In Memoriam.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 12

In Memoriam.

It is with sincere and deep regret we have to announce the death of Mr William Fitz Gerald, the eldest sou of Mr J. L. Fitz Gerald, Controller and Auditor-Gene-ral of the Colony, which took place at 6.15 p.m. last Saturday. The deceased gentleman was a member of the firm of Chapman and Fitz Gerald, barristers and solicitors of this city, »nd a citizen, besides, of high and wide repute. With William Fitz Gerald a valuable life has passed away—oue that could ill be spared. A barrister of marked ability, a solicitor of high honor, in whom could be reposed unbounded trust, public spirited, ardent iu whatever he undertook, a journalist of no mean ability, and an enthusiastic supporter and promoter of aquatics, “Willie"' Fitz Gerald, as he was termed by those who him and they were many—will be sorely missed. Whatever he put forth his hand to do was weil done. —witness the Law Reports of the Colony, of whioh he was editor-iu chief—and his wise counsels would have befitted a man of twice his years. Mr Fitz Gerald sat in the City Council, as member for Tborndon, for two or three years, and only retired from it under the pressure of failing health. .He was a skilful boatman —one of the originators of the Taiimi Canoe Club, and in his beloved canoe took many a long and adventurous cruise about the coast and on the rivers and lakes of this Island. He was the first to negotiate the Manawatu River through the Manawatu Gorge—a daring feat. He also paddled down o of the Wairarapa rivers to the Wairarapa Lake, and across the lake ■ to the sea at the bottom of Palliser Bay, and thence round the Cape to Wellington, hie earned the highest repute in aquatics, and during the last three years lie had held the onerous and exceedingly honorable position of Captain of the Star Boating Club. For years past Mr Fitz Gerald has had to combat with the advancing serious disease which originated in a severe attack of scarlet fever. How he battled with the enemy, how he bore up, laboring manfully all the time, never dispondent, facing the inevitable result unflinchingly, those who knew him best can testify. The result came rather unexpectedly. A month ago Mr Fitz Gerald looked quite robust. Then a slight chill assailed him, and he failed rapidly, and after much suffering expired at his residence, Hill-street. The Fitz Gerald family are highly connected, being lineal descendants of the Dukes of Leinster. They were among . he very earliest Canterbury settlers, and the * 1 Controller, 5 * as he is familiarly termed, may be described as the father of journalism in Canterbury. His cup of domestic sorrow is more than full, for six of his children have been swept away by deathj during the last decade. Robert and Maurice, both fine young men, immediately preceded Willie across the dark valley. They were employes of the Bank of New Zealand. Ihe FitzGeralds are a gifted family, and if “ Willie, who has just passed away, had been spared, he would have been heard of to advantage in the councils of the land. He waß married twice. First to a sister-in-law of Colonel Gorton, who did not long survive ; and secondly to Frances, fourth daughter of the late Dr Featherston, with whom three young children are left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. His age was 34.

THE FUNERAL. The last tribute of respect was paid to the remains of Mr William Fitz Gerald on Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock, when the funeral took place. The cortege was the largest which has been seen for years in Wellington, giving ample testimony, if testimony were needed, of the respect and'esteem in whioh the deceased gentleman was held by nil classes of the community. Following in procession was the carriage with the chief mourners, Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald and Mr Gerald FitzGerald, next Mr W. H. Levm, Dr Newman, and Mr Bremner fbrothers-in-law), on foot. Then came a long line of mourners on foot, numbering some 500, and following these His Excellency the Governor’s carriage and others. Noticeable amongst the mourners were Sir William Fitzherbert, Sir Maurice O’Rofke, Sir Harry Atkinson, a largenumber of members of both Rouses of the Legislature, Sir Frederick Whitaker, Sir James Prendergast, an’d Sir Robert Stout. Several of the Judges of the Supreme Court were also present, and the whole of the Wellington Bar. The pall-bearers (in accordance with their request) were the officers of the Star Boating Club, Dr Fell, Messrs Chap mao, Field, Knapp, Govett, and Batkin. The members of the Club also mustered in full force. Several of the officers and members of the Wellington Rowing Club also attended, and beside these the medical and other professions were well represented. The deceased was buried in the English Church Cemetery, thelaßt sad rites being performed by the Rev J. Still, incumbent of. St. Paul’s Church. As the coffin was being lowered into the graveit was literally covered with wreaths and floral tributes.