Obituaries Australia

Mr. Richard Newton, who was well-known to an earlier generation, and kindly remembered, was in his 85th year when death intervened on Monday evening. Born in England in 1839, the late Mr. Newton was a mere stripling when the Crimean war broke out, and fired with all the enthusiasm of youth was enabled to take part in it as a commissioned officer of the 58th Foot. From the Crimea it was an easy step to India, and there he joined the 34th Foot. After the mutiny had been suppressed, he resigned his commission in the army, and answered the call to go further east. With Mr. T. W. Gilham, a brother officer, he made his way to Queensland, and settled in the Gayndah district. After two years, he paid a visit to England, and returning in 1865 again settled in the Gayndah district. Then he followed sheep raising at Bowen and later turned his steps towards Brisbane. He took up sugar farming at Redland Bay, where he installed machinery which he went to England to purchase. On his return he married Miss Mary Underwood. After eight years in the sugar industry, he ventured into journalism, and proved a capable writer. After a short but useful career as a journalist, business again claimed his attention, and ultimately the late Mr. Newton became a stock and station agent. He was one of the fast passing links with the early days of the Queensland turf. Of late years, nearly all the coterie that presided over the early destinies of the turf in Queensland have slipped away. With the late Mr. Abel Hyde, and Mr. W. Richardson. Mr. Newton was associated in the ownership of Albion Park. They controlled that valuable property until they sold out to Mr John Wren, shortly before Mr Hyde went to Sydney as stipendiary steward to the A.J.C. The late Mr. Newton had his colours successfully carried on the Queensland turf, and was the owner of the great three-year-old Dundonald, when the Little Bernie colt won the Queensland Leger, Brisbane Cup, and Moreton Handicap, the big three events of the winter racing season at Eagle Farm. Later he owned a sister to Dundonald, but she was not in the same class as her great brother. The late Mr. Newton leaves a large family of grown-up daughters and a son. Three of the daughters, Miss Dixie Newton, Mesdames Wodeman and Bromwich, are in England. The other two daughters are Mrs. Langlot Want, of Sydney, and Mrs, P. B. Macgregor, wife of a leading Bribane barrister. His son, Colonel Newton, is now located at Stanthorpe. During the war he earned his D.S.O. and C.B.E. The funeral will move from Mr. P. B. Macgregor's residence at New Farm, for the Toowong Cemetery, at 11.15 o'clock this morning.