Tt is with great regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. John Smedley. He passed away on Fri jay after-neon after a long illness, borne with exemplary patience and cheerfulness. Mr.
medley was horn on 4th March, 1841 Sydney, New South Wales, "here he was educated, and afterwards served articles as pupil to Messrs. Mansfield Bros., architects. Showing talent and 'a strong liking for the Fine Arts, his cousin, William Dexter, R. A. (who, previously to the French Revalution of 1841 held the "xpsointment of Court Artist to the King Louis Philippe), was for having him educated as painter, and altho in consequence of the wishe- of his pare this was not done, Mr. Dexter devoted a good deal of time in training young Smedley. in his spare time.
the see of 25, (1866) Mr. Smedley came to Hongkong, (the passage at that time took rather over 8 months) and was shortly afterwards omitted as junior p-rtner in the firm of Sterey and Son. architects and civil engineers, of that Colony. His purely artistic talents were, however, not Ion- wanting employment. amongst his fest works heinz the decorat-jon of the Theatre of the Club de Lusitano, sketches for scenery, and a picture of the Ba'l given at the inauguration of the Club.
"About this time Mr. Smedley also painted from the deck of the "John Adams" a larg picture of Honzkons, now in the possession of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson &Co. One-frs in his diary of this date Tu the ye-r following, Mr Smeslley was erned with the visit of the Mikado to olan to review his flee: and to receive Grind Dake Alexis, the festivities culminating in " Ball at the German Club.
i " also burke che Russian and other public buildings.
Ar the end ut 1876 Mr. Smedley sailed vii Hongkong for his old home, Sydney, aad was married there in the ye"r following. Here he at once figured prominently in connection with the School of Arts, and great interest was shown in she Japanese sketches which he exhibited.
Tw 1878 Mr. medley returned to Japan, and was shortly after appointed Professor of Architecture and Drawing to the Tokio University.
'The year 1880 was one of the worst on record for earthquakes in Japan, and in consequence of this, and. the bad' state of business, Mr. ey decided to return once more to y, where he entered into partnership with' Mr. A Thornley, architect, and later on practised by himself, He won the open competition for the Sydney Trades Hall, and during the next ten years many of the principal buildings in Sydney and the neighbourkond were erected his charge, His name also appears regalerly in the list of exhibitors inthe Bxhibitions of the Art Society of New South Wales, of which he was Member of Council. It was here that he met, and was for some time an intimate felond of, Mr. Phil May.
Mr. Sme iley was also member of, and, Srerctary to, the Institute of Architects of New South Wales.
He shared in, the terrible losses fol-ving the financial crisis in Australia, and in 1891 came back t" Yokohama where he did some sketching in company with Mr. Parso:.s, the well-known painter of Japan.
In 1804 Mr. Smedley went to Hankow, where in 1895-6 he surveyed the British Concession, the Germain Concession, and the Russian Concession, and planned and carried out a scheme for tnain drainage Gf the remaining six years of his during which hr p.actised as architect which he 4
Jeade: "Waiting for vie'ure frame. That is}and civil engineer in Shanghai, it, is only the mnisanee. yon cannot buy anything} necessary to mention his connection, as hhere—it has to he made by the Chi {scenic artist, with many of the notable and they cannot do even that without a produc tions of the A. D.C. A man of muster.
On 8th Oct. 1869, Mr. Smedley paid his untiring energy, he was always ready to rare artistic taste and ability, and of first visit to Shanghai, stopping a few days place his services at the disposal. of any om holiday trip to yokohama. He describes undertaking whereby he could help in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.