HENRY SEWELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 11

HENRY SEWELL.

4«J|u3|kß. HENRY SKWELL was born in the early part of Aplfinl the century at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, where his father practised as a solicitor. Choosing the same -irt^j^ profession, he practised for some years in England. He was one of the most active and influential members of the Canterbury Association, and also took part in passing the New Zealand Constitution Act. Empowered to wind up the affairs of the association he left England in 1852 in the Minerva, accompanied by his wife and friend, E. G. Wakefield, and arrived at Lyttelton in February, 1553. Claim was almost immediately made upon his services whilst opposing Governor Grey's policy in suddenly proclaiming a reduction in the price

of the waste lands of the colony. This Mr. Sewell contended was despotic, at variance with the provisions of the new Constitution, and was a blow aimed at the young settlement under the guise of benefiting the general community. During a residence of nearly twenty }*ears in New Zealand, Mr. Sewell's great ability, power of debate, and personal character, marked him out to fill almost continuously some one political post or another. And thus he discharged the duties of SolicitorGeneral in Mr. FitzGerald's Ministry, which was formed in 1854 under the first session of General Assembly. Two years later he became Premier, but resigned within a month over the fiercely fought question of entire Ministerial responsibility, which he contended was a vital part of representative institutions. This view, however, Acting-Governor Wynward refused to take, though it speedily became recognised as the IaAV of the land. During successive Ministries the Attorney-General-ship devolved either upon himself or Mr. Whitaker. In 1873 he returned to England, and there died in 1879. Mr. Sewell was a man of considerable classical knowledge and of varied ability, and was a brother of the eminent Scholar and Fellow of Oxford, the Rev. William Sewell.