OUR image this week is thought to be some of the workers at Arthur Buller James' aerated cordial factory at 16 Morrisset Street.
Mr James was a well-known and respected citizen of Bathurst. He was also very generous to the many worthy fundraisers and charities in Bathurst and district.
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He also took a leading part in founding the National Advocate and was one of the original newspaper's shareholders. It was Mr James' proud boast that he never missed reading the paper every morning from the day it started.
Mr James entered business as a cordial manufacturer in the late 1870s, when he managed Mr J.L. Alexander's aerated cordial factory and ice-works, before buying the business. He was associated with the tomato pulping business for four or five years before his retirement.
He was a very efficient businessman and employed a good number of locals to work in his factory.
The cordial maker took an active interest in the civic affairs of the city and was an alderman for many years.
He held the office of mayor on several occasions and was highly esteemed throughout the whole district.
He was a devout churchman and was superintendent of the Stewart Street Methodist Sunday School for many years and one of the pioneer worshippers at the William Street Methodist Church.
He was a member of the committee of the District Hospital for more than 40 years, being a vice-president of the institution and treasurer.
As an Oddfellow, he was one of the oldest members of the Loyal Kincora Lodge and was the senior trustee in the district. He held practically every office in the order and when he died he was the Past Grand Master.
Mr James was a native of Bathurst. Born in Piper Street on September 22, 1850, he lived in the same home all his life.
He married in 1873 and his wife predeceased him by 14 years.
During his heyday, Mr James devoted his energy and his money in the interests of Bathurst. At one time, no public movement was representative without his presence and he played an important part in the public life of Bathurst.
In the days of the great political battles between free trade and protection, Mr James took an active part, being a keen supporter of the protection policy.
He was an ardent worker on behalf of the late Mr F. B. Suttor, who held the old Bathurst seat on several occasions.
The news of Mr James' death appeared in the Bathurst National Advocate on September 21, 1931, the newspaper noting that Bathurst had lost one of its most picturesque and public personalities.
Mr James was 80 when he died suddenly on Saturday, September 19, 1931, from heart trouble, at the residence of his son Arthur James, "Bimlow", Pacific Parade, Manly.
The late Mr James had left Bathurst some five months previously to spend a holiday with his sons and daughters in Sydney and it was only on the Thursday that he was forced to take to his bed.
He was mourned by his remaining family of seven: Mrs Horace Pascoe (Maude), of Bathurst; Mrs Claude Slack (Alma) of Goulburn; Mrs Les Cox (May) of Manly; Messrs Arthur and Alfred James of Manly, Charles James (Mosman) and Frank James (Lidcombe).
Two sons, Norman and Ernest, predeceased their father by six and nine years respectively.
Mr James was described as a kind and loving father.
Ironically, he would have been 81 years of age on the day his funeral took place.
Widespread sympathy was extended to the sorrowing family on their sad loss.
The cortege moved from the Methodist Church in William Street at 2.30pm for the Methodist portion of the Bathurst cemetery, interment being made beside his late wife.
