Obituaries Australia

Death has removed from this district another of the old residents, in the person, of Mr. J. S. Futter, of Beggan Beggan, whose death on Monday last from heart failure we briefly chronic led in our last issue. By the demise of Mr. Futter this and the surround ing districts lose a gentleman who has for nearly 40 years been closely identified with their rise and progress, and whose influence for good since his arrived in this district was immeasurable. The late Mr. Futter, whose father was a naval officer, was born at Lumley, near Goulburn in 1828 and at the the date of his death was in his eightieth year. He was educated (as were also all his sons) in the historic King's School, Parramatta ; from King's School he went to Oxford and completed his education in Germany and France. After his return to New South Wales, he was in 1868, appointed as Crown Land's Commissioner at Binalong, which position, he occupied for a number of years. In 1874 he decided to enter upon grazing pursuits; and purchased part of the Cunningham Plains, Beggan Beggan, an area of 83,000 acres. On this property he settled down and by a number of improvements added to the value of the land till it became one of the best managed and most valuable estates in the district. Mr. Futter had the distinction of being one of the oldest magistrates in the territory, and was until recent years, a frequent occupant of the local Bench, and his decisions were always wise and just. Latterly, however, his increasing age rendered it impossible for him to discharge his public duties, and he was very rarely seen in town. A gentle man of the old school, courteous, just and hospitable, the late Mr Futter was one to whom the term "Universally respected and beloved," could be applied with the strictest justice and truth. Rarely has it been our lot to witness more sincere and widespread regret than was expressed on this occasion. Mr. Futter, who was twice married, had seven children, five in the first family and three in the second family. We tender our sincere sympathy to Mrs. Futter and his children in their bereavement.