Obituaries Australia

A deep feeling of regret was felt in Yass yesterday morning when it became known that on the previous night Mr. Paterson, of lllalong, suddenly expired, shortly after retiring to rest. The deceased gentleman had been in his usual health during the day, a portion of which he spent at Binalong transacting business. He returned to Illalong in the afternoon, and proceeded about his affairs as usual. Shortly after retiring to rest he was seized with what was supposed to be cramp in the region of the heart, and Mrs. Paterson at once despatched a messenger into Yass for Dr. Campbell. The party sent, however, had not got out of sight of lllalong when Mr. Paterson expired. The messenger, not being aware of the sad calamity, proceeded with eager haste on to Yass, and Dr. Campbell instantly started for lllalong, of course arriving there too late to render any assistance. The cause of death is supposed to have been an effusion of blood on the chest. The deceased was only forty years of age. Mr. Paterson for very many years has resided at lllalong, and was a most esteemed neighbour and active and painstaking magistrate, discharging much of the duty connected with the Bench at Binalong. On the 25th January, 1858, the deceased was, together with Mr. W. Macleay, elected (unopposed) as a member of the second Parliament of New South Wales under responsible Government for the United Pastoral Districts of the Lachlan and Lower Darling—taking the place of Mr. Garland, who had occupied the seat during the first Parliament. Mr. Paterson—although a man of very considerable ability—found that he had undertaken a duty that was distasteful to his inclinations, and on the dissolution resulting from the passage of the existing Electoral Act taking place, in April, 1859, Mr. Paterson most gladly retired, well pleased to have the opportunity to discontinue the turmoil of political life. Since that period he strictly confined himself to the performance of the many duties devolving upon him as a magistrate, as the possessor of a large estate, and as a country gentleman. On many occasions communications of great merit, written by the deceased, have appeared in the columns of this paper, and have frequently been copied by our contemporaries. The last of these was a humourous contribution entitled "The Parliament Below." Mr. Paterson also assisted at the last series of lectures given under the auspices of the Yass Mechanics' Institute, and delivered an excellent and most interesting lecture on Scottish eccentricities. The deceased leaves a wife and young family behind. The funeral will take place next Sunday at 3 o'clock, it being intended that the much-respected remains of the deceased shall be deposited in St. Clement's cemetery at Yass. Since the intimation of Mr. Paterson's death reaching town all places of business have been partially closed, and will continue to be so until after the funeral takes place.