SIR WILLIAM FOX.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 179

SIR WILLIAM FOX.

URING the Nelson Anniversary, the proceedings were distinguished by the presence of Sir William Fox, who almost fifty years ago first appeared there in the capacity of Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company. Among the old identities who still remain Sir

William Fox is probably the chief, for it will be half a century in the present year since he landed in Wellington. In this year also Sir William Fox celebrates the anniversary of his fiftieth year of wedded life. The attainment of two such important landmarks in his career by one whose name has figured so prominently before the people of New Zealand, affords us a very suitable opportunity of recapitulating the leading features of his bio-

graphy. Sir William Fox was born in Durham in 1812, and is the son of the then Deputy-Lieutenant for the county, George Townshend Fox. He was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, and called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1842. The same year he emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand. Mr Fox was thus one of the earliest settlers in that province. He left England with a view of following the avocations of a private colonist. He, however, in 1843 succeeded Captain Wakefield at Nelson as the Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company. This appointment he held till early in 1848, when he received the appointment of Attorney General of the Southern Province, which he accepted on condition that self-government was immediately to be bestowed on the colony. Finding that it was not, he resigned, and shortly afterwards, on the death of Colonel Wakefield, principal Agent of the Company, succeeded to that office, thus being placed in charge of the Company's interests in the whole of the Southern settlements, including New Plymouth. In this position, being brought immediately betoie the eyes of the colonists, he was appointed Honorary Political Agent in England for the settlement of Wellington. He visited the principal ports and settlements, and explored parts of the country. He was elected, in 1853, to the first Parliament called together under the new Constitution Act; and in 1856 he formed an administration which lived but a short time. He formed a new Ministry, which held office till June 6, 1862. In 1863 he again headed a Ministry, composed of himself and Messrs Whitaker, Gillies, and Russell. In 1864 this Ministry resigned owing to serious differences with Sir George Grey, the Governor, relative to the conduct of the Waikato war and the consfication of the lands of Natives in rebellion. Mr Fox was Premier again from 1868 to 1872, being a colleague of Sir Julius Vogel in 1870, when the great Public Works scheme was originated. With Sir F. Dillon Bell, in 1880, he was appointed to the West Coast Commission to inquire into and unravel the intricacies of Native Land titles, and to settle questions relating to confiscation on the M est Coast. His final report was accepted by Europeans and Maoris a- a satisfactory settlement of the whole question. M ithin the last few years Sir William Fox has become well-known throughout New Zealand and in England as a social reformer, earnestly and ably advocating the disuse of alcohol.