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DEATH OF MR. SACKVILLE KIDMAN.
ONE of the oldest and most highly-respected
residents ot the Barrier, Mr. Sackville Kid-
man, died last night, after a brief but very
painful illness. Though it had been reported
early in the week that he was seriously ill, a
change for the better came on Thursday
and the news of his death, involving so great
a loss to the community, will come at a great
shock to his very numerous friends.
It was on Saturday night last that the
illness was felt first. Drs. Horne and Bartley
diagnosed inflammation of thc bowels, and
by Monday it was seen to be so desperate a
case that Dr. Bartley was kept in almost
constant attendance; and later on Dr.
Hamilton was brought up from Ade-
laide. Yesterday afternoon his condition
was so desperate that the medical attendants
decided, as a last resource, to perform an
operation for the removal of a fungus growth
in the stomach. The condition of the patient
was then very low; and although the opera-
tion in itself was completely successful, the
patient continued to sink, and about 11
o'clock was seized with convulsions, which
ended in death at midnight.
Mr. Sackville Kidman came to the Barrier
long before Broken Hill's wealth was dis-
covered, and was for some time manager of
Sturt's Meadows station. After the discovery
of silver on the Barrier Mr. Kidman started a
butchering business at Silverton in the very
early days, giving up his position at Sturt's
Meadows. He did not remain in business at
Silverton very long, but turned his whole
attention to stock dealing, for which his
singular knowledge of stock admirably
fitted him; and, carrying his enter-
prise in this connection far into the
northernmost parts of Queensland, he
achieved an uncommon degree of success.
Later on he took up country at Bancannia
and at Black Hill, near Silverton. These
properties he stocked, and met with such
success that he was soon enabled to take up
country in Queensland for stock-raising pur-
poses. During the early days of the Barrier
he took stock overland from Queensland to
Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, and was
one of the best-known men on the stock
routes.
The present local firm of Kidman Bros.
had, before deceased's connection with it,
seen many changes. Five or six years ago
the business, which was then the lead-
ing butchering business of the Barrier,
was taken over by the present firm,
of which deceased was an active
member, and since then, owing largely
to the excellent business tact of the deceased
partner, it was constantly improved. De-
ceased was widely acknowledged to be one
of the best judges of stock in the colonies,
and by all who had dealings with him he is
spoken of as a straightforward business man.
He also has the credit of having established
the now flourishing live-stock trade to the West.
Although his brother, Charles Kidman, now in
the West, devotes a lot of time to racing
matters, it was well known that deceased
would at any time sooner walk 20 miles to
inspect a mob of cattle or a flock of sheep
than attend a race meeting. Besides his own
holdings he took an active part in acquiring
the several stations in Queensland and South
Australia now held by the firm of Kidman
Brothers.
Deceased was 44 years of age and leaves a
widow and several children.
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