Obituaries Australia

The death occurred at his residence, Ashfleld, at six a.m. on Monday, of the Hon. Archibald Hamilton Jacob, M.L.C. For many years Mr. Jacob had acted as Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, and his vigilance and perspicuity were such that many measures owed to him material improvement. He was very jealous of the rights and privileges of the Upper House, and at all times strenuously opposed any infringement of them. Especially did he resent any attempt to weaken its powers and responsibilities. He was one of the leaders of the House in these respects, and his views generally had the hearty concurrence of a majority of the members of the Council. Born in 1828, Mr. Jacob was educated at Lincoln Collegiate School. Much of his early life was spent in farming pursuits on the Hunter River, and he always took a delight in the work of the farmers. In 1872 he was elected member of Parliament for the Lower Hunter, which district he continued to represent for ten years. In 1877 — at which time he was living at Raymond Terrace— he accepted the portfolio of Minister of Mines in the Ministry of Sir John Robertson. He was defeated for Parliament by Sir Robert Wisdom at Morpeth, subsequently opposed Mr. H. Copeland for East Sydney, but retired, and in 1883 was appointed to the Upper House. Here he was recognised as an able debater, and speedily proved to be possessed of a strong grip of constitutional law and usage. In 1887 he was elected Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, and continued to fill that position with honour and dignity up to his demise. His impartiality and sound parliamentary law made him much esteemed. In 1879 he left Raymond Terrace and went to Ashfield to live. His late wife was Miss Mary Snodgrass, daughter of one of the Governors of Tasmania, the late Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass, C.B., who was also Governor-in-Chief of this colony for a short period. His father was the late Captain Vickers G. Jacob, of the East Indian Imperial Army. During the discussion upon the Mining on Private Properties Act, Mr. Jacob was the recipient of an anarchial document and drawing, threatening him with dire penalties if he opposed the bill. In 1897 he received a signal expression of goodwill from his old constituents of the Lower Hunter, now part of the Gloucester Electorate, in the form of a handsome gold chronograph, to replace one stolen from him about that time. In 1883-4 he was appointed a Commissioner for the Calcutta Exhibition, and during his lifetime other honours were accorded him. Mr. Jacob was a brother of Mr. Robert Jacob, of North Sydney, who lived in this district for many years.