As briefly announced in the last issue of this paper, the death took place at his late residence, Coronation Street, Bellingen, on Thursday evening, of Mr. Edward James Robert Walter Raymond, who was prominently associated with the commercial, rural and public activities of this community for almost half a century. The sad intimation of death shocked both town and district residents, for while it was known that the late Mr. Raymond had been confined to his room with a severe cold, it was not felt, even by the members of the family, that the end was so near. The heavy cold was contracted a week or so ago, and despite every care and attention, pneumonia supervened, and late on Thursday the trouble became accentuated, and the condition of the patient became increasinngly critical till he passed peacefully away about nine o'clock the same evening.
       The late Mr. Raymond, who was the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Raymond of the Macleay River, was born at Pola Creek, near Frederickton, in 1864. He spent his early boyhood days in the locality, and after he had completed his schooling at the age of fourteen years, he proceeded to Sydney, were he was apprenticed to the general wheel wrighting and coachbuilding business of the late Mr. Joseph Hilder. A boy of enterprise and initative, coupled with unusual adaptability, he rapidly mastered the various branches of the industry, applying himself with diligence throughout the five years of his indenture. At the close of this period, he entered the field of artisans as one of highest repute. He returned to the Central Coast districts at 19 years of age, and established himself in business in Bowraville. After six years active work in that locality, he came over to the Bellinger River in 1889, and in partnership with Mr. Joseph Newman, of Bowraville, established a coachbuilding, wheelwrighting and general smithing business at Bellingen. The town was then in its early stages of development, and settlement was not extensive. However, the young partners developed their industry by hard work, and increased the field of their operations to the buying and selling of cedar and maize. Later Mr. Raymond acquired the full interests in the enterprise, and Mr. Newman returned to Bowraville.
       Hours were of no concern to this energetic young man, and from daylight to long after dark daily he was at work, and his industry was rewarded. His business continued to grow and as time advanced he gave employment to many young men in his works. The site of his first shop was in Hyde Street, between the present Commercial Bank building and the Exchange Hotel, but later he moved to the present site in Broadway. With that move came still further development, and as timber-getting activities increased, coach services became more numerous, and the cultivation of maize becoming more general, the demand on his services was considerable. Then, with the evolution of time, came the motor car, and when its practability was established, Mr. Raymond was the first man in the district to become a representative of this branch of transportation, and he secured the district agency for the Ford Motor Company. At the same time he held the district francise for the most prominent makes of farming machinery and equipment, and in this field, as well as with the motor car, he was personally able to finance the sales to his clients. The call on his establishment from adjoining districts was so great that, in turn, he established branches of his engineering and motor works at Bowraville, and Coffs Harbour, while he established agency representation at Dorrigo. These establishments like the splendidly equiped garage at Bellingen, were fitted out with the most modern appliances, and the name of Raymond was associated with everything of the best in the engineering field. Some years ago, the late Mr. Raymond acquired the district sales and service territory for the General Motors lines, and, as was the case when he held the Ford Motor Company representation, he became one of the most prominent and successful salesmen in the country districts of the State. In addition to his business activities, Mr. Raymond invested large sums of money in property, farms and real estate, while many business men in the community also owe their establishment in industry to assistance Mr. Raymond has extended.
       Not content with the tremendous amount of work his business enterprise entailed, the late Mr. Raymond realised his responsibilities as a citizen, and in addition to actively associating himself with all the important public insituations in the town, it is significant that his name appears on practically every life members' roll that has been established on the Bellinger. He was one of the earliest members of the Bellinger River District Hospital committee, having held executive office and the post of president for several terms. He was also a life member and regular contributor to the funds of the institution. He was one of the original members of the Board of Directors of the Upper Bellinger Co-operative Butter and Bacon Society (later the Bellinger River Co-operative Butter and Bacon Society), and with but a break of two or three years was continuously a director to the time of his death. He was for several terms chairman of directors, and there was no member of the board who was keener to obtain for the producers of cream and pigs the highest possible price. Twenty-eight ...

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each successive Royal Show, while his name has been engraved on the life-membership roll of that society for well over a decade. In the field of church activity, he was identified with the work of the church of England and was a member of the Parocial Council until recent years. The late Mr. Raymond was one of the earliest members of the Masonic Craft on the Bellinger, and belonged to the original Lodge established at Fernmount. He was, in addition, a member of Royal Arch and Mark Masons Lodges in the city, and has, for over thirty years, also been a member of the G.U.O.O.F., though at no time in his membership of the latter, did he seek to avail himself of the many concessions that were his due.
       The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. James S. White.
       The late Mr. Raymond is survived by Mrs. Raymond, to whom he was married on January 15, 1890, at Marrickville, and a family of two sons and three daughters, as well as two brothers and two sisters. The sons are Messrs. Harold and Joseph, and the daughters are Mrs. A. Balcomb, Bellingen; Mrs. Bowring, of Eugowra; and Mrs. Linderman, of Tamworth. The brothers are Messrs. A. M. Raymond of Bellingen; and Samuel Raymond, of Bowraville; and the sisters, Mrs. William Bradley, of Macksville; and Mrs. Robert McKay, of Bowraville. To the bereaved the deepest symphathy of the community has been extended.
       Included in the beautiful collection of floral tributes were wreaths from the following: The Bellingen River Co-operative Butter and Bacon Society, the Bellinger River District Hospital, the Bellinger River Agricultural Association, the Producers' Distributing Society, the Staffs of the Bellingen Garage, the Coffs Harbour Garage, the Bowraville garage; the W.M. and Brethren of Lodge Raleigh, the St. Margaret's Women's Guild, the Directors of Foley Brothers Ltd., the Directors of Westcott Hazell & Co., and the staff of the Vacuum Oil Company at Kempsey.  §

Transcriber's Note:   Edward's father had just the single given name of Augustus - not A. M. as given in the obituary. Edward had only one full sister Mrs. Robert Mackay. Mrs. William Bradley née Catherine Dornan was Edward's half-sister and when he died the only survivor of his seven Dornan step brothers and sisters. Born in 1849 she married dilliam Charles Bradley in 1873 and died in 1938. The married surnane of Edward's daughter Eva given as Linderman was spelt Lindman.