Obituaries Australia

A cablegram advises the death, from pneumonia, of Mr. John Brown Watt at Bournemouth, Hants, England, on the 28th ult. The deceased gentleman was senior partner of the firm of Gilchrist, Watt and Co. of Sydney, and of Watt, Gilchrist and Co. of London. He came to the colonies over fifty years ago to join his uncle Mr. John Gilchrist, of the Sydney firm of Gilchrist and Alexander, and upon the retirement of Mr. Alexander in 1850 became a partner in the firm, which at that time was engaged in ordinary mercantile business. Some time afterwards the import branch of the business was abandoned and the firm devoted itself to the shipping and export trade. For many years the deceased gentleman was a prominent figure in Sydney commercial and political circles, was a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, several times chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, &c. Mr. Watt proceeded to England in 1888 with his family, but fully intended returning to the colonies. Ill-health, however, compelled him to abandon this intention. Messrs. W. C. Watt (of Gilchrist, Watt and Co., Sydney), P. C. Watt (of Goonal Station, Moree, N.S.W.), and W. Gilchrist Watt (of Hobart) - are brothers of the deceased gentleman.