Obituaries Australia

It is our very sad duty to-day to record the death of one of this district's very oldest and most highly-esteemed residents. The superlatives are necessary for James Barrett Lane was truly one of our best and worthiest citizens. He was a native of the Bathurst district, being a son of the late William Lane, of Orton Park, but came to this district when quite a young man, and that is over 50 years ago. He settled at Rosehill, on the Ophir road, after living for several years on his father's station properties out on the Lachlan, and has lived there ever since, rearing a family of sons and daughters who are worthy descendants of an old and honored named in the Western districts of New South Wales. Deceased was 77 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred yesterday afternoon, and the circumstances of which were tragic and sudden. Although he had reached more than the allotted span of life, and although he was not in the very best of health just very recently, none of his family had the slightest premonition that he was so near his end. He was feeling just queerly, and his daughter yesterday morning met Dr. Watt, and asked him to call out and see her father. When the doctor arrived at Rosehill, the deceased was out in the back garden, and, being called, turned to come into the house to meet him. He was seen to stagger and fall, and when the doctor and his family went to render assistance, it was plain that his end had come. He died within a very few minutes. The death, of course, was a great shock to those still in the old home, and the consternation was generally and visibly reflected on the community when the news was whispered abroad towards evening.

Some 50 years ago deceased married a Miss Moulder, sister of Messrs W. N. and E. H. Moulder, of this town. The union, of which the issue was one son, Hubert, did not last many years before Rosehill was deprived, by death, of its young and esteemed mistress. Some years after this sad bereavement, he married again, his wife being a Miss Manton, daughter of the Rev. John Allan Manton, of Sydney, and a sister of Mrs. E. H. Lane, wife of deceased's brother. His second wife survives him. The issue of this second union was two sons and three daughters—Messrs Tracey and Allan, Mrs. J. C. Bailey, Misses Ella and Florrie. To the bereaved family, and a great many relatives in this and other districts, the sincerest sympathy of a host of friends will go out at this time, in which "The Leader" joins.

Of late years deceased had led a rather retired life, suffering a good deal from sciatica, but years ago he was a very active and prominent citizen. He took a keen interest in the political development of the State, in which he was so worthy a pioneer, and at one time he was importuned allow himself to be nominated as a Parliamentary candidate for Orange in the protectionist interests, that being the good old stirring days of our provincial fiscalism.

The funeral takes place to-day (Thursday) at 2.30 p.m.