Obituary

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 23 July 1891, Page 3

Obituary

SIR FEEDEEICK WELD. IPKK UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. | London, July 21. Sir Frederick Weld died to-day, aetat <64. [His Excellency Sir Frederick Aloysius "Weld, G.CIM.G., says ' Men and Women of the Time,' was the third son of Humphrey Weld, of Childepck Manor, Dorset, and the Hon. Christina Maria daughter of Charles, Xord Clifford of Chudleigh, and of Hon M. Eleondra, daughter of flanry, Lord Arundell of Wardour, was born May 9,. 1823, and was educated at Stonyhurst and JFriburg, Switzerland. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1843-44, became a member of the Executive Council, 1854, and Minister for Native Af&irs, 1860. In 1864 he- was entrusted with the formation of a Ministry, the Governor requesting him 'in the name of Her Majeßty to assist him in saving the Colony in this great crisis' of threatened bankruptcy and actual war. The' policy he announced was accepted by the Secretary of State, and honourably commented upon in both Houses , of the British Parliament. Mr Weld obtained great influence over the Natives of his district ; he was the first to explore certain uninhabited districts of the Middle Island ; for reports of which see the New Zealand Government Gazette, 18{>k He was appointed Governor of Western Australia, April, 1869; Governor of Tasmania, September, 1874 ; Governor of the Straits Settlements, Singapore dependencies, and Malay Native States, 1880-7, when he retired. He is the author of several papers and pamphlets, * Hints to Intending Sheep Tanners in New Zealand,' which has passed through two or three editions, •On the Great Volcanic: Eruption of Mauna Loa, Sandwich Islands, 1885, and ascent of that Mountain,' published in the journal of the Eoyal Geological Society, and more at large in a lecture entitled, •Notes on New Zealand Affairs, London, 1869,' &c. Sir Fredk. A. Weld, then Mr Weld, introduced the self-reliant policy into New Zealand, dispensing with the aid of British troops, which, whilst costing the* English ratepayers about two and a half millions a year, embittered the relations between the Mother Country and the Colony, and was entailing heavy burdens and imminent bankruptcy on the latter. He believed in using small bodies •of men trained to bush fighting, in making roads, and in removing any real that might exist. In Western Australia he commenced railway and telegraphic communication on a large scale, and established an educational system which still works, and sent out -exploring parties into the interior of the •country, his aim being to connect Western Australia (hitherto isolated) with the rest of the continent and the world. The revenue largely increased during the term of bis administration, though Imperial expenditure in the Colony almost ceased. Tasmania made gradual progress during his term of office, but Tasmania was -under responsible Ministerial Government. In the Straits, Sir Frederick travelled much in the interior of the country, hitherto unvisited by high officials. Very great progress was made, many Native States voluntarily submitted themselves to British influence, and asked for British administration. Sir Frederick Weld' was- also sent by the foreign Office on a special mission to Borneo, and recommended^ Protectorate, which has since been established.]