Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1881. THE LATE JUDGE CHAPMAN.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 150, 28 December 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1881. THE LATE JUDGE CHAPMAN.

One of New Zealand's most distinguished men passed away yesterday. It is no exaggeration to apply these words to the late Judge Chapman, for although during the last few yeara he led a quiet unobtrusive' life, that wan only after nearly half a century of prominent public services in different) parts of the wcrld. His career, indeed, was a very remarkable tone, as much in the' variety as the importance of the positions he was suecensively called on to fill. Boirn in 180.3. at Kensington in Surrey, he em- ! braced the profession of letters, emigrating to Canada, and entered into active journalism, establishing the firit daily newspaper ever published at Montreal. This was as nearly as poseible 50 years ago— namely in 1832, when he was 29 years of age. Mr. Chapman was an able and powerful writer, and seems to have early attained a high position as a politician, for we find him in 1834 offered an important political mission to Great Britain, which he undertook and conducted with ability and success. The Mother Country appeara to have had charms for him superior to those of the North American Colony, and he also evidently discovered that the law had greater prizes to bestow than journalism could boast. At any rate he immediately adopted the legal profession, and entered as a member of the Middle Temple. He was not called to the Bar until 18iO, but meanwhile he had gained cons.derable fame, in addition to pecuniary profit, as a political writer and literary reviewer. He was on the regular staff of contributors to some of the most eminent oritioal publications, including the Edinburgh, the Westminster, the Dublin, and the British and Foreign Reviews. He also wrote extensively for the Law Magazine, and occasionally • for" The Times. In the year 1838, he waa appointed one of the Assistant Commissioners to report, on the Woollen Manufactories of Great Britain, and took an active part in the investigations by the Commission. A valuable report furnished by the. Commission on the Wobjleij^Handloom. .Manufactories of the West RidiDg of Yorkshire, iB understood to have been mainly the -work of his facile pen. In 1840,'aswe have said, Mr. Chapman waa called to the English Bar. Three years 'afterward his first association with New Zealand commanoed, in 1843, nearly 40 years ago. He was then offered a Judgeship of the Supreme Court of thisl Colony, 'arid accepting the appointment, came out to New- Zealand in that year. Judge Chapman continued! to perform his judicial duties for about eight year8 f/ at, the expiration of whick time he received tfie'appointment of Colonial Secretary toltheFCfbwn Colony of Tasmania '1 his position did not prove a congenial one, and -in less than two years Mr. Chapman removed -to--yiQtoria, and settling far Melbourne resumed the exerbise of the legal profession^"" after its ten years' abeyance. His .talent -and energy soon procured for him a large and lucrative practice at the Yiotorian'bar. He speedily acquired much "distinction as an able counsel and Bound lawyer. Honours -flowed freely upon him. -He^-became law -lecturer to. the Melbourne Enrveisity, _Then he was eieo~W?to ; tiie Victorian Parliament, where he vigorously promulgated the broadly Liberal views ha had alway3 held. Soon he became a Minister, holding the portfolio of AttorneyGeneral in two different Ministries. On Sii Redmond Barry's departure for Europe," Mr. Chapman was raised to the Judicial Bench, and presided in the Supreme Court of Victoria during the absence of Sir Redmond .^abey. Altogether this constituted a tolerably extensive 'experience for a residence ofi barely ten years injthat Colony. But Judge Chapman's association with J>Jew Zealand was to be resumed, and in 1864 he once more returned to the Bench of I our Supreme Court, being appointed to the pui*ne-Judgaship of the Otago and Southland District. This position he helduntil a few years ago, and probably would have held until his death, as he was thoroughly the man who might have been expected to die in harness, bnt for certain political reasons it was desired to pension off some of the elder Judges, and Mr. Justice Gresson and Mr. Juatice Chapman accordingly retired into private life, the title of "honourable" being conferred on them by the Crown in spite, it will be remembered, of strenuous and bitter opposition on the part of Sir George Grey. It was generally felt to be very desirable that this recognition of their judicial services should not be merely titular put that it should be accompanied by a seat in the Legislative Council to which exalted body there could be no more useful acquisitions than ' retired judges, Avhb would bring an amount of legal knowledge and experience which could not fail to be exceedingly valuable. However political considerations again interfered unfavourably and the Legislative Council lost the services of the gentlemen who would probably have been among its best members. During the late Jndge Chapman's retirement he has been by no means an idle man, indeed a life of idleness would have been insupportable to a man of his temperament. He continued to the last to contribute thoughtful and scholarly articles to leading Home periodicals and he also took an active part in various local institutions in Dunedin, where he resided to the time of his death. He was an accomplished and enthusiastic musician and a warm lover of art. Indeed the lato -Judge was in every way one of those distinguished men who can ill be spared by a young colony, and it is much to be regretted that he should have had no voice in the counsels of the State. He could have brought to its aid not only the wisdom of years, and the manifold powers of a vigorous and cultivated mind, but also tho extraordinarily varied experience gained by active employment in public life and in high official positions in no fewer than four different British colonies. In Canada, in New Zealand, in Tasmania, in Victoria, and again in New Zealand, he was always a prominent figure. His admirable private character and the kindliness and geniality of his disposition are too well known to need more than a passing reference. At hia advanced age, nearly four- score, he could not have been expected to be with us many years longer, still we cannot help regretting that the colony had not the benefit of his clear understanding and masterly intellect to the last. We deplore hi 3 death, not untimely though it b~e, and bringing to him— as it doe3 — hiß wellearned rest at the close of a long and distinguished life in the publio service. We deplore it all the more because New Zealand has few men such as he, and has ever numbered but few among her oolenists who were his worthy compeers.

We understand that the Government have under consideration at present the appointment of Commissioners to enquire into the volunteers' claims. No appointments have, however, yet been made. We understand that Mr. H. B. de B. Brandon, the .Returning Officer for the Electoral District of Wellington South, will shortly institute proceedings against another member of the Moxham family f«r alleged personation at the recent general election. No information has, however, yet been taken out, nor is it likely that anch will be done until after the present holidays. It appears that the writ for one New Zealand electorate, which was sent by telegram, has not yet been returned, and the Returning Officer declares hia inability to produce it, although he displays curious reluctance to say what has become of it, or at any rate preserves close reticence as to its fate. Being on common telegraph forms he did not understand that it was the genuine writ itself, and "now the Law Vyfficers are in deep cogitation as to how that eleotion is to be validated. A little girl, three ox four yeara of &ge, . was picked up by the police this morning in Courtenay Place, having loat her way. *he was taken to tho Police Station, where the auxious father, a gentleman residing in Te Aro, presently put in an appearance in quest ot hi 3 missing daughter. It need hardly be sa\d that his delight knew no bounds when the little wanderer was handed over to his care, safe and sound.

Mr. A. Le Grand Campbell, J.P., occupied the Be,nch at the Resident Magistrate's i Cburl this morning, when Patrick Regan, ! charged with drunkenness, was allowed to go with a caution. This wa3 the only case that presented itself, and the Court then ro3e. ( A sitting of the Pesident Magistrate's < Court was held at the Lower Hutt yesterday, Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert, J P., presiding. B. Fitzgerald for being drunk and creating j a disturbance \ra3 fined 20b and costs. A charge 'of larceny was preferred .against a man named King for alleged stealing some bacon. In defence, he said that he merely took the articles in joke and had no felonious intention .whatever. As the accused had borne. a good, character , the magistrate accepted the plea and let him off with a caution. The Siella returned from her irip to Southern lighthouses last night, and brought up a shipment of marble from Caswell Sound j There iB alt-ogerner about ten" tons of this valuable stone, the blocks ranging from over two tons to a few ponnds in weight, and splendid samples of both white and blue, or dove-coloured, marble are included in the lot to hand. The excellence of this stone has been already proved by the very favourable report of Dr. Hector on it, and still further by the fact that, when ehov? n at the late Sydney Exhibition, it took first prize against all the marble shown, including some choice samples from the best Italian quarries The mine at Caswell Sound is now fairly opened up, and the size of the blocks obtainable is only regulated by the lifting power at command. The quality of the atone brought up now is really splendid, and a visit to the store of Mesßrs. William M'Lean and Co., on Lambton Quay, where it is on view, w.ll prove what a valuable property the company possesses. The stone now brought up i 3 to be Bent to Dunedin, Melbourne, Sydney, and London, where its value will speedily be appreciated. The Stella brought back some invalided miners for medical treatment. The weather has been very severe of late in the Sounds, and a good .deal of illness has been occasioned thereby. The marble will well repay a visit on the part of anyone who takes an interest in the products of the o lony, and, as we have previously stated, it will be Bhown for a few days at Mr. M'Lean's. The first private building on the reclaimed land is new in course of erection by Mesßrs. Zohrab, .Newman, and Co., and is a large two-story brick warehouse, situated at the corner of Ballance and Maginiiity streets. There will be both bond and free stores under one roof, and one novel and valuable peculiarity is said to be combined in it that it will be both fire and earthquake proof. The outside walls are of brick, built on a floating plank Land beam totara foundation reaching from foundation to roof, tsussea strongly strapped and bolted to both, and lined throughout with one-inch -boarding. The wooden building is therefore .complete in itself, and would stand even if the outside brick walls were shaken down or foil from any cause. The new building will have a frontage of 50 feet to Ballance-street by a depth of 70 feet in Maginnity-street. The entrances to both the bond and free stores are in Maginnity-screet, but the offices, which are very commodious, will be entered from Ballanoe-street. In the rear of the building, between it and tho drill-shed, will be a large yard, which will afford ample additional building space, should the requirements of the firm's business require increased accommodation. The architect ia Mr. Thomas Turnbull, the contractors Messrs. Scoular and Archibald, rind th 9 structure is to be ready for occupation by the end of April next. The second oopoert of the Wilhelmj series now being given at the Athenasum Hall, took place last night. There was a very large at.tendance. Nearly every front seat was occupied, and the back part of the Hall was also numerously patronised. An entire ' change, of programme was submitted. Almost every item was vociferously encored, and in tho majority of instances the demands of the enthusiastic audience were obligingly satisfied. Heir Wilhelmj's contributibns, indeed, evoked double encores. As before, this great master held his auditors spell-bound by hia really wonderful violin playing. His principal solos comprised Ernst's "Otello" fantasia and a Nocturne by Chopin. Responding to an encore elicited by one of his awn compositions, a " Fantaisiede Concert," Herr Wilhelmj played the popular, pathetic melody "The Old Folks at Home," which was interpreted with much tender feeling. Mi3s Mario^" Qoijion's vocal contributions were also greatly appreciated. Hor best efforts consisted of the well-known aria, " i'oftly Sighs," from " Der IVischutz," MoHoy's! ballad, "The Kerry Dauoe,' and Cowan's pretty setting of Mrs. Heman's poem,— *"fhe Better Land." Mr. Max \Togrioh was kept constantly ocoupied at the pianoforte. Liszt's difficult fantasia o3 airs from "La Sonnambula" was his best solo Hi 3 sympathetic accompaniments also de-> serve to be mentioned. * These were made subordinate to the performances of the soloists, whose efforts they helped to set off. . Two more concerts are announced to conclude the series. Lovers of high-class music ought not to lose the opportunity of attending these., t, . "The Colonel" was repeated at the Theatre Royal last evening. The performance was as successful as on the occasion of its previous representations. In the title part Mr. Harkins again created a favourable impression, and was adequately supported by the members of the Australian Specialty Company, who, it may be mentioned, are seen to -muoh better "advantage in a highclass piece like "The Colonel" than in the wretched dramas which held possession of the boards immediately prior to Mr. Harkins' advent. The comedy evoked frequent and cordial applause, and the " star " was several time's recalled. Anothir performance of the same piece is announced tor this evening. Among the churches in the Wairarapa, St. Matthew's, Masterton, must be mentioned for the neatest and tastefulness of the Christmas decorations. The altar, pulpit and reading desk, were adorned with flowers and evergreens, and a numbtr of appropriate texts were displayed in various parts of the church. The incumbent, the Rev. W. K. Paig^ preached morning and evening, the morning servicel^being especially well attended. The rata which forms Buch a striking feature in the scenery along the WellingtonMasterton line is just coming into bloom, and formed a great source of attraction to the numerous passengers who went up to the Wairarapa during the holidays. The half-yearly summoned meeting for the nomination of office-bearers of the Excelsior Lodge of Druids was held last evening. A large number of members were present, and a great deal of interest appeared to bo taken in the proceedings. It was resolved that the annual fete of the Order should be held on Anniversary Day, on the 23rd of January next, and as last year M'Nab's gardens, Lower Hutt, were fixed on as the place for it to come off, a committee to carry out all arrangements was chosen, and will no doubt carry them out most satisfactorily. The half-yearly summoned meeting of the Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F., No. 3118, was held last evening in the Lodge-room, the chief business being the election of officers for the ensuing year. The following were those chosen : — R. E. Harman, C.R. ; W. Rix, S.C.R. ; J. Robertson, Treasurer ; J Capper, S.W. ; G. Judd, 1.W. ; F. Jones, 5.8. ; Jtf. Barry, 1.8. It was announced that a special suamoned meeting of the Lodge would take place on Tuesday next, for the purpose of considering the report of the Friendly Societies' Medical Conference. The Lyttelton regatta which will be held on Monday next, January 2nd, is creating a good deal of interest in boating circles, and a number of Wellington folks will pay our southern neighbours a visit on ihe occasion. In order to accommodate those wishing a cheap and pleasant trip, Captain Williams has laid on the s.s. Graf ton. She will leave this port at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and will return on Tuesday the 3rd proximo. The return fares are fixed at very low rates, being only 30s for saloon and <£l for steerage, and we have no doubt a large number will avail themselves of so excellent an opportunity to visit Canterbury. Accounts in connection with the Foresters' fete are to be sent in to the seoretary by 7 o'clock this evening. The prize-money will bs paid at 5.30. According to rumeurs in reference to Sir Arthur Gordon's departure (sajs the Christchurch Telegraph), he is to leave for England during January, and it is stated that his successor will be Lord Augustus Loftus, at present Governor of New South Wales. On Boxing day and yesterday a large number of persons visited McN'ab's gardens at the Lower Hutt for picnic purposes, but the recent flood there had cut off at least one source of enjoyment in the shape of fruit. The strawberry beds a week ago were covered ! with berries and a heavy crop was anticipated, but the submergence occasioned by last j week's rains utterly destroyed it as well as a quantity of raspberries and other fruit. This was a serions los 3to the proprietor as well as a disappointment to many of the visitors, aad Borne time must elapse before the damage with be fully repaired. A very pleasant picnic was given yesterday by Mr. John Duthie to his employed. guesta, to the number of fifty, were driven to M'Nab's Gardens at the Hutt in two large vehicles drawn by four horses, and an exceedingly enjoyable day was spent in that pleasant suburban resort. Such gatherings tend to promote a good relation between employer and employed, and it would be well if the example were more frequently imitated. At Mr. Plimmer's reunion last night, a dish of loquats, grown in hia own garden, formed a prominent feature at the dessert. It is stated that these are the first loquats grown in Wellington.

A doctor is reduired for the ship Piako, which leave 3 this port for London on Saturday. The Wellington City Rifles are trying to arrange a rifle match with a combined team of the Wairarapa, ten men aside, to bo fired on the 2nd January at Masterton. The Steward of the Hospital beg 3to acknowledge with thanks the present of a Christmas tree, presented to the Hospital for the juvenile patients. Captain J. W. Clarke> of tho Lyttelton Hafbeur Board's steamer Lyttelton, reports an instance of reflected light witnessed on his trip down to Timaru with the City of Cashmere in tow. Akaroa light was Joat sight .of at 11.16 p.m.. on Friday, and just after S) a m. on Saturday the engineer of the tug called Captain Clarke's attention to some flashes of light in the clouds astern of the vessel. These were watched and found to recur every ten seconds, and were probably the reflection of tho flashes of light from the Akaroa lighthouse, as that light flashes every ten se«onds. Referring to the amount of ruffianism in Melbourne, the Ararat Advertiser Bays : — " Things are coming to the pa« 3 that anyone who desires to keep his life and his purse mtist retnairl in doors at night. Words fail to give an idea of Melbourne at night. If things go on as they are doing respectable people will be compelled to carry firearms." Writes the London, correspondent of the Melbourne Argus : — I have often remarked on the foolhardiness with which firearms are handled in this country, and on our stupid habit of practical joking with them, but a more curions accident - indeed a doublebarrelled one — arose out of this custom the o^her day than one could have imagined possible. A man who had a friend going out to Australia bought a revolver a3 a present for him, imagining, doubtless, that the colonies were in a state of chronic disturbance, and that every other person he met would be a bushranger. Of conrseheimazined the weapon to be unloaded, and to illustrate " for fun." and for the benefit of his maid-seryant, the effects of it, he put the muzzle to his mouth, pulled the trigger, and fell down a corpso. The terrified servant rushes into a neighbour's with the news, taking the weapon with her, and imagining, I conclude, it to bo an ordinary pistol, puts it to her mouth to show what happened to her master, pulls tile trigger, and is shot dead. If I were the porson for whom this unlucky gift was originally intended, I should hardly like to take it after two such catastrophes ; but this is a matter of sentiment. I know an eminent surgeon who shaves himself to this day with the razor with which Greenacro cut up his wife, and which ho obtained in right of his being the medical witness at the inquest. " Why not?" he says, when remonstrated with, " it is a first-rate razor." Messrs. Laery & Campbell will sell tomorrow, at 11 o'clock, fruit, &o. Mr. George Thomas will sell to-morrow, at 11 o'clock, on the breastwork, produce.

Christmas and Nkw Year's Gifts. — Many will doubtless remember the beautiful Chromo Pictures, veritable works of art, that were presented to customers during the recent Surplus Stock Sale at Te Aro House. It will be satisfactory to know that the coming Christmas and New Year's holidays will witness a. similar distribution, but upon a still more liberal basis. Every purchase in cash to the amount of £1 will entitle the buyer to one presentation copy, and as many 1 more as there are additional pounds spent These admirable pictures are worthy of a place on the ■walls of either mansion or cottage, and all who desire to beautify their homes may do so without expense, by making their purchases at Jambs Smith's, Te Aro House.— PAdvt.] Works ,op Art. — Graves and Fleming, having had the rare opportunity of purchasing some genuine Works of Art (copies of the old masters in oleographs), will, during the holidays, present a copy to those who purchase goods to tho value of 20a and upwards. A portion of the piotures are now on view in the windows. They are in no way defaced, and are fit to adorn any drawingroom in Wellington. — Advt. Wanted Known. — So as to give the same advantage to those who may only have 5s to spend, C. Smith has deoided to present each customer spending 5s during the holiday -with a pretty Christmas Card, .those, spending 10a with, a beautiful Floral Cards and puTdnaaers Of '3oa worth with a magnificent Steel "Engraving. The cards and ODgraving will tif,qn view ovory'evening from 6to 9 o'clock. Don't mistake the shop— C. Smith, Devonshire House, GJubastreet.—[Advt.]