OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 307, 28 December 1929, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. THOMAS F. MARTIN.

LOCAL BODY SOLICITOR. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Mr. Thomas Frederick Martin, the well-known municipal solicitor, died on Christmas morning, after two months' illness. Mr. Martin was born in Kent, and was educated at Torquay and Heidelberg, Germany. He was admitted an English solicitor in 1574, aud in 1877 published "The Students' Conveyance." He arrived in New Zealand in 1879, arid practised in Canterbury until 1884, being connected with the firm of Messrs. Duncan and Cotterill. In 1884 he was appointed town clerk and city solicitor of Wellington. In 1889 he resigned the town clerkship ano commenced private practice, continuing as solicitor to the council. Mr. M. W. Richmond afterwards joined him as a partner. In 1891 Mr. Martin was appointed counsel to the Municipal Association of New Zealand, and in 1884 to the New Zealand Counties' Association. In 1895 lie was entrusted by the Government with the preparation of the Local Government Bill. In recent years he had been solicitor to the Electric Power Boards' Association. Mr. Martin for many years past was considered a leading authority on municipal and local body law, and he published "Conveyancing in New Zealand," "Property Law Act, 1905," "Land Laws of New Zealand," and "Opinions on Local Government Law in New Zealand." He was well known, also, through his connection with the Anglican Church, was chancellor of the Diocese of Wellington, and published a book on Church law. He is survived by his widow, a son, Mr. T. M. Martin, solicitor, of Wellington, and two daughters, Mrs. Charles Clark, of Murcliison, and Mrs. Ernest Anderson, of Day's Bay.