Untitled

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 937, 26 June 1877, Page 3

TIID HON. JOHN FAIRFAX

The Hon. John Fairfax, M.L.C., was a gentleman well known throughout the Australian colonies as the founder of the Sydney Morning Herald as a morning journal, and for many years past, in conjunction with his

1 sons, the proprietor of that journal. The event was not entirely unexpected. Mr Pairfax was full of years ; he had led a hardworking life, and the wonder was that he should preserve so well. The death of his wife, some two years ago, affected Mr Fairfax visibly, and when he paid his last visit to Melbourne, six months back, his friends noticed a change. In a sketch of his life the Argus says : —He was one of the most respected of Australian pioneers, and his career can be pointed to as an example to others of how position and respect are to be secured by honest industry and enterprise. No man probably has occupied so prominent a position in a comparatively small community, and made so few enemies and earned so much of general approbation as the deceased gentleman. Mr Fairfax's life was one of work. He was born in Warwick, England, and at twelve years of age he was in regular employment as a compositor in a printing-office in his native town. To improve his circumstances he afterwards went to London, and worked for some time on the Morning Chronicle newspaper, and it is a coincidence that the late Mr Justice Thierry, of New South Wales, was at the same time engaged on the paper as a law reporter. Mr Fairfax returned to Warwickshire at the age of twenty-one, .and commenced business as a bookseller, and he also started a newspaper called the Leamington Spa Chronicle. In consequence of a criticism in his paper of public officials, he was prosecuted for libel. The result was a victory for Mr Fairfax, but the heavy expenses swallowed his all, and this circumstance led to him emigrating to Australia. He arrived in Sydney in the year 1838, with but £5 in his pocket. He obtained employment in the office of the Sydney Morning Herald, which was then a bi-weekly paper, and was the property of Mr Stokes. In addition to his labors in the Herald office, he obtained the situation of librarian to the Australian Subscription Library in Sydney. His industry and his energy made him many friends, and in 1841 he found himself in a position to take the bold step, in connection with Mr Charles Kemp, also a compositor in the Herald, office, of purchasing the paper for the s\un of £IO,OOO. The partnership between Mr Kemp and Mr Fairfax continued until 1853. Mr Fairfax had in the meantime paid a visit, to England, and on his return he became sole proprietor of the Herald. In 1857 Mr Fairfax took his eldest son Charles into partnership, and subsequently his two younger sons were admitted into the firm. Mr Fairfax's later history has been that of his paper, which has been conducted with rare political moderation and great business ability. He left it not only the leading journal of Eastern Australia, but the sole morning paper piiblished in Sydney. Such a record speaks for itself. Mr Fairfax was also identified with the leading public companies of his adopted city, and for 18 years he was director of an association, the Mutual Provident, of which Sydney is deservedly proud. He occupied a like prominent position in the Independent Church, and the large Pitt street congregation will in an especial degree feel his loss. In 1870 Mr Fairfax became a member of the Council of Education, and in 1874, with the approbation of all parties, he was nominated a member of the Legislative Council,