. One of his daughters, Dr. Jean White, was one of the first ladies in Australia to take a medical degree.