OBITUARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 4, 22 May 1896, Page 16

OBITUARY.

THE LATE SIR PATRICK BUCKLEY, KO.M.G.

THE LATB MB THOMAS MUBRAY.

The death of Sir Patrick Buckley, K.0.M.G., which occurred at 3,40 pm. on Monday last, has been received with general regret, and messages of sympathy have been sent to Wellington from every part of the Colony. We hasten to offer sincere condolence to Lady Buckley and express sorrow at the loss of a man who was a true-hearted friend, a sterling son cf Holy Church, and a lover of his country and of his race. It v»as ever a source of pleasure to meet tbe genial Sir Patrick. His friends were legion ; friendship with him was not an empty Ob me. No more faithful Catholic could be found in this or any other Colony. He was always to the front when tbe interests of religion were to be furthered, His enrollment in the Papal Zouaves when the despoilers attacked the Roman States was only one out of many public c .pressions of loyalty to the Holy See. He died as he lived, a devoted son of the Catholic Church. At his bedside as his generous soul pisßed away were V«ry Rev Fathers Devoy, V.G., Watters, D.(\, and Lane, the priests whom— usbg the Gaelic tocgue he loved and spoke bo well—be always affectionately styled tbe ' Soggartbs." In addition to his wife and brother-in-law, there were also present the Hon Mr Seddon, Premier ; tbe Hon Mr Ward, Colonial Treasurer ; and the Hod Mr M'Keozie, Minister of Lands. His old comrades in tbe political arena represented, in this graceful tribute to the dying man, the members of both Bides of the Houses of Parliament, who regarded their felloe- 3tatesaian as "a friend to truth, of soul sincere, in action faithful, and in honour clear."

The silient features of the life of his Hon. Sir Patrick Alphonsue Buckley, K.O.M.G, are well-known to met of our readers. He wae a native of Oaatletownsend, Cork, was bjrn in 1841, and was there* fore 55 ypars of age at time of death. He began the higher studies at Fermoy College in hia native land and afterwards spent several years at the Irish College, Paris, and later on at the great Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. Daring a visit, which, at considerable inconvenience he made to his dear and old friend, Dr. Moran. just before the Bishop's death, he spoke to the writer in tbe most affectionate manner of bis old professors in Paris and Belgium, We find, when the Irish Brigade was organised to help the Hjly Father to conserve tbe rights of the temporal power that Mr. Buckley joined the louavea* and obtained a medal in recognition of bis services. Queensland was the scene of his first colonial experience He prosecuted legal studies under the supervision of Sir Charles Lilley, late Chief Justice, be soon settled in New Zealand and with a partner began business in Wellington under tbe title of " Stont and Buckley." Mr Stout retired and the firm became " Buckley and Staflord " and of late years " Buckley and Stafford and Traadwell. From the vtry start in this colony Mr Buckley took deep interest in the land of his choice and adoption. His experience as a soldier under general Lamoricicre ssrved him well ia the organising and training of a volunteer corps which still exist

in Wellington. In the old provincial days he held a seat in the Council and occupied the position in the Executive of Provincial Solicitor. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1878, and be. cams Colonial Secretary and leader of the Upper House in the Stoat- Vogel administration, which lasted from 1884 to 1887. On the defeat of the Atkinson Government Bir Patrick was associated with tbe late Hon Mr Ballanee as Attorney-General and Colonial Secretary. On May 25, 1892 he was gazetted KO.M.G. He held the portfolios mentioned and the leadership of the Upper House till last September when he accepted the position of Justice of tbe Supreme Court. He did not long enjoy the new dignity, or bear the burden of a grave responsibility. For some months he has been ailingEverything that could possibly be done was tried by his personal friend and skilled medical adviser, Dr Cabill. Acute pneumonia intensified the prostration caused by serious heart trouble. Careful nursing and skilled attention caused him to rally a few weeks ago, bat the last attack showed in its first symptoms that the end was at band. New Zealand has lost a faithful colonist and a man of principle. Irish Catholics in both islands will regret the demise of one who was true as steel to the land of his birth and the best traditions of his race. The remains of Sir Patrick Buckley were taken to St Joseph's Chuicb, Wellington on Tuesday. The in'erment takes placa to- day.

We regret to chronicle the death at hia ran Jen?;. Lik3 Hayei Arrowtowa, of Mr Thomas Murray, in his 65 .h year. Th sad event occurred on Saturday, May 16th, aud has caused deep tnrrow amor" his numerous relations and friends. Mr Murray was born in the parish of Lavey, County berry, Ireland. He left home for the Victorian goldfial is waen he was 13 years of age, and resided there for five or six years, where he was very fortunate in his search fur the precious metal. He came to Naw Zealand at the first «f the gold rash in Otsgo, and started carrying to the goldfislds — at which occupation he was so successful that in a fsw years he was able to retire from active business. Hi purchased a residence at Portobello, where he resided nntil be took up the Liks Hayea flourmill, which with t is usual enterprise he fittei up wuh the latest and beat rolling plant. Mr Murray was for many years a director of the N.Z. Tablet newspaper, and used every means in his power to promote its interests He was a colonist of long standing, who by his honourable and upright career gained for himself a host of friends. He was a patriotic Irishman, a generous .and loyal Catholic, and a staunch friend to all who needed a helping hand. Very great sorrow is fel' for hie widow &nd relations in their sad bereavement.

The funeral, which was very large, left hie late residence on Sunday afternoon en route for Dunedin, where the interment took place. The following friends accompanied his remains to Dunedin : Rev Father James Lynch (Arrow), Or M. D. Murphy, John T. Lynch, Lawrence L. Lynch, Thomas Power, Mrs McDonald, and his wife, Mrs Murray. The corpse was conveyed from the train to St Joseph's Cathedral on Tuesday morning. There was a solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul ; the Very Ber P. Lyrxb was celebrant, witb the Beys P. Murphy and J. Lyncn (Arrow) as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The Bey Father Howard was master of ceremonits. The remains were conveyed from the Cathedral to the Southern Cemetery for interment, and were followed by ft large number of his Duaedin frieadi and acquaintances. The Revs Father Lynch (Arrow), P. Lynch and Murphy (Dunedin) were present at the gnvi. / Maiy costly aad beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffi 1,