Obituaries Australia

It is with extreme regret that we have this week to chronicle the decease of Mr. George Leary, Clerk of Petty Sessions for the district of Mudgee. Mr. Leary was a native of this colony, his father being the late Mr. Leary, of Woolloomooloo. At the time when the Hons. Henry Parkes and W. B. Dalley proceeded to England in the capacity of emigration lecturers, Mr. Leary was chosen to act as their secretary, and whilst fulfulling that office he travelled over a great part of the continent of Europe, gaining that experience of men and manners which, together with his powers of wit and sarcasm, made him a brilliant conversationalist and an agreeable companion. On Mr. Leary's return to this colony he was appointed Clerk of Petty Sessions at Tenterfield, from which place he removed to Hay and afterwards to Mudgee. Hence, he has filled government situations for the past fourteen years, having acted as Clerk of Petty Sessions at Mudgee for the term of five years. The deceased had, by the conscientious and earnest discharge of the onerous duties attached to his office, gained the goodwill of most of the Mudgee people. His death resulted from the combined effects of erysipelas and brain fever, after ten days' illness, leaving behind him an ineffaceable reputation as a sober, honest, upright, and intellectual man. Mr. Joseph Leary, M.L.A., deceased's brother, was present at the deathbed, having arrived from Sydney a few hours previous. At the half-yearly sittings of the District Court the next morning his Honor on taking his seat on the bench said, "I deeply regret to have heard of the death of Mr. Leary, and out of respect to his memory and the important duties he discharged with such extreme satisfaction, I propose the court adjourn at three." Mr. William Stephen rose to express his hearty concurrence with his Honor's observations, as the late Mr. Leary was universally respected as an able and zealous public officer, and upright man. Mr. Stephen regretted that the state of the business in court would prevent his Honor and the profession paying a still greater mark of respect to the memory of the deceased gentleman, but he hoped the judge would be able to name an earlier hour of adjournment, so that many persons might prepare themselves for the funeral. Mr Davidson then rose and delivered the concurrence in this mark of respect being paid to the memory of the deceased gentleman, whom he had known for a considerable time as an upright man, one of our best citizens, a good public officer, and a true and warm friend. Upon the suggestion of Mr. E. Clark it was resolved to adjourn at the termination of the undefended cases. At the appointed hour the deceased was interred in the Roman Catholic cemetery, his remains being followed to their last resting place by a goodly crowd of mourners, including his Honor and all the members of the legal profession in town, as well as representatives from all the leading families in the district. Most of the business places in town were closed out of respect to the deceased's memory.