Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 16 July 1904, page 16


OBITUARY.

MB. E. V. H. KEANE. (See Portrait, Page 26.)

The death took place on Saturday morning of Mr. Edward Vivian Harvey Keane, the recently-elected member of the Legislative Council for the East Pro-vince. It appears that Mr. Keane con-tracted a cold while prosecuting his can-didature in the East Province. The exi-gencies of an election campaign pro-bably accounted for the trouble receiving slight attention. At any rate, it seems to have subsequently developed into pneumonia, and thc patient became so ill that he was removed to Miss McKim-mie's private hospital, in Perth. From the outset his condition was critical, and at 5 o'clock on Saturday morning the pa-tient succumbed, the immediate cause of death having been heart failure.

The name or Mr. Keane is a promin-ent one in the historical records of Western Australia, owing to his intimate connection with a variety of enterprises

which have made for the rapid develop-

ment of the latent resources of the State. He was born in Cheshire, England, in August, 1844, and was, therefore, about 60 years of age. He took up the pro-fession of a civil engineer, and in 1876 he came to Australia, first trying his luck in Melbourne. He subsequently car-ried out some railway construction work in South Australia, and ultimately found his way to Western Australia, where he secured some of the largest railway con-

struction contracts in the State. Among these were the line from Guildford to York and the Midland Railway. Alto-gether, Mr. Keane built some 500 miles of railway in Western Australia. He held the position of General Manager to the Midland Railway Co., and for some years was one of the foremost men in local commercial undertakings. Latter-ly he was engaged in agricultural pur-

suits in the Eastern districts. Before entering upon his successful candidature for the representation of the East Province in the Legislative Council, Mr. Keane was not unknown in politics in Western Australia, he having represent-ed Geraldton for four years, 1886-1890, in tho old Legislative Council, and sat for Perth during the first year of Respon-sible Government. He was Mayor of Perth during the municipal year 1891-2. Mr. Keane was an excellent man of busi-ness and of great resource. One of his most distinguishing characteristics was his indomitable courage in overcoming difficulties that beset works which he had undertaken. He leaves a widow and a family of three girls and one son.

The remains of Mr. Keane were buried on Sunday morning. Tho funeral was a private one, and the cortege left the residence of Mr. E. H. Dean Smith at half-past 11 o'clock. The service at the graveside in the Karrakatta Cemetery was conducted by the Bishop of Perth (Dr. Riley). The chief mourners were Mr. Vivian Keane (son), George and J. P. Keane and Keane Bolton (nephews), Messrs. E. H. Dean Smith, F. Stafford, J. C. Jull, Darbyshire, and Hancock, and Drs. Trotman and Harvey.