OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 60, 12 March 1918, Page 4

OBITUARY

THE HON. -A. T. M AGttNNITY, : : M.L.C. ;■ In the death of the Hon. A. T. jMagin- 4 nity, M.D.0., which occurred at an early hour this morning from heart failui'e following on a short illness, Nelson loses one of its leading citizens, and a man who has for many years taken a deep interest in its welfare. He had given freely of hie time and ability to the public, and could always be relied on to take a lead<ing part in any movement for the public good. Though he had about reached, t'he allotted span of life—he was 69 yesterday—the news of his death will none the less cause a painful shock to the community. He was of an extremely kindly nature, and was ever ready to assist those in trouble.

The Hon. A. T. Maginnity was born in Wellington in 1849, of Irish parentage. His father came to New Zealand in 1847. and was on the hospital staff of the 65th Regiment. Mr Maginnity was educated at the Military School and at Toomath's Commercial and Grammar School in Wellington. He passed the Civil Service examination in 1868, and entered the Treasury as a junior clerk. In 1873 he was appointed chief clerk of the Telegraph Department, assistant secretary in 1876, and in the following year was promoted to the position of Secretary. For seven yea.rs he was at Collingwood in charge of the Post and Telegraph Office ;i„nd as Olerk of the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Court. During this period he studied law, and having passed the necessary examinations, resigned from the public service and commenced practice as a*.eolicitor in 1887, being admitted to the bar in 1898. He had for many years been a member of the Institute of Elec-, trical Engineers of England. The Hon. A. T. Maginnity was ono of the last survivors of the oldi cavalry conpa that took part in active. opera-, tions in the Wairarapa iiT connection with the Maori War, being- elected lieutenant of the Greytown Cavalry.' lowing on his service in the Greytowti

Cavalry the Hon. A. T. Maginnity. was appointed >Captaiii of the first Torpec-o Corps formed in the colony, which consisted ' principally of officers of the Telegrapn Service.. In local - volunteering matters'' he had for some period command of the H Battery of Artillery. While' attached to the Greytown Cavalry he volunteered for (service at /the front, and was attached; to No., 2. Division of Armed 'Constabulary, taking part in. General Whitmore's cam-, paign fouhd" Mb'unt Egmont, where the cnieftain Tito J£owharu and his forces were, being pursued. - From the West the main division of the field force was transferred to the East Ooasfc to deal with the noted warrior Te Kooti, who had been guilty ofmurderous" raids among- the settlements ,in the Poverty Bay and Bay -of Plenty districts. . '.

j (For • mahy : years Mr Maginnity i as a member of the Nelson Education; ; Board, and for a considerable portion | of his term was chairman of that /body ! He was also for many years a member ;of the Victoria University "■ Collepe | Council, Wellington; and for. a long, time, | a Trustee of the NeJson School of Musiy. ■ tie was for, a time v 'a Government I'iiominee o.n the Nelson Harbour i He was also greatly interested imV various sports &nd pastimes, and!' •was. pari ticularl-'- identified with shooting and ! swimming, having, 'been associated with j the Nelson Defence Rifle Club and the | swimming- Organisations. His last trip | from Nelson-was in connection with J New Zealand Swimming Council matters, when Be visited Wanganui. He wao staywag. at Foster's Hotel" inWanganui when it was destroyed; by. fire, ( and dost all his- personal belongings, i Though Mr was. not in tie hotel at the time of the fire., the occurrence was somewhat of a* shock to him, as was evident on his return to Is'elson on Thursday week, since When he had' been Confined to Ibed. •On j Sunday his condition became/ critical-, land; he gradually sank, death occurring ; at 4 o'clock this morning.. • The Hon. A. T. Maginnityi had been 'Chancellor. of the Diocese for some time past, and his work: in that, capacity had been' greatly appreciated by the Church authorities.' i .

I He was appointed to the Legislative. Council in 1914, and served , his country | well in that capacity, j A widow, two sons, Messrs A. C. Ma- ' ginity, solicitor, Nelson, and Mr L*. 4 W. Maginnity, chief clerk Lands a!nd Deeds Office, Nelson, and four daughters are t left tojrnourn his loss. l ".~ I Flags" were flown at 'half-mast in the J city to-day as a mark of . respect. • 1 i REFERENCE AT SUPREME COURT. v

! Reference to the death of the Hon. iA. T. Magiflnity was made! at the • Su- | preme Court. this moiling.; . * , i The members of the Bar pTeaent were: Messrs J. P. Hayes, C. R. ■ J'ell, E. B. Moore, W. V. Rout, H. Cheek, W. Nicholson. Mr Hayes said 1 lie had to inform this Court that the Hon. Mr Maginriity had died that morning. Mr Maginnity ! had' been a prominent and active praci tition'er in that Court and- had often ! appeared "before his Honour. He wais | a hard, strenuous/ and gal Wit fig-htel-. ! ilr Maprinnity lifrd also ibeen prominent and active in duties "vviiich' a piribliospivited .man took on himself in the i community in which he resided. 1 He j had now pone to his rest arid thev .litj res-retted his death. Mr Hayes adde<i /that in. the absence of the Bresklenti j of the Nelson Law Society through illj ness he had, on behalf of the Society-/ ] to tender, to the relative? Rympathyi ih' I their 'loss. ' , V' 1 ' .

Mr.-; Justice Chapman said he {pined in the ..'deep- regret expressed at th© los-s of Nelson and l the; community of Nelson had suffered. On many v occasions Mr Maigirimty had.ftp-' peared before 'him arsd had conducted hi.-s cases:'.courteously and strenuousTv, always his client's interest*-. j» the Hie .bad known Mr Maginnity as a courteous. frcntleniah. - and had . always .been.' formed l of the active end useful :p-irt" he took tm a citizen of this community.•