Obituaries Australia

James White, n.d.

from Australian Men of Mark, 1889, vol 1, p 297

The announcement of the death of the Hon. James White, M.L.C., will be received with widespread regret. Yesterday afternoon he breathed his last at his residence, Cranbrook, Rose Bay, after an illness extending over a fortnight. It has long been known that the deceased gentleman suffered from heart disease, but a fortnight ago he took cold, and became so seriously affected that he was placed under the combined treatment of Dr. Sydney Jones, Twynam, and Warren, of Camden. Every possible attention was bestowed upon him, but despite the best medical skill he succumbed to his old malady about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The deceased gentleman was a native of New South Wales, having been born at Stroud, near Port Stephens, on July 19, 1828, so that he was 61 years of age. He received his education at King's School, Parramatta, at which institution he spent four years of his life under the guidance of the late Rev. Robert Forrest. He was afterwards placed under the tutorship of the Rev. Mr. McGregor, of West Maitland, with whom he remained for a similar period. Here his education was suddenly terminated owing to the death of his father, who had owned the estates of Edenglassie, Timor, a property on the Isis, and Boorrooma, situated on the Barwon River, about 40 miles below the junction of the Namoi. When 16 years of age, Mr. White assumed the management of the estates, taking up his residence at Edinglassie. He took up the Narran Lake run about five years afterwards. His next investment was in Belltrees, which he purchased several years later from Mr. W. C. Wentworth. This was a large freehold estate on the Upper Hunter, and to it he afterwards added the Waverley Estate, which was adjoining. Everyone of these stations was fully stocked, and the quality of the Belltrees wool became well known. Other estates were afterwards added to his possessions. Martindale, a fine freehold, situated below the junction of the Hunter and Goulburn rivers, was one of these, and this was followed by the purchase of Merton and Dalswinton, freehold estates on the opposite side of the river. In 1869 Mr. White went to England, and during his absence purchased Segenhoe, a very valuable property. Extensive improvements were made upon all of those properties. Mr. White was returned to Parliament for the Upper Hunter in 1866, and represented that constituency for three years. In 1869 he resigned his seat, and left this colony for a European tour, which extended over several years. He returned in 1873, and purchased Cranbrook, Rose Bay, where he resided at intervals for the remainder of his life. In 1874 he was nominated to the Upper House, and held his seat ever since. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow, but no family.

In connection with the national sport of horse racing Mr. White's name was a household word throughout the Australian colonies, and his upright and honourable career on the turf for upwards of 20 years earned for him the esteem and respect of all classes. He was a member of the Australian Jockey Club since the inauguration of that institution, and for many years held the responsible position of chairman until his retirement in January last, when he contemplated a trip to England for the benefit of his health, and also if possible to witness the race for the Derby in which two of his colts were engaged. During his term of office as a member of the A.J.C. Committee he was untiring in his efforts to promote the sport in which he took such great interest, and his retirement therefrom was looked upon as nothing less than a calamity. He first achieved prominence on the turf with the victories of Chester, whom he purchased in 1873 from E. K. Cox, of Mulgoa, and in the following year the great son of Yattendon and imported Lady Chester carried the famous "blue and white" banner to the front in the V.R.C. Derby, Melbourne Cup, and Mares Produce Stakes at the Spring meeting. Before leaving the post for the paddook Chester started on 30 occasions, scoring 19 wins, ran into second place 7 times, filled third place once, and was only three times unplaced. In addition to Chester's wins at Flemington the following important victories were secured by the representatives of the Squire of Kirkham on the Victorian turf — The Champion Stakes, by Matchlock (1886), Trident (1887), and Abercorn (1888); Derby, by Martini Henry (1883), Nordenfeldt (1885), Trident (1886), Ensign (1888), and Dreadnought (1889); Maribyrnong Plate, by Palmyra (1879), Segenhoe (1881), Iolanthe (1883), and Acme (1885); Melbourne Cup, by Martini-Henry (1883); Oaks, by Sapphire (1880), Uralla (1885), and Spice (1889); Newmarket Handicap, by Cranbrook (1888); Ascot Vale Stakes, by Bargo (1884), Uralla (1885), Volley (1888), and Spice (1889); Australian Cup, by Morpeth (1884), Trident (1887), Carlyon (1888), and Dreadnought (1890); St. Leger, by Martini-Henry (1884), Matchlock (1880), Trident (1837), Abercorn (1888), Volley (1889), and Dreadnought (1890). At Randwick his horses have been equally successful, and the most important events placed to his credit were the A.J.C. Great Metropolitan Stakes, by Democrat (1878), the Pontiff (1880), and Abercorn (1887) A.J.C. Derby, by Bargo (1884), Nordenfeldt (1885), Trident (1886), Abercorn (1877) and Singapore (1889); Champagne Stakes, by Bargo (1884), Uralla (1885), Volley (1888), and Rudolph (1889); St Leger, by Matchlock (1886), Trident (1887), Abercorn (1888), and Dreadnought (1890); Sydney Cup, by Democrat (1878), besides a number of lesser events. At Caulfield and Hawksbury, Mr White's horses have also proved their superiority; in fact, he has been the most successful horseowner that has ever been connected with the turf in Australia. Such great results, however, were not achieved without incurring great expense in the formation of a breeding establishment at Kirkham, near Camden, where some of the best imported and colonial bred mares were mated with the famous Chester whose success as a sire has only been equalled by his achievements on the turf. Chester, who is still to the fore hale and hearty, is responsible for such great performers as Abercorn, Uralla, Dreadnought, Cranbrook, Carlton, Spice, Acme, and Titan, who at the distribution of Mr White's racehorses in April last, brought the sensational price of 4600 guineas. The Newmarket stables at Lower Randwick, where the aforementioned equine celebrities have been trained, is, without doubt, the best appointed establishment of the kind in the colonies, and with such capable men as the late Mr Fennelly, and his successor, Mr T. Payten to superintend the preparation of the horses, the almost phenomenal successes of the Kirkham representatives can easily be accounted for. Mr White was also fortunate in securing the services of such as excellent horseman as T. Hales, who piloted most of the horses enumerated above to victory. Not content with securing the best prizes on the colonial turf, Mr White essayed to win the English Derby, and with that object in view he sent the colts Kirkham and Narellan—both sons of Chester—to England last year, having had them nominated for the leading classic events of the season, but so far they have not achieved success and a second contingent of three, who have been entered for the weight-for-age races of next season were recently despatched to the mother country According to the rules of the English Jockey Club, however, the death of the owner renders the nominations void. For some time past the state of Mr White's health precluded him from witnessing the victories of his horses, and in April last he disposed of all those in training with the exception of his favourite, Abercorn. The funeral will probably take place tomorrow.