Obituaries Australia

Another familiar face has passed away. Mr. Thomas Giblin died at his residence at half-past 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. The deceased gentleman had, with the exception of an apparently slight weakness of the heart's action, enjoyed up to the last good health. On the morning of his death he evinced nothing to lead to any idea of the approaching event. He ate his breakfast with a good appetite, and was while at breakfast particularly jocular with members of his family. After breakfast he employed himself for some time in his greenhouse, but must have felt himself ailing, as he returned to the house, and was observed to totter as he entered. He was assisted to a chair and his son, Dr. Giblin, having been sent for arrived in a few minutes. He was followed by Dr. Agnew, and everything was done that skill could devise, but he only survived about an hour after the arrival of Dr. Giblin, having passed away in perfect peace. The cause of death was the failure of the heart's action. Few people were so well-known in commercial circles, and more highly esteemed, than Mr. Thomas Giblin. He arrived in the colony on 3rd January, 1827, in the ship Sir Charles Forbes, having left England with his father and mother and family, his father holding from the Secretary of State the appointment of Inspector of Schools, which, however, Governor Sorell had filled up prior to his arrival. His father for a time employed himself in various ways, having received from the colonial Government the appointment of Superintendent of the Queen's Asylum, which he resigned to open an educational establishment, which was attended by many of our fellow townsmen and colonists who afterwards acquired a position among our public men, among others His Excellency Sir Francis Smith. Mr. Thomas Giblin was placed shortly after his arrival in the office of Mr. Cartwright, solicitor. He was then in his 19th year. He had not been more than a year in that occupation when he entered the Bank of Van Diemen's Land as a junior clerk. Rising step by step in that institution he became manager about the year 1850. About six years ago, he relinquished the position, but continued to act as a director of the bank until a short time before his death. The deceased gentleman was a justice of the peace, and held various other offices of a semi-public character. He had been often urged to enter Parliament, but while manager of the bank steadily refused. After his retirement he, in 1876, contested the city with Dr. Crowther, and after an active contest was defeated. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hobart Town Gas Company, and a Director of the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company. He also took a lively interest in the Royal Society of Tasmania, and was for a long time a member of the Salman Commission. Amongst other offices which he held were the following :—Member of the Hospital Board, churchwarden of St. David's Cathedral, trustee of the Public Library, trustee of the Savings' Bank, and chairman of the West Bischoff Mining Company. He was a man of an enterprising spirit, and contributed in no inconsiderable degree to the development of the mining resources of this colony. The deceased was in his 73rd year. Mr. Giblin was a man of open hand and heart, ever readily responding to any claim of a public or charitable character. Singular to say, one of his last acts out of doors was to contribute to the Vince Fund, the notice of the contribution appearing in our columns on the morning of his death. He leaves a large family. A brother, Mr. Vincent Giblin, is the general manager of the Australian Joint Stock Banking Company, in Sydney. The Hon. the Premier, Mr. W. R. Giblin, is a nephew of the deceased gentleman.