90 Obituary. 



ALEXANDER KENNEDY SMITH, C.E., M.L.A. 



Mr. Smith was born in Cauldmill, Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 

 1824, and was trained as an engineer. He was actively employed 

 in his profession, both in Scotland and England, up to the time of 

 his leaving for this colony in 1854, whither he came with the 

 appointment of engineer to the Melbourne x G-as Company, then 

 only recently formed. His first occupation in Victoria, therefore, 

 was to superintend the building of the works of that Company. 

 Shortly after his arrival, he competed successfully for the prize 

 offered by the City Council for the best plan for disposing of the 

 refuse of the city. In the same year he joined earnestly in the 

 volunteer movement, and maintained his connection with the 

 volunteer force up to the time of his decease. He was a Fellow 

 of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, and he joined the Philo- 

 sophical Institute of Victoria soon after its formation. 



After ceasing his connection with the Melbourne Gas Company, 

 he was extensively and actively engaged in the construction of 

 many other public works throughout both this and the neighbour- 

 ing colonies. He was sixteen years a member of the Melbourne 

 City Council, and he filled the office of mayor in 1875-6. From 

 1877 to his death he represented East Melbourne in the Legis- 

 lative Assembly. Mr. Smith took a consistent interest in all 

 sanitary questions, and all matters generally relating thereto, and 

 he contributed to this society, and to the periodicals of this colony, 

 many papers of high practical value, both on this and on other 

 subjects connected with his profession. He occupied an official 

 position in the Royal Society for many years, having been variously 

 its treasurer, vice-president, and member of council, from the year 

 1859. 



He died at his residence, Studley Park, on the 16 th of January, 

 aged fifty-six. 



HENRY SAMUEL PATCHING. 



Mr. Patching was the son of Captain H. Patching, the highly 

 respected master of a well-known steamer trading between 

 Australian ports. He was born at Launceston, Tasmania, in 

 October, 1854, but came to this colony at an early age, and was 

 educated at St. Paul's School, in this city. His scientific leanings 



