DEATH OF EX-JUDGE WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 115, 31 May 1901, Page 2

DEATH OF EX-JUDGE WARD.

It is our piinful dutv this morning to record the death of Mr. Robert Ward, ex-Judge of tha Naive Land Court - , which took p]»{p ut liis rewidbnce yes* terday. Ti>o di !;ontleraan came of an old Nori'ol'r i'nmily. Hie father, the hu> R-v. Uob'rt Word, was a missionary, who com# to New Zealand d the ship Raymond, arriving in New inland in August, 1844. The lata I udg# Ward was born in the CatheIral city (f Norwich on September Ctb, 840. Six years after arriving in the olony the family removed to Auckand, where the deceased was educated, it the la*e Mr. John Gorrie's Grammar i hool, and at Wesley College, when he Rev. W. H. Fletcher was principal, k.t the commencement ef the native roubloH an the West Coast, about the rod of 1809, the Rev. Mr. Ward, havcg returned to T«ran»ki, leaving his on in Auckland, the lat'er became so inxious to be naar bis family that ha ecured a pa°sige in the Airadale, which carried some of the 56th Re#inent to New Zealand. During tha vnr the late Judge Ward lived in the Caraoaki district, remaining till 1868, vhen he removed to Wellington, where le secured employment in the Native )ffice. Shortly afterwards he was ren'ived to tbe Justici Department, and iubs' quently was made Registrar of Marriage?, etc., for the Rangitikei dis,rict. Not long after this be received ;he appointment of Nutva Atent for ;he Rangitikei and Manawatu districts, aking up his residence in Marten. In 1876 he was appointed Resident Magis;rata for the same districts, and five pe»ra later tbe care of the Wanganui I Strict was added to his duties. The ate Judge Ward was then apjointed Government Native Agent n Wanganui, and took up his eaidence here. In May, 1886, he >ecame a Judge of tha Native land Hourfc, but continued to perform hia nagisterial duties. Two y. ars afterwards he was appointed Resident Magistrate for the Napier district, and leld a monthly Oourt at WeadvMe. 3inoe early in 1889, till a few week* igo, the deceased performed Native l-and Court work exclu-ively in bis lis rict, wHch expended fiom the Sickau River to the Manawatu River, [n March, 1863, the deceased gentlenan married Miss Eleanor Wakefield, »f New Plymouth. He leaves a family >f nine (tiva daughters and four sons)— Wrs. A. Holmes (Wanganui), Mrs. W, D. Humphry s (Kawhai), Mrs. J. D. Bartborp (Silvtrbope), Miss Ward and Besa : e Ward, and Messrs Percy, Arthur, and L onard Ward, ro his fam'ly we tender our ainosie lympathy.—Chronicle.