Mayor 1914 - 1915
The Armidale Argus, 25 November 1905 announced 'in politics Mr Lane has been a tower of strength to the Freetrade cause'. The report also referred to his'commonsense and capable interpretation of the land laws' demonstrated on the local Land Board. In May 1915 he announced his intention to stand for Liberal selection for the Armidale seat and he entered Parliament as a M.L.A. in November. After forty years's residence in Armidale, he left for Sydney on Friday 24 August 1928. During that time, he served as an alderman, mayor, State Parliamentary Representative, member of the Land Board and in many honorary public positions.
H.W. Lane died at a private hospital at Bondi on Wednesday 16 February 1938,aged 85 years. Late of 1 Ocean Street, Bondi he was survived by his wife, Kate Eliza and a daughter, Phyllis. Conducted a furniture business in Armidale then constructed by A.T. Neill in 1938. He was an alderman for several years, mayor during 1914 and 1915 and a member of almost every public body in the town. The City Council announced its intention in February 1964 to name Lane Place in a new housing estate south of Galloway Street in South Armidale.