Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918), Friday 19 May 1916, page 4


THE LATE MR. P. BALKIN.

A USEFUL CAREER ENDED.

The death of Mr. Patrick Balkin, of Knockaney, Hamilton, has remov-ed one of our oldest and most high-ly respected pioneers. The deceased gentleman, who was born at John's Well, Kilkenny, Ireland, eighty-five years ago, came to Australia in the sailing vessel Red Jacket in 1860, arriving in Newcastle, New Sou-th Wales, after a three months' trip. Two years later he removed to Port Fairy, where he engaged in contract-ing work under the roads board, and acquired some land, on which he re-sided with his sister. After a short sojourn in the seaside district he sold out there and purchased Knock-aney, on the Grange Creek, where he resided until the time of his death. He had previously married Miss Hannah Quinlan (sister of the Rev. Father Quinlan), the wedding being celebrated at Emerald Hill. When Mr. and Mrs. Balkin arrived in Ha-milton there was only one hotel in the town, and with the exception of a single fence the country between Hamilton and Coleraine was all open. Mr. Balkin, who was the happy pos-sessor of a retentive memory, de-lighted in recounting his experiences of the progress of this part of the State in the early days, his adven-tures having been most interesting. By industry and business tact the deceased built up a comfortable ho-me in the fertile Grange country, and always evinced a practical desire to assist in the advancement of the land of his adoption. For twenty-two years he was a member of the Dundas shire council, and was hon-oured by being elected to the presi-dential chair, and the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow members was evidenced by the pre-sentation of the following ad-dress in January, 1906 :—" Dear Sir,—On the occasion of your retirement from the Dundas Shire Council, we feel it is only your due to express our appreciation of the able, energetic, and conscientious manner in which you carried out your duties. During the continuous ser-vice of 22 years as councillor, for one year of which you filled the presiden-tial chair, your relations with the ot-her councillors were of the most friendly character, and they regret the loss of your valued public ser-vices. With best wishes for the hap-piness and prosperity of yourself, Mrs. Balkin, and the members of your family, we are, dear sir, on behalf of the council, yours faithfully. (Sign-ed) Wm. Young, president; C. H. Smith, secretary." In making the presentation the president, (Cr. Young) said that since Mr. Balkin had left the council, his colleagues had unanimously decided that they could not say goodbye to him with-out recognising in some way the val-ued service he had done for the rate-

payers for twenty-two years. They felt that no man who had ever sat at the table had tried to do his duty more faithfully than Mr. Balkin, who was for many years the father of the council, and they all hoped that his last days would be among his best.

Mr. Balkin had always led an ac-tive life, and only last week was in Hamilton. His illness was of short duration, he having taken to his bed on Saturday evening. From that time he gradually became weaker, and passed peacefully away on Wednesday morning about half-past ten o'clock, retaining all his faculties up to with-in the last few minutes. Mrs. Bal-kin predeceased her husband about five years ago, and he leaves a

family of two daughters and three sons—Mrs. McGrath (Collins-street, Hamilton), Miss Balkin, and Messrs. W. J., E. J., and M. Balkin—to mourn their loss, and for them sin-cere sympathy is expressed.

The funeral will take place this af-ternoon, leaving Knockaney at half-past two o'clock for the Hamilton

cemetery.