DEATH OF MR JR.H.LEARY?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10362, 17 May 1895, Page 3

DEATH OF MR JR.H.LEARY?

Universal regret was expressed in the city yesterday on tho announcement of Mr heavy's death being made, A oablo meßsage received by his family a few days previously was of co disquieting a nature that it was generally feared It was but the forerunner of sadder news; and so it happened^ I Richard Henry Leary was born on the sti November 1840, at Sonthall, Middlesex, England After reviving an elementary education at a private school in London he emigrated to Victoria in 1854-. The early part of his colonial career was spent in the " bush " and on the goldfields. He was subsequently engaged in a merchant's office in Balhxrat and Melbourne, and for a time was the local representative at Geelong of his employer. Shortly after the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully he cam« to Otago, arriving in Duuedin in September 1861. Mter several months' experience on the diggings he returned to Dunedin, and was for some time manager for I It. Wilson and Co., of this city. 'During the rush to the West Coast in 1865 ha proceeded to Hokitika, and represented several Duujjdin Urins there. Retovuiljz to Dunediu again Ije became chief aceouuUut for the late firm of I driver, Maclean, and Co., stock and station ! .gents. On the dissolution of that Gem iv 1871 ' ka commenced business on his own account as a public accountant and estate agent, and was .for some years provisional trustee in bank-1 ?uptcy. In 1878 he entered into partnership with Mr Horace Bastings, the firm carrying on business as auctioneers and agents in Duoedin ■ under the style of Bastings, Leary, and Co. At the expiration of the partnership term, Mr '• Leary resumed buniness as public accountant and financial agent. Ho had the full confidence of the business community, and his sound JMgmßnt led to" kin being a trusted adviser in "2ua.tter» where financial knowledge and expett ii.i«iK:rit<intship were involved; He took nu j active interest in tho formation of the Accountants' Institute. Mr Lefiry commenced his public career in 1875 as a City 00-.-ncillor. He was eleated mayor in July 1877. but. in consequence of a disagreement with the than town clerk as to tho mayor's authority, especially in regard to the manner in which the bookii should be kept, and the refusal of the council to support him in the i position he took up, be resigned aiter holding office tor about four mouths. He was supported in his action by the press, and having been induced to offer himself ■ for re-election was returned by a large majority.1 In 1880 he was tor the third time elected mayor by the largest number of votes polled up to that time by any candidate. It W3S dariog his term of ofike that the foundation stone of the Town Hbllwhs laid, and it was on his vate aa mayor that the Siheratream water supply scheme was adopted In 1890, on the urgent itrpreaentatiou of friends, he consented to bec'ocas » candidate for tb'a representation of the City of Duuedih in the; House of Representatives, but suffered defeat. Mr Leary was for many years an eatbtwiaitic volunteer, and held commissions as capUiu of tho South District Rangers and ths Wakari Itiflsa. He took & keeu interest in all social m»tt«rs, and was a prominent member of the first Parliamentary Union, and Speaker on it» revival iv 1883. Ho was also au. active xtitanber of the Otago Central Railway League, ami, acted as secretary up to the time ot his duparturo for England. He was for soma time' manager of tht Ocugo Guardian, and held a variety of public positions oS trust. Mr Leary was a director of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers Company (Limited). He was aft the preliminary mseoing at which it was decided to bring the company into existence, now seventeen years since; was elected one of the first board of directors, and remained a member until he died. His sound, good sense, ripened judgment, and sterling character mads him an eatawnftd colleague, and his loss will be deeply felt both aa a colleague and a frieud of tnose with vrfeom he has bsen associated for so many years. . Sir Leary having beeu appointed agent for the corporation, of the city of Dunedin for the loan runveraiou which hud beau resolved upon, he found it. nccessacy to visit London. He set out SB the 2.13 th November Ja.it, hut cob before the Jeadiug business men of the city had assembled)o wish him success,. tho gathering serving to .Vnow the esteem in which Mr Leary was held. He proceeded by way of filtlbcurne, and on reacniujj .Brindisi went; overland to Paris and then on tv London. Hn unfortunately caught, a chill, which w«.b followed-by iuflueu/.a. Brouchisi catarrh ensued and then puoumouia, and, despite the devoted attention of his friend Kr Doughty, the relapjo which followed a partial.recovery found Mr Leary so weak that his death followed. Public-sympathy will go oat to Mrs Leary and her family iv their fad bereavement. Of a quiet, retiring, and; ooraewbat reserved disposition, it was only t.ho3ts brought into close relatious with Mr Li-acy when he had shaken hinwelf true from bmiiusGS ewes wbo g»iued a real knowledge of his cueery, genial nature ■ and 'warm- Ijeart.. OursicitiJitioun.and faithful in &11 his business relatioua, ho was ever ready to aesiat and advise tithe.L-s, a.nd those who admired and esteemed him will t'ael deeply for the bereaved, family v/hoiti mainstay hus been cut off in tho full vigour olinauhood. It is proposed to eir balm the bndv and brinj it to New KeaJanil fo? burial.