OBITUARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 36, 7 February 1912, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR. H. S. FITZHERBERT, S.M. We regret to have to record the death, which took, place . about halfpast oho, this morning, of Mr Henry Samuel Fitzherbert, S.M., says Monday’s New Plymouth “Herald.”" So lately as Tuesday last ho took his seat on the Bench, but was compelled to adjourn the .Court on account of ill-healtiji. It wast seen that His condition pis serious, and that only his wonderful plupk and fortitude had enabled him to attend the Court at all. A few months, ago he weiit to Sydney to consult a specialist, hut the verdict was that nothing could be done to arrest the, progress of the disease (cancer) which.was slowly killing him.

..The I late , Mr;.Fitzherbert' was' bom' in Wellington hr October, 1851, son ol the late Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., who was Colonial Treasurer in the, iVqld , and Stafford Ministries and Speaker•(bf the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1891. He was educated at Christ’s .College, Christchurch, and Melbourne University. Studying for the law, lie was admitted to the Bar in 1875, and became a member of the firm of Barton and Fitzherbert, and afterwards of the firm of Buckley, Stafford, and Fitzherbert. In 1884 he was elected ,to represent the Hiitt constituency, in parliament, and again l in 1887, but finding .Quit political life absorbed too much time and attention, he gave it up, though it is probable, lie would have been in the. Ballance Ministry in 1891. He was the chief Party Whip in the previous Parliament. However, ho decided to devote himself more closely to, his profession, which lie practiced for several years at Palmerston North, where he became Crown Solicitor. ’ Nearly five years ago ho was appointed Stipendiary Magistrate at New Plymouth, which position he has continued to hold up to the time of his death.

In his earlier years he was a very enthusiastic supporter of the Volunteer movement, and was Captain of the Petone Navals whom he commanded at the time of the Parihaka siege, in 1881. Whilst at the Hntt, too, and possessing a yacht, he fostered cutter racing amongst l the Navals. In fact, lie did a very great deal for \ plunteoring, and cm his retirement he was placed on the retired list with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and with the Y.D. distinction.

A, sound lawyer, hq brought also good common sense to bear upon hjs judgments, while his unvarying courtesy on tho Bench earned him the respect and esteem of the Bar as well as all who had occasion to appear in Court. Socially ho was very popu!ar, and his decease will be greatly regretted by all who had the pleasure of bis acquaintance.