MR. TRAVERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXV, Issue 98, 27 April 1903, Page 4

MR. TRAVERS.

Tlio news of tho death of Mr. W. T. L. Travers T^ill awiiJcen unfeigned regret in ay parts of the colony. When a prominont citizen lius uctcdinmany public capacities for moro tban half a century, displaying wisdom and sound judgment, and with little perceptible fal!ing-off of energy and enthusiasm, his neighbours, notwithstanding advancing years, seem almost to regard him a» a permanent institution; and whon his call comes, in whatever way, it bringß something of shock to the community. Mr, Tracers was an exceptionally fine representative of the old band of gouuino pioneers by whom the foundation of so maiiy of our best institutions •wore "well aud truly laid." In.ouo sense it may bo laid that wo shall never nee their liko again—for tho same conditions of society in which their lot was cast, and exactly similar opportunities for the exorcise oi their distinguishing gilts, can nover recur. In tho jirulessiou of which ho waa an honoured member, Mr. Travers hud a high reputation, both for wido erudition and sound judgment, combined with unquestioned piobity and integrity of character, llud his ambition lain in thut direction, probably tho highest judicial positions vtould linvo been within, his reach ; but tho otlk-c of District Judge,' which he held for a' time, he voluntarily relinquished. His connection with our representative- instituiioiH) extended over nuuy years, datiug from the first Pwliumunl. The extent to which ho onjoyed public confldeuco is shown by tho fuct — possibly unique — that ho was roturncd to tho Gouoral Assembly iv turn by each of the three citka in whiuli he respectively took up lii» abode. A man of wido and varied interests, he had suen army sorvico in hiu youth, and took a warm and aptive interest in the volunteer movement in his adopted land. As a man of science, j ho was no me to nmatour, but stood high j among th< diHtingutohvd group of whom ! «ur colony is juntly proud. In social life his culture mid courtesy gained him general ostoom. His amazing l)odily and mental vigour oven beyond thoso fourecoro -years whose strength ia usually' "labour and sorrow" wero tho subject of common admiration. Bad ji» was the accident which so suddenly cut him "full of year* and honours," perhaps ho wauld scarcely have wished it otherwise — for a roan of hi* ettvnuous will and activo temper would probably havo chafed under alow decay of bodily power*. $or could ho havo scarce winhpa it otherwise than that his laitt publio utteran.ee — on the day boforo tho accident occurred— nn utterance that Called forth a tribute of apJrecintion from his Honour tho Chief ustice— should havo been a vigorous protest against the reflection that ho considered had been ca*t by the Judicial Committeo of tho Privy Council on tho^ honour of our Bench of Judges sitting ai tut) highest Court of the colony.