DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 22. 



WILLIAM I. FARRER, 



and the Results of his Work. 



WILLIAM JAMES FARRER was born on 3rd April, 1845, and at the time of his 

 death, from heart disease, (16th April, 1906) had just completed his 61st 

 year. 



His father was a country gentleman, living near Jendal, in Westmoreland, 

 where he himself was born, and his family had been landowners in. the 

 district for several generations, belonging to a class known in Westmoreland 

 and Cumberland as "statesmen." 



Farrer was educated at Christ's Hospital (the "Bluecoat School"), and 

 before leaving was one of the " Grecians," a name given to the boys in the 

 highest form, and had distinguished himself by gaining a gold and a silver 

 medal for mathematics. 



After leaving the Bluecoat School he entered Pembroke College, Cam- 

 bridge, where he graduated in 1868, obtaining a place among the Wranglers 

 in the Mathematical Tripos of that year. 



It was originally intended that he should have been called to the bar, but 

 his own tastes did not lie in that direction, and he determined to study for 

 medicine, remaining about a year longer at Cambridge with this object. 



This idea her was obliged shortly to abandon, on account of ill-health, and 

 it was owing to lung trouble that he sailed for Australia about 1870. His 

 intention had been to purchase a sheep station in New South Wales, and in 

 order to gain colonial experience he first went as tutor to the family of the 

 late George Campbell, of Duntroon Station, near Queanbeyan. About this 

 time, however, loss of money in mining speculations caused him to abandon 

 the idea of station life, and to become a surveyor. 



In July, 1875, he passed his examination for licensed surveyor, being 

 placed third out of twenty-two candidates. Immediately after being licensed 

 he was employed by the Lands Department on contract surveys in the 

 Dubbo district, until 1878, when he paid a short visit to England. 



On his return (July, 1879) he was again employed by the Lands 

 Department in the Dubbo district, and on the survey of the travelling stock 

 route from Nyngan to Cobar, until 1885, when he carried out surveys in the 

 Cooma district. 



In July, 1886, he voluntarily resigned his connection with the Lands 

 'Department, and settled down at his home at Lambrigg, near Queanbeyan. 



