DEATH OF HON. A. PITT

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 21, 24 November 1906, Page 37

DEATH OF HON. A. PITT

PASSES AWAY PEACEFULLY

CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The Hub. A- Pitt. Attorney General, Minister for Defence. and Minister in charge of the Government Accident anti Fire Insurant-.* departments, died at 5.15 tins morning at Nurse Tnnwfs private nursing home, where he underwent a curious operation a few days ago. On Fjaiay he shewed considerable inrprcvement, but he slowly sank all day Saturday, and could not retain any nourishmeut. He continued to sink durmg the night, ami at 4.30 a.m. asked for a cup t-f tea. which was given him. He then fell into a deep slumber, and died peaceiully in his sleep. On the news reaching Wellington, order., were immediately given for the despatch of the Government steamer Tutaickai to Lyttelton. She wilt reach port early to-morrow morning ami will wait until the arrival of the second express, which will bring the Premier and the Hon. A. J. Millar up from the South. The body will be placed on board, and the steamer will leave direct fcr Nelson, where the interment will take place. It is understood that the funeral will not he a military one. The late Minister’s two daughters, who are at present in Christehureb, his private secretary, the Premier, the Hon. J. A. Millar, and probably the Hon. W. Hall Jones, will journey by the Tutam-kai in order to be present at the fu.ntal.

AUCKLAND CONDOLENCES.

TELEGRAM FROM THE HON. GEO. EOWLBS. Referring to the death of the Hon. Colonel Pitt, the Hon. G. Fowlds said to a "Star” representative to-day:—"He was an exceedingly fine spirited man, with a very high sense of public duty. He possessed a keen, clear, legally - trained mind, but at the same time was able to take a practical view of «v?ay question that arose. He was also a man of culture, a polished speaker and always considerate of the feelings df others. The death of such a man will be keenly felt by his colleagues, and his place will be very difficult to till.’’ BY BENCH AND BAR. The death of the Attorney-General was referred to at the- opening of the Supreme Court Criminal Sittings on Monday by his Honor Mr. Justice Edwards, who, addressing the Grand" ulry prior to delivering bis charge, said: “You will all have heard with great regret of the sudden death of the Hon. A. Pitt, Attor-ney-General of the colony, and highest officer of the Court. Probably many of you knew him, fur he was well known throughout the colony. ami wherever he was known he was regarded with feelings of admiration, respect and affection. He has been removed very suddenly from us, as his late gr eat chief so lately was. •nd if it were possible I would, as a tribute to his memory, adjourn the Court, but the exigencies- of public business do not permit this. I shall put before you the bills, and. 1 must proceed to deal with certain jrersous who have pleaded guilty, and remamdetl to appear here to-day. With that exception I shall adjourn the Court as soou as tliat business lias been disposed of. I an* sorry tliat I am not able to adjoipra the .Court absolutely. The Hon. J. A. Tole (Crown Solicitor) also paid a tribute of respect to the deceased's memory on behalf of the legal Bar of Auckland. He had been asked, he said, by the Bar, in the absence of Mr. Ear), who wan the president of the Law - Society, to express to his Honor their full concurrence with tlu* words he had tapreased publicly thia morning, and to •ddi their own tribute of respect to hi*

memory. Of bis learning and ability he need not speak. These were eloquently testified to by the high position to. which he had attained in the counsels of the country and as Attorney-General and leader of the Bar in this colony. He (Mr. Tole) had the honour of being a fellowmember with him in the House of Representatives in the yew 1881. His genial, kindly aau courteous disposition then attracted all to him, and the lap-e of a quarter of a century had made no change in him in tliat respect. Through all the vicissitudes of political and party strife tlie same characteristics remained with him to the end, and his passing away out of this life was universally and profoundly regretted, not only by the members of the Bar, and by all the profession, but by all who knew him and who had watched his career. The Bar of Auckland joined with his Honor and with the public in offering tii-ir deepest eondo!*nce and sympathy to his sorrowing family in their sad affliction, and irreparable loss. His Honor said it was his privilege to know the late Attorney-General for over a quarW of a century, and he had always found him a courteous, kindly gentleman, who won the respect and affection of all who knew him. Whether among the members of the Bar or among the members of Hie publie, all who knew the late Albert Pitt entertained a feeling of affection for him. and deeply regretted his sudden death and the hiss which the colony had thereby sustained.

Before business was commenced in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Mr. J. C. Martin referred to the death of the Hon. A. Pitt, late AttorneyGeneral for the eolony and Minister for Defence. Mr. Martin said that he mentioned the dead statesman to the Court in his capacity as Attorney-General, the head of the Bar in this colony and the solicitors’ branch of the profession. The Attorney-General occupied a somewhat different, though theoretically analogous position, to the King’s AttorneyGeneral so far as the Bar was concerned. because the age of our eolony and judicial procedure did not constitute a Bar such as existed in the Old Country. Consequently the AttorneyGeneral in New Zealand was not heard of so prominently as the AttorneyGeneral at Home. From personal knowledge, Mr. Marlin knew how keen the Tion. gentleman's interest had been in the legal profession, and also the high ideals which he considered that members of the profession owed not only to their clients lait to the Courts in which they practiced. It was always his wish that the members of the Bar and solicitors should adopt and try to act up to and lie controlled by the same rules aiu! ethics which governed the two branches of the profession in Eng la ml. Mr. McGregor felt that his friend was only voicing the regret of the whole of the legal profession of Auckland in the sincere regret which he had expressed at the death ot the Hon. Colonel Pitt. Mr. Dyer thought the references made were very proper, for the death of the Hon. Colonel Pitt would be keenly felt by the public at large, and even more so by the members of tire legal profession, whose esteem and contkleuee he hail always possessed. "I have only to express my own smecre regret,’’ eoneluded Mr. Dyer, “at the untimely death of an al.de lawyer, a good statesman, anil one who was also, in his day, a good soldier.” AT THE POLICE COURT. At the Police Court on Monday, his Worship, Mr. C. C. fettle, S.M., •aid:—"Before the business of the Court begins 1' should like to express my deep regret at the sudden and unexpected death of the Attorney-General,

the Hon. Colonel Pitt. Only a short tune ago the hon. gentleman visited Auckland. On that occasion 1 saw him, and dismissed with him questions relating to the administration of justice, in which he took a very keen interest. Amongst other questions was the difficult question of dealing with habitual drunkards, the indeterminate sentence question, and also the question of the independence of the bench of justice; especially of district judges and magistrates. He was then in indifferent health, but J did not anticipate that the illness was of such a serious character. I have seen by the papers that he underwent a serious operation in Christchurch for the trouble from which he was suffering, but unfortunately he had not the strength to withstand the serious shock and passed to that undiscovered country from which bourne no traveller ever returns. 1 am sure the profession will say with me "Peace to his ashes.’’ He took a keen interest in all matters affecting the welfare of the profession, and t am sure his sudden and unexpected death will be regretted throughout the length and breadth of the eolony. I understand the funeral will take place on Wednesday, and 1 propose to adjourn this Court for that day.”

Mr. J. R. Reid, on behalf of the Bar, said they had bailed with delight the appointment of Colonel Pitt as Attor-ney-General. He expressed the deepest regret at the sad and unexpected death of the hon. gentleman. His loss would also lie keenly felt in other spheres. As Minister for Defence Colonel Pitt had always taken a keen interest in defence matters. He had established a new system which they all felt sure would lie of the greatest benefit in the defence of the eolony. Snb-Inspeetor Gordon said the deceased gentleman had always taken great interest in police affairs. His loss was most deeply regretted. FROM HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) forwarded the following telegram to Miss Pitt: “On behalf of the citizens of Auckland, accept sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement in losing your respected father, whose sterling qualities have won the esteem of all.”

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Genial and courteous, the Hon. Albert Pitt was a popular man in the General Assembly, not only with those on bis ow« side of the House, but with members of all shades of political opinion. He eame to New Zealand when a young man from Tasmania, and entered into business as a barrister and solicitor at Nelson in partnership with Mr. Moore; after serving on several local bodies in Nelson he was, in 1881, elected to the House of Representatives, but retired shortly afterwards, and was called to the Upper House in 1899 by the Seddon Government. Just prior to the meeting of the last Parliament, in June, 1903, he was offered the Attorney-Generalship by the late Premier, and lie accepted the position, acting as representative of the Government in the Upper House. He held this portfolio until the formation of the present administration, when, in addition, he undertook the portfolio of defence, and the Colonial Secretaryship. During the absence of Sir Joseph Want at the Postal Conference he acted as Minister for Railways and PostmasterGeneral, and in the latter capacity opened the Parnell Post Office on the occasion ot his last visit to Auckland, prior to the opening of the session. He took a keen interest in the Volunteer movement, and rose to the rank of colonel, being commandant of the Nelson

district. At the time ot the i’e Whiti rising he proceeded, with bis battalion, to Parihaka, where the rebels surrendered. He commanded th Diamond Jubilee contingent in 1897, and was granted the Victorian decoration for long service in the Volunteer forces. He was chairman of the Federation Cff&imission xhen that Commission took evidence on the question of the Federation of New Zealand with the Common weal th lie was an earnest administrator, and his uprightness and courtesy made him universally respected and admired."