George Kelly

Obituary

DEATH OF MR. GEO. KELLY. The death of Mr. George Kelly, a resident of Glenisla, for a considerable period, occurred in the Hamilton hospital on Monday morning, after an illness ex- tending over three months (says the Spectator). Mr. Kelly contracted a severe cold about October last, from which he never properly rallied, and the complaint affecting the lungs and heart he gradually grew worse, until death relieved his sufferings as stated. Mr. Kelly was born at Clunie, Harrow, 55 years ago, and for some time carried on a stock trading partnership with his brother Timothy, and since then he has been following up pastoral pursuits in the Glenisla district for some time. He was very much interested in athletic affairs during his fairly long life, and was part owner in some fairly good racehorses in the past. He leaves three brothers and two sisters, one of the brothers living at Glenisla with an unmarried sister, another residing at Horsham, and another at Wagga; whilst a married sister (Mrs. Kaays) is living at Mooralla. The funeral re took place on Wednesday, leaving St. Mary's Church at 3 o'clock for the Hamilton Cemetery. Mr. Molly's life was connected with some interesting early reminiscences of the district. His father came to Tahara in 1841, taking charge of some sheep for the late Mr. George Winter, at what was known as old Tahhara on the Wannnon, afterwards obtaining employment with Messrs. White Bros., who had some exciting times with the blacks, one notable incident being the famous " Waterhole fight," arising out of the theft of sheep, and wherein a number of blackfellows were killed. When the late Mr. Kelly was born his father was managing for the late Mr. Blair, at Clunie. He was also a member of the first road boards (later succeeded by the present municipal councils), and was one of those who originally applied to the Lands Department for the reservation of the present Coleraine racecourse owing to the manner in which the spare lands were being taken up, and a copy of the petition is now in the possession of one of the members of the family. He was also acquainted with the famous Coleraine steeplechase, in which Gordon rode, and in which one of the fences was said to be 5 feet 3 inches high, the course be ing through paddocks with only the fences of the owners as the obstacles.