Obituaries Australia

The intelligence of the death of Mr. A. B. Paterson, at Illalong on Friday morning, was received throughout the district with one general feeling of regret. He had been ailing for some considerable time, and two years ago was seriously ill, but there was no anticipation amongst his family or friends of so early and sudden fatal termination of his failing health. The deceased gentleman was in Burrowa on the 30th ult., and on his return home felt very unwell. He was compelled to take to the bed, but Mrs. Paterson did not send for medical aid, because upon many previous occasions apparently similar illness had occurred, but recovery succeeded without medical assistance. On Thursday, feeling weaker, some sedative pills were administered, of a description he had been in the custom of taking, and sound sleep followed. The system, however, was much weaker than upon the occasion of any previous attack, and he sank and died in a comatose state on Friday morning. As no medical man had been attending deceased immediately before his fatal illness, nor indeed for years, an inquiry was deemed advisable, which was commenced before Colonel Chisholm, P.M., at Illalong on Saturday morning, and adjourned until the 15th, in order to allow an analysis of the pills to be made ; but as these were made up from a careful and accurate prescrip- tion, and upon other occasions taken, it is not probable that any fault will be found with them. Dr. Thane, of Yass, gave evidence that the heart was very much enfeebled, and that deceased had suffered from fatty degeneration of that organ. The funeral took place on Sunday to the Binalong cemetery, and was attended by a very large number of people. The pall-bearers were Messrs. A. McCallum, J. C. Yeo, J. J. Garry, and L. J. Dargan. The Rev. Mr. Dickinson read the burial service, and delivered an impressive address at the grave. A widow and two sons and five daughters are left. The eldest son (Mr. Andrew Barton Paterson) is of the firm of Paterson and Street, solicitors, Sydney.

The late Mr. A. B. Paterson, who was 56 years of age, was born at Crofton Hill, Lanark, Scotland, and was the son of Captain John Paterson, of that place. He arrived in the colony more than 35 years ago, and was the owner of lllalong station, and other pastoral properties. He sold Illalong to the late Mr. Henry Brown, and then became manager of the extensive Bendinine estate, including lllalong, where he resided until his death. He was a very capable magistrate, and the oldest in the Burrowa district; was the first returning-officer for the Burrowa electorate, and was appointed to a seat on the first Licensing Bench under the Licensing Act, of 1882, but both of these positions he resigned some years ago. Four years ago he was appointed a member of the Local Land Board, which office he continued to hold up to the time of his death, and was held in unqualified confidence and great esteem by all classes. He was well read, and possessed good literary ability. Intelligently observent in politics, he frequently expressed his undisguised contempt of the present abandoned and insipient state of New South Wales politics, and of the screed of politicians who of late years have monopolised the political arena ; but no man had greater or more respectful tolerance for the opinions of others, either in religion or politics.