OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 8507, 13 June 1888, Page 3

OBITUARY.

»R H. A. WATT.

A painful sensation was occasioned in town on Saturday, May 26, by a report that Mr H. A. Watt had died on his voyage Home to England, and the feeling was intensified when tbe flag at the Bank of New Zealand, hoisted halfmast high, announced that the popular manager of the Rank, the genial President of the Caledonian Society, was indeed no more. His death was not wholly unexpected. When he left Lyttelton in the E.M.S.S. Ruapehu on April 28, his friends knew that the voyage Home was a last attempt to regain the health which had almost utterly, broken down. Indeed, Jt was, only- Mn.-Wftttu'fi

splendid physique aud pluck which enabled him to fight as long as he did against the disease—an affection of the lungs—whicli has laid him low. He came to New Zealand nearly a dozen years ago in order t o try the benefit of a Change of climate, and though the result was for a long time successful, he broke down at last. Mr Watt was a native of Elgin, Scotland, and was about forty-three years of age. Before coming to New Zealand ho was engaged in the service of the North of Scotland Bank. He entered the service at Elgin, and after acting as accountant for several years, was promoted to be the Bank’s agent at Buckie, Banffshire, where he joined the Volunteers, and was chosen captain of the company. His health breaking down, be returned to Elgin, where he stayed with his wife’s relatives till he left for New Zealand. Ha entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand on Jan. 3, 1877, and was accountant at the head office, Auckland, for about three years. 'ln September, 1881, he came ' to Christchurch as manager of the branch here, succeeding the late Mr Coster. This position he held to the time of his death. In April, 1884, he went to Auckland, and remained there for about six months, during which time he temporarily held his old position ini the head office. Some months ago he became too ill to discharge the duties of his position, and finally obtained leave of absence for six months, dating from May 1. His departure, with the farewells and many good wishes accompanying it, is fresh in the minds of our readers.

Not only was Mr Watt an able officer of the Bank he served, he was also a genial, warm-hearted man, whose circle of friends was large, and whose death will be widely regretted. As an active member, and for a considerable time President, of the Caledonian Society, of which he was one of the promoters, he endeared himself to his “ Brither Scots,” whose feelings towards him were well expressed in the well-deserved complimentary address presented to him by the Society on his departure. He leaves a widow and three sons, who sailed with him in the Ruapehu from Lyttelton. MRS HARPER. The slow tolling of the Cathedral bell on June 11 announced the death of someone immediately connected with the Church. It was soon ascertained that Mrs Harper, wife of the Most Reverend the Primate had passed away. Mrs Harper had been in failing health for nearly two years, and had lately been subject to attacks in whicli she lay for hours unconscious, so that the end was by no means unexpected. Her death took place, quietly and peacefully, about midnight last night, and somewhat suddenly after all. The deceased lady was in her eightythird year. She was the daughter of Charles Wooldridge, Esq., solicitor, of Winchester, and married on Dec. 12, 1829, the golden wedding being celebrated on the same date in 1879. More than thirty years of Mrs Harper’s life had been passed in Canterbury, as she arrived with the Bishop and her family in December, 1856. She will be mourned not only by her family, but by those who had the good fortune to know her, and deep sympathy will be felt for the Primate in his loss. J. S. BESWICK. E.M. TIMARH, June 4. Mr J. S. Beswick, late Resident Magistrate here for six years, and previously Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton, died last night, after a long illness. Mr Beswick was a very old colonist, having arrived but a few years after the founding of the Canterbury Settlement. He sprung from an old Kentish family, and resided at first in Kaiapoi, and took a keen interest in politics, being a moat active member of the old Provincial Council, and a member of the Executive at different times. Before taking up the duties of MagistrateatTimaru, Mr Beswick discharged the same office at Ashburton. As a Magistrate he was well-known and widely respected for his just decisions and courteous bearing. Amongst the other matters in which Mr Beswick took a very lively interest wfcs acclimatisation, and he had been a member of the Canterbury Society for very many years. His death will be keenly felt by many old residents. HIS HONOR JUDGE JOHNSTON. WELLINGTON, June 3. The Government to-day received a cable message from the Agent-General, announcing the death of Mr Justice Johnston, who recently proceeded Home for the benefit of his health. Alexander James Johnston, Judge of the Supreme Court, was bom at Aberdeen on Jan. 15,1820, and educated at Marischal College, and at King’s College, London, and in Paris. He took the M.A. degree at Aberdeen in 1835, and entered the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, November, 183,8. He was admitted Special Pleader in 1841; and published a short treatise on “ Exchequer Bills ” in 1842. Having been called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in January, 1843, he went the Northern Circuit and the West Riding (Yorkshire) Sessions from 1843 to 1858. He was Deputy Recorder of Leeds in 1857. He also practised in Westminster Hall and on Parliamentary Committees. Along with the Hon (now Mr Justice) G. Denman and Mr J. K. Bulwer, he contributed the reports of the Court of Common Pleas to the Law Journal from 1847 to 1858. Mr Johnston was selected as Puisne Judge of New Zealand, pursuant to a Joint resolution of both Houses of the General Assembly, and received Her Majesty’s warrant in April, 1858. He arrived in New Zealand, October, 1858, and resided at Wellington till 1875, and since at Christchurch. He acted as Chief Justice in 1867 and in 1884. Three volumes of “ Reports of the Court of Appeal,” 1867 to 1877, were published by him in New Zealand; and three editions of the “New Zealand Justice of the Peace and Coroner,” 1863,1870, and and 1879; also, the “Practice of the Supreme Court.” Mr Justice Johnstonhas been member of a number of Royal Commissions; among others, of the Statute Law Consolidation Commission, 1879. He tried the greater part of the Native prisoners during the wars of Te Kooti and Titokowaru, and the Mungatapu murderers. He has one son—A. R. Fletcher Johnston—a barrister and solicitor of tbe Supreme Court. Judge Johnston, accompanied by his son, left New Zealand on Thursday, April 5, by the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Rimutaka, sailing from Wellington. He was then apparently in far better health than he had been some time previously, and strong hopes were entertained that the sea voyage and the complete rest from his arduous and onerous duties would reinvigorate him. It will, of course, be remembered how great a shock he sustained in December, 1885, by the death of his wife. But subsequent to that date. Judge Johnston has not only discharged the duties of bis public position, but has done much in bis private capacity. We refer especially to bis sustained efforts as Chairman of tbe Committee which undertook to raise funds for a Queen’s Jubilee Memorial. That work is now taking concrete form as a Home for the aged poor. Such a loss as this will bo deeply regretted by men of every shade of opinion, and of every section of the community. In life, he had the esteem of all men; in death, his memory will be as widely revered. WILLIAM FITZGERALD. WELLINGTON, June 8. Mr William Fitz Gerald, solicitor, son of Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald, Comptroller-General, died at six o’clock last evening, after a brief illness. The deceased took a prominent part in all athletic games, and was captain of the Star Boating Club. Mr William Fitz Gerald, son of the Auditor-General, was well known, and liked here by many sections of the community. A solicitor by profession, Mr Fitz Gerald took great interest in athletics, especially in boating. He was himself an expert canoeist, and whilst bis health lasted made long excursions on the rivers and lakes of the Colony, notably tbe Wanganui. Though only thirtyfour years of age at the time of his death, Mr Fitz Gerald had twice married, the second time to a daughter of tbe lato-Dc.£eatherstoffj Jtoxnwr Superintendent

o£ Wellington and Agent-General for the Colony. This lady survives him. Mr Fitzgerald has been suffering from Bright’s disease, but it was not until about ten days ago that he showed signs of hoemorrhage in the lungs, from which moment his case was regarded as hopeless. Unfortunately, Mr Fitz Gerald has for years been in a very delicate state, owing to his having rashly exposed himself to cold when recovering from a severe fever. He is well-known in the legal as the editor for years of the ,f New Zealand' Law Reports,” a work which, by recording all the chief decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, filled a gap, the existence of which had, for a long time, caused much trouble and needless labour and annoyance to practitioners in New Zealand. Both in the profession and out of it, Mr Fitz Gerald endeared himself to all with whom ho was brought into intimate relations, by his singularly sweet temper, and genial, pleasant manners. Gi-eat sympathy is felt here, and will be felt among the older settlers in Canterbury, for his parents. This is unhappily by no means the first loss of the kind sustained by Mr and Mrs Fitz Gerald. Their afflictions have indeed been many, and this, the latest, is not only peculiarly keen in itself, butcomes cruelly soon after the death of Mr Maurice Fitz Gerald, a bright and promising young man, whose work in connection with the early records of tbeNew Zealand Parliament will bo remembered.