MR DAVID SYME
MELBOURNE, February 14,
The death of Mr David Syme, proprietor of the Melbourne Age, ie announced. The deceased was 80 years of age.
David Symo was the joungest son of George Syme, a Scotch State school teacher. and was born at North Berwick in 1827. He was intended for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church ; but, having imbibed Liberal views whilst studying at a German ■university, abandoned the idea of pursuing an ecclesiastical career. Joining the press as a reporter, he did minor journalistic work until 1850 when, his health breaking down, he migrated to California, whence, after an experience of some 18 months on the goldfields, he proceeded to "Victoiia. He had been there about a year when his brother, Ebenezer Syme, and himself, purchased the Age newspaper, which had been founded in 1854. The prospects of the paper at this time were not encouraging,: in fact, it was believed to be moribund, and was not even the accredited representative of Liberal opinions, for though the Argus, alarmed by the Ballarat riots of December, 1854, was by this time round to conservatism, it still enjoyed a reputation for Liberalism, which it had earned in the early days of the colony, when it was in fierce opposition to every Gov- eminent. On the death of his brother, in 1859, the whole management of the paper devolved on Mr David Syme, in whose hands it !had remained \vntil his death. XTnder Mr Syme's management the Age had been the pioneer of Liberalism in Australia, for, curiously enough, that paper has been more the organiser than the organ of Liberalism, and has therefore, led rather than followed public opinion in this direction. It advocated the financial supremacy of the Lower House of Parliament, the opening of the public lands for agricultural settlement, the encouragement of native industries by means of discriminating import duties, free, secular, and compulsory education, and the hundred other measures which have now became embodied in the statutes, not only of Tictoria but of Australia. Whether owing to the promptitude with which it pronounces on the qup6tions of the day, the judgment which it displays in its views, or the vigour of i^e advocacy, or all ow»-
bined, one thing is eei'tain : that there ie no newspaper in Australia at the present moment that possesses such influence as the Age. Mr Syme was a singularly effective writer of English prose, and on a -varied i ango of subjects. Outside the columns of hie own paper he from time to time contributed articles to the leading English reviews on social and economic subjects. Mr fine's tiist independent work of any magnitude was the " Outline* of an Industnal Science," published in 1?76 His ->ci ond bcok on "Reprcsoirtam c Government in Kng'and" i» mainly an attack on Government by paity and develops the doctune tliat mom'jeis should lx> more jinmediateh responsible than Ihev aie to their constituencies, and Minister to Par'iament. One of the most .suggestive and original pan- of this l>ook is the the-i-> that the t-tronjei the Go\ernment under oit present system the le*s real work does it do Mr Sv me's la-t book "On the Modification of Oigamsms" i-> mainly a I criticism of the Daiwmiaii theory, and as such has pio\oked wdim opposition and attracted great attention .Mr Svme \iao married m 1559 to Miss Annabella Johnson, of Melbourne, and had a fami^- of five sons and two daughters. SIR JAMES KNOWLES. LONDON. February 14. Sir James Know !es, proprietor of the Nineteenth Century, is dead ; in h.s .seventy -eighth jear. Sir James Knowlos, F.R.1.8.A.. was born in 1831, and was educated as an architect at a private school, at University College, in his father's office, and in Italy. He was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and executed many archncctui.il works, chiefly in London and its neighbourhood — amongst which may bo mentioned Aldworth, the Surrey residenco of Lord Tenm son , Kensington House, w ith its gardens and adjuncts; the Thatched House Club, St. James's street ; the public garden and fountain in Leicester square ; Albert Mansions in Victoria street ; and St. Saviour's, Sit. Philip's, and St. Stephen's churches at Clapham. Mr Knowles also engaged in literature from an early age, contributing many articles to journals and reviews, and in l£6o compiling (from Sir Thomas Malory) "The Story of King Arthur," which reached a sixth edition. In he originated the Metaphysical Society, a cluD consisting of 40 membeis. being chiefly eminent representatives of the most ■various forms of belief and contemporary thought on speculative subjects — Anglican, Roman Catholic. Nonconformist. Positivist, Agnostic, and Atheistic — and constituted for the full, free, and confidential discussion of philosophical question?. In 1870 he succeeded Dean Alforcl in the editoiship of the Contemporary Review, which, by enlisting the aid of the members of the Metaphysical Society, he raised to a position of influence and importance. In 1877, owing to a change in the proprietorship of the Contemporary Review, a separation took place between it and Sir James Knowles, when — supported by more than 100 writers of celebrity (mostly members of the Meta- | physical Society. and contributors to the | Contemporary Review) — he established the I Nineteenth Century, a monthly review, in which, as his owp property, the principle of the unfettered and unbiassed discussion of all topics of nublio interest, by authors signing their own names, might be preeerved without interference. The Nineteenth Century immediately attained, and still preserves, a very wide circulation. The introductory sonnet was written by Lord (then Mr) Tennyson, who had become intimately acquainted with Sir James Knowles. consulting with him upon all matters of business, etc.. and sharing rooms with him. for several years, as a ioint-tenant. in Victoria street, Westminster. A very in-fluentiallv-6igned protest against the proposed Channel tunnel scheme which appeared in the Review largely assisted in defeating that proiect, Mr Gladstone often reproaching the editor that "he had stopped the Channel tunnel." and another important protest signed by hundreds of women of all ranks against " Female Suffrage"' helped to hinder that =c!ieme. He was created K.C.V.O. in 1903. MR BALDWIN, M.P. LONDON, February 14. Mr A. Baldwin, the Conservative member for Bewdlev, and chairman of the Great Western Railway, died sudden 1 }- ; aged 67 years. Mr Baldwin was first elected for the Bewdley «eat in 1892. and retained it until his death. He was chairman of the Great Western Railway. of the Metropolitan Bank of England and Wales, and of Baldwii s Ltd. LORD OVERTOUN. LONDON, February 17. The death of Lord Overtoun is announced. He was 65 years of age. Lord Overtoun was formerly Mr John Campbell White, J.P., D.L.", and vas created Baron Overtoun in 1893. He was al=o M.A., F.R.G.S., and Lord Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire, as well as Deputy Lieutenant of Glaseow. He owned an estate of about 2000 acres and a large chemical works He was born in 1843, married m 1867, and leaves no heir.
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Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 31
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1,159MR DAVID SYME Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 31
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