THE LATE SIR ARTHUR GUINNESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 576, 14 June 1913, Page 7

THE LATE SIR ARTHUR GUINNESS.

HIS PUBLIC CAREEK. A RECORD OF SERVICE. Born in Calcutta on January 11th, 1846, Arthur Robert Guinness came to New Zealand at an early age with hiß parents, residing in Christchurch, where he was educated, attending for some yaars Christ's College, of which he ever retained a kindly memory. Hs was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court on May 26, 1867, and came to Greymouth, where he started practice. He almost immediately sprang into prominence in connection with the prosecutions arising out of the Fenian riots at Hokitika in 1867. Then he was retained as junior counsel to Mr Ireland, who came over from Melbourne to defend the prisoners, and his brilliant and persistent advocacy in defending at once created a favourable impression on the mining community. He continued his business in Greymouth, practising there for the long period of 46 years, during which period he was retained in most of the important Cuurt cases arising on the West Coast. He waß appointed a notary public in 1888. In local politics the deceased politician was always prominent, firßt entering public service as member forthe Paroa Riding of the Westland Provincial Council. He held that position till the abolition of the provinces, when he became member of the Grey County Council, being elected chairman of the first and every subsequent meeting for nine years, when he lost his seat. At a later period he became a member of the Greymouth Borough Council, but served for one year only. He wbb appointed a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board at its inception in 1874, and held that position till his death, except for two years, in 1887 and 1889, when Sir H. A. Atkinson's Government removed all the representative mamberß and appointed Government officials on the Board. He w»a also a Governor of the Greymouth High School, and a prominent and enthusiastic supporter of athletic and sporting bodies, being president of the Greymouth Trotting Club up to the time of his death. In his younger days he was an ardent cricketer, and was captain of the Westland rerpesentatives from 1876 to 1888, and captain of the local team against Lillywhite's English eleven. ADVANCEMENT IN PARLIAMENT It was of course, in his capacity as a Parliamentarian that Sir Arthur Guinness was beßt known. In 1884 he was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Grey district, and he had represented the constituency continuously up to the time of his death. Sir Arthur filled honourable positions in the Houße of Representatives, of which he was Chairman of Committees from 1893 to 1903, and Speaker from 1903 to the time of his death, in both of which positions he gained the kudos of all parties for the impartial and dignified manner in which he carried out his arduous duties. Recently he became the 'father' of the House of Representatives,having sat continuously for 29 years, during which period he saw many Ministers rise and fall. His length of service exceeds that of the late R. J. Seddon. He was returned originally as a supporter of Sir Geo. Grey, and was a follower of the Liberals in the success and fall of the 'eighties, becoming eventually their nominee Chairman of Committees, and ultimately Speaker, being knighted in recognition of his valued services. ADVANCED LEGISLATIVE MEASURES. He claimed the credit of having inspired many of the advanced measures which characterised the reign of "the Continuous Ministry," particularly in regard to the passage of the Old Age Pensions Act.He was a firm believer in the Arbitration Act, and recently championed the cause of compulsory military training as being essential to the future welfare of the white race in Australasia, besides being of immeasurable benefit to the individual both physically and morally. Mining matters naturally occupied his attention, and he persistently advocated betterment legislatian of the famous bank-to-bank clause. He claimed the authorship, and was also foremost in supporting the institution of the Miners' Relief Fund.