OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144714, 24 June 1915, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR. ARTHUR STANDISH. J It is our painful duty to record the death, which occurred this morning, of Mr. Arthur Standish, in his time ono of the most prominent public men in Taranaki. A native oi Pontefract, Yorkshire, where ho was bom on March 21, 1838, ho camo ont to New Plymouth with his parents when a young boy. His father was Air. Thomas Standish, a descendant of an old Lancashire family, who became Crown Prosecutor here. The subject of this notice studied law with Messrs. Merryman and Jackson, barristers and solicitors, of Auckland, and was subsequently admitted to the Supremo Court and commenced practice here in 1861. On the outbreak of tho Native disturbances in 1860 Air. Standish joined tho Taranaki Volunteers. and served throughout the war, and at its conclusion ho retired with tho rank of captain, and received tho New Zealand, war medal for his services. In 1803 ho was appointed Crown Solicitor, being ono of tho first to receive that appointment, which he bold until 1894, being succeeded by his partner, Mr. W. Kerr, now S.M. at Wanganui. for several .years ho was president of the Taranaki Law Society. He was a member of the Provincial Government, and, with tho Hon. Thomas Kelly and tho late Sir Harry Atkinson, was instrumental in passing many useful measures. From 1873 to 1875 he was Secretary for Lands, and 'in 1874 Deputy Superintendent of the Province. lie was a member of tho first Harbour Board, and remained a mem- • her for many years, assisting in laying the foundation of tho present harbour. Lie was the last chairman of tho Town Board, and, in 1876, -was elected first Mayor of Now Plymouth, a position he held for two years. Whilst Mayor ho was instrumental in obtaining for the borough an endowment of 2900 acres of land east of Stratford, which is now a good source of revenue! At various times he hold other public positions, such as member of the Land Board for fourteen years, member of the* Education Board, president of tho Taranaki Jockey Club for many years and also of tho Taranaki Agricultural Society. A keen sportsman and a great lover of horses, ho was a good supporter of the Jockey Club, and has at various times owned a number of good horses, some of which he used to ride himself in their engagements in his younger days. During tho last fow years he has taken an interest in golf, tho exorcise in which restored lus health some years ago. He was a generous supporter of tho clubs which liavo need his property as a course. Some little time ago his health again gave way, and his strength has gradually failed, and his end was not unexpected. In 1898 ho married a daughter of tho late Rev. H. H. Brown, who, with four sons and two daughters, survives him. Ho was held in the very highest esteem and respect by everyone who know him, and although bo had long retired from active participation in public and business affairs, no leaves behind the record of a man who always gave tho best that was in him to the service of his fellows. Possibly sometimes erring in his judgment on public matters, it must be said of him that ho was always fearless in his advocacy of what he believed to be' right and in his opposition to what be Believed to be inimical to tho best interests of the community.