Obituaries Australia

We regret to have to announce the death of John Armstrong, of Gunbar, in the district of Hay, N.S.W., who passed quietly away on the 7th inst., at Gunbar. By this gentleman's death Australia has lost the last of four brothers who have occupied the stations of Gunbar and Congoola, on the Warrego, beside other properties in Victoria and Riverina, Gunbar and Congoola being carried on under the style of Armstrong Bros.

Those four brothers were the sons of the late John Armstrong, of Bush Station, near Geelong. This gentleman came from the south of Scotland possessed of almost all the knowledge which could be known about stock—sheep particularly. He was recognised for many years as the most perfect sheepmaster in Victoria. He was first to adopt the now well-known remedy of dipping sheep to cure scab and all insects. His sons were reared among stock, brought up to do everything connected with station life. They were admittedly among the best judges of all kinds of stock. Mr. John Armstrong had a special love for horses, the management of which he perfectly understood. Coming to this country a mere baby, he learned to ride, to drive, to draft sheep, muster cattle, and to manage stations, of which his father had several, and he was in every way a first-class man among stock, carrying out in this country the noted characteristics of the sheep-farmer of the south of Scotland. This seemed to be really inherited from famous forefathers. Mr. John Armstrong was a good neighbour, and a good Christian man, and a good churchman. He was a great supporter of the exhibitions of stock in his palmiest days, but of late years, owing to a severe illness, he was partially laid aside. When in the vigour of life few men were more active among stock, few more accurate in judgment of the excellences and failings in all kinds of stock.

Mr. Armstrong leaves behind him five sons and five daughters, who inherit the blood, and, let us hope, the excellences of a splendid progenitor, whose life was one commanding respect and esteem from all who knew him.