Obituaries Australia

The death of Mr. John Jackson Waddell, which was briefly referred to in yesterday's Herald, at the ripe age of 82 years, removes another old colonist. The deceased gentleman was born in the county Monaghan, Ireland, and came to the colony with his family in the year 1854, when he settled at Collector, in the Goulburn district. Although he never sat for a seat in Parliament when responsible government was achieved, he took a deep interest in political contests for a number of years, until age compelled him to seek retirement into private life. He followed farming and grazing pursuits in the Goulburn district for many years, and when the proposed changes in the land laws of the colony were attempted the deceased gentleman, who was opposed very strongly to the proposal, started an agitation, that culminated in such strong opposition that influenced the late Sir John Robertson to withdraw his land Bill from Parliament after the first reading. As a magistrate the late Mr. Waddell was noted as one who did his utmost to put down the various crimes that were then rife, such as highway robbery, cattle-stealing, &c. He was instrumental in bringing to justice a notorious cattle stealer, and also a man who had previously committed an extensive mail robbery. In his daily life he was specially characterised for his painstaking and fairness as well as his fearless efforts to suppress wrongs of every kind. His many efforts in the cause of benevolence will long be remembered by those who knew him best. The funeral took place at the Waverley cemetery yesterday, and, as desired by the family, was of a private nature. The chief mourners present were the Rev. John A. Waddell (Rockdale), Colonel George W. Waddell and Mr. Thomas Waddell, M.L.A. (sons), Mr. James Leslie (son-in-law), the Hon. Colonel Mackay, M.L.C. (vice-president of the Executive Council), Mr E. J. Fox, Mr. F. W. Edwards, Mr. D. McMaster, the Rev. Frank Firth, the Rev. T. B. Holmes, Mr John Graham, Dr Mathieson, and others. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. W. Woolls Rutledge (superintendent of the Waverley Wesleyan Circuit), assisted by the Rev. J. Hulme and the Rev. Canon Soares. A large number of wreaths were placed upon the grave.