OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 52, 25 November 1907, Page 8

OBITUARY.

- MR, HUGH GULLY. A DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER. ' Deep and widespread regret ivill bo felt at the news of the death of Mr. Hugh Gully the well-known legal firm of Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers), which occurred afc 5.30 a.m. yesterday at the Bellevue Garden's, Lower Hutt, where he had been residing with Mrs. Gully for some time past. Mr. Gully, who returned to Wellington last year after an extended trip abroad, had the misfortune to .-contract- a severe attack of influenza some four weeks ago. Since then he suffered a relapse, and complications ensued,, which ended in his death. Mr.' Gully, who was fifty years of age," was a'son of the late Mr. John Gully, of Nelson (an.artist w'.io possessed more than' local fame, and whose water-colours .are very much prized by New Zealand art coanoiEseurs). He was educated at Nelson College, and, taking up the law, became secretary to the late Mr. Justice Richmond. Hβ commenced practising: in Wellington in 1879, ; joining tho firm of Messrs. Bullor and Lewis, which later became Messrs. Buller and Gully. In 1886 lie joined the firm of which ho was a member up to his death, which was then carried on undor the style of Messrs. Bell, Gully, and Izard, in -which connection he acted as Crown prosecutor for some years, being associated with many important cases,' both civil and criminal, and always conducting his cases in a manner that earned the respect\ of all connected therewith. courteous, considerate always, without sacrificing anything in arriving at his point, his was a legal stylo which compelled admiration, and was a model for younger aspirarita for honours at the Bar to emulate. • While absent from the Dominion in England he was married'early' last year, and in , October returned to Wellington, and took up his duties once more. He.was held"in Hie highest esteem by his brothers at the Bar for his many admirable qualities, both legal, and social, and there will bo a gonuine feeling of regret at his unexpected death.' In his younger days Mr. Gully was president cI the old Wellington Savage Club, and took .a warm interest in athletics. ' ' ... .' Mr.' Gully, who leaves a widow,. but. no children, has a brother, Mr. H. V.'Gully ,\or many years pnst Town'.Clerk of-Nelson, and a sister, Mrs. Robert Leo, of the Lower Hutt, who was present, at the end. . . :

The funeral will leave the residence of Mr. Robert Lee, on the Belmont Road, for .the cemetery at,Taita, at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.? The members of tho. Bar will assemble at the Supreme Court to-morrow/morning to express their feelings in the manner customary upon such an occasion. ' A PERSONAL APPRECIATION. (By a Law Court Refohteb.): The lamented and unexpected death of* Air. Hugh Gully came as a painful shock to a large circle of friends in Wellington—as il will to many throiighout New Zcalah'd--7foi ho was essentially a man endowed with that rarest of human attributes—the faculty of never making an.enemy. It would be difficult to find one possessed of greater personal charm of manner.or of a more lovable disposition. In-Bar circles, with Court officials, Pressmen, 'and others,, with" whom business brought him into daily contact, he was, "facl|e princeps," .the. favourite. -Sonic years hay> elapsed since I first hail the pleasure of making Mr, Gully's ■acquaintance, and tho inipressißlvtlieri'rormed, not'only of his great forensic abilities, but of the" vast store of Ins general ■ knowledge, intelleotus! equipment, ■arid intimate "'■ acquaintance • with■ '.human ■nature,- has-been- strengthen e<l ■-• with V 1 tho passing years. By members of the Bar'ihe was looked up to as one whose soundness of judgment was unerring. Clients reposed in him a confidence almost amounting to showing belief in his infallibility;' and by the. Bench he was listened to- with an attention and respect extended ■' to advocates'who'have'won their spurs'in the front rank of their profession. Like the late Lord Bramptou, -Mr. Gully's forte was conceded to be his marvellous powers as a.crossoxaminar, and hi this, perhaps the most, difficult amongst the accomplishments of the successful pjeader, he was recognised as being unrivalled in New Zealand. 'With a jury Mr. Gully was all-powerful; and whether, in civil or criminal cases; the'force of his arguments generally carried sway. When a'client failed, in his hands, it was invariably with' the conviction that human advooacy. could not-have succeeded; and the same applied to his conduct of cases for the Crown at criminal sessions. Mr. Gully, possessed the' 1 rare faculty of getting what ho wanted, from'awitness without the slightest suggestion if personal insult, and.where damaging'admissions had to be dragged-forth' the task was accompanied by every possible 'element \i consideration for' the .witness's ' feelings. There was; nothing'of the ruthless or merciless quantity in his composition, and although, one of the most successful of, Crown Prosecutors, he discharged that disagreeable duty with the utmost courtesy.'and.docorum. Mr. tiully-': appenred in many noted cases during his not .the least among which was the Calliope Dock litigation at Auckland some months ago. A" kind and genial -friend', « genorbus opponent, a warm-hearted" atfi estimable member of society has passed from this world's stage in the person' of tho brilliant advocate who forms the subject of this notice. ■ ' , . "...