NOTABLE CAREER

THE LATE MR. R. MCCALLUM

The death of Mr. Richard McCallum, which v occurred at Blenheim recently at the age of 76, brought to a close a long and distinguished record of service on .practically every local body in Marlborough as well as in the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council.

Mr..McCallum was born near Blen-, heim and was educated at the Blenheim and Renwick Schools. At the age of 21 he passed the examination for barrister and entered into partnership with "Mr. W. Sinclair, then Crown Solicitor for Marlborough. In 1889 he commenced practice on his own account and at varioas times during his long career as a barrister had a number of other members of the Blenheim. Bar in partnership with him. He married in 1892 Miss Winifred Grady,, a daughter of Mr. F. F. Grady, of Wellington. Mr. McCallum entered public life in the opening years of the century as Mayor of Blenheim in 1901. and 1902. He was associated with the Wairau Eiver Board, and the Hospital Board, then the Marlborough Education Board, and the Marlborough College Board of Governors, from which he resigned last October,after 40 years' service. He was elected to represent the province in Parliament as a member of the old Liberal Party in 1911 and served until 1922. He was a member of, the Legislative Council from 1930 to 15137. Mr. McCallur_. was keenly interested in the advancement of education and was for many years a member of the Victoria University College Council. He was prominently concerned with the jSducation Committee of.the House of Representatives. , Latterly Mr. McCallum had more or loss retired from public life, but he was still actively concerned with the practice of his profession. He leaves a widow and one son, Mr. R. H. McCallum, of Orini, Taupiri. COLLEAGUES* TRIBUTES. A representative gathering of former colleagues and friends of Mr. McCallum took place at the Blenheim Courthouse on the day after his death. The Mayor (Mr. C. T. Smith) presided in his capacity as Chief Magistrate, and With him on the bench were Messrs. J. Bary and F. Broughan, J.P.s. A motion that & minute of the proceedings be entered in the Court records was given affect to after speeches had been made by the vice-president of the Marlborough District Law Society (Mr. G. M Spence), acting in the absence of the president (Mr. A. A. Macnab), Mr. C T. cJmith.Mr. J. Bary. j and Senior-Sergeant Smyth , Mr. Spence said that Mr McCallum had been the senior legal practitioner] of the district and one of the senior i practitioners of the Dominion. It was safe to say that no man had taken a| more prominent place in the life of the province over the past 50 years than the late Mr. McCallum. His-chief interest lay in the education of the young, and he had served three generations in that respect during his career. It was in that connection that he had given the most signal service. Although a hard and obstinate fighter for the rights of his legal clients he had, under a rugged exterior, a very kindlynature, and no one could he more generous or thoughtful in a case of genuine distress or calamity. He would be sorely missed in the community.

Similar tributes were paid by the other speakers.