The Late Sir William Fox.;

Feilding Star, 27 June 1893, Page 3

The Late Sir William Fox. ;

The deceased statesman, whose lamented death we chronicled in our last issue, took place •^-Auckland on Friday last, was born on June 9th, 1812. Ho was thi third apn of George Townshend Fox, J.P. and D.L. for the County of Durham. He was educateditt;WddlUknv College, Oxford, graduating fi.A. in 1882 and M.A. in Its9> He.wu called to the bar on April 29tb, 1843, lit which year he came out to Wellington. He succeeded Captain Wakefield as (he Resideut Agent of the Dew Zealand Company at Nelson. la 184$ he became Attorney General for the Southern Province, but resigned when it appeal ho step* were to be taken to grant self-government to tbe colony. In 1848 he ■ncctecled Colonel Waketield as principal ■» *gefi» . <rf the New Zealand Company la 1850- he returned to England m honorary political agent of Wellington mUleaieru, to a*»ist in feting the Constitution Act through the Imperial Parliament, and afterwards he travelled for a year in the United States. Mr Sewell formed the first responsible Ministry, but a fortnight aftewarda he resigned upon a want of confidence motion, carried by Mr Fox in connection with the powers of the Provincial Governments, which Mr Se well desired to see curtailed. But his tenure of office was as brief •• lh«t of his predecessor, as on Jnn* k ind he was aiso defeated, Mr Stafford assuming omee with Mr Sewell m treasurer. In 1862, Mr Fox brought before th# House a resolution affirming exclusive .ministerial responsibility for Maori fcfnrir*, and, the votes being equally divided, resigned tbe same year. - In 1868 Mr Fox . came, into office as Colonial Secretary, Mr Wbittaker being Premier and Attorney General. The W.aikato Wax had now begun, and. the, burden of responsibility fell jointly on the Governor (Sir George Grey) and the Fox- Whittaker Cabinet.; Mr.Fttc tarried through The Suppression of Rebellion Bill by a large majority.. It was owing to .difficulties with Sir George Grey, during the pro • grcss pf, f be ,war, that the Ministry resigned in 1864. ' ' Mr Fox was not in office . WNMto tiH 188t, when he beoamV Premier ifcer the defeat of the Stafford Govern, ment. Oaring his of office, in 1870, the Public Works tioheme was inaugiinted by Mr Vogel. On July 29tb, 1879, Bit; George Grey's Government was defeated on in amendment moved by Sir William Fox, but he failed to secure a seat at the general election in that year. In 1880 he was appointed, with Sir F. D. B«ll t • upon • commission to inquire into the question of native titles* and report upon thejeonfißfsJtd lands. Subsequently he became sole commissioner The result of his labors bail been Justly described m the ablest,, most elaborate, and most brilliant report in the* whole range of the Blue 'Books of New Zealand. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1879, and since his retirement £u>m jpolitjosl life has devoted himself to the furtherance of the temper* •neecanse.i married, in 1842, Sarah, the eldest, daughter of William Halcombo, of Pouhou House, Wilts, England, who died on the 28rd of June of lasc year. Sir William Fox was the author of "The Sir Colonies of New Zetland " and "The War in New r Zealand." In this' part of the colony, where ,so many years of his life were spent, the deceuediphilanthropißt and statesman has left htmdreda ot friends who will long mourn the loss of one to whom they had so much cause for gratitude.

'GMft MKB AStWQUTIOW.) v 4ttckla>d. June 36 ' The fontrtl of ,sir William Fox was largely attended. Temperance orjnnuia* tiom, tbe Saltation Army, and public bodies were represented. The coffia was cofwd with v w/eatht, iiielud}Dg two pla«e4 tbereoo aeoordicg to telegraphic instrnetious from Sir Jobp Hail and Mr W. E. E Brown (ex-Reglstrar-OieoeralJ. References were mode to bis death th the Tarioat citj churches.