OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16325, 22 August 1913, Page 8

OBITUARY.

EMILE OLLIVIER. 07 Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. • LONDON, August 20. A Paris message announces the death of M. Olivier Emile Ollivier, the French statesman, aged eighty-eight yeare. The late Olivier Emile Ollivier was born on July 2, 1825, and became a member of the Paris Bar in 1847. In 1848 he became Commissary-General of the Republic at Marseilles, and later was Prefect at Chaumont, but returned to the Bar in 1849. He was elected as tho Opposition candidate for the third circonscription of the Seine in 1857, and took part in several important discussions, amongst which may be mentioned those relating to tho laws respecting publio safety, the expedition to Italy and tho regulation of the Press. During the session of 1860, ho was one of the most distinguished members of a small group oi Opposition Deputies known by the name of " The Five." In the meantime he undertook the defence of M. Vacherot, indicted for his work entitled " La Democratie," and in consequence of the style he adopted in pleading was suspended .for three months, an appeal against, the judgment failing. In 1863 he was re-elected for Paris. Durino- the session of 1865 he was elected a member of the CouncilGeneral of the Var. In the same year he received the appointment of Judicial Counsel and Commissary-General of Egypt in Paris, arid retired from the Pans Bar. M. Ollivier was chosen by the Emperor as arbitrator of the difficulties which arose relative to the Isthmus of Suez, and it was upon bis report that the final report was founded. The session, of 1866-7 witnessed the complete separation of M. Ollivier from his former associates of the Left. ■ At the gen- ' eral election of 1869, he was returned by an enormous majority for the first circonscription of the Var. In December, M. Ollivier, who had been for some time the centre of the movement for uniting the factions of the late majority with the new Liberal Tiers Parti, received from the Emperor a letter invitimc him to form a Ministry which should enjoy the confidence of the legislative body, and which could carry out the Senatus-Consultum in letter and

spirit. This onerous task he undertook, himself taking the portfolio of Justice. Amongst the firstfruits of the new Administration was the granting of an amnesty in favour of M. Ledru-Rollin, the Convocation of the High Court of Justice at Tours to try Prince Pierre Bonaparte, the maintenance of order without shedding of blood during the popular excitement caused by the assassination of Victor Noir, the prosecution of Henri Rochefort, and the dismissal of M. Haussmann.' Several administrative reforms were also introduced, and it was thought by many that an Bra of constitutional liberty had begun in France. These hopes were soon rudely dispelled. The declaration of war against Germany, and its disastrous results, led to the overthrow of the Olli-

Vier Government on August 9,1870. M. i Qllivier, who, it should be mentioned, had been elected a member of the French Academy in April 1870, deemed it prudent after the fall of the "Empire to retire to Biella, in Piedmont, where he resided for a considerable time, devoting his .time to literary pursuits. He returned to his house at Passy at the close of the year 1872. and his reception at the French Academy took place in February, 1874. In 1876 ho twice stood for.the Chamber of Deputies, but Wa3 unsuccessful. In 1880 M. Ollivier again became a fighting force in politics on the occasion of Prince Napoleon's letter touching the decrees about religious congregations. Since 1880 he scarcely mixed in contemporary politics, except as a correspondent to newspapers. He accepted the Republic, but m 1885, when again standing unsuccessfully for the Chamber, declared that it should be resolutely anti-Radical. He published numerous works which appeared in the "Revue do Droit Pratique." which he founded in 1856. He was the author, with M. Mourton, <jf "Commentaire sur les Snisies Immobilieres et Ordres," 1859; and of "Commissaire de-la Loi du 25 Mars, 1864, sur les Coalitions," 1864 j "Uno Visite a la Chaoelle des Medicis: DiaJoeue entre Michel Ange et Raphael." 1872; "Pjdncipes et Conduit." 1875; " l'Eriise et I'Etnt an Concile du Vatican," 2. vols., 1879; "M. Thiers a l'Aoademie et dans I'Histoire." 1880; "Le Concordat, est il respecto?" 1883; "Droit Fcclesiastinue Francais," 1885; and "1789 et 1889." 1890. In 1894 he published a defence of his policy in ■even volumes, entitled " L'Empire Liberal."

JAMES GLANVTLLE. The death is announced of Mr James <3lanville, of New Brighton, at the age of seventy-three years. He arrived In New Zealand about fifty years ago, and lived at New Brighton for many years. He took a deep interest in educational matters, was a member of the first New Brighton School Committee, and was chairman of that body for several years. He also was a member of the New Brighton Borough Council, and served a term as_ Mayor. He was an architect by profession. He had been an invalid for some time. I He leaves a family of grown-up sons and daughters.