THE LATE MR BRODIE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 2

THE LATE MR BRODIE.

Thoro are many in this and the neighbouring Colony of Victoria, who will read with regret the announcement in another column of the death of Mr George Brodio, formerly of Edinburgh, and late Accountant in Bankruptcy in New Zealand. Mr Brodie left Edinburgh when about twenty yeai'S of age. Ho arrivod in Victoria during the early days of the goldfiold3, and determining, like most adventurous young men of that period, to go to the diggings, ho visited the principal goldllelds of that Colony. Mr Brodie loft Ballarat in 1854, the year of tha Ballarat riots, and went to Bondigo during the early part of 1855 as one of a co-operative party, to start a quartz crushing machine, and lie was afterwards engaged in quartz mining for several years with varied success. At tho general election of members for the Victorian Assembly in 1858, Mr Brodie was a candidate for the representation of Mandiirang, for which district two members had to be elected. Mr Brodie was returned at the head of the poll, his colleague being Mr Thomas Carpenter. Mr Brodie was a supporter of the Nicholson Government. Two members of the Assembly having afterwards to bo appointed as members of the thon Board of Science, of which Mr Brough Smyth was Secretary, Mr Brodie and Mr T. B. Humffray were elected. After tho Heales Government had succeeded that of the* Nicholson party, and upon the retirement of Mr 11. S. Anderson from the Heales Cabinet as Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Mr Brodie, who had been requested to do so, accepted tho vacant post, and, on seeking re-election, lie was returned without opposition, and honoured with a complimentary banquet. In consequence, however, of a disagreement *'ith his colleagues, Mr Brodie retired from the Cabinet, and also resigned his seat as a member of the Assembly in a few months afterwards. Tho discoveries in connection with Gabriel's Gully, in July, 18G1, attracted a large amount of attention in Victoria, and about the end of that year Mr Brodie, like many others, came to Otago. Shortly after his arrival in Dunedin, Mr Brodie was appointed special correspondent for this journal on the goldfields. While so engaged, the miners in the Tuap lea district petitioned for the establishment of a Mining Board. The prayer of the petition having been granted, the miners find to elect a Board of seven members. The election caused considerable excitement, and Mr Brodie, who was amongst those elected, found that he had been returned at the head of the poll by a large majority. Mr Brodio was subsequently chosen Chairman of tho Board, which comprised men of great experience in mining matters in Victoria, New South Wales, and California. Some time afterwards Mr Brodio, with Captain Baldwin, was elected a member for the Goldfiolda, in the Hoii3e of Representatives. He also became editor and part-proprietor of thoDunstan Times, and was returned as one of the representatives of the Goldfields in tho Otago Provincial Council, in the beginning of 18G3. He took a very active part in the proceedings of that body, particularly in tho matter of education, as a member both of the Council and of the Executive. On the return of Mr Brodie from the sitting of the Assembly at Auckland, in 18C4, he

was presented by the people of tho Baast»n district with a purse containing 200 sovereigns ; and, with Mr Mouat, ho was entertained at a public dinnor given at Lawrence in thoir honour during tho following year. Mr Brodio continued to W a member of tho Provincial Council until its dissolution in 18C0. As a member of tho Houso of Representatives, he devoted himself principally to legislating for tho advancement of the Goldfiolds. After the dissolution of the Houso, by eflluxion of time, in 1565, Mr Brodio did not seek reelection, la 18GG, ho was appointed Inspector under the Debtors aiad Creditors Act, 1800, and, upon tho repeal of that Act and passing of tlio Bankruptcy Act, 1807, ho was appointed Accountant in Bankruptcy, which office he held up to* tho tinio of his death. It had been generally known, for some months past that Mr Brodio's health was gradually failing, but hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery. We regret to hear that Mr Brodio's family have been left almost entirely unprovided for.