Obituaries Australia

Deep regret will be felt at the news of the death of Mr. Theyre Weigall, father of Mr. Theyre A'B. Weigall, K.C., which occurred yesterday at his home at Elsternwick. He had been in ill-health for about three months, and his death was not unexpected.

The late Mr. Weigall was born in England in 1831. He arrived in Melbourne in 1854 with a Mr. Stoner, who had been appointed to be judge of the Supreme Court at Melbourne, as locum tenens for Sir William A’Beckett, then in England, and who, on Sir William’s recommendation, had brought Mr. Weigall with him as his associate. Only a few days before the arrival in Melbourne of the new judge and his associate there had arrived another vessel, which, though leaving later, had sailed faster, and had brought to Melbourne a despatch cancelling Mr. Stoner’s appointment. This was because of certain conduct by Mr. Stoner in connection with some electioneering matters which had not been brought to light until after his appointment. Mr Weigall’s position in the circumstances evoked some sympathy, and it was not long before he obtained a position in the Attorney-General’s department.

He afterwards became an officer in the Treasury, where he remained until 1869, when he was appointed curator of the estates of deceased persons for Victoria. He retained that position until 1895, when he retired on a pension. Under him the business and importance of the curator’s office greatly increased. Since 1895 except during a year’s visit to England, he resided quietly at Elsternwick, where he had since 1858 lived in the house which was the home of his wife and himself throughout the whole of their married life of 33 years.

When Mr. Weigall first lived in Elsternwick a stage coach was the only means of reaching the city. Now, in addition to the railway, the electric tramway passes within a hundred yards of the house. Though he never practised his profession–except wherein it gave him special facilities in connection with his office as curator–Mr. Weigall was admitted to the bar of Victoria as early as 1869. Very few of equal seniority survive. At one time he was an active member of the council of the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, and until a few weeks ago he was one of the committee of the Blind Asylum.

Mr. Weigall married in April, 1839, a daughter of the late Mr. T. T. A’Beckett, a sister of the present Mr. Justice a’Beckett. He is survived by his widow, his daughter (the wife of the Rev. A. Pelham Chase), two sons who are practising lawyers in Melbourne (Messrs. Theyre A'B. Weigall, K.C., and W. F. Weigall, and three sons in the medical profession, also practising in Melbourne (Drs. Reginald, Gerald, and Albert Weigall).