Obituaries Australia

Early on Thursday morning there passed away in Wagga one, many of whose years were spent in the district during its most prosperous times. Sincere regret will mark the death of Mr. Frederick Chisholm, who has done much to assist the town of Wagga by his kindly assistance to those in business at a time when help was doubly valuable by the promptitude with which it was given. Mr. Chisholm was born in Sydney in March 1831, and therefore could have attained his 65th birthday in the course of a few weeks. He was a member of the well known Chisholm family, whose estates hold a prominent position throughout the colony of New South Wales and was the son of the late Captain Chisholm of Sydney. Entering upon pastoral pursuits he held a station on the Bland, where he remained for a number of years. There he was a victim of the depredations of the Ben Hall gang of bushrangers, who levied upon him for a number of valuable horses in order to carry on their nefarious pursuits. Mr. Chisholm was a noted breeder of blood stock, amongst which was the racehorse Troubadour, which was taken by the connivance of one of his employees, by the bushrangers, and subsequently returned. Troubadour, and a number of other horses, were brought to Wagga and raced by their owner in the events forming the programmes of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club. Purchasing Bull's Run station on the Murrumbidgee, about 30 miles from Wagga, Mr. Chisholm became conspicuous as a breeder of short-horn cattle, and secured many prizes at Wagga and Jerilderie. The progeny of the Bull's Run cattle are to be frequently seen at the district shows, where they continue to catch the judge's eye. Some seven or eight years since Mr. Chisholm sold out at Bull's Run and came to Wagga taking up his quarters at the Criterion Hotel. His health was on the wane about this time, and as each year drew to a close he became feebler, and a month ago signs of immediate collapse were observable. During his latter years his sight became defective, and at the time of his death he was almost blind. A few days before his death he was compelled to take to his bed, and was unable to get up from that time. He became seized with a fit on Wednesday morning, remaining in a comatose state until the hour of his death. During his trying illness his personal comforts were most assiduously attended to by Mr. Millenet and his family, and the deceased gentleman wanted for nothing during his declining years.

Some few years ago Mr. Chisholm became possessed of a large sum of money, it being his proportion of the proceedings of the family property in Sydney, which were sold at the time. His want of business habits, and liberal bent, caused it to slip through his fingers, although he has benefitted a large number of his fellow men without reaping anything like an equivalent advantage. There was no public institution in the prosperous days whose funds he did not largely supplement, and his acts of private munificence were simply innumerable. There is a lasting testimony to his largeness of heart at the Wagga Hospital, where a costly fountain adorns the front portion of the grounds. Mr. Chisholm laid the foundation stone of the Protestant Hall, in Baylis Street, and did much to promote the undertaking. He also gave a gold cup to the Murrumbidgee Turf Club in 1884, which was won by Impulse. Amongst the positions held by Mr. Chisholm was that of Master of the Lodge of Harmony, No. 410, Order of Freemasons, Scottish Constitution, to which body he rendered valuable assistance. While his faculties permitted, he was always to the fore with his purse, and individual effort, to promote the welfare of the town and district. During the later years of his life the deceased was confined to the house, and was seldom seen in public. There are many in whose minds the mention of his name will recall past favours, and who will regret exceedingly the fact of his decease.

The funeral took place yesterday at the Wagga cemetery, the cortege including many whose presence was dictated by a recollection of the kindnesses dispensed by the deceased. The Rev. G. A. Carver officiated at the cemetery.

It may be mentioned that the deceased was a half brother of the late Hon. James Chisholm, and his brothers living are Mr. John William Chisholm, of Wollagarang, near Goulburn, and Dr. Edwin Chisholm, of Moss Vale.