Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 - 1876)(about) |
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Tuesday 24 February 1874
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OBITUARY. We learn from the local paper the, t death of Alexandr' Itearmonth, Esq., r Hamilton, on Suinday, the 8th inst., I at the comparatively early age of 64. Mr Learmonth one of a large family of seven sons, was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he served an apprentice 1 ship to the bookselling and publishing business. He was next connected with a paper factory near Limerick, in r Ireland, and subsequently acted as manager to a like factory in Wales, where he marred theo' daughter of the late Colonel Hanbury Williams, of I Wyeside, and then for some years carried I on successfully the bookselling and publishing business in Edinburgh, which he had purchased from his former employer. In 1841 Mr Learmonth joined his brothers in Tasmania, and was for several years accountant in the Cornwall Insurance Company, till he proceeded to Victoria, and settled in Hamilton, on 13th April 1857. The Spectator says: From his first arrival Mr Alexander Learmonth took an interest in everything connected with Hamilton, and the list of the various objects he either initiated or assisted to carry out, would be a long one. He was the first chrirman of the Dundas Road Board, and during his term of fttice he obtained a special grant of £3000 by way of addition to the revenue. He was the founder of the Munticipality of Ilarnil ton, having got up the petition for incor poration, and be was the first Mayor of the Borough, and held olfice in that expa. city for six consecutive years. On retiring from the Mayoralty for the last i-:ne Mr Learmonth, in November, 186d, wins presented by the Mayor-- Dr Govett--in behalf of the Council, with a handsome illuminated addreuo in token of the esteenm entertained for hii by his brother Couneillors, an'd slso in recognition of his untiring, praiseworthy, and conriscienmtous efforts in all matters appertaining to the welfare of the town and district. To the exertions, more oi less, of the late Mr Alex. Learmnnth do we owe the erection of the Court House and Government buildings, the Hospital, the Presbyterian Church, Manse, and School, the Masonic. IH.all, &c. liHe lent a friendly hand .in introducing to Hamilton the institution of the Preos, and for sotne time conoucted the Hamilton Spectator in its early days. In connection - with Mr Mlackersey he estabhlished the Pastoral and Agri cultural Society, and, was one of the I promoteni of the WVoollen Mill Company, which project, tof want of support amongst the pastorat comnlunity, w ,s ufortunately allowed to die out. The founding ofa Savings Bank, and the opening of a Sub tireasury at IlHamilton, were worked for energetically by -the late Mr Learmontht, and he was P'resident of the original Western Railway Extension League, which organisation first, drew attention to the necessity of railway communication in this direction. Judged by the numerous ap polntmenta held'ly him, Mr Learmonth was whit the world would call a pluralist, hut most of his different offices were purely honorary, ".the duties being undertaken simply from public spirit. He was appoint ed a Territorial Magistrate in Septembler, 1858, District Coroner in July, 1862, Government, Auditor in August, 1870. He was also Actuary of the Savings Bank, Substitute lReturning Officer fur Dunda., Chairman of the Trustees ot the Cemetery, Trustee of the Mechanics' Institute, Pre sident of the Hospital, Treasurer to the Masonic Lodge, &c., &e. At different times also, he filled the offices of Secretary to the Pastoral Society, Secretary and Treasurer to the Presbyterian Charch, President of the Mechanics' [ustitute, Patron to the National School, President of the Terminating Building Society, &c, &c, lie was also agent for the .European, and the.Victorian Insurance Socitie., for .the Scottish Art Unlion, for. the Fourth Victoria Building Society, &c. It will I fhus be seen that M r Learmonth led a life of activity and.uee'ulness, and yet, with all his multifarious .engagtement', he seemed never to be in a hurry, but managed to find time to enjoy a good deal of the sociey of his many friends. We are informued by the Spectator that: -The funeral,, which took place on Monday afternoon, was one of the largest demonstrations of the sort ever beheld at tlamiltoni. The brethren of the Masonic Lodge in full regalia, and in deep mouru ing, marched at tie head of the proces sion'all the way to the cemetery,, followed by' Lt hearse and about sixty or seventy buggies. Horsemen were proportionately nutmerous, and it was .a distirguishing feature in the affair that a large concourse of mourners on foot were in attendance to pay the last tribute of respect to one who was justly regarded as the poor man's friend.