THE LATE JUDGE RICHMOND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2582, 7 August 1895, Page 2

THE LATE JUDGE RICHMOND.

THE LAST RITES. It was a groat representative assemblage that oarno together‘to pay the last tribute of respect. The Governor, the Ministry, the- Legislature, the law, commerce and other interests' joined with “troeps of friends” to take part in'the last rites. While, the boll of St. Mark’s tolled their feelings, all wore silent. AS the solemn tones began to' float Through the sunny air, the sons and nephews bring 1 the late head of their house to the hearse, the stalwart body of I police in attendance to mark their oonneotion -with’"'the* administration of the •law move' forward, and the procession gets into motion. Wo reach the Church whore ho had worshipped so regularly and so faith- : fully, his people carry him in behind the Bishop and his clergy,' the choir chanting the first of the funeral service. The organ plays’ softly a ! strain of grief ns he is reverently placed in the accustomed place near the sanctuary rails. 11 “Lead Kindly Light,’* l that most wonderful of all hymns, touches Ovoryhoart, the'noble chapter of St. PnUl fellows, the choir sings With deep feelWgtlio dttthem “ God is a Spirit, the chords Vibrating in every fibre of the large gathering.’ l ‘ If was a faWurite’ With' luhij dfid it is 'sufig/nbfr at the request dthio pedple. The funeral hymn, with its touch: in'* refraifi, thb Benediction—dll 1 remind: ing ■ One of ■ the ■ day ' when another great man (Sir' -Hntry ■'•Atkinson) was taken to his’ rest —and The -proocSsion moves out to the 11 great'-” March’ - in “Saul.” ; So l to the grave' and ; the last scene of all, where' he waits in honour and patience -for the sbund of the last trumpet which will sound a note for him in perfect accord' with - all l that has boon said of his noble’ life here in the last few sad days.

THE TRIBUTE 1 OF- PARLIAMENT. The Premier, in moving yesterday the adjournment of . the , House of Representatives for the afternoon out of respect to the memory of Mr Justice Richmond,'said that an honourable Judge and one of Now Zealand’s, greatest men'had passed away. By the ,death of Judge Riohm'ohd the Colony had lost a faithful public servant, and oho honoured and respected by ’alii The 1 ’ Bench- loved : and revered him,' and : " the Bar looked .'.'upon him with 'the ' greatest,. ■ ■ confidence.- His judgments 'were . sound,'' and' ho was careful end thorough 1 in all ho did. He was speaking with some confidence when ho said' that 'all who had practised under or had boon’ brought in contact with the late 1 Judge’' spoke most highly of him, and most' sincerely. mourn'.liis loss; for hid- great 'ability ’ and honesty of purpose earned him the goodwill and respect of all good’men; ' As one ef an older Veneration of colonists bo rendered valuable public service,- and 'went through the ordeal' of criticism and ’calumny.'-which those who Come'forwM’d'in the - interests of : their country have to endure.- His career was one -that should bo l looked up to by tho-younger generation with respect. -As a member of’’Parliament, • Minister of the Crown,- statesman and Judge of the Supreme Court, his distinguished services had earned for. him - the gratitude of the people: of : the Colony. Ho (Mr Sodden) desired here to take the opportunity, and ho. regretted,that occasion should .have arisen forthis; of referring : to a statement published to the effect that the Government desired the. retirement of the late Judge’ Richmond. He .gave this a most emphatic; denial. The late Judge’s intellect, bright and clear ; his capacity for work,, almost marvellous j, his vast experience—those were all ; used' for the ‘ benefit of the country. Why, therefore, should ,tbe;, Government desire his retirement. The Government deeply deplored the loss:the oountiy had sustained by the death of Judge -Richmond, whose place; it .would be very hard to fill. Mr Seddon went on to.refer to the love and reverence with which the deceased J udge was looked upon ; in. his family and social life, circles in which bis loss would be most keenly felt and deplored, for he endeared himsejf to all. It, was the desire of the House to give those who had suffered this irreparable loss their heartfelt sympathy, and he moved That the House adjourn until 7.30 in the evening. Captain Russell, leader of the Opposition, seconded the motion. In the_ fullest and widest sense of the word, hb said, New Zealand deplored the loss of a man, and it Was fitting that the great Council of the country should adjourn in honour to his memory. The late Judge Richmond was great in every relation of life. All agreed as to his wisdom’, ability and conscientiousness. As a colonist ho was enthusiastic and self-denying/ as a statesman! unselfish and patriotic, and as' a jurist unexcelled, if not unequalled, in the’ colonies. Judge Richmond’s life, if only as a model to follow, was of more ■ value than a thousand ordinary men, and ■ his death left a blank almost impossible to fill. * Mr- Bell, * as one who .had known the late Judge the whole of his (Mr Bell’s) life, also paid high tribute to his bright, true, and fearless*nature. Such lucidity of expression, mastery. of detail, familiarity of every aspect of. business and commercial life/ - together with' the great -perceptive power: and; perspicuity of law possessed by Judge Richmond were seldom found in one. person, but when they were combined went to make a great Judge. . Mr Bell went on to refer to the kindly encouragement always offered by -the. late Judge 40 th® younger members'of the Bar; bis statesmanlike qualities, his scholarly attainments. He was the most learned, most kindly, most perfect man he ever knew. Mr Saunders' said that he and. the Speaker . (Sir Maurice O’Borke) were, at the present time the only members of the House who occupied seats at the time the deceased Judge was Colonial Treasurer | and Native Minister. Judge Richmond was, as they had heard the previous, speakers describe him, a man deeply , admired. Throughout the whole of his experience of public men he never saw a man so entirely oblivious to self-interest as. this man (Judge Richmond), whoso Native policy he (Mr Saunders) bad opposed. '; He earned for himself general ’admiration, not only for his ability' and character, but for the warmth and manliness of his feelings. No man, had been more libelled in; the pages of the most pretentious history of the Colony yet issued than Christopher William Richmond, and they could not witbold their admiration of the calm and dignified manner in which he had submitted to these libels, knowing that his own integrity, character and purity of heart were too well known to require refutation from him. The motion for adjournment was then carried in silence, and members proceeded in carriages to the funeral. Immediately ■ upon the Speaker of the Legislative Council taking his place in the Council yesterday afternoon, the AttorneyGeneral (Sir P. A: Buckley) remarked that he understood it was the desire: of the Council to at once adjourn, in order that

members might pay a last tribute .of respect to the memory of the Tate Mr Justice Kich,mqnd by, attending his funeral., JIo need ;S,ay llttlp with, regard, to the .cAteer of |;he lato »Tiidgo, t’ho had invariably. dif-'charqccl pfro,.duties of Ins high olildd diHt)a«tilo'n(itdly and with equity. Tho loss .'which the Colony bad sustained.in the death of .Mr Justice .liichrnond- could not ' bosTOgardod* in any other light than a‘national one. Tho , lato Judge had shod A- * r lustte fcraivltho JiorMq •v/hioh cadMi > iWvdv bd. tiutohiliell.' 1 Aldtoib ascending , the Uench, Ilia. Honor had proved himself a brilliant politician; and his statesmanlike qualities had been conspicuous in tho Taranaki war troubles of tho past, as many hon members of the Council know much bettor than ho could tell thorn. This ho could say wit hunt* fear of contradiction) that no more judicial mind than that ■of tho lato Mr Justice Kichmond had over uttomd & deliverance from the Australasian Hotich. The motion for adjournment vtac Ugfcotl to without discussion,nnd the C'oUncil a'djo urned till the foiiovvfnig day*.

’ ¥h& MfJifEitAL Shortly after 2 o’clock, tho coffin, wjiioft Eerie tho iris'ciiptfori, “Christopher VVillifim Richmond, Born , July i2ih, 1831. Died AUgust'3, 1895,” whs cajrririd blit tp Uio;Woatho, si’o Rcarf/rs being MeSsria U, F. feichriiond, 11, E. Richmond, Alfred Rio|iluorid (sons of deceased), ,A. R. Atkinson - , M!- W. -Richmond and 13. T, Atkinson (nephews). ! Following those came Messrs Ei. H. Richmond,, H.’l). Atkinson, E. G. Atkinson (nephews), F. J. Bolleston (the into 'Judge’s secretary), 11'. Gully and M. Chapman (forimor secretaries) and Rev W. A. Evans. ■, r Tile relatives and immediate friends of Urn,'deceased ftfbro lil- carriages as lot- •; v . ", .i, .... m i Fi rst,' ’carriage • Mrs Richmond, ■ Miss Richmond;, Mr A. S. Atkinson and Mr C. F.. Richmond. Second carriage : Mias E. Kichmond, Mias D. IC. Kichmond, Mr 11. K. Kichmond and Mr Alfred Richmond. Third carriage : Mr C. E. Foil, Mr A. K. Atkiriqrin.- Mr H, D. Atkinson ;aild Mrs H. D. Atkinson. Fourth carriage; Mr M. TV. Richmond, MrsJVl. TV. Kichmond, Miss B. Richmond and Mr B. T. Atkinson,' Fifth carriage; Miss Lucy Atkinson, Mr Arnold, Atkinson, Miss IfollestOn and Mr K, IT. Richmond. ..... Sixth carriage \ Rov TV., A. Evrink,, Mr M. ■ 'Ghft'prnan, Mr H. GilVl.yi Mr Fi iL Rollqaton-. ... , tsady Atkinftcnj 6|sW4n - -14i? Af. .tho ’deceased, Vlas prevented from being j>rQ*!imt hyillness. , ....... • -... t . , ,- TRu pfdcesajon was,,headed by Mounted; Constables Wilson and Heather, following lyhpm.oamo p, contingent pf .Mpfoot policp In charge pf,Sergpom(i-Mi>iuf,Jfameay, ■, The Jraigsd, qamp ,Ao.lt, .nrid.-ith'ott nhout;, fifty parringea, with, it, Cdhauffiftbld.-number of .persons on . foot. ’.Among - those - present, either in airriages or on foot, were— Major Elliot ’(priVate'seo'retafy to Hia ExcoUoncy, tjbe. Governor)and.. Captain CariipbelLPreatoh (A/H.CJ), Wh'o'WbreUnthe Governor’s carriage, and attended as representing His Excellency ; His Honor tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, Dr Findlay; Dr Fitohott, tho ■members of the AYol ling ton, Bur,- the. Mayor and oity ooun-, cillors and, Corporation ■ officials,’ Key H. Van Stavoron,(chairman, of tho Trustees’Of the,-Benevolent’ Institution), -Very , Rev Or Watters, (Rootor St. Patrick’s College),. Very Rev Father. Dovoy (Vioar-Qenbral), Eov IT. I’. Tucltey, Roy J. Ward, Bey J. Paterson,’ Rev 0. -S, Ogg,.- Rev. J, K. Elliott, Dr Pollen, Dr Ewart, Mr J. P. Firth (Principal of tho Wellington College). and , .-staff, ,-Captain - Edwin; EioutenaritColonel, , MoDonnoll,,., Messrs. J. - JoyM and J, G. Martin, S.M/ (representing tho Cantorbnry Raw Society),. Mr M. Chapiann (represonting t.ho.Bionlleiiii Law’ Society), Hon ( TV, •W. ...Sislop (reproBonting; tho . TVollington ...Law Society), Msasrs J.,Ei Blair, A... Dorset, it, Beo and; 'l\, Fleming (representing, the Wellington Education Board), -Mr A. D. Riley (Tech-, nioal School)’, the , Supreme o' Court, and Magistrate’ll ■ Coimt :<, officials, r. Sir James Hector, lioails of.Govornmont.Departnieilts, Messrs -A,, do :B.■l)raudoh.(president ..of ; the, .Chamber of,!rCottimerco),;.T.,;J,; Gafe (chairnian Of • the Harbodr .Board),*. J.; Plitpinor,; A. Warhdrtpni, A. E. G. BnT°lhurat,- U. J.-Reid,'Mi,Kennedy, J;®. Smith, D. r JI. B,.WilaphjC,T’!'Batlcin, F.‘ Grady, J. Mills, F. Bradey, J, 'Blundell, ■J. Mofiollan, J. C. Edwards, G. P. Fowles,' A. U. .Miles, Ai IE /Turnbull, ! D. X. Stuart, G. Fisher, and many.others; ,'- - . The route taken was along Brougham street,, into; Ellice , street ,andthrough Sussex aqgare to St. lEirk’s Church; which was closely packed with, tho. relations and friends-!of. . tho, deceased and the general, public, ; , ■ • . ’ ... j ... ;

■ The!, procession ; was' reoeivod at the charphiga'tea by :His’ Lordship the Bishop of Wellington,.the,Yen Archdeacons Fancourt.. ar)d Stock,, the Revs R. Colley, 0. Fitz Gerald arid C:’A.' TiSdall and the members of St. Mark’s choir. • . -As tho.coilln was borne up the aisle the organist,(Mr,T. C, Webb), played Chopin’s Funeral March, and the choir, recitedjltho opening,;sentencesof the.burial, service, As the coflia was placed on’ the Catafalque in the chancel the beautiful hymn “Load, Kindly Light, amid the Encircling Gloom,” was sung by the choir and congregation, /After,this,, Psalm 90, “Lord,-Thou hast .been our. Refuge,’’ was .sung, and after the lesson,, which .was read by the Bishop, '.who was assisted;in.the service by,the Rev E.; Coffey, the choir, sang the. beautiful 'anthemGod is a .Spirit,” The final hymn .wae,“ Wow the Labourer’s Taskis O’er,”,, after which the Bishop pronounced ‘thoi .Benediction, and this: portion of tho service concluded by tho organist playing, tho“Pead March” in “Saul,”thochoir and congregation remaining standing,until the concluding strains of. that solemn composition ihad died away..... .../■ . ; The procession then re-formed, and pro.ceododoto .the -Karori. Cemetery, being joined on the way. thither.by the. Premier (lion . E,-. J. * Sedclon),'; Colonial. Treasurer (Hon J. <jfe. Ward),: Minister of Education (Hon VLiP..Reeves), the;Attoruey-Hanoral .(Hod Sir Patrick Buckley), the Hon W. Montgomery, - and ~tho : members of both Houses,of Parliament. >■ ‘ illisLordship the Bishop of Wellington, (issiated by thoEov O. I’itzGerald, officiated at the graveside. ■ 1 ’Wreaths wore sent by—The Premier and Mi's Seddon, Mr'and Mrs Izard. Captain 1 rind Mrs Fairchild, Mr Lockio, Mrs Clero, •Rev W. -A. Evans,'Wellington District ' •lot# Society,’ Blenheim' District Law Society,“ Judges' secretaries, Mr G. i T. Batkin, Mr M. Chapman, 'Mr :> Arthur; Cooper (Registrar of tho Supremo'Court), Mrs Blackett, Judge Williams, Captain •and Mrs Russell, Messrs Brown and Doan, ■Bishop and Mrs Hridfleld;. Mr C, P. -Sker-/ rott, Mr and'Mrs C. J. 1 Monro, Mr and Mrs E. TJ. Gore, Mr and Mrs 'E. J. 'Reid, 1 •Mr and' Mrs J: Holmes,' Mr H. Gully, : Dr and Mrs Adams, Mr and Mrs T. I C. Williams, hoys of Wellington College, Mr ; and Mrs J. P. Firth,- Mr and' Mrs 11. D. Bell, teachers and pupils of ' the Girls’; High, School, Mrs Barbour, Sir WalterBailor and Miss Buller, Mr and Mrs Hoby,; Mr Edward Stafford, Messrs Buckley, Stafford and Treadwell,'- and Sir Robert < and Lady Stout.' - ■ 1 1 ■ Miss M. Atkinson, Mrs Dransfleld, Mr and Mrs Tolhurst, Mr and Mrs W. H. S. Moorho,iso, Miss‘Hales soht crosses. .... Flower’s were sent by Mrs Walter Johnston, Messrs A. and Q. Bothune, Mrs Bdthimo, Mrs Pynsont, Mrs Levin/

.The Wellington : Benevolent Trustees mot yesterday afternoon, but immediately adjourned as a mark of respect to .the late Mr .Justice,; .Richmond., .Tbo. Chairman (Eov -H., -Van .Ktavoren) referred to ‘the great loss thoi -community had suffered' by the death of Hia llonor.

-i, ■ •By Teley rttph. — P,rq*» Association. ] - CnkISTCHURCK, 4-Ugllst 6. ■ ' Ai tho" Supremo Court" this morning,” Mr' ..Justice Donniston referred in feeling terms' ,tq thd daathof Mr Justice Richjjiond." ifr Weston, on behalf ;of’the ißar, also . spoke, eulogising the deceased particularly .-for hid uniform courtesy and-oousideration . for the profession.. , , 1 .The;Court <then adjourned out of respbet tcthe memory of tho lata Judge.