Obituaries Australia

The death occurred in St. Luke's Hospital yesterday morning of Mr. Francis Egerton Bryant, of Kareela Road, Cremorne, who was one of the best-known bankers of his day in Australia and New Zealand.

During his service of more than 49 years with the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., he served in every State in Australia and also in New Zealand, and he also visited London at the invitation of the board of directors.

Born in Brisbane on August 13, 1858, Mr. Bryant was a son of the late Mr. Francis Orr Bryant. He was educated at the Brisbane Grammar School, and entered the service of the bank at the age of 16 years in 1875. When he retired in 1924 he was manager in Sydney.

Mr. Bryant was a member of the board of directors of the Union Trustee Company of Australia, Ltd., for 16 years, the last 14 years of which he was chairman of directors. He was also a director of Matches (Australia), Ltd.

Soon after his retirement from the bank Mr. Bryant was invited by the late Sir James Fairfax to interest himself in the work of the Boys' Brigade, and accepted appointment as a member of the council of that body. He was greatly interested in such movements.

He was one of the original promoters of the Fairbridge Farms School for Boys, Molong, and acted as honorary treasurer.

Mr. Bryant provided the office accommodation for the German Verge New South Wales Returned Soldiers Repatriation Trust, of which he was honorary managing trustee. He was also associated with the Sane Democracy League and the Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Union Club.

Mr. Bryant married Miss Jessie Christie, in Melbourne, but she predeceased him. He is survived by two daughters, Misses Ena Jessie Bryant and Edith Erica Bryant.

The funeral will leave St. Philip's Church, Church Hill, to-day, after a service at 1.30 p.m., for the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.