Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Tuesday 12 May 1874, page 2


DEATH OF DR. GAUNT. Another old colonist, Dr. Mathias Gaunt—has just been removed from our midst, much to the regret of a large circle of relatives, friends, and acquaintances. He expired quietly at 9 o'clock last Sun-day morning at the ripe old age of 80 years. Dr. Gaunt was educated for the medical profession. After a visit to South America he returned to London, and was in practice there for some time, but having made up his mind to emigrate, he fixed upon Tasmania—then known as Van Die-men's Land—as his future home. He ac-cordingly took passage in the Eliza, Cap-tain Weddell, and landed in Hobart Town on the 1st May 1830, so that the deceased gentleman has been resident in this island over 44 years. After looking about him for a short time, he applied for and obtained a grant of land at a picturesque spot on the east bank of the River Tamar, about fifteen miles from Launceston, ever since known as Winder-mere. Being possessed of some capital he settled on this at once and lost no time in clearing and improving it. Amongst other things he erected a saw mill close to the river's side, which he subse-quently converted into a steam flour mill. Thirty years ago he also commenced the cultivation of grapes, and from his vine-yard some very superior wine is annually produced. He never regularly practised his profession in this colony, though he was willing to afford aid in cases of sickness or acci-dent, and was frequently called in to consultations. The site on which the pretty little church at Windermere is placed was given by Dr Gaunt, who also contributed largely to the erection of the building. About twenty-one years since, Dr. Gaunt left the mill and other pro-perty at Windermere in charge of his sons, and came to reside in this town, where he entered actively into the flour and grain trade. Some time since he re-tired from business. For a number of years he was a Director of the Commer-cial Bank in this town, and at the time of his death was a Director of the Corn-wall Fire and Marine Insurance Com-pany, of the Launceston Gas Company, and a Warden of the Marine Board. For the last two or three years the Doctor's health had been visibly declining, but though very infirm he was not actually laid aside until about a month since, when it became evident that there was a general breaking up of the system. Indeed, he himself appeared to be fully aware of this, but seemed quite resigned to death. His decease, therefore, was not unexpected. At times he suffered a good deal of pain. He was quite conscious—in fact retained all his faculties—until about half an hour before his death, when he gently sank to rest. He leaves a widow, five sons, and three daughters to deplore his loss. With the exception of one son and one daughter all his children are married. Dr. Gaunt was one of our oldest magistrates, his name having been in-serted in the Commission of the Peace almost immediately after his arrival in the colony. He was a very active Jus-tice in this District, and discharged his duties efficiently, until for political rea-sons he saw fit to resign his commission. In public matters he always evinced great interest, and his opinions gene-rally were clear and sound. In his private life he was highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities. He was a well read man and possessed a fine intellect. Yesterday the vessels in harbor hoisted their flags half-mast high, and the pro-prietors of many of the shops and busi-ness establishments in town partially closed their shutters as tokens of respect for the memory of the deceased gentle-man. His remains will be interred at Windermere tomorrow (Wednesday). After the foregoing was in type we re-ceived the following, written by a warm friend of the late Dr Gaunt :— "HE WAS MY FRIEND." The above quotation from Otway in his reminiscences of Curran, is so thoroughly applicable to the writer of this record that a few lines from his pen will not be inappropriate in speaking of the public loss sustained by the recent death of M. Gaunt, Esq., M.D., who after much suffering, endured with manly fortitude, has at length been removed from a long series of useful labours among us. It will be soothing to the feelings to take a slight review of his past life, and gather together the leading incidents of his colonial history. Dr Gaunt for many years of his early life enjoyed a very extensive medical practice in one of the best parts of London, but owing to the severity of the English cli-mate he abandoned it, and arrived in this colony in 1830. With the view of following agricultural pursuits, and after diligent research in various parts of the country he took up a maximum grant on the east bank of the Tamar. This beautiful and picturesque spot, which be called Windermere, after the English lake of that name, was the seat of his first and varied labors, practically an-nihilating the dense forests that then oc-cupied the land with a determination few could equal. Here, possessing as he did, strong natural talent for engineering, he erected a steam and flour mill with but very little foreign assistance, which contributed very materially to clear many acres of his heavily timbered-ground and was for a considerable length of time, before rivalry sprung up, a fair source of profit to him. Here, too, like the patriarchs of old "he planted a vine-yard," one of the best and most exten-sive in the island at the present moment. Here, again, mindful of his duty towards God and his fellow man he almost un-

aided erected a beautiful little church on a promontory jutting down to the water's edge, forming a conspicuous land refresh-ing contrast with the wild scenery around it,—an object of general attraction to, and admiration of the vessels navigating the Tamar. Of late years he resided in Launceston, and devoted himself to literature. He was director of many public in-stitutions—a keen politician ; his clear eye detected many imperfections in our representative Government, and under the conviction that our attempt to legislate for ourselves was a signal failure—a curse rather than a blessing, he lately drew up a memorial to the Home Government to take us again under Imperial rule, which at the pre-sent moment seriously occupies the pub-lic mind. He took a deep interest in the education question, and assisted very materially in unravelling the entangled accounts of Christ's College, being Chair-man of a Committee to enquire into its state and prospects, to which he devoted much of his leisure time. In him we have lost a gentleman liberal in his principles, comprehensive in his views, and of strong natural ability, which was always put forth gratuitously for the benefit of his fellow-colonists in whatever capacity, professionally or other-wise, it was called for—of cool, unques-tionable courage, with a tenacity of pur-pose that never left him while the accom-plishment of the object was in view—a firm friend, but, like the talismanic touch of Ithuriel's spear, he could endure nothing that was prevaricating, truck-ling, or contemptible, and in him it might be truly said "the spirit of good" was symbolised for the discovery and advocacy of all truth. May his bright example not be lost upon us.