Mr. William Esq. RANDALL

We announce to-day the death of Mr. William Randall, an old and highly esteemed resident of Adelaide. The deceased gentleman was born on December 9, 1821, and belonged to an old county family. In his early youth he was fond of field sports, and was an excellent shot and hunted regularly. Not being of robust health he was ordered abroad, and at first proposed to move to the south of France, but with his only brother, the late Mr. David Randall, he finally decided to emigrate to the new colony of South Australia. In December, 1846, he arrived in the ship Duke of Richmond, after a six months' voyage, having as fellow-passengers the late Mr. Robert Davenport and Captain Boucaut and family. He took up his residence with his brother David, who had preceded him by about twelve months, in the house erected for the Manager of the South Australian Land Company, Mr. Giles, in Rundle street, not far from where the York Hotel at present stands. He afterwards removed to Upper Kensington, having purchased an 80 acre preliminary section, which he named Burnside. He also leased the property now known as Home Park, Magill. Having purchased some acres between Baileys Garden and the Company's Mill, he built a house, intending to take up his residence there, but eventually bought a property from the South Australian Land Company at Second Valley, and established a beautiful estate, which he named Randalsea, and on which he extended large sums, without securing financial success. There he entertained many prominent colonists, and the Governor, Sir Henry Young, being greatly attracted by the climate and scenery, was a welcome guest. Mr. Randall was appointed Justice of the Peace soon after his arrival in the colony, and for many years he sat on the Bench at Normanville with the late Mr. B. F. Lawrie. S.M. When the volunteer movement started, he raised a company known as the Finniss Vale Rifles, and on one occasion - a review on the Prince of Wales's Birthday - accompanied them to the city, when the company was specially complimented by the Governor on its soldierly bearing. He was a complete master of drill, and many of the men were from his own estate, and were drilled by him in the evenings after work. During his residence at Randalsea an emigrant vessel was wrecked on the coast. He immediately went to the scene with drays, and conveyed the unfortunate castaways home, cleared out barns and woolsheds, and housed and fed them at his own cost. During their stay there were two deaths and two births among the poor people. At that time the late Bishop Short came down from Adelaide to minister to the spiritual needs of the visitors, whom on a Sunday he addressed under the shade of some spreading gum trees, taking for his text that passage from the story of the wreck of St. Paul, "And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness." After leaving Randalsea Mr. Randall was, in 1878, appointed as Clerk to the Local Courts of Port Pirie and Redhill, which offices he held until his retirement in December, 1892. How he gained the affection and esteem of all with whom he came into contact was well expressed by a speaker at the public demonstration which took place at Port Pirie on the occasion of his leaving the town:- "Mr. Randall has been a resident of Port Pirie for upwards of fourteen years, and during that time has won the esteem and affection of all classes of the community. It is not too much to say that Mr. Randall is the most universally respected man we have had in Port Pirie. Those who are assembled to do him honour represent all classes and shades of opinion. He is one of the few remaining specimens of the fine old English gentleman who are fast dying out. We are all sorry that he is going from us, but his kind face, gentle words. and un-ostentatious charity will live long in the memories of all classes of the community.'" Mr. Randall was an earnest member of the Church of England, and used to ride regularly twelve miles on Sundays to hold service at Yankalilla, and home again. He had musical tastes and, in his youth, played both violin and organ with ability. Almost the first if not the first pipe organ imported into the colony was one which he dismantled in the old English home and brought out with him. Since the deceased gentleman's retirement from active service he had lived quietly and happily with his children, and he passed peacefully away on Monday morning. Mr. Randall, who was a widower, has left two sons, Mr. W. George Randall, of the Works and Building Department, and Mr. H. E. Randall, of the Light Service, and one daughter, Mrs. G. F. Powell, of the Semaphore. The funeral will leave for the North Road Cemetery this afternoon at 4 o'clock, after a short service at Christ Church.