Obituaries Australia

We regret to record the sudden death of another very old citizen of Launceston, Mr Henry Reading, who died at his residence, Paterson-street, about 4 o'clock on Wednesday. Mr Reading had been about town during the day; had called at the residence of one of his daughters, Mrs Barwood, after 3 o'clock; had also called at Mrs Hardman's for a newspaper, and on returning home entered by the back door. He saw Mrs Cunningham, a nurse who was attending a child of his daughter, Mrs Huxtable, and said he was very ill and feared he was done for. He then went to his bedroom; Dr. Maddox was sent for, but medical aid was of no avail; the sufferer sunk and died soon after he entered his house. For a long time past Mr Reading, though apparently a robust healthy man, has been made aware by his medical advisers, and by his personal knowledge of his own constitution, that he was liable to die at any time from disease of the heart. In conversation with his friends he made no secret of the terrible fact that he was aware of the sword of Damocles hanging over his head. And yet he was not in a desponding state of mind; on the contrary, he went about his ordinary duties as cheerfully as when he felt in better health. Mr Reading has long been known as the most extensive owner of house property in Launceston. He has always lived quietly and unostentatiously, considering his great wealth, and many blamed him for not pulling down all his houses of a low class, and building on their sites comfortable dwellings. He was evidently of opinion that he knew his own business best, and that he had a right to do as he pleased with his own. He therefore declined entering into building speculations, but was continually investing the proceeds of his rents in more and more real property in town and country. He leaves a widow and a large family to enjoy the fruits of his many years of economy, care, and business tact. Two of Mr Heading's daughters are married to captains of vessels trading between London and this port, Captain Harwood and Captain Whittingham. Another daughter is married to Mr T. Jones, formerly a grocer in Charles street, and now in business in Hobart Town. A fourth daughter is married to Mr Palmer, traveller for an extensive business firm in Melbourne, and a fifth daughter, married to Mr Huxtable, chemist at Mr Spong's establishment, still remains at the family residence, Patterson street. Mr James Reading, the eldest son, resides on a large farm on the East Tamar, and he has lately assisted his father in the rather onerous task of collecting the rents. Mr E. Reading, the youngest son, is a valued assistant in the large drapery establishment of Messrs Smith and Poole.