THE LATE LORD LAWRENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 1492, 3 July 1879, Page 3

THE LATE LORD LAWRENCE.

(From Hen of the Time.) Lawrence (Baron), the Bight Hon. John liaird Hair, late Viceroy and GovernorGeneral of India, who has been emphatically styled the saviour of that vast possession of the British crown during the mutiny of 1857, brother of the late Sir Henry Lawrence, X.C.8., killed m the same year, m the defence of Lucknow against the rebels, was born March 4, 1811, and received his early education at Foyle College, Londonderry, and at the East-India College, Haileybury. He obtained his Domination to India as a writer m 1829, became Assistant to the Chief Commissioner »nri Resident at Delhi m the early part of 1831 ; was promoted to the post of officiating Magistrate and Collector m December, 1833, and to a similar post at Pauiput m 1834; was appointed JointMagistrate and Deputy-Collector of Goorgaon, and the southern division of Delhi, m July, 1836, and Officiating Magistrate of the southern division m December : and conducted the settlement duties m Zillah Etawab m 1838 ; proceeded to Europe on furlough m February, 1840, and did not return to India until December, 1842. Up to this time Mr Lawrence had been chiefly engaged m magisterial and revenue duties. After holding one or two temporary employments, he was employed as Magistrate and Collector m the Ct-ntral district of Delhi territory, which includes the city of Delhi, when his administrative ability .attracted the attention of the Go-vernor-General, Sir H. Hardinge, and an opportunity for making himself a name presented itself on his being appointed to the important post of Commissioner of the transSutlej provinces, which had been added to our Indian empire alter the first Sikh war of 1815-6. In this position he found ample scope for the exercise of his abilities and persevering energy, and succeeded m placing the administration — political, fiscal,' and judicial — on a sound basis. He was also twice employed during 1848 and 1848 as Acting Resident at Luhore, m addition to his substantive duties. Tho assassination, at Mooltan, of the English envoys, Mr Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson, April 18, 1848, followed by a general insurrection m the Funjaub, led to the second Sikh war. After a long and obstinate contest, the Sikhs were finally defeated by Lord Gough, at Goojerat, February 21, 1849, when their territory was surrendered into our hauds, and was declared by Lord Dalhoußie to be thenceforth annexed to our possessions m India. The first important step on the part of the GovernorGeneral was to seek for men of administrative ability to bring the newly acquired territory under British laws and rule. Sir H. Lawrence, who had filled, the post of Besident at Lahore,. and. his brother, Mr John Lawrence, were nominated two out of three members of the Board for the administration of the Punjaub. The third member wan Mr Charles Qrenvill Man sol. Some slight idea of the labors of this commission may be formed from the fact that the superficial area of the country is 50,400 square miles, and that it contains a population, partly military and partly agricultural, of various races and religious creeds, who all " hated every dynasty except their own, and regarded the British as the worst, because the most powerful of usurpers." Under their former sovereign, Runjeefc Singh, tha administration was deplorable. There was scarcely a crime for which impunity could not bo purchased by bribes ; while the oppressive exactions of the provincial governors, who farmed the tuxes, were unchecked. Suoh was the state of affairs when the British Government first interfered m the internal administration of the country. Much had been done by Sir H. Lawrence, when acting as Resident at Lahore, to ameliorate the condition of the people ; but his" endeavors were interrupted by the rebellion of 1848-9. Tho first labor undertaken by the Board appointed by Lord Dalhoueie, was to organise a comprehensive system of law and justice, and of social and financial improvement throughout the Punjaub. It was found neceseary to disband the Sikh soldiery, though many of them afterwards entered the British service, and an irregular force, consisting of ten regiments, was raised for the protection of the western frontier. In consequence of these measures, at the end of two years the Board was able to report to the Governor-General .that " the entire British system and its institutions wero thoroughly introduced into the Punjaub." One triumphant result of thia consummation was shown m the fact that m the great mutiny of 1857, that province • remained faithful to British rule, and contributed largely to the preservation of our Indian empire. In 1856 Sir J. Lawrence was made a X.0.8. m reward of his services as Chief Commissioner of the |Punjaub, and was advanced to the dignity of a Q. 0.8. (civil) m 1857, for his zeal, intrepedity, and energy m aiding the military authorities to suppress the formidable revolt. He was created a baronet August 16, 1858, sworn a member of the Privy Counoil, and on the creation of the Order of the Star of India, was made X S.I. In December, 1863, he succeeded the late Lord Elgin as Governor-General of India.an appointment which gave great satisfaction both m this country and m India. He was made a member, of the Indian Oounoi), and the Court of Directors of the Eaet-India Company granted him a life pension of £2,000 per annum, which, by a speoial act (27 Viot. o. 3) ha mi empowered to hold

with bis full salary as Viceroy of India. On March 27, 1869, he was raised to the House of Peers by the title of Baron Lawrence, of the Pun.ianb. and of Grately m the county of Souilinm,; uu. Lord Lawre'noe, who has received the honorary degrees of D.C.L. and L.L.D. from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, ib known ns an earnest advocute of an open Christian course m the government of India j and especially of making the Bible a class-book m the Government schools, but allowing the attendance of the native pupils to be voluntary. At the first election of the London School Board m 1870, he wts chosen for the Chelsea division, und at the first meeting of the Board he was elected its Chairman. He resigned the position of Chairman m November, 1873.