OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 98, 26 April 1920, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR. LEONARD STOWE

Mr. Leonard Stowe, who passed' away at his residence in Tinakori-road, yesterday, was for very many years a notable and important personage in the Parliamentary world of Now Zealand. Since 1889 he had, until he retired a few months ago, held the responsible position of Clerk of Parliaments and Clerk of the Legislative Council, and in those capacities had proved himself an official whose knowledge of Parliamentary procedure placed him in a position that lias seldom been attained 'by those who have served officially in the public life of New Zealand, Born at-Trolly Hall, Buckingham, the late Mr, Stowe was educated, first at the historic little villege of Iffley, near Oxford, and afterwards at Rugby, under the late Dr. Goulburn. He arrived in New Zealand in tho ship Lady Alice, as far back as 1858, and, after.a period of work on a station at Wairau, he was appointed secretary to the Superintendent of the Marlborough province. In 1864 he was appointed clerk to the Marlborough Provincial Council,- and. a year later became Clerk of the Legislative Council of New Zealand. In 1889 ho was appointed to the high and! honourable position of Clerk of Parliaments. The late Mr. Stowe' was a gentleman of charming personality—widely read, a notable authority on Parliamentary procedure, . ever ready to help new members in the difficulties so frequently encountered, and his removal from public life at the time of his retirement created a distinct blank in the personnel of those connected with Parliamentary circles. An old injury resulted in his having.to undergo the amputation of. a leg, which.had been giving him .trouble for some years.. -The" operation was temporarily regarded as successful, but ho . gradually weakened and died. He leaves a widow and two sons and two daughters.