THE LATE MR HENRY SEWELL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1879, Page 6

THE LATE MR HENRY SEWELL

xV. Z. Times. By the la6t San Fiarjcisco mail private intelligence wca received of the death of Mr Sawell. The absence of •ny account of his death in the jouruals received in the colony is the sole reason why, in this, as probably in other local nswspapers, no notice hag hitherto appeared of one who for many years occupied a foremost place amongst the founders of ihe colony. In Canterbury, at least, with whose fortunes he was more immediately connected, we should have expected to see a fitting tribute to bis memory. Mr Sewell came to New Zealand in 1853. He had previously been the managing member of the committee of the Canterbury Association, after the departure of the first colonists in 1850; and in 1852, whtn the association had come to the conclusion that its wo k bad been accomplished, and that it was desirable to transfer its property and powers to the settlement, which, under the Costitutioa Act recently passed, had become a province with a recognised form of government. Mr Sewell was despatched to to the colony to wind up the affairs of the association, •nd formally transfer all its powers &nd property to the new province. This, some of the old inhabitants of Canterbury will remember, was formally effected in 1855, the province undertaking the debt incurred by the late Lord Lytteiton and three other members of Ibe association, and receiving the deeds by wbicb all the properly and powers of the association, under their Act of Parliament were transferred to the province. These deeds were signed by their agent and formally accepted by (he Superintendent ia the pie^ence of the Provincial Council. From the time when Mr Sewell ceased to be agent for the Canterbury Association, he threw himself with all the energy of his character into the public life of the colony. He was member for Cbristchurch in the first House of Representatives, and continued a member sometimes of the House sometimes of the Legislative Council during the whole of his residence in the colony, which lasted with the two intervals which be spent in visits to England until the year when be finally returned to the mother country. He was a member of many Ministries, and was a long time in office. He joined with Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Weld in the first responsible Ministry formed io 1854. He was Colonial Secretary in the Ministry under £ir F. Bell, in 1856, and then in Mr Stafford's Ministry from 1856 to 1859. He waa Attorney-General under ihe successive Ministries of Mr Fox, Mr Domett, and Mr Weld, from 1861 to 1865, Minister of Justice under Mr Fox in 1870 and 1871, and Colonial Secretary in Mr Stafford's short Administration in 1872. It has been said that no one had so large an influence on the practical legislation of the colony as Mr Seweil. His mind was creative and versatile in •n unusual degree, and fertile iv expedients to meet unforeseen difficulties. He waa probably the best debater who has appeared in this country; devoid of impassioned eloquence, and not without tome hesitation in his flow of language, be never failed to chain the attention of his audience by reasoning which was always acute and powerful, and illustration which waa apt and amusing. As

h liiwyer his attention lud been chiefly directed to constitutional law, io which he had probably no equal in these colonies. When the late Lord Grey attempted to recall the constitution which had been granted to (lie Cnpe of Goo J Hope, Mr Sewell, who waa then in England, was the principal adviser of the Caps delegates iv iheir successful resistance to an illegal assumption of authority ou the part of the Crown, which has uo power to recall franchisee onco granted except by coutlb of lav/, for cause shown. In private Ufa (here waa no more delightful companion — ever genial and pleisant, with a flow cf playful wif, polished by classical learniug, his love for which he retained to the las'. His classical witticisms will long be remembered by all who knew them. It woa known to some of his friends thai for many years Mr Sewell kept a journal of the passing events of the colony, chiefly in repect to public affairs. Should it ever see the light, no more interesting chapter of New Zaaland history will ever have been published, and it is to be hoped that it may not be lost to the world.