DEATH OF JUDGE BROAD.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7403, 17 August 1892, Page 3

DEATH OF JUDGE BROAD.

| It was with the deepest feeling of sor- ! row that the first intimation of the suddeu ! death of his Honor Judge Broad was ! received last evening- by those who then , learnt of the aad fatality. When the first rumor was heard, it was met by a ] strong hope that there was some exaggeration, but, unhappily, subsequent reports only too fully confirmed the sad intelligence, which, bearing out the old adage that ill news spreads apace, was all too quickly borne to many whose heart action ! was temporarily checked by the melanoholy intelligence. For many years Judge Broad has been a central figure in our community, and whether we con" sider him in his social or judioial posi- ( tion, he has secured our affectionate esteem. In hh judicial or magisterial capacity he has always commanded respect, for he has ever aoted with im--1 partiality and strict justice, indeed he has never shirked the hardest of work to come to a sound decision. Socially he was no less liked than he was respected as a Judge. In private life _ig geniality 1 won the goodwill of all with whom he came in contact, and in a less private character he invariably showed a desire to further the sooial or material welfare of those among whom he labored. Carrying our memory back, we recollect the good services which he rendered in 1873 as Vice-President of the Ne'son Exhibit tion, when he labored well and strenuously, not without good results either. At that time, too, he achieved what we believe was his first literary vic'ory. Prizes were offered for a suitable tale of early Colonial life, aud hs it was who secured the ohief award for his story of Goldfields Life, which was largely, at all events, founded upon his own experiences. In later year ahe performed more ambitious, and in a sense more useful, work. In 1881 he published the New Zealand Law List, whioh was greeted as a very useful publication, but his Law Digest, issued subsequently, was of a muoh more ambitious nature, and ita success was such that he was oalled upon, some years later, to issue a second and revised edition. His Resident Magistrate's Court Guide was no less successful, for already it has run through two editions; but, in addition to these, he has issued " The Law of Inkeepers," and " The Justices Handibook," both works of every-day reference. His last completed work of a literary nature was " The Jubilee History of Nelson," which was taken up under circumstances of exceptional difficulty, but whioh, nevertheless, was well performed. Sinoa then he has been preparing for the publication of a fourth edition of Judge Johnston's " New Zealand Justice of the Peace," for the publioation of whioh the Government had made arrangements. Lowther Broad was, we believe, born in the Island o! JJute, though no one would have judged from bis speech or mannerism that he was a Sootohmau, but this may be ac* oounted for by the faot that he was educated in France. He could have been little more than a youth when he first took up his abode in Victoria, where, we believe, his earlier experiences were in a commercial house ; but in the first days of the Otago Goldfields we find that his experience was taken advantage of, and he was appointed Goldfields Warden, in which capacity he won the esteem ot those with whom he came into contact by his just actions. At about tbis time fae had some association with one of the earliest of the Otsgo newspapers, and his connection with a journal whioh has long ceased to exist— the Otago Colonist — was always with him a subject of pleasant recollection. After leaving Orago he became Wardeu on the Thames Goldfields, but tiring of the Publio Service, he entered into business there for a brief term a? the held of a firm. Shortly after this, he waa offered the appointment of Resident Magistrate and Warden at Nelson, and he aocepted the position, He was not, a man to remain idle even in his spare momenta, and by dint of application and study he qualified himself for admission to the legal profession, and having gained admission, with honor to himself, he was, in 1875, appointed District Court Judge. Sinoe then he has held a position of great responsibility, but he has invariably ao-. quitted himself with honor. For a time ho was oalled upon to take up the work of a very extensive circuit, and his work was most heavy, but his judgments oarried respeot, and were often quoted. For seme Bhort time since his oirouit has been more restricted, and his duties have been more multifarious, but they have all been well performed. In addition to the offioe of Distriot Court Judge he haa held the position of Resident Magistrate, Registrar and Examiner of Titles und >r the Land Transfer Act, and last, but cot least, Registrar of the Supreme Court, in which latter capacity he has performed the chamber work of the higher Court with such success that it is over twelve months since a judge of that Court has visited Nelson. As a public officer of high position, he has done his duty faithfully and well, while it cannot be said that he has been less successful as a oitizen of distinction, or in the more sacred rote of husband and father. Our grief at his loss is intensified by the ojmmiserati'jn which we feel, and in which we shall be joined by our readers, for his deeply afflicted widow, and his family, which consists of nine children, ranging upwards from a few months. The age of the deceased was about 54, but he scarcely looked co old, and amongst the many who were conversing with him a few short hours before his call came, there was not one but looked forward to many another pleasant meeting. He was on the Bench yesterday, and having performed other duties, proceeded home shortly before six o'clock, but he bad only juat sat down to dinner when he was seized with an apoplectic fit. Dr Mackie was instantly sent for, and he was in attendance within a very few minutes, but he was unable to hold out any hopes. A few minutes later the vital spark had flown, and the Bacred statement that in the midst of life we are in death received a solemn and awful significance. We can add no more, save to state that the medical man states that death was accelerated by weakness of the heart.