MR. W. N. MATTHEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1938, Page 11

MR. W. N. MATTHEWS

Mr. William Nelson Matthews, barrister and solicitor, who died in Wellington recently, was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Matthews, of Marlborough, being born at Blenheim in 1893. He was educated at the Rapaura School, and Marlborough High School, and, in. 1912, came to Wellington, where he took employment in Mr. Alexander Dunn's office and continued his studies at Victoria University College .until they were interrupted by the war. Mr. Matthews saw service in France with the Ist Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery, having more than three years' service to his credit, which had its-effect on him in after years. For many years after, the war he organised the annual reunion of the First Battery. Returning to- New Zealand after the Armistice, Mr. Matthews went back to Mr. Dunn's office and,- completing his LL.B. degree at Victoria College, early in 1920, was admitted as a barrister and solicitor. In 1922, Mr. Matthews joined Mr. H. L. Spratt in practice at Hawera. In 1925, he returned to Wellington and commenced practice upon his own account, and soon established a considerable practice both as a solicitor and in the courts. He frequently appeared as junior counsel with the late Sir Alexander Gray, K.C., and it was while engaged with him in the Hunter will case in 1930 that Mr. Matthews suffered a breakdown in health, and had to abandon his practice and seek treatment. For five years he held the position of Wellington reporter for the "New Zealand Law Reports-," and he " also compiled the first two volumes of "Butterworth's Annotations of New Zealand Statutes," a work of immense value to the profession. By 1935, his health had so improved that Mr. Matthews was able to resume practice. Unfortunately, such improvement was not maintained and, during the. past I two years, his health caused increasing | anxiety. ■ • ■ • . The "New Zealand Law Journal" | states that, but for the onset of ill health, Mr. Matthews might have taken a very high' place in his profession. As a schoolboy, Mr. Matthews was a very good runner, and was very interested in football, cricket, and other games, and was an excellent shot. After the war, he turned his attention more and more to rifle shooting, and became a very skilled marksman with the Karori Rifle Club He is survived by his widow (formerly Miss Muriel Taylor, of Hawke's Bay), and three young sons.