OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY.

THE EARL OF ONSLOW* By relerraDh—Press Association--Copyriehfc London, October 23. Tho Earl of Onslow, one-timo Governor 'of New Zealand, is dead, A POPULAR* GOVERNOR. The lato Eari of Onslow was Governor of New Zealand from May 2,i1889, to lebruary 2t, 1892. From the time ot his arrival in the Dominion his Excellency manifested a strong personal interest in it.s welfare, and gave unmistakable evidence of his determination to assist as practically as possible in its progress. JUy precept and example he did what he could to foster a tasto for legitimate sport; he encouraged and assisted tlie cf.foTts of acclimatisation societies, and used his influenco with Ministers to get certain islands lying off the coast proclaimed as perpetual reserves for native birds, so as to savo from extinction the various interesting species for which Now Zealand ornithology was celebrated. Lord Onslow and the Countess had especial reason to look back on tho Dominion with affectionate interest, as a son .was born to them in Wellington. This i event was commemorated in graceful i fasliion, the Maori name of Huia being chosen for tho New Zealand-born infant. The name was taken from tho Ngatilwia, an old and historic North Island tribe, and tho Natives regarded tiio tribute as a very felicitous compliment. After the child had been christened ho was taken to Otaki and presented to the tribo -whoso name ho liad taken. The ceremony 'was invested with nil ttio picturesquo ijomp characteristic of tho Maori. Lord Onslow had an activo political career both Wore and after his Goycr- ; norship in New Zealand, and at tho time of his death was Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords. He was born in 1853, being tho son of George Augustus Cranley, who was grandson of the eocond, and nephew of tho third, earl. ' Ho was educateil at Eton and at Exeter College, Oxford. On the death of his grand uncle on October 2-t, 1870, ho succeeded as fourth Earl of Onslow, and was ' married in 1875 to the Hon. Florenco Coulston, daughter of the third Lord Gardner. Before his appointment as Governor of New Zealand his lordship liad experience in official circles in London. In 18S0 ho was appointed ono of tho Lords-in-Waiting upon the lato Queen Victoria, and again in ISBG and 1887 he filled tho same position. Ho became Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies in February of tho latter year, and at the Colonial Conference held in tho same year ho acted as Vice-Presi-dent. Lord Onslow was elected one of the delegates Co' represent tho United Kingdom on the Sugar Bounties, and in Fel>rnary, 1888, ho was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to tho Hoard of Trade. On returning to England his Lordship played an active and important part in • administrative affairs. He was appointed Under-Secretary for India in 1805, and held that position until 1900. Ho was Under-Secretary for tho Colonies from 1900 to 1903, Prosidant of the Board of Agriculture, 1903-5, and was appointed Chairman of Committees of tho House of Lords in March, 1905. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1887, and G.C.M.G. two years later. Tho family is an old one. A baronetcy was conferred on its head in 1660, a barony in 1716, and aji earldom in 1816. Tho heir to the earldom is Viscount Cranley. who was bom in 1870, and jnarried in 190 G.

A VETERAN ACTOR.

London, October 23. The funeral of the veteran (ictor, Mr. J?red Wright, took placo at Hampstead. ft'here was an enormous attendance.