Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918), Tuesday 23 July 1918, page 4


DEATH OF MR. JOHN HUXLEY.

The death of Mr. John Huxley, ow-ner of Struan, near Merino occurred with tragic suddenness at his sea side residence, "Kenly." Portland yesterday morning. He arose on Sun day morning apparently in his us-

ual health but was shortly after-wards seized with angina pectoris and although he received skillful medical attention the malady prov-

ed fatal and he expired as stated.

Mr. Huxley was born at Portland about 55 years ago and was the son of the late Mr. John Huxley, one of our oldest colonists. In the ear-ly nineties when the discovery of gold in West Australia created a fur-ore of excitement Mr. Huxley in company with Mr. John Mills, of Powerscourt, and four others, dis-covered the famous Londonderry gold mine, near Coolgardie. The mine owing to its magnificent richness created tremendous excitement, and a galvanised iron fence was erected ar-ound the shaft to prevent any but privileged persons being allowed near it. The fame of the mine spread to England and eventually a strong

syndicate representing Colonel North and the Earl of Fingal, purchased it for a sum somewhere in the region

of a quarter of a million. Unfortun-

ately for these speculators the mine did not justify anticipations and after sinking a foot on the reef the gold petered out. After the sale of the. mine the late Mr. Huxley re-turned to his native, heath and shortly afterwards purchased the Struan estate, where he carried on grazing pursuits. Being of sport-ing turn of mind Mr. Huxley be-came the owner of several racehor-ses, the most successful of which was the well-known steeplechaser Ruralist, trained by Mr. J. Agnew,

of Hamilton who won over £800 in stakes winning the Great Western Steeplechase at Hamilton in Sep-tember last, carrying 12 stone 2lbs. This horse also ran second in the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnam-bool annual meeting and twice sec-ond in the big steeplechase at Mount Gambier. Mr. Huxley had only one brother, the late Mr. Tho-mas Huxley, who died at Portland

about twelve months ago. Two sis-ters survive him, Mrs. J. A. Row

of Hamilton and Mrs. Breen of Cas-terton. The interment will take place at the south cemetery Portland to-morrow afternoon.