THE LATE MR TANCRED.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5812, 30 April 1884, Page 3

THE LATE MR TANCRED.

- Henry John Tancred, a younger son of Sir Thomas Tancred, Bart, of Borough- . badge, in Yorkshire, was born in the year •- 1816, and was educated at Rugby. He tf—red the Austrian Service at a time - ~*bea that service was a popular one with v _»_sh gentlemen, owing to the traditions --- „ the European war iv which England 7——Austria were allies. He served in a - __ttng"'"hed Hussar regiment for many [met, and saw service in Hungary and Italy until 1843, when he returned to Eng- ■' bad; and having taken a great interest in file proposed scheme for the foundation of ._»Canterbury Settlement, he gave up his .«_____km and proceeded to WeUington iv -frnoce of the first Canterbury settlers. He joined them at once on the arrival of Mr Gedlejj and from that time to the day of Ms death, he took an active part in - tiie b_iness of this Province, both public and private. An active member of the Provincial CouncU, he succeeded as - Speaker to Mr Bowen on that gentleman's

return to the Old Country, and held the

- office until the AboUtion Act put an end to .' t Provincial Institutions. He was for a long *-~ -.time one of the Canterbury members of y ~ the General Assembly, andheld omce for a \'- ■ short time in two Ministries. Nor werethese I _ie only occasions onwhich his abilities were r 1 "- in request beyond this province. His long y ■ services in the cause of education fitly &1 . culminated in bis appointment as the first s£> ChanceUor of the University of New Zea|J- land, an office which he held tiU his death. & With what abUity, judgment, and patience *-\ he pfloted the University through the first m|c perils of its youth, and how he won the <•! - . absolute confidence and respect of the "fS-- varied and clashing interests comprised ~ifh within its fold, is weU known to the public "Slfv. °t New Zealand. But it is especially as a Canterbury man his loss will be long and acutely felt those who value the qualities for which p|S?'he was pre-eminent. A highly cultured, ftourteons gentleman, he was always ready ~ ~- .toaasist any good cause when it was in his to do so. He had at the same time avczy keen appreciation of any kind of --• . humbug or imposture, and rebuked it with . - aibnmour, which, although generaUy genial -- -__$most attractive, could on occasions be B—B—eatly caustic His high character as a man of the strictest Tionour, his independence of mind, and his public spirit— these qualities, even more than his proved eapatite, made his presence welcome in aU bu«___,p_bUc and private. What College Council, what pubUc Board has not 80Bgat,a_d at one time or another obhis services? And in the Board roomso? Companies which do a large share <tf&ob_sineßßof the country he was just

as much sought for, and his advice was _ .. just as much valued. For many years he had retired from political life, and resisted the many mvi > —tiens, which be received from different y-L_ quarters to enter the arena again. lake %'[ afi public men he had borne bis fair share ykJt' of abuse; and the judicial character of his "-"*■- mind, which led him to see both sides of j --J. the question, was often mistaken by imrfc Jfttieat poUticians for indecision. His old ir« / friends wUI remember tbe quiet humour and perfect equanimity with which he -Haded to public criticisms on his conduct; 'yy-y "&ow heueedto s*y that he was not fitted £■""" .for political Ufe, and that his critics were *£, Uke the injudicious Judge who came to a ?.l - -right conclusion, but got wrong in giving y_'~-, &8 reasons. His mind, always firm and *«__ly, —ac perhaps of too judicial and yy : pbi_aophical a temperament to be weU ,;-;: , adapted to the rude, Ulogical, intemperate scuffle of modern poUtics. Mr Tancred, as Judge Johnston said ; "V, " *** °*k ei <b»y f*° m tbe Bench, was one of sp the men who have helped to procure for the odcny the good name which it bears in the world. Every day in every society, in jr|v~J*erypubUconice, in every business circle "*k absence is keenly felt, and men feel --" that they cannot easily replace him. But iStu *a private life, among his own intimate friends, it is felt that he cannot be reeStf-. placed at aU. His cultivated mind, Uterary %/y taste, and genial humor, made him a de- ' -Sghtful companion; whUe his affectionate J^dnpo—tion made him a favorite in every 3|£ aoase he frequented from the elders to the aaaUestchUd. " Quisdesiderio sitpudor ant modus " Tarn cari capitis ?- ; >, , ACCLIM-iTISATION SOCIETY. r*Z- usual monthly meeting of the gjr -, JCouncU of the above Sodety was held at ?j?*- Hotel yesterday afternoon. £**£- Mr KimbeU occupied tho chair. 'sytt '-■" Correspondence was read as follows:— 3Prom Mr Lennox, Amberley, with rev * _ST "ferenoe to offering rewards for the destruotion of hawks. ||p From Mr Beetham, Mastorton, advising IS**' «c depar-ote of Loch Leven trout, which ** a -iuee been received and placed in the -£.-** 'race. %g Froai the Anglers' Society, forwarding sr. os*_ln resolutions which had been passed %* ' __* 6 —* l meeting held to consider the wholesale destruction of fish during the M' 5SS 11 ' ** Ba * e * ie ~~olution recom- %■»- *** Unposition of a Ucense fee ot W *__?* seUing trout, and also on .those "4- «*ung for sale in the market The <£T Society urged that tie Acclimati"m- Society should con—der the fixing of & t?TT °* roleß reference to baits and %£ to be used in Canterbury. 3§L a.**- RMrnk suggested that a deputation *fc *___l tte Society should 3&L fi~** -ue from the Anglers* Sodety and §¥- - ££_.?? a Ust of what are legal and what Hi ««egal baits. He would propose—-"That a

comprising Messrs Beetham, spackman, and Farr, be appointed as a H U J^£! m,m . fctee *° confer with the Anglers' £__^T'-. w " h a Tiew *<> Aefine what are Stern* ***** **' trOTfcftßhil « ta Mr Fabb seoonded the resolution, which was agreed to. Dr. Bbittin proposed—" That the same Committee should confer as to the open and close season for perch and tench, the proper baits and tackle to be used, and whether a licence fee should be charged for permission to fish," which was also seconded by Mr Fabb and agreed to. Mr R. Beetham was elected as an ordinary member of the CouncU in the loom of the late Mr J. J. Oakden, and Messrs Cooke and J. E. Brown were appointed as supernumerary members of the Council.

The Szcbbtabt said that up to the present date 103 Ucenses had been taken out for shooting pheasants and shooting and coursing hares.

Dr. Bbittin pointed out that last year there were 232 Ucenses taken out. This year there was not one-half, though the fee had been reduced.

MtKi—bell moved—" That a record be inserted on the minutes of the CouncU expressing the deep regret felt by the members of the Society at the decease of their friend and member, the late Mr John Jackson Oakden." That gentleman had been a most consistent and zealous supporter of the Society, and was also one of the founders. He had been a most useful member, and by his death the Society had sustained a great loss.

Mr Fabb seconded the motion, which was carried, and the meeting adjourned.