Obituaries Australia

Mr. H. E. Packer, Under-Treasurer, died after a long illness, last night, at the age of 52.

Hary Effingham Packer was born in Hobart in 1861, and was the son of the late Mr. Frederick Alexander Packer, a member of the Royal Academy of Music, London. His mother was also a member of the Royal Academy of Music, and was a daughter of Nathaniel Gow, the famous Scottish composer. Deceased's father was a man of splendid musical talent, and he composed the song 'Listening,' which won great popularity.

In 1876 the late Mr. H. E. Packer entered the service of the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company, and subsequently the Telegraph Department. He was next employed as a clerk in the Post Office, from which he resigned, and entered the service of the Commercial Bank of Tasmania. After a service of five years in the bank, he resigned to take up work in the Hobart Corporation as municipal clerk, which position he held for a year. He then re-entered the civil service by joining the Department of Public Works, and, passing through the various grades, became, in 1899, secretary to the Minister of Lands and Works, combining the secretaryship of public works with the former office, and in 1897 he was selected to reorganise the Public Works department. Mr Packer was at one time an officer of the Tasmanian Defence Force, a commander of the Tasmanian Engineers, and he was also a leading spirit in musical circles in Hobart.