DEATH OF MR JAMES SMITH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 9

DEATH OF MR JAMES SMITH.

News was received by cable on Thtu^day of iho death in London of Mr James Smith, barrister, for many years m practice in Dunedin, and partner in tho firm ot Messrs Smith and Anderson, and afterwards Messrs Smith, Chapman, Sinclair, and Co. Mr Smith's attorneys in Dunedin hove received no news of the death, but as our London correspondent, in Ins letter dated November 28, stated that Mr Smith was then suffering from a severe and dangerous illness, and his life despaired of, there is no reason to doubt the correctness of the cable received.

Mr James Smitb was a son of the late Mr Francis Smith, formerly of Lindfield, Sussex, and a London merchant, and afterwards of Campania, Tasmania, his oldest brother being the Hon. Sir Francis Villoueuve Smith, late Chief Justice of Tasmania. Mr James Smith was bom at Brixton, near London, about 1821, as he was ia his eighty-second year. He was taken to Tasmania by his parents. His youth was tpent on his father's estate, where he had private tuition, his education being completed at Univcreity College, London, where ho took his B.A. degree. He was articled, to a. London solicitor, and, after examination and admission as an attorney of the Court of the Queen's Bench, and solicitor in Chancery, he returned to Tasmania, where he was admitted a barrister and solicitor. After two years' practice ho went to Melbourne, where he practised for some years. He left there for Dunedin, where he practised as a barrister and solicitor from 1863 till 1876, and gained considerable reputation, his defence of Captain Jaryey for wife poisoning and his groat skill in completely cornering Dr Macadam, of Melbourne, the expert witness in the first abortive trial, exieiiing adsiiiatio-n. After retiring Mr Smith spent about three years in travel and a lengthene-d sojourn in England. On his return to the colony he sought io place his ripe experience at the service cf the colony, and in 1890 contested the Bruce seat, but was defeated by Mr J. W. Thomson, the present member for Olutha. Some time after this Mr Smith again journeyed to London, and, with the exception of a brief vi~it to the colony a few years ago, has since resided in or about the metropolis. He was for some years largely interested in pastoral pursuits, and was always prominent in supporting anything calculated to develop the resources of New Zealand generally, and Otago particularly. Though very reserved, a? might be expected from his legil training, ho was, when in good health, of a somewhai genial disposition in a quiet way. A gentleman of probity, he earned the respect of tho profession and the public, and his death will be regretted by all who knew him.