Obituaries Australia

Mr. Charles Albert Laurence, of 67 years' standing as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and a founder of the well-known legal firm of Laurence and Laurence, died early yesterday afternoon at his home, Sunny Brae, Burns-road, Wahroonga, aged 80 years. Mr. Laurence had been seriously ill for several weeks.

The son of a retired colonel of the British army, Mr. Laurence came to Australia with his parents in 1853. He was admitted to practice as a solicitor in December, 1867.

Soon afterwards, Mr. Laurence became a partner in the firm of Stephen and Stephen, at present known as Stephen, Jacqúes, and Stephen. Mr. Laurence, in conjunction with his sons, Mr. E. A. Laurence and Mr. N. C. Laurence, founded the present firm of Laurence and Laurence in the early 'Nineties.

When in active practice, Mr. Laurence devoted himself to common law and to company law. He joined the Law Institute in September, 1885, was on its council from July, 1886, to July, 1909, and retained membership till his death.

For the past five years Mr. Laurence had been living in retirement at Wahroonga.

Mr. Laurence was a member of the first Volunteer Corps in New South Wales. He was one of the guard of honour which received the Governor Sir John Young (afterwards Lord Lisgar), on his arrival in Sydney. A Government grant of 60 acres of land at Wentworth Falls was made to Mr. Laurence when he retired from the corps.

At various periods Mr. Laurence was an alderman of the Manly and Ashfield councils. He had shared in the movements for the formation of both municipalities. His acquaintance with Manly was a long one. He could remember the Corso as a street of planks laid upon bare sands, and a primitive Manly jetty built from board and saplings. Small steamers then ran two perilous journeys a day from Circular Quay to Manly. He was one of the founders of the Manly Co-operative Steamship Company, later absorbed by the Port Jackson Company.

Mr. Laurence is survived by a widow, five sons–Messrs. Ernest A. and Neville C. Laurence, of the firm of Laurence and Laurence; Mr. Cecil Laurence, dental surgeon; Dr. Sydney Charles Laurence; and Mr. Roy Laurence; and three daughters–Mrs. A. J. Busby, of Wollstonecraft; Mrs. A. V. Hilliard, of Kirribilli; and Mrs. W. A. Wilkinson, of Wahroonga.