THE LATE MR JOHN WILLIAMSON.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 2966, 22 February 1875, Page 3

THE LATE MR JOHN WILLIAMSON.

The New Zealand Herald, of February 16th, gives the following sketch of the career of Mr Williamson, the late Superintendent of Auckland :— It is with deep regret we have to announce the death of Mr Williamson, which took place at half-past two o'clock this morning. The occurrence will spread a deep gloom over the city and province. But it is not in the province alone that the news of it will be received with regret for his loss and sympathy for his family. Mr Williamson's name is so intimately associated with the political history of the colony that a full account of his acts and opiuions would have all the dimensions of a historic narrative. His personal influence has been so great in the councils of the colony that he can, now that his loss is so generally felt, be regarded as a historical personage. The sad event came about somewhat suddenly, although for a considerable period previous to his death Mr Williamson had not been in robust health. He attended at the Thames recently and distributed the prizes upon the termina- j tion of the rifle competition. Upon his return to town he complained of being I unwell. The necessity of being uncovered while distributing the prizes during the recent intensely hot weather makes it probable that he had sustained a san-stroke. However, he gradually sank until death supervened, as we have already made announcement to our readers. Mr Williamson was a native of Newry in the north of Ireland, and was born in February, ISIS, so that he had just attained his sixtieth year at the time oi his decease. He was by trade a printer,—a business which has supplied so many eminent men to all forms of intellectual energy. He arrived in Sydney in 1840, where he some time practised his trade. In 1841 he came to New Zealand under an engagement to the Auckland Printing Company. After about three years in this part of the colony, the printing plant was purchased by the Government, and those who were in the employment must have been content to go over with the material of their business. Mr Williamson, however, took a larger view of the public need, as well as of his own interests. He saw at a glance that a publication which should represent popular opinion would be remunerative. On the 7th of June, 1845, he started the New Zealander, purchasing the plant from tbe Rev H. H. Lawry (son of the Rev Walter Lawry), who was at that time the Superintendent of the Wesleyan Missionary Church iv the South Seas. Mr Williamson for nearly three years conducted the new journal with success. On the Ist of January he was joined in the proprietary by William Chisholm Wilson, Esq, the present proprietor of the New Zealand Herald. This partnership subsisted until 1863. When the Constitution was promulgated, having become an Act of the Imperial Parliament providing for the government of New Zealand, Mr Williamson stood for a seat in the first Provincial Council, and was elected to represent the Pensioner Settlements. He became at once one of the chief exponents of local policy. In 1854 he was elected one of the members of the House of Representatives, and he continued a member of the General Assembly to the time of bis death. In 1856 Dr Campbell, who was Superintendent of the Province, resigned his office, and Mr iVilliamson became a candidate for this post, which was framed especially, by the office being made elective, for a mark of distinction. Mr J. A. Gilfillan was the other candidate. Mr Gilfillan has only a few days passed from amongst us through those portals which close upon everything but the memory of an honorable life. The contest for the Superintendency was keenly and closely contested, Mr Williamson defeating his opponent by about 130 votes. Mr Williamson opened the first session of his Council with the usual ceremonial. But many sittings were not held before it was ascertained that the Superintendent could not work with his Council, or they would not work with him. Mr Williamson's mind was one of those whose main characteristic was rigorous adherence to a purpose once formed after full consideration. His political views were comprehensive. No man brought so thoroughly into public life the precepts whiob regulate individual enterprise. Attne same time noman ever sacrificed so completely personal interests to public duty. This has been the distinguishing feature of bis career. He could not work with his first Council and the result was that he applied to the Government for a dissolution. A dissolution in such a case, it should be remembered, extinguished the Superintendent as well as the Council. There was considerable discussion as to the questions involved in a dissolution of the Council, but it was ultimately granted, and the whole position was reduced to what diplomatists call the status quo ante. Mr Williamson again stood for the Superintendency, and was re-elected without opposition. It was under his first Snperintendency that the land scheme, which was afterwards known as the " Forty-acre System," was inaugurated. It was a scheme with Mr Williamson. People may say what they please of this form of immigration, but it did a great deal of good. It created an immediate interest in the colony throughout European States, and led to enquiries, both statistical and scientific, of the resources of the country. The second session of the Council was more harmonious than the first. Mr Williamson had laid the basis of some essential works. Among the chief of these were wharf accommodation, and establishments for the succour of distress, such as increased hospital accommodation and asylum for the reception of lunatics. These were matters which always had the immediate attention of the late Superintendent of Auckland. The second session of the Council was prorogued on the 20th of February, 1857. At the expiration of his term of office Mr Williamson presented himself for re-election. He was on this occasion opposed to the late Dr Stratford. Dr Stratford was defeated. In eighteen months after his resumption of the office he resigned and contested the superintendency with Mr Robert Graham, who was elected. It was about ibis time that Mr Williamson proved his political sagacity under tbe severest test to which any public man could be subjected. The growth of many local questions had become not merely of provincial, but of colonial interest. The war policy was in the ascendant. Mr Williamson was not only its strenuous opponent but he staked his fortune upon the correctness of his view. He was for peace with the Maori. He considered war a suicidal policy. He has ever been eloquent in describing the disastrous results of the disturbance of 1863 4. Mr Williamson's view of the situation is now proved to have been the only sound one. This is admitted on all sides. Bat, although the sagacity of an vWefvaut may, vf tbe wurid is proYoi, th,e

loss to him by holding on to unpopular opinion has been very considerable. Mr Wiili.imson, at this } erio.l of his career, might have retired to -England or to his native land, with a fortune of little less than i.30,000. At the expiration of Mr Koberr Graham's term of office, Mr Whuaker wa* elected Superintendent without opposition. Mr Williamson and Mr Gilfillau were th<two principal members of his Executive. Mr Whitaker resigned, after holding the offico a little mo:e than a year, when Mr Williamson again presented himself to the elec tors, and vva° a third time elected to the high-st office that could be conferred upon him by his fellow citizens. This term of his office illustrated Mr Williamson's fortitude under difli.uliies. The ye_rs 1566-7 will not be easily forgotten by tho=e who lived in Auckland at that time. There was a complete collapse of every kind of value, and great, public distress. Mr Williamson manifested fertility of resource in relieving public distress and bringing before the Legislature their responsibility for the calamity that had fallen upon the province. It was in August. 1867, that gold was discovered at the Thames. It was by Mr Williamson's advice that a reward of £5000 was offered for the discovery. The result justified the expedient. There is at this moment a large and populous town where a few years ago there was nothing visible but wild fern. In 1569 he contested the Superinteudency with Mr Gillies, and was defeated. In the interim between 186.) and the next election he held tlie office of Commis?ioner of Ciowu Lands. Iv 1873 he contested the Supe:intendency with Mr Dargaville aud Mr Lusk, defeating both of them by a large majority.