JOHN HANDRAN SMITH
Son of Michael and Catherine Henrietta Smith
Born: 2.6.1854, Perth, Swan River Colony
Married: Lavinia Anne Mary OSBORNE on 23.1.1884 (Perth 5673 & Perth 5673A). She was born in 1864 (Perth 7830/64) and died in November 1945 in South Australia aged 81 years. She was the daughter of William OSBORNE, a transportee who had been born about 1831, and Matilda nee TWYNHAM. William Osborne became a butcher and owned property in what is now "Osborne Park" the only suburb in Perth named after a convict. He died 22.5.1893 and is buried in the East Perth Cemetery. Leaving an estate of about £700, his widow transformed it into a fortune of nearly £50,000 within 15 years of her husband's death! She died in England in 1907. Lavinia married (2) Widdowson TATE (Fremantle 115/1907) and (3) Henry Frederick HERBERT (South Aust. 235 611/1908). Henry HERBERT had been born in March 1872 in St Kilda, Victoria and died on active service near Ypres on 15.10.1917. In 1910 they Registered one son in Norwood, South Australia - Henry Douglas HERBERT (Lavinia at this stage was 46 years old).
CHILDREN
Victoria Maria
Berniel Michael
Ida Handran
Dora Handran
Brunetta Handran (Netta)
Lavina Osborne Handran
John Handran (Jacki)
Leonard Handran
Vashti Mary Handran
Godfrey Gerard Handran
Around 1880 J.H. Smith was in partnership with James Grave and were trading as a furniture store known as "Smith and Co." J.H. Smith sold his share before 1884 and Grave began to take in a number of partners while still using the name "Smith and Co."
The Catholic Record of 15.6.1882 reported in its column "Jotting":-
CELEBRATION OF THE 53rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE COLONY - On Thursday the 1st inst., the celebration took place.........on the new Recreation Ground, Perth. Although it was not by the inhabitants of the City until a week or so beforehand that the Anniversary Day was to be kept up in Perth, it was so. Early in the morning on which the athletic sports were witnessed, people were to be seen in vast numbers. The pleasure seekers of both Perth and Fremantle availed themselves of the rare opportunity afforded them by assembling at the ground to witness the great events that were to come off. Undoubtedly and incomarably the sports held on the above mentioned day were the best ever organised for the West Australian public and especially for our athletes. Thousands of people were present at them. Such a large concourse of spectators at any time was never before witnessed in this colony. The day was beautifully fine, in every sense it was all that could be desired. It may be mentioned here that to Messrs. J.H. Smith and D. Harwood is due all praise for such a treat. They, in union with some other well-known young men of Perth, initiated and successfully carried out the magnificent programme of sports arranged for the day. The thoughtful arrangements made by them for the order and decorum of everything in connection therewith were excellent. They were done to perfection. There were also two platforms erected by them on the ground; one of which was for the Governor and his suite, and the other for the M.R.V. Band ...................
The report continues with more of the same effusions and concludes with the results of the events. Interestingly, the West Australian failed to mention the events of the day.
This seems to be the first time John Handran Smith's organisational abilities were put to the test. It was not to be the last!
J.H. Smith and Lavinia Osborne married on 23.1.1884, not once but twice. Firstly at St. Mary's Cathedral then secondly at the Wesleyan Chapel. Hillman records the events of the day thus:-
Wednesday, 23rd January, 1884.
The rest of the day was just as unsettling for this staunch Anglican; his new servant girl went stark raving mad during the afternoon and had to be removed to the Colonial Hospital. January 1884 was also noted for a severe measles epidemic. Many adults caught the disease as well as the children and fatalities were not uncommon!
Lavinia was baptised into the Roman Catholic Church on 1.11.1884.
This was quite a year for J.H. Smith as he also purchased a share of the Lion Brewery and was in partnership with John Harwood. Previously this had been the Stanley Brewery when Harwood had been in partnership with Hamersley and after J.H. Smith sold out it became the Swan Brewery with Harwood remaining as the chief brewer. In 1885 John Handran Smith's appointment as executor for his father's estate describes him as a brewer.
The West Australian of 20.7.1892 recorded a change in the West Australian Turf Club:-
Mr. J.H. SMITH has been appointed secretary of the West Australian Turf Club, a position recently resigned by Mr. E.G.S. Hare, who is now a member of the committee. The fact that Mr. Smith's services are still to be retained as handicapper is a matter for congratulation...
It is a matter of record that the winners of the 1889 and 1890 Perth Cups, Aim and Wandering Willie respectively, were both owned by Smith and Co.
Over the next nine years the name "J. Handran Smith" appeared at the foot of W.A.T.C. notices in the local press as the secretary of the Club and his name also appeared in the notices of many other race clubs as the Handicapper. Despite these large demands on his time, racing was not his only interest.
In May of 1899 he became the first Chairman of the Belmont Roads Board, a position he held for only a few months before he resigned. In holding this post he followed a family tradition of Local Government service. His father had been the first Chairman of the Perth Roads Board and his Uncle had been on the Perth City Council for thirty years.
His participation is shown in a report in the West Australian of 22.9.1899:-
A meeting of the Belmont Roads Board was held at the Agricultural Hall, Belmont, on Tuesday evening last, the 19th inst. Present: Messrs. J. Handran Smith (chairman), H.G. Duncan, S. Moore, and A. Shaw. A communication was read from the Public Works Department notifying that £100 had been placed to the board's credit at the Treasury for general purposes. Accounts amounting to £10 were passed for payment of wages of men in board's employment. Discussion took place on the motion of the chairman as to the desirableness of erecting a more central and commodious hall immediately on the main Guildford road, and it was decided that the Colonial Treasurerer(sic) be approached with the view to obtaining a grant for this purpose. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Duncan, that letters be sent to the Victoria Park Council and Canning Roads Board, with the view to obtaining their co-operation and support in a joint representation to the Commissioner of Railways that the interests of residents of those districts would be furthered by a better train service on Saturday evenings and Sundays. It was decided that 15 trucks of gravel be ordered from Mr. J. Phillips, and that the roller be hired from the South Perth Roads Board. Messrs. Moore, Duncan and Shaw were appointed a committee to meet the Bayswater Roads Board representatives in reference to the contemplated train service from Ascot to Perth.
Perhaps this was not a different interest, perhaps the last sentence of this newspaper report shows his real purpose of being part of this Roads Board. Ascot was the home of the W.A.T.C.
John Handran Smith continued with his duties at the W.A.T.C. and the West Australian of 1.1.1900 reported on the New Year's Meeting of the Turf Club and included the following tribute to the Secretary:-
The administrative duties were exceedingly well carried out by Mr. J. Handran Smith, the secretary to the club, assisted by an efficient staff. There were no casualties, no complaints were lodged, and the starting, judging, and other important duties incidental to the successful conduct of the racing were admirably performed.
The Post Office Directory of 1901 records J. Handran Smith as being the Secretary to the Western Australian Turf Club. He is shown as living at 'Oakleigh', Belmont.
The last year of the nineteenth and the first year of the twentieth century were times of upheaval and trauma for the family.
A report in the West Australian of 2.3.1900 reads:-
BELMONT ROADS BOARD.- The usual monthly meeting of the above board was held at the board room, Belmont, on Tuesday evening last, 27th ult. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. J. Handran Smith) Mr H.G. Duncan was voted to the chair.........
After the following meeting the West Australian reported in its issue of 30.3.1900:-
BELMONT ROADS BOARDS.- A meeting of the above board was held at Belmont Hall on Tuesday evening last............ .....The resignation of Mr. J. Handran Smith as a member of the board, which had been held over from a previous meeting, was considered and finally accepted....
Not only was John Handran Smith busy with business and civic duties, with the Smith daughters attending Loreto Convent School, Lavinia took a prominent part in fundraising for the school building fund. As early as 24.12.1898 it is recorded that he and his wife were attendees at the Loreto Convent Christmas entertainment in which their daughter, Vicki, both read a congratulatory address to Monsignor Bourke and took the part of the Fairy Queen in a "Fairy Extravaganza". The name of J H Smith appears regularly in the columns of "The Record" in lists of donations to both the Loreto Convent and the Sacred Heart Convent in Highgate Hill while the Record of 30.9.1899 reported that Mrs Handran Smith was a Stall presenter at a Bazaar in aid of the Hospital for the Sisters of St. John in Subiaco.. The W.A. Record of 1.9.1900 recorded that:-
The Ball, held in St Georges Hall on Friday night August 24, in aid of the Building Fund of Loreto Convent Claremont (Osborne) was entirely a success.......arrangements were carried out excellently under the management of a capable committee ........ Mrs Desmond (wore) royal glace silk with white chiffon sash, sleeves and ruffles, Mrs Handran Smith (wore) black silk with panels of white satin covered with handsome jet lace on sleeves and bodice.....
Another entry in the same issue of the "Record" gave the full committee:-
The ladies on the committee are Mesdames Conway, Kenny, O'Mahoney, Cavanagh, Gibbs, Sullivan, Wiggett, Handran Smith, Desmond, Maxwell and Moran.
Just as a note on "the committee"; Mrs Desmond was Brunetta nee Osborne, Lavinia Handran Smith's younger sister. Mrs Gibbs was Mrs Henry Righton Gibbs, formerly Margaret Duffy, whose sister, Mary Duffy, married John Joseph Smith, eldest son of Bernard Smith, and cousin of John Handran Smith. Mrs Cavanagh was May Harriet Gibbs, daughter of Mrs H.R Gibbs. Mrs Wiggett was Sarah nee Duffy, sister of both Mrs Gibbs and Mrs J.J. Smith, and one of her daughters was Maud Isabella, Mrs Sullivan. Mrs Moran was almost certainly a sister-in-law of Susan Ellen Moran who married Arthur George Brady, the eldest son of Henrietta Maria Brady nee Smith, sister of John Joseph Smith and cousin to John Handran Smith. If you are really good at this sort of thing you will have kept track of this paragraph. If not, all that is necessary is to remember is that the laity in this Smith family, with its wider connections, was as, or more, influential in church affairs as the religious in the Smith family.
The same source, on 15.9.1900, reported another Ball.
A dance organised by Mrs Kenny to raise funds for the refreshment stall at the Loreto Bazaar was held in St. John's Hall on last Friday evening and was a decided success, the only fault being too large an attendence for the cqxacity of the room. The music was excellent and a very enjoyable evening was spent. A great many pretty dresses were worn, black, pink and white predominating...... Mrs Handran Smith (wore) white covered with black, Mrs Desmond, pale blue.
The issue of the "Record" published on 29.9.1900 contained the following:-
On October 9 an entertainment in aid of the Loreto Convent Building Fund, will be held at "Oakleigh", the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Handran Smith at Belmont. An open-air concert and a dance on the beautiful lawn will be part of the programme.
The Bazaar was finally held at the end of the year and was reported on in the "Record" of 25.1.1901:-
A bazaar in aid of the building fund of the Loreto Convent (Osborne) was opened in the Town Hall on Monday afternoon, December 31st by Sir Alexander Onslow....... The stalls were prettily designed with tent-like tops and shelves ranged up the back to display the goods..... on enteringthe hall, the first stall to the right was No.1, presided over by Mrs Cavanagh.......
Three weeks later, on 25.1.1901 his son John Handran (Jnr), known as "Jackie", died. In the West Australian of 29.1.1901 is acknowledged the donation by the John Handran Smith family of eleven guineas to an appeal for a bereaved family named Green but then the following article appeared in the West Australian of 2.2.1901:-
TUBERCULOSIS AT BELMONT
Things went from bad to worse during 1901. A scandal rocked the Western Australian sporting community. The first hints were rumours of irregularities in the accounts of the Turf Club. This rumour was reported by the West Australian on 27.5.1901. In part the report read:-
Rumours have been rife amongst sporting men during the past few days that irregularities have been discovered in connection with the West Austrlian Turf Club, and it was alleged that the irregularities amounted to a very large figure. A reporter of the "West Australian" interviewed Mr. G. Leake M.L.A., the chairman of the committee of the club, last evening, in order to ascertain if there was any foundation for the rumour. Mr. Leake stated in reply that the investigation into the affairs of the club were proceeding, and the auditor's report and a full statement dealing with all matters affecting the interests of the club would be made at the general meeting of the members which was to be held on June 10. Mr. W. Strickland, sen., the vice-chairman of the committee, said, on being interviewed, that there was no denying that there was "something wrong" in connection with the affairs of the club. As to the nature of the alleged irregularities, he was not in a position to make any statement.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting were placed in the local press and the name of J. Handran Smith was not shown as Secretary. Then, on 11.6.1901, the West Australian reported on the meeting of the Turf Club which had been held the previous night. The full article covered five full columns! Some extracts follow:-
The acting secretary, Mr. Walter H. Clifford, read the annual report of the committee, which was as follows:-
The chairman, Mr Leake, M.L.A. who had just a few days earlier become Premier of Western Australia, in a long explanation to the meeting included the following comments....
Whilst he admitted that himself, and other members of the committee were prepared to accept all the blame, it did not explain away the matter. He would tell them, as briefly as possible, how they came to discover the discrepancies in the accounts and work. Constant reports had been made from the country clubs with regard to the neglect of the late secretary in answering correspondence, and paying certain accounts. They admitted that the late secretary was sometimes careless in the way of attending to correspondence, but they had no suspicion whatsoever that in the office there had been neglect of the club's finances. Of course they knew they had a banking account, and were supposed to have certain books kept, and they naturally thought that the staff were managing the affairs of the club and keeping the books properly. They only had an audit once a year. That practise had been followed for many years past. If what was now proposed, to have an audit after each race meeting, had been carried out, they would not have found themselves placed in the unpleasant position which they found themselves in a few weeks ago. (Hear, hear.) That was, however, no justification, it was an admission that the arrangement was not as satisfactory as they could promise it would be in the future. He had been saying that the correspondence had been neglected, and that accounts had remained unpaid.
The following extract is from the written statement from Mr. O.L. Haines, the Auditor, which was read to the meeting:-
.......the result at April 30 last being most unsatisfactory, and discloses a shortage in the cash of £2,247.13s.0d., but of this sum £1,600 has since been made good. The shortage is due to two causes, namely embezzlement and carelessness. The former is admitted, and the latter is due to the books and accounts not being kept ........
Mr. D. Forrest: Considering that we have two K.C.'s and two or three businessmen on the committee, how is it that the club would have been swindled had not somebody come to the rescue and prevented it? I would also ask why no action was taken to prosecute the individual who tried to swindle us out of that money?
The Chairman: Then why do you ask the question.
The family moved to Fremantle where John Handran Smith became the licensee of the Oceanic Hotel.
On his death several Obituaries appeared in the metropolitan newspapers. The Morning Herald of Monday, 18.2.1907 reported:-
Mr. John Handran-Smith, who was for many years a prominent Perth citizen and occupied a leading position in the sporting community, died peacefully at the Oceanic Hotel, Fremantle, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The deceased was a native of the State, having been born in Perth 52 years ago. He was the promoter of Perth's first brewery, known as Harwood and Smith's Stanley Brewery, and this was eventually purchased by the company which changed the name to the Swan Brewery. He was during his life the holder of a considerable amount of real estate. He was secretary of the Western Australian Turf Club for many years, but he resigned the position in 1900. About eighteen months ago Mr. Handran-Smith fell into ill-health, and since then he suffered from paralysis. The whole of his left side became paralysed, and he lost the power of speech, but it was clearly shown that his mental faculties remained unimpaired, for he was able to transact business in writing and carry on correspondence with his friends. In fact a week ago he sent a telegram to his daughter, stating that the end was near at hand and that he did not expect to live more than a week. His latest expressed wish also was that his funeral should not be publicly announced, but that he should be laid to rest quietly. Last Saturday afternoon he had an apoplectic seizure, and his medical advisor, Dr. Corbin, was at once called in. It was soon realised that the sufferer was beyond the power of medical skill, and he remained unconscious until a few moments before his death, when he opened his eyes, showed that he recognised those around him and then "went to sleep" as his relatives decribe his passing away. The funeral, which in accordance with deceased's last request is to be a quiet one, will take place this afternoon.
The Western Mail of 23.2.1907 paid the following respects to the passing of John Handran-Smith:-
Mr. H. SMITH
The Catholic Record of 28.2.1907 records:-
MR JOHN HANDRAN SMITH
There is no mention of Lavinia in most of these "Obits". Where she is mentioned it is not by name but as "widow". It is possible that at some time after the birth of Godfrey, Lavinia left her husband. Following J Handran Smith's death, Lavinia remarried. Firstly to Widdowson Tate, in mid-1907 in Fremantle. Tate may have been a Stoker who died when his ship caught fire in the Southern Indian Ocean in November 1909. The survivors reached Albany in December of that year. Her third husband was Henry Frederick Herbert, who she married in South Australia in 1908. From family stories they had met in Fremantle before moving to South Australia. Most of the family went with them to Adelaide in South Australia, where a son, Douglas, was born to them on 31.5.1910. Lavinia by now was in her mid-forties and so it is feasable that Douglas was the son of her sixteen year old daughter (Lavinia Osborne Handren Smith) but was registered as the senior Lavinia's child, a not uncommon practice in those days.
Henry Herbert , a carpenter, enlisted in the 50th Battalion on 2.10.1916, went to France and was killed in action while carrying out Traffic control Duties as a Provost. Dora and Leonard were reported to have been only metres away from the bomb blast. At the time of his enlistment he was living in Carlyle St., Glanville. Lavinia Herbert was granted a Military Pension of £2 per fortnight in January of 1918. At this time she was living at Sefton St., Largs Bay. Lavinia died in South Australia in the late 1940's, and is buried with her daughter Dora HANDRAN-SMITH in the same grave at the Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia.
("RED-HEADED SMITH")
Died: 17.2.1907, Fremantle, W.A. (Fremantle 38/1907)
Born 1885, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 25555/85)
Born 22.8.1886, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 28930/86)
Born 1889, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 18/89)
Born 1890, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 1400/90)
Born 1892, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 1759/92)
Born 1894, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 1395/92)
Born 1896, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 2590/97)
Born 1898, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 3772/98)
Born 1901, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 3681/01)
Born 1903, Perth, Western Australia (Perth 4565/03)
The wretched man Haynes was executed this morning, he was penitent at last and old Gegg has attended him most assiduously and even went to the scaffold with him. John Smith, generally known as Red-headed Smith was married today to Miss Osborne, he is a Roman Catholic and she a Wesleyan so they were married first at the R.C. Chapel and afterwards at the Wesleyan and I hear there is a tremendous row in the family about his going into the latter place after receiving the sacrement in the former.
No2 Stall came next, a patriotic stall under the management of Mrs Handran Smith. The colours of drapery were red, white and blue. Over the centre of the stall was placed a picture of the British Lion standing on a boar. On each side of this were hung portraits of British Generals, forming a very effective group. If the colouring on this stall had been more skilfully handled, it would have looked much better as there is some attempt at design in it, but red, white and blue arranged in stripes is not beautiful. There appeared to be almost enough goods in this stall for a Bazaar alone - many of them beautiful things but the clash of colour in the background quite spoilt the effect. I noticed an oblong mirror, handpainted: also several paintings by Miss Vicki Smith were especially good: some jars ornamented with modelling: a great quantity of fancy work: several articles of furniture - such as a bamboo hall-stand, a large bamboo easel and chair.
OPINION OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF STOCK
On Wednesday last, some cattle belonging to Mr. John Handran Smith, at Belmont, were examined by Mr. Weir, of Fremantle, one of the inspectors of the Stock Department, as it was believed they were suffering from tuberculosis. In all four of the cows were subjected to the tuberculin test, and out of the four three re-acted, one in a very pronounced manner. This animal was at once destroyed, and the post-mortem examination revealed the presence of tuberculosis. The Chief Inspector of Stock, on being seen yesterday, stated that it was only last week that an infant son of Mr. Handran Smith died from tuberculosis of the stomach, and that as the child had for some time past been given milk from these cows, it is surmised that the disease was contracted in that manner. In this connection Mr. Morton Craig desires that attention should be drawn to a paragraph in his report for the year 1899, on the subject of tuberculosis and the communicability of the disease to man through the consumption of tuberculous meat and milk...........
..................The inadvisability of the dual offices of the handicapper and secretary being embodied in the one person has been considered by the committee, and after due consideration it has been decided that the offices be separated. Applications are therefore being invited for both positions in the local and Eastern States Press. It is with extreme regret that the committee have to report serious irregularities in connection with the management of the club affairs. The accounts were not properly kept, and, as a result, large sums of money were lost. With difficulty, portions of these sums were traced, and the amounts made good. These irregularities led to the resignation of the secretary and his clerk. A thorough investigation has now been made, and a new system of keeping the accounts inaugurated."
He (the chairman) pointed out (to the Secretary) that two of these cheques had not reached their destination. That was admitted, and a promise was given that the accounts would be paid next morning. They were paid the next morning, and the receipts were produced. They found when they came to make further inquiries that the cash book had not been written up, and they were unable at that moment to trace where the money and cash generally that came to the office had gone. They knew, of course, of certain sources of revenue, and the services of Mr. Clifford were secured, and he was able to make up a rough list of what ought to have been received. The secretary then admitted that certain of this money was short, and he admitted other irregularities. He, however, promised that as soon as they had discovered the extent of the shortages that the deficiency would be made good. The accounts were made up as quickly as possible, and a balance was struck, and the secretary paid to him, as chairman of the club, the sum of £1,600.0s.0d. Roughly speaking, the money which had not properly reached its destination - their own banking account - amounted to something like £2,000.0s.0d.
Everybody whom he had spoken to had placed the greatest confidence in the integrity of the late secretary.
........It is impossible at this date to ascertain correctly the total amount your club has lost during the past year, and probably preceding years. I am convinced that for some years past your club has not received all the cash it was entitled to.
......I find 250 members and 500 ladies tickets have been printed for race meetings, when there are only 159 members entitled to receive them. It is important that your secretary be a man of commercial experience. A knowledge of racing is in my opinion quite a secondary consideration in the qualifications for the position if the interests of the club are to be studied. You have had experience of a non-commercial secretary in the past.
The present unsatisfactory state of affairs is due to the great confidence placed in your late secretary for years past by succeeding committees and members generally. Had it not been for this, the fact that the secretarial duties were not being conducted in a proper manner must have become apparent earlier.
The meeting was eventually thrown open for questions and amongst the queries was the following exchange:-
The Chairman: Mr. Forrest, I believe, asks why someone has not been prosecuted.
Mr. D. Forrest: No. (Roars of laughter.) I want to know why you gentlemen on the committee did not find out these frauds.
Mr. Hubble: Why was he not prosecuted?
The Chairman: Two members ask why someone has not been prosecuted. Do you mention any names? To whom do you refer?
Mr. D. Forrest: I have been told that Mr. Carter was private secretary to the late secretary. I am told that he has gone to England.
The Chairman: The committee as at present advised do not think that a prosecution is necessary (Hear, hear.) but if this meeting directs that there shall be a prosecution, the matter will be placed at once in the hands of the club's solicitors, in order to say what, if any, form that prosecution must take.
Mr. Hubble: Who confessed to the irregularities?
The Chairman: The secretary. The assistant secretary did not confess but he paid a portion of £1,600.
Mr. Hubble: Will you kindly tell the meeting whose cheque refunded this shortage? (Cries of "No, no".)
The Chairman: The money came to me from the secretary. There was no cheque. It all came to me in cash and notes.
The Chairman: [sic] Will you tell us whose money it was?
The Chairman: I certainly shall not. I received the money, and I am not going to bring any other names into this discussion unless I have an emphatic command from the meeting to do so.
Mr. D. Forrest: You may drag it from where you like. I know where it came from.
From a close reading of these extracts it would appear that the Sectretary's clerk took advantage of John Handran Smith's carelessness as an administrator. When the matter was first discovered it would seem that Mr. Carter made a hurried trip to England and there stayed. J.H. Smith was left to take responsibility for the losses and while losing his position and making some or most of the restitution it would seem that the committee did not hold him culpable and so there was no prosecution. There are, of course, other interpretations, some less charitable, which could be made.
The death occurred on Saturday of Mr. Handran-Smith, licensee of the Oceanic Hotel, Fremantle, at the age of 52 years. The deceased was a native of Perth, and for some years filled the office of secretary to the W.A. Turf Club. Mr Smith had been unwell for the past eighteen months. A stroke of paralysis was the immediate cause of his death. He leaves a widow and family of eight.
Mr. John Handran-Smith, who had been a leading citizen for years, passed away at Fremantle on Sunday. The deceased, who was 52 years of age, was a native of Western Australia. He was the promoter of Perth's first brewery - now known as the Swan Brewery - and was secretary of the W.A.T.C. for many years. For the past 18 months Mr. Smith had been in poor health due to paralysis. On the day previous to his death he had an apoplectic seizure, from which he never rallied.
In accordance with the request of the deceased the funeral, which took place on Monday was a private one, only a few relatives following the remains to the Catholic portion of the Fremantle Cemetery. The remains were encased in a Polished jarrah coffin. The chief mourners were Berniel, Leonard, Leonard [sic] and Godfrey Smith (sons), Messrs. William and Charles Osborne (brothers-in-law). The Rev. Father Smith officiated at the grave.- R.I.P.
