Deep regret will be felt throughout a wide circle of friends at the news of the death of Canon Henry Hewett Paulet Handfield, of St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne which took place yesterday at St. Peter's Vicarage, Eastern Hill, Melbourne.

The venerable canon, who was in his 71st year, was one of the oldest clergymen in active work in Victoria, and his term of service in Melbourne was probably longer than that of any other clergyman of the Anglican Church. His decease brings to a close a connection with St. Peter's Church and St. Paul's Cathedral extending over 49 years.

Canon Henry Hewett Paulet Handfield was the fifth son of Captain Edward Handfield, Commander, R.N., and was born near Dublin on 12th December, 1828. He was educated at Uppingham School, Rutland, England and at the Collegiate Institution, Liverpool, Lancashire, England and in 1848 came to Australia with Bishop Charles Perry.

He acted for a short time as assistant master in the Melbourne Diocesan Grammar School, the headmaster being Mr. Richard Hale Budd, subsequently Inspector-General of Schools.

He was ordained deacon by Bishop Perry on St. Thomas's Day, 1851, and was licensed to the curacy of St. Peter's Church under the Venerable Thomas Hart Davies, then incumbent. His ordination as priest took place exactly a year later, and he was appointed incumbent of St. Peter's on the last Sunday of 1854.

His appointment as Canon was made by Bishop Perry in 1870.

The late Canon had for very many years been a member of the council of the diocese, and had taken a prominent share in church matters from the time of the first sitting of the church assembly, being especially conspicuous in connection with the ritualistic question.

He was a representative of the Melbourne diocese at the general synod of the Australasian Church, and was one of the board of electors to appoint a bishop when the see was vacated by Bishop Perry.

His appointment to the office of Rural Dean of Melbourne was made by Bishop James Moorhouse.