MR. G. R. BELL
The death occurred at Devonport yesterday of Mr. George Renison Bell, who was a well-known figure in Tasmanian mining circles. He was born in Bothwell in 1840, his father at that time occupying the position of schoolmaster, but in 1842 he removed to Hobart to accept a position in the Comptroller General’s office, which he held until his death in 1852. The deceased attended the High School, Hobart, with his brother, Walter Stephen (late of Launceston), when the Rev. Mr. Harris was in charge. That would be in the year 1850. In 1854 he removed to Sherwood, near Bothwell, and lived on a farm for three years, after which he proceeded to New Zealand and was engaged in farm and station life with Messrs. Fulton at West Tairie for nine years. Mr. Bell returned to Tasmania in 1866, and devoted his attention to prospecting for minerals. He discovered tin at Beetyalla in 1874, and also at Castle River. He proceeded to the Ballarat School of mines for study in 1876, and a year later he married Miss Phoebe Cox, daughter of Mr. H. T. C. Cox, of Hobart. He commenced mine managing at Gladstone in 1882, and subsequently he penetrated every corner of Tasmania. About the year 1890 he discovered the Renison Bell tin mine at Zeehan. He mad a trip to Queensland in 1892 to take charge of the Tate River tin mine, where he remained for three years. He afterwards visited West Australia, and spent some year’s there in the management of mines. Upon returning to Tasmania, he once more devoted his energies to prospecting, and it was only recently that he located a promising tin show at Flinders Island. He met with an accident to his head some three years ago, after which he made a trip to New Zealand for the benefit of his health, where he was unfortunate in meeting with a further accident. During the past 18 months he became very frail, and he gradually became weaker, passing quietly away at 8.30 o’clock yesterday morning at the age of 75 years. The deceased leaves a family of five sons and two daughters, viz., Misses Alice Danby and Ruth Heather Bell, of Devonport; Messrs. Charles Gladstone (New Town), Henry George (Devonport), Ray Stanley (Launceston), John Renison (Gallipoli Peninsula) and Edward Alexander (Launceston State High School). The funeral will take place at the Mersey Bluff cemetery at 2 p.m. on Saturday.