OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 13

OBITUARY

MR. T. G. RUSSELL

Mr. T. G. Russell, a well-known member of the legal profession, and managing editor of the "Mercantile Gazette" and "Gazette Law Reports," who died in Christchurch on Monday, aged 84 years, was born at Colchester", in Essex, and spent his early years in North Canterbury. He practised for a short period as an accountant in that district. Later he studied for and qualified as a .barrister and solicitor, being admitted to the Bar in 1884. Until 1920 he carried on a successful legal practice, conducting many -important civil and criminal cases in this province. In 1908 he took Mr. H. Anthony, of Christchurch, into partnership with him, and the firm of Russell and Anthony was one of the most well known in Christchurch for many years. Besides his legal work, Mr. 'Russell showed an extensive interest in commercial undertakings. In partnership with Mr. Samuel Manning, he carried out farming operations on the Rakaia Island, and with Mr. Noble, a distinguished and well-known engineer, he conducted many experiments for the extermination of the rabbit pest. Mr. Russell was managing director of the Trade Auxiliary Company of New Zealand, Ltd., publishers of the "Mercantile Gazette of New Zealand," of which he was managing editor. He founded the "Gazette Law Reports," known throughout New Zealand to the legal profession, and the. thirty years' digest of these reports will remain as a reminder of his excellent work. He was also proprietor of the "Magistrates' Court Reports." Mr. Russell produced the first issue of the "Rules and Regulations under the New Zealand Statutes." His book, "Commercial Law in New Zealand," was made use of as a text book in the New Zealand University colleges. He was also managing director of Benjamins, Ltd., a Christchurch importing company. During the early days of motoring, Mr. Russell was an enthusiastic motorist, and he was the owner of the first Rover motor-car brought into the province. He was the founder of New Zealand Automobiles, Ltd., a firm which successfully introduced the Buick car in the Dominion.

Mr. Russell is survived by a widow, who is a younger daughter of Professor F. D. Brown, formerly of Auckland University College, two daughters, Mrs. W. O'Callaghan, of Hawera, and Mrs. Rita Russell, of Hatfield, Herts., and one son, Mr. C. R. Russell, of Christchurch. He was a brother of the Hon. G. W. Russell and Mr. W. H. Russell, of Wellington.