DEATH OF SIR THOMAS BENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 18 September 1909, Page 2

DEATH OF SIR THOMAS BENT.

AN_ INTERESTING PERSONALITY.

. ' ' ' -p . ~t. — r- §.-£- - Press •A*"so**iA*nqN.— UoprMGHX.

MELBOURNE, Friday, a . Sir Thomas Bent, ex-Premier. of' 7yic- } toria, died Suddenly after -a. .slight; at-:\ tack of- pneumonia, which ' sriperyened.*." on influenza. -•-. 'i V": Leading members of th&kFederalk House paid tributes to the .deceased. -: (Reed. Sept 18, 9.40 a.m.) -LONDON, Friday. >■;..'- --k. Newspapers . puElisb anecdotal - ; articles of the late Sir Thomas Bent, ex- "•: Premier bf Victoria, commenting on his interesting -personality.".

[The late Sir Thomas Bent, ex-Pra- vernier of -Victoria, was a good deal before the Australasian .public .of recent months, owing to bis sudden political downfall. Starting lTf© as i-a market gardener, he had a meteoric political career, not unlike that, of onr own Mr . -Seddon. He came in the course of a few years to rule and be the chief ot the Party that, at one. time contemned _- and ridiculed him, and as Speaker. Grown Minster, or Premier, he P the stage" of Victorian politics tor*. lengthy period. Within the past year his colleagues and his former follow*nfr,' dSerminea to be rid of him,, contaved , to freeze him out of office, and his. recent impeachment, and honourable acquittal in connection witb .certain land transactions are within the memory of.. all newspaper Teaders. , He- did not (long survive bis political ' downfaU, as . his Jiealth seems to have'given waV-un-der the mental strain he had.to; bear during the last months of his chequered . p. and turbulent life.] • :,