OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19813, 28 December 1929, Page 14

OBITUARY.

MR T. F. MARtIN. [THE PBSSS SpeeUl Berrle«.3 WELLINGTON, December 27. General regret will be felt at the death of Mr Thomas Frederic Martin, barrister and solicitor, and an old and highly respected citizen of Wellington. Mr Martin, who had been ailing for the past two months, died at his home, Upland road, on Christmas morning. The late Mr Martin was born in Kent, England, and was educated at Torquay and Heidelberg, Germany. He was articled to his father, the late Mr Thomas Martin, solicitor Cannon street, London, and Wimbledon. tie was- admitted an English solicitor in 1874 and in 1877 published "The Student's Conveyancer." Mr Martin arrived m New Zealand in 1879, when he "was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Dominion. He practised in Canterbury until 1884, being connected with the firm of Messrs | Duncan and Cotterill. He was in 1884 appointed town clerk and city solicitor u# Wellington. In 1889 he resigned the town clerkship and commenced private practice, retaining the solicitor--1 ship of the Council. Mr M. W. Richmond afterwards joined him as a partner Mr Martin was appointed counsel in 1891 to the Municipal Association of New Zealand, and in 1894 to the New Zealand Counties' Association. In 1895 he was entrusted by the Government with the preparation of the Local Government Bill. For a time he held a commission in the Thorndon Rifle Volunteers. Latterly he was appointed solicitor to the Electric Power Boards' Association. Mr Martin for many years past was considered a leading authority ojn municipal and local body law, and 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 connexion with the Anglican Church, was Chancellor of the Diocese of Wellington, and published a book on Church law. Mr Martin is survived by his widow, a son (Mr T. M. Martin, solicitor. Wellington), and two daughters. Mrs Charles Clark, of Murchison, and Mns Ernest Anderson, Day's Bay. The funeral took place this afternoon. The first part of the Burial Service was held at St. Paul's ProCathedral, the Bishop of Wellington officiating, and the interment was at Karori cemetery. There was a representative attendance of member? >f the legal profession, Church officers, and of local bodies.