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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 970, 20 March 1924, Page 6

The late Mr Martin Chapman, K.C., who passed away at Wellington this week, was born at Ivarori in 1846. lie was educated at the Melbourne Grammar School, and as a young man went to England to -read for tho Bar. After joining the Middle Temple he returned to New Zealand and entered into practice on his own account in Wellington, but shortly afterwards was joined in practice by the late Mr William Fitzgerald, the partnership continuing till 1888. when Mr Fitzgerald died. In 1890 Mr L. 0. 11. Tripp joined with the lute Mr Chapman under tho firm nanio of Chapman, Fitzgerald and Tripp, later shortened to Chapman and Tripp, and in 19U9 that firm was amalgamated with the firm of Skerrett and Wylie, under the style "of Chapman, Skerrett. Wylie and Tripp. The late Mr Chapman was an active member of the firm until his retirement in 1912. He was one of New Zealand’s first King’s Counsellors. As a young man lie taught himself French and German, and in later years also became proficient in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, the latter language being taken up by him in quite recent years, and there were few European tongues of which he had not some knowledge.