[Editor: These three obituaries are extracts from the “Miscellaneous news” section published in the The Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic.), 17 June 1873.]
Miscellaneous news
The death of another old colonist has to be chronicled. Mr. Charles Muskett, who has for many years carried on the business of a bookseller in Bourke-street, nearly opposite the Theatre Royal, died on the morning of the 4th inst. The deceased gentleman came out with Mr. Charlwood, and was for many years in the employ of Charlwood and Son, the old-established booksellers of Bourke-street, near the Post Office.
An ex-member of Parliament, Mr. John Cathie, died on the 13th May in the Ballarat hospital. Mr. Cathie was a native of Scotland, and went when young to London, where he received what education he ever had in his youth. At the general election in August, 1859, he stood for Ballarat East, and was returned at the head of the poll, Mr. J. B. Humffray being at the same time returned as his colleague. He was again returned at the general election in August, 1861, when there were four candidates for the two seats. After his retirement from public life he followed his business in Ballarat, but with indifferent success, and for several years sickness, personal and relative, helped still more to cripple his means.
Mr. James Warman, one of the oldest colonists of Australia, expired on 15th May, from an attack of paralysis, at his residence, Emerald-hill. Mr. Warman was born in the year 1797. At an early period he was appointed a midshipman on board of one of the line-of-battle ships of his Majesty King George the Third. He was in several engagements against the French, and on one occasion nearly received a death wound from a bullet that went through his clothing. He was promoted to be master’s mate on board his Majesty’s ship Phantom, and fought against the Americans. For his gallant conduct whilst in charge of a cutter in repulsing the enemy’s boat, and forcing her off, he was presented with a sword. While yet a young man he retired from the navy, and being presented with a gift of 600 acres of land in New South Wales some fifty years ago, he proceeded to the sister colony. Being anxious to see Victoria, he thought he would go the overland journey, and in his own carriage he drove across to Victoria between thirty and forty years since. He was engaged in squatting pursuits in various parts of Victoria, but was not successful, and subsequently went to the gold-fields, where he also failed to retrieve his previous losses. Old colonists will remember his efforts to recover a white lady, Miss McPherson, who was lost from a wreck amongst the blacks on the coast, and his taking a bushranger on his own station and bringing him to Melbourne. In later years he was proprietor of a registry office in Little Collins-street, and subsequently in Bourke-street, and was also electoral registrar.
Source:
The Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic.), 17 June 1873, p. 95 (7th page of that issue)
Editor’s notes:
inst. = instant; in this month; a shortened form of the Latin phrase “instante mense”, meaning “this month”; pertaining to, or occurring in, the current month
J. B. Humffray = John Basson Humffray (1824-1891), miner, politician; he was born in Newtown (Montgomeryshire, Wales), came to Australia in 1853, and died in Ballarat in 1891
See: 1) Diane Langmore, “Humffray, John Basson (1824–1891)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “John Basson Humffray”, Wikipedia
squatter = in the context of Australian history, a squatter was originally someone who kept their livestock (mostly cattle and sheep) upon Crown land without permission to do so (thus illegally occupying land, or “squatting”); however, the practice became so widespread that eventually the authorities decided to formalise it by granting leases or licenses to occupy or use the land; and, with the growth of the Australian economy, many of the squatters became quite rich, and the term “squatter” came to refer to someone with a large amount of farm land (they were often regarded as rich and powerful)
squatting = the act or practice of someone engaged in the profession or trade of a squatter
station = a large rural holding for raising sheep or cattle; the term “property” is used for smaller holdings
[Editor: Changed “sword,” to “sword.” (replaced the comma with a full stop).]
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