DR. M'ARTHUR, S.M.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 99, 23 October 1913, Page 7

DR. M'ARTHUR, S.M.

* , FOUND DEAD IN HIS OFFICE NOTED MAGISTRATE'S CAREER When tho news of Dr. M'Arthur's sudden death became known this morning there tfais general regret throughout tho city. Tho deceased, gentleman was a sound lawyer, who tempered mercy with, justice, and many a poor derelict oC society had a kindly word from him, , while many o there wore frequently, "given another chance" of turning over, a now page in their lives. Dr. M' Arthur was born in Glasgow on the 7th November, 1853, and was brought" to Melbourne by his parents when ho was only two or three years old. Ho remained in Australia till 1880, when ho came -to Now Zealand. In that year ho i was married' in Melbourne. Ho was a. true typo of colonist, and the lifo which i ho led mad© him broad-minded and sym- • pathetic to human frailties. In his young days in Melbourne ho was one of tho leading athletes, and took a foremost place m rowing circles, lib roceiyed hie education at tho Scotch College, in Melbourne, and later at the Melbourne University, where he took tho degrees of ' Master of Arts and Doctor of Lawsl For some years he acted as teacher at tho Scotch College, his exceptional ability as a teacher being generally acknowledged. He was selected by tho Educa 1 tion Department of South Australia, when only 22 years of age, for thd onerous position of principal of one of tho largest model schools in that State. For a short time after his arrival in New Zealand in 1880, Dr. M' Arthur acted as a senior maßter in the Auckland Grammar School, but ho resigned that position to become the first Principal of the Auckland Training College. Ho left the Training College in order to open, bb a private venture, the Queen's College, in the old Wesleyan College buildings, and afterwards in Ponsonby.,* In 1898 Dr. M'Arthur commenced practice in Auckland as «. barrister and solicitor, and also acted as a Coroner. Ho was a member of the Auckland Board of Education and of the Marine Board of Health, and president of tho Auckland Liberal Association. ( , At tho Auckland University College he held the appointment of lecturer on jurisprudence, constitutional history, and political economy. MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENT. On the 23rd November, 1900, tho Government appointed Dr. M'Arthur ad a relieving Magistrate, and he camo to Wellington early the following month. At a later period he acted as a relieving Magistrate in the North Canterbury an^l Marlborough districts, and in 1901 he was appointed Stipendiary Magistrates in, Wellington. miring the time ho n3s been hero* Dr. M'Arthur has acted ob a Coroner, and was Chairman of the Wellington and Hutt Licensing Committees. He was also chairman of the North Island Railway Appeal Board, chairman of tho Tramway Appeal Board for Wellington, and Karori, and lately acted ( as chairman of tho Tramway Enquiry Board us to the death of Conductor Breeden. Dr. M'Arthur acted as. chairman of tho Royal Commission which enquired into"' the cause of fires on board ship in wool, flax, and other combustible commodities ; and he also acted as chairman, of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the West Coast Settlement Reserves. As chairman of tho Prisoners' Aid Society, Dr. M'Arthur proved a most sympathetic helper to men on leaving prison, and Mr. Arnold and other members of tho society testify to the help which ho was always ready to render, his advico being frequently sought for by the visiting justices and members p£.. tiro society. LAST MOMENTS. So far as Mr. Riddell, his coadjutor \ Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Holmes, Cletk of Court, and the police officers \ noticed, Dr. M'Arthur was in his uaual ' state of health yesterday and for some J time previously. Ho attended^ with;Mr. Riddell, tho valedictory meeting of > Bench ancl Bar at tho Supremo Court, and one of tho last letters ho received was from the • Right Honourable Sir Joshua Williams, P.O. Ho transacted ' business as usual in his office yesteis day, and after dinner left tho * Occidental Hotel, where he' lived, to return to hi^ office, telling Mrs. M'Arthur he would not bo very long. As ho did not return by midnight, blio became un-' easy, and telephoned to' tho police station. Constaolo Butters, the watchhouse keeper, accompanied by Constable Thomson, wont to Dr. M'Arthur'B office, where they found his lifeless body on a chair in a sitting posture. He had apparently been dead two or three houre, and they conveyed the body^to the Occidental Hotel. He had been through three batches of papers, and his signature was just as legible as it was weeks or years ago. Dr. M'Arthur was a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1 on ths Terrace, and was for some time one of the managers. His brother-in-law, a namesake, Mr. Johu M'Arthur, resides at Lumsden, in Southland, and he has been communicated with. Dr. M'Arthur is survived by several nephews, ono of whom is in Martinborough. There are no children. The funeral will probably, take place 6n Saturday afternoon.