Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Tuesday 17 May 1892, page 5


DEATH OF MR. W. ADAMS, M.L.A.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

BUNDABERG, May 10.

News has been received of the death in Sydney of Mr. W. Adams, M.L.A. The news came as a great surprise, and deep regret is expressed. It is understood that the body will be conveyed to Bundaberg and accorded a public funeral.

Later.

Mr. Adams had been suffering from a tumour, which was developing cancerous complications, on the lip and neck, and he left Bundaberg on the 4th instant with his wife for Sydney. He was specially treated by Dr. McCormick at the Prince Alfred Hospital, and on Thursday last underwent a serious operation, lasting over two hours, being placed under chloroform. A tele-gram received on Friday stated that he was progressing favourably, and the next intima-tion was late on Sunday night, when the

announcement was received of his death in the hospital on Sunday. Miss Adams and Mr. James Adams left this morning for Sydney to arrange for bringing the body to Bundaberg, where a public funeral will take place. Mr. Adams wrote to his family on Wednesday last, stating that he was hopeful of the result of the operation, and was under no apprehensions. He leaves a widow and family of six - one son and five daughters, two of whom are unmar-ried. There are general expressions of sym-pathy here; flags are flying half-mast, and most of the shops have their shutters up.

The following account of the deceased gentleman's career was published in the Bunda-berg Mail of yesterday :

A brief sketch of his long and busy career is appended, and we feel we but re-echo the general sentiment of both town and district that only with difficulty will the community be able to find another man of equal qualities and attractiveness of character to replace him who has thus fallen in his 62nd year. Ever zealous for the welfare of the town and peoplo he re-presented, the many institutions that now em-bellish our social life in Bundaberg, and in the establishment and development of which he was the foremost worker, are lasting reminders to us of him who is no more. Respccted by those of equal station in life, he was no less revered by many of humbler rank - and among these are many who in silence received from his kindly hand, and who will sadly miss his unremitting ministrations. Activity at all times marked him in agri-cultural matters. Social and friendly societies found a warm supporter in him, and to him the Hibernian Society - of which for many years he was past presidant - is in-debted for its foundation. In losing Walter Adams Bundaberg has lost a hardy citizen, a zealous representative, and an upright, con-scientious, and large-hearted man. From " The History of Queensland" we take the following :-" Walter Adams, J.P., M.L.A., Summerville House, George-street, is the pro-prietor of the Summerville Plantation. He is a thoroughly representative man, both on ac-count of his long residence in the district and his prominence as a public man. Born in Yeovil, Somersetshire, in 1800, he received his education at Somerton, and accepted a position in an extensive machinery factory owned by his cousin. In 1849 he arrived in Australia, and made his first essay in colonial business life with no success. He was compelled to enter the employ of a blacksmith eighteen months later, and on settling in Mary- borough, Queensland, accepted a like posi-tion. Soon after this he established a business which he conducted for seven years, at the end of which time he purchased land and became a farmer. Nine years later commenced as a contractor, and for two years carried on business in this line. In 1871 he settled on the Burnett and selected land, continuing his occu-pation of a contractor, combined with hotelkeeping, however, and constructing the first Government bridge in this district, as also the first piece of road work. He laid the first tele-graph line from the township to Burnett Heads, and in many ways made himself the pioneer in the foundation of a thriving settlement. Realising how important Bundaberg would be-come, he sold the whole of his Maryborough property, and invested the proceeds in local lands, which have returned him the profit due to his foresight. Mr. Adams was one of the first members of the Progress Committee, and held his seat for many years. He was elected an alderman at the municipal election, June, 1881, and filled two consecutive terms as mayor. He was re-elected on every subsequent occasion to the chamber, but was compelled to resign, owing to election as member for the district. He was at one time an alderman of Maryborough and chairman of works, resigning his position only on leaving the district. He was gazetted a J.P. in 1886, and on contesting in the same year the electorate of Mulgrave, on the retirement of Sir Thomas McIlwraith, was returned as a Conservative member, defeating the Liberal candidate, Mr. J. C. Walker. He was re-elected in 1888 without opposition, since which time he has filled his seat in the Legis-lature. He has filled the position of president of the School of Arts, and was for many years a member of the Hospital Committee and vice-president of the institution. He it was who was instrumental in founding this and many other public affairs."