Obituaries Australia

We are sorry to announce that Mr Hector Norman Simson, died at his residence, Laceby, near Wangaratta, on Thursday last, after a somewhat lingering illness. The deceased gentleman was a very old colonist, having arrived in Sydney about forty years ago. He was a native of the small island of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland, where his father earned on the business of a distiller. He received his education at the High School, Glasgow, where he made the acquaintanceship of Sir James McCulloch, who was a boy at the same educational establishment. After completing his studies he commenced his mercantile career by serving the firm of Messrs Wingate, Son and Co., wholesale manufacturing silk merchants, Glasgow, as a junior clerk, and after receiving a very tempting offer to proceed to Sydney to manage a distillery, he resolved to try his fortune in foreign climes, and as we have before stated, arrived in Sydney in 1840. Shortly afterwards he entered into pastoral pursuits in New South Wales and Victoria, and held a station in the vicinity of Maryborough in the early days, better known as Simson's diggings. He was an excellent judge of blood stock, and an enthusiastic supporter of the turf, and was joint owner, with Mr W. C. Yuille, in the celebrated Flying Buck, and it is said that in one event they made £40,000 by the horse winning. After leaving Maryborough Mr Simson lived at Tatonga, near Benalla, afterwards at Killawarra, and more recently at Laceby, where he was located at his death. Mr Simson was an aspirant for parliamentary distinctions, and eight years ago offered himself to the electors of the Murray District, but retired before the day of polling. He was also at one time a member of the Benalla Shire Council. Although deceased was occasionally off handed in his manner – which in all likelihood he could not help – he had some excellent traits in his character, and his slight weaknesses of temper did not last long, and he was on the whole, a really kind-hearted, honorable man, and many acts of charity we have known him to perform, "He hath a tear for pity, and a hand open as day for melting charity." The deceased was a widower, and leaves three daughters to mourn his departure. His age was slightly over sixty years.