THE LATE-JUDGE GRAY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 102, 10 April 1875, Page 6

THE LATE -JUDGE GRAY.

Wh-son Gray received his first education at a private school at Hazehvood, near Birmingham, conducted by the father of Sir Rowland Hill, and subsequently became a student of Trinity CoUeee Dublin. There he greatly distinguished himself, more especially in classics and oratory. In due course he obtained a sholarship, and closed his University cateer by carrying off the gold medal of the Union Debating Society. It seems but yesterday that, in talking to the writer about old Trinity, he admitted, in his modest way, the pride he felt when he came forth into the college-square a victor, and was received with loud shouts of applause by hundreds Of his fellow students. And it was a victory any man living might well feel proud of, for they were no mean competitors with whom he had to contend. Whiteside and O'Hagan, Isaac Butt and Keogh, were amongst his antagonists on that occasion— four as brilliant orators as Ireland, rich as it is in oratory, has ever produced—four as highly gifted men as have graced the Irish Woolsack, and adorned the Irish Bench. From Trinity College he went over to London, and having "kept terms" both in Ireland and England, he was called to the Bar. In 1835 his* great abilities had already attracted the attention of the Government, and, as a result he was appointed to the highly-honorable and responsible office of Assistant Commissioner on the Irish Poor Laws, in the performanc

of the duties of which he distinguished himself, by his accurate knowledge and sympathetic appreciation of the fearful evils that the Commission was designed to redress. In 1840, when 25 years pf age, he went over to America, and for a time fixed his location m Detroit, Michigan, where he practised as a barrister. There he waa joined by a brother, also a lawyer— whose death was not long since reported in our columns. And we may say here that this Wow and the death of another brother lately resident in Dunedin, and of a dearly-loved sister also, were severely felt by Wilson Gray, 52?.,"?. d ?ubt assisted to lessen his own tenure of existence. Whilst in the States he married a New England lady, by whom he has one son, who was an officer in the War of Secession, and was severely wounded in battle. This son now holds the rank of Major ra the United States army, and is also practising barrister at Grand Upping m the State of Michigan. It was whilst in America that Wilson Gray became imbued with the principles of free settlement on wie land, of which he afterwards became such an ardent advocate in Victoria. In 1844 he returned to Dublin, where he then became joint editor and proprietor of the ' Freeman's Journal,' in association with his brother, Sir John Grayj and whilst acting in this capacity he was admitted to the Irish Bar. There we find him, with all the force of his powerful intellect, fighting the battles of v oonnell, and holding the proud position of a leader of the Irish people. It was just about this time that O'Connell was in the zenith ot his power— somewhere about 1845— that an article in the Boston Courier attracted his attention. The vigour and originST y j-x *rt lcle struck him so forcibly that -he wrote at once to the editor of the paper, enclosing a bank draft for J6BO, to pay the writer's expenses to Dublin; and offering him, if he came over, an appointment on the 'Freeman,' besides guaranteeing him a free passage back to America, if he wished to return, at the end of «5i «, m " ??* hpped by ' but «°<*™g came of the offer, and the matter had well-nigh escaped his memory, when one evening there was a knock at his office-door, and a tall, thin, unmanly ts«* "T 6 17 £18 years ent <*ed. "My name is M'Gee-D'Arcy rLmf'f" TvT ' "tS?£ J k*™ COIUe ° Ter frOm B ° StOn at f°™ request. D Arcy M'Gee, however, as it turned out, was but of little assistance to the editor of the ' Freeman/ whom he left before long, going over to the « Nation/ and becoming one of the chief supporters of the Young Ireland party. The subsequent career of the > ungainly stripling"— his implication in the Duffy-cum-Mitehell imbroglio, the high position which he afterwards achieved tor himself m Canada, and his dastardly assassination as he was entering bis own door after the delivery of a most masterly speech in tayor of preserving, at all hazards, a loyal connection with Britain— these are matter of history. But to Wilson Gray is due oppo^uStyto^pgyT^ MS abmty ' "* ° f giVing himm In 1855, Wilson Gray came to Victoria, where he was admitted llt^ cm ff er °£ the 7 ictorian *> ar > and at once made his mark. bhortly after his arrival the Land Convention was formed, and TwS-iT^ y a 7a 7 m i ivevßal consent elected as its President. A. +S J •. [. s was to obtain such an alteration of the then-existing laws as would afford due facilities for the settlement of the people on the land. "Unlock the lands!" was the persistent cry of its members, and that cry rang through the colony till the great object in view was fairly accomplished. Delegates from every corner of the land assembled in Melbourne for deliberation, and, under the able management of Wilson Gray, the convention became a great power in the State. In season and out of season, he labored indefatigably in the cause which he has made his own j and when, in 1860, a vacancy occurred in the representation of Rodney, he yielded to the solicitations of his friends, and consented to stand for that district. It is unnecessary to say that he has triumphantly returned. On the 12th January in that year • f S seat as a member of the Victorian Parliament, being introduced on the occasion by two ardent Conventionists— Mr. Loader and Mr. Don, the celebrated stonemason, who avowed that the blue - s *? ne <M «w day, and hammered the squatters all the night." His impassioned appeals to the Legislature to open the lands to the people vibrated throughout Victoria, and aroused the dry bones of patriotism in other colonies. To hnn m&JF? ce + t m ?-v cl s>* ue »cc, not one, but many colonies are indebted for the liberal legislation on the land question which now obtains. Prior to his advent as a legislator, that question had been powerfully advocated out of doors, and there were not wantinein the House many able supporters— Mr. G. B. Barton being- conspicuous amongst them. But there was a wanted leader—l man ot surpassing honesty, and enduring enthusiasm— and that leader was found in Wilson Gray. None other could, so well as he, have filled, the position. For many years he did so. For many Tears he debated, argued, expounded, and by eveiy possible means enforced his views upon the minds of his fellow-members in the Assembly, and on the masses outside. No difficulty daunted him • no obstacle stayed him. He cordially supported the Nicholson .Land .Bill as a fair compromise till it was imperilled by complicated negotiations with the Legislative Council; and then he threw it overboard, and like the Sibyl of old, demanded more favorable terms lor lesser concessions. Space will not now admit of our reproducing any portions of the burning oratory to which he gave utterance on the various occasions when he spoke on the question nearest his heart. But the newspapers of the day and the pases of 'Hansard ' are extant to attest his ready and persistent advocacy of free land and free grass— snbjects ever united in his scheme for settlement. The purity of his motives was put to the proof when the late Mr. Heales was first asked to form a Ministry. Said that gentleman, in his place in the House, « I had an interview with Mr. Gray, in the presence of Mr. Verdon and Mr. Duffy, and asked him to accept the office of of Solicitor-General. And whatever opinion I might have had of that honorable gentleman's honor and sincerity before, I cannot help saying, as regards this arrangement.

believe on the highest patrioti^rjOTdT" '^ ed my offer * v. ££*& text's * "**& considerable n of money which l^lelj'^^* 8^ 11 » testimonial of their regar/ and resoeX W^Tfl Ifi" 0 !? I*1 '* "" a motives which induce! hta ?t? pSPfrom htatt?!X ? ib l~ h f-T"> general, he declined to accept the jS3feSl\£ft I^°' Soh< ??°raasM £™? f <i- A J" I™^^1 ™^^ the »«ae of Hugh L-win, oTSe bTuI 2SV? 8 i and the Havilah Hill Goldmft! mg Co.'s winding-up case was further postponed /H?C spoke very feebly; at times his mind appeared to wander Js hi

There has been instituted lately in Belgium a rewarcl of 10 000 francs, to be given to the colliery owner whf in the decennS rS-v!? ending 1883, shall have had the%mallest numSe of woTmenSd by explosions. This is an example let us hope, which will Efi in thu .country. To a wealthy ooalownor the money vaL of such a reward is of course of no consequence ; but no one, howeTei°Wh his Srma^u^ tbe sfc in C^a on i&fijff win of lus Holiness could not be gainsaid. The Pontiff +W « -