Death of Mr J Coverdale

A GREAT PUBLIC LOSS

Mr James Coverdale, whose illness was reported in these columns a few weeks ago, died early on Saturday morning at his residence, Macalister street, at the age of 72. The news of his death will be received with feelings of regret throughout the district, for the deceased was one of our best known and respected public men, and was greatly esteemed for his devotion to his duties on the managing bodies of the Gippsland Hospital, Sale Borough Council, and the Sale Technical School and Mechanics Institute, to say nothing of the services he has rendered to institutions of lesser importance.

Mr James Coverdale was a Canadian by birth and was born in 1831. He arrived in Victoria in the year 1852, and being a schoolmate and personal friend of the then Deputy Postmaster-General, Mr S. H. McGowan, he applied for and received an appointment in the service. Mr Coverdale, having special knowledge and training, was sent off to the Western district in 1869, where at Warrnambool and other places he installed the electric telegraph appliances. After that he went to Wodonga, where he remained until he was appointed to the Sale post office. In the latter position he remained until 1893, when, having reached the retiring age, and the spirit of retrenchment being in the air, he was retired on a pension. Mr Coverdale, however, still retained his appointment as local registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and although some efforts were made to deprive him of the appointment, his worth as a public officer stood to him, and he held the position at the time of his death.

Though Mr. Coverdale had always taken a warm interest in public matters, it was not until he was free from the service that he entered fully into the more important public duties which, we regret to say, are too often shirked by local residents with much greater interests in the welfare of the town and district. In 1896 Mr Coverdale, on the requisition of a great many of the ratepayers, consented to become a candidate for the South Ward of the Sale Borough Council, and he was honored with a walkover. In 1898 he was made Mayor, and was still a member of the Council at the time of his death.

He soon, also, took a place on the Gippsland Hospital committee, and it may fairly be said that no man has done such good work for that institution. During his first term as President he gave so much time and attention to his duties, and so carefully guarded the interests of this most noble of Gippsland institutions, that at the expiration of his term of office the committee re-elected him for another term. He was surprised, and greatly appreciated the honor, but did not promise to work with greater zeal for the hospital than he had done--that was not possible. Then when that term of office was over he continued as before, and the willing horse was entrusted with a good deal of the work of the committee : not that members wished to avoid their fair share of the work, but because they felt that Mr Coverdale had the ability and loved to do anything that made for the completeness, good management, and harmony of the hospital.

It is not, however, by his work for the hospital or Borough Council that the late Mr Coverdale will be best remembered, but by the Sale Technical School, which will stand as a monument to his zeal, foresight and energy, for it was owing to his enthusiasm and confidence in the ultimate goal of the school that the committee of management of the Sale Mechanics Institute entered into the development of the Art classes that were at one time being managed by a sub-committee which led to the erection of the magnificent building which now adorns the town, and which has been of such inestimable benefit to the young people of Gippsland, many of whom have materially advanced their positions in life as the result of the technical knowledge gained there. The scheme, which was Mr Coverdale's, meant a very serious "joint and several" liability by the members of the committee, but the promoter was sanguine of success, and his fellow committee readily complied. In this matter it is sufficient to say that the building is practically free from debt, and is probably as well equipped as any such school outside the great cities. Thus we feel that the Sale Technical School will always remind us of the great public work done for the district by the late Mr James Coverdale.

Amongst other institutions which had deceased's attention was the Sale Borough Band, and as its secretary he kept it well together, until a few years ago, when, with so many other duties on hand, he thought it best to resign.

Whilst as we have pointed out Mr Coverdale was highly esteemed for his public worth, he was also just as greatly esteemed and admired by those who had an opportunity of knowing, for his devotion to his family. He conceived it to be one of his first duties to so educate them as to fit them for the battle of life, and he succeeded admirably. He leaves a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. Mr J C Coverdale, surveyor, and another son. Mr H. Coverdale, are away in South Africa. Mr W. Coverdale, the other son, who is manager of the Bank of Australasia at Tallangatta, on hearing of his father's illness obtained leave of absence, and was with him when he died.

Although deceased was known to be very seriously ill, and it was felt that he would never be able to take up his public duties again, he was so well on Friday morning that there were hopes that he would be out again in a few days, but towards evening a change came, and he passed away peacefully in his sleep about five o'clock on Saturday morning. Our readers will join with us in our expression of the deepest sympathy for the loved ones left behind. At the Church of England on Sunday morning special reference was made to the death of Mr Coverdale by the Rev. H F. Scott. Mr Scott, during his brief reference to deceased, said :--"His beloved will mourn his loss as only riven hearts can, but we also grieve that he is no longer with us though our eyes retain the moisture. We have lost a useful citizen. His ripe experience, ceaseless energy, and unstinted labors, were freely devoted to the public weal, and all our local institutions owe much to his memory. For many years he was an active and prominent member of his church. Circumstances occurred which caused him to leave it, but though he worshipped elsewhere, his veneration and affection for the church of his birth continued. His beloved ones have our truest sympathy, and our prayers that God may comfort them in their sorrow.”

The funeral took place yesterday. There was an exceedingly large and representative attendance. The councillors and officials of the Sale borough attended as a body, as did also the committee and officials of the Gippsland Hospital, the Sale Technical School and Mechanics Institute, and members of the Sale Borough band. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. H F. Scott and at its conclusion the band played "Vital Spark." Amongst those present were His Lordship the Bishop of Gippsland and the Hon Wm. Pearson, M.L.C At the Presbyterian church last evening the Rev. G. M. Conner referred in kindly terms to deceased's worth as a public citizen, and spoke of the zeal and earnestness he threw into all of his public duties.