Obituaries Australia

Considerably regret was expressed yesterday when it became known in legal circles that Mr. Henry Massey Makinson, senior member of the firm or Messrs. Makinson and Plunkett, solicitors, was dead. A short time ago the deceased gentleman became an inmate of the Lewisham Private Hospital, where an operation was performed for cataract in the eyes. He made a good recovery, and there was every hope that he would leave the institution perfectly well, but at 12.30 a.m. he suddenly collapsed, and died of heart failure. The late Mr. Makinson was the oldest practising solicitor in Sydney, and the second in seniority among the members of his profession throughout the State. Deceased, who at the time of his death was 75 years or age, was born at Mulgoa (N.S.W.), and was the son of the late Rev. Thomas Cooper Makinson, who at one time was private secretary to Archbishop Polding, and subsequently to Archbishop Vaughan. Having decided to enter the legal profession, he was articled to Mr. E. G. Ellis, solicitor, whose partner he subsequently became; and on the death of Mr. Ellis the firm merged into that of Makinson and Plunkett. Mr. Makinson married Miss Frances Fox, of Adelaide, by whom he had three sons. He was a man of high integrity, enjoyed a very large practice, and was universally respected, not only by members of both branches of the legal profession, but by members of the public with whom he came into contact either in business or social matters. Being of an extremely retiring disposition, he seldom came under the light of publicity, but his private charities were numerous. In the earlier years of his life he was somewhat prominent as an amateur rower, and, until failing sight precluded such a form of recreation, he was an expert cyclist. He was one of the founders of the Incorporated Law Institute of New South Wales, and held office as vice-president of that body for many years. Mr. Makinson resided at Gladesville, Parramatta River, for the greater period of his life.