OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9257, 5 December 1891, Page 2

OBITUARY.

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE HON. SIR FREDERICK WHITAKER. | FSB PBBBS ASSOCIATION. I Auckland, December 5. — Sir Frederick Whitaker was seized by a paralytic stroke yesterday afternoon while seated in his chair at his office. He was removed to hia residence at once where he shorty afterwards expired. He had a severe ahock in June last, and has been in failing health ever since. When he arrived at hi 3 office in the morning he was apparently in good health, and attended to his business as usual, but, at about 3 o'clock, when Mr Buddie had occasion to go in Sir Frederick's room, he found him insensible, sitting in his chair.

The Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker, K.C.M.G.j was born at Bampton, Oxfordshire, England, in 1812, and, there fore, at his death, was in his eightieth year. Early in 1839 he was admitted to practise , in the English Courts of Law; and towards the close of the same year he left for Australia, landing in Sydney in 1840. Staying but a short time in that colony, he came to Now Zealand, landing at Kororareka, where h© took up his abode, carrying on his profession there until the seat of Government was taken to Auckland, in 1841, when be also removed to that city. In the year 1842 he was appointed County Judge, the Court having civil and criminal jurisdiction like our District Courts, which position he retained until the Court was abolished in 1844. He was appointed senior non-official member of the Legislative Council in 1845, and sat in the last Council held by Governor Fitzroy, and the first held by his successor Governor Grey. The native insurrection breaking out at the Bay of Islands, Mr Whitaker served in the New Zealand militia, in which force he held a major's commission, and was engaged in garrison duty in Auckland when the rebel Northern natives threatened to come down by the Whau portage at th» head waters of tho Waiteuiata, to lay the infant settlement in ashes. Mr Whitaker at this period entered into partnership with Captain Heale, and tho new fiivn entered into a number of speculations to develop the mineral resources of the province, the most important 'of which were their operations in copper mining at Kawau and at the Great Barrier. In 1846 Mr Whitaker returned to the Mother Country on a visit, and again returned to the land of his adoption in 1848. In the year 1851 the Provincial Legislative Council was established, and by its constitution one-third of its members were nominated, and the remaining two-thirds elected. The reprepentatives elected for Auckland city were Mr Whitaker, Mr W. Brown (of tho firm of Brown and Campbell), and the late Captain Salmon, but the march of political events prevented this body from ever being called together. The passing of tho New Zealand Constitution Act in 1852, by the English Parliament, and tho inauguration of popular representative institutions in the cobny in 1853 again brought Mr Whitaker to the forefront of political life. He was elected a member ot the Provincial Council, and sat in soveral sessions. The history of Sir Frederick's political career, ia, in fact, the history of Constitutional Government in New Z aland . He was Attorney-General in the first resp^nsible Ministry, that known aa the BellSewell Ministry, and his commission beara the dato o£ the 7th of May, 185 G. That Ministry only lasted 13 dava, being replaced by the first Fox Ministry on the 20th May, 1856. The Fox Ministry retired, however, on 2nd June, and on that day Mr Whitaker became Attorney-General in Sir Edward Stafford's Administration, which lasted for more than five years. In July, 1861, the Stafford Miniatry went out of effice, and were followed in suoceaaion by the Fox Ministry of IS6I, and tho Domett Miniatry of 1862. On the 23rd October, 1863, the Domett Ministry were defeated, and Mr Whitaker, being now allied with his former opponent, Sir William Fox, appeared at the head of the Administration that bears their joint names. On the 24th of November, 1864, the WhitakerFox Ministry retired on tho question of the removal of the seat of Government, and Mr Whitaker withdrew from public affairs for a considerable time. On his return, as a leader of tho Auckland party, three years aftorwards, however, he at once assumed a very influential position in the Legislature ; but although often pressed to take ofiice he steadfastly declined to do so. It was not until the lstSepteinbt r, 1876, on the formation of the Atkinson Miniatry, that he again took a seat on the Treasury Bonch. He went out with that Ministry in October, 1877, and in the general election of 187'J wa3 defeated by Sir George Grey's influence, at that time paramount in the Northern constituencies. A few weeks afterwards, nevertheless, lie avus again in office, for thow-rey Ministry having failed to secure a majority in tho country, were compelled to retire, and Mr Hall having been entrusted with tho formation of a Ministry, was joined by Mr Whitaker as- Attorney -General with the leadership of the Legislative Council. Mr Hall havingnow retired in consequonce of ill-health, Mr Whitaker returned to the position of ■ Premier till 1883, when his private affairs compelled him to resign. In February, v 1884, he was created a K.C.M.G. On the resignation of the Stout- Vogcl Ministry in October, 1887, Sir Frederick was again persuaded to taKo tho Attorney-Generalship in the Atkinson Ministry, which he retained until the beginning of this year, when that Government resigned. Sir Frederick WHitaker also took an active part in the j local politics of Auckland, and was Superintendent of that province from 1866 to 1867. He took an active interest in the development of the mining interest' at the Thames goldfiolds, and was a heavy invester in various mines. He was also connected indirectly with the timber trade, and in extensive agricultural and pastoral operations. Iv 1878, when the North Island of New Zealaud was constituted a Province under the Scotch Constitution of Freemasonry, Sir F. Whitaker was unanimously Belected as the first Provincial Grand Master, and duly appointed by the Grand Master o£ Scotland. In private life Sir F. Whitaker was highly estoemod and respected for his social and personal qualities.