OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 187, 6 February 1912, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MR. H. S. FITZHERBERT, S.M. Mr. Henry Samuel Fitzherbert, Stipendiary Magistrate at New Plymouth, (li d at his residence, Carrington road, in the early hours of yesterday morning. Although he sat 011 the Bench as recently as last Tuesday, his end was not Unexpected. For some months past he had been suffering from an incurably disease, and since his visit late last year to a specialist at Sydney his case was regarded as hopeless.

Born at Wellington in October. 1851, the late Mr. Fitzherbert was a son of the late Sir William Fitzherbert. K.C.M.G., who was Colonial Treasurer in the Weld and 'Stafford Ministries, and Speaker of the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1891. ' The late Mr. 11. S. Fitzherbert was educated at Christ's College, Christclmrch, and subsequently at the Melbourne University. Admitted tn the Bar'iivlß7s, he became a member of the firm of Barton and Fitzherbert. Later on he joined the firm of Buckley, Stafford and Fitzherbert. He made his first entry into Parliament in 1884 as representative of the Hutt constituency, and was re-elected in 1887. Private business interyened, however, and although his cliances of becoming a member of the Ballance Ministry were regarded as very favorable, he did not again seek re-election. At one time he was Chief Party Whiji in Parliament. Subsequently he practised his profession for several years at Palmerston North, eventually >heing appointed Crown Solicitor there. Some five years ago Mr. Fitzherbert received the appointment of Stipendiary Magistrate at New Plymouth, a position which he occupied up to the time of his death.

Much of his youth was spent at the Hutt, and while there he did much in the direction of fostering cutter racing among the Petone Navals, of which corps he was at one time captain. In many ways the deceased gentleman did'much to help the volunteering movement, and in recognition of this fact he was, on his retirement, placed on the retired list with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and with the V.D. distinction. During his period of service he commanded the Petone Navals at the time of the Parihaka siege in 1881...

Recognised as a' sound authority on the law which he was so often called upon to administer, the late Mr. Fitzherbert won much esteem for his neverfailing courtesy both in and out of court. As with the Bar he made many friends in social circles, and there will be many who will mourn him both as a friend and helper. The deceased gentleman leaves behind a widow, four sons and three daughters— W. L. Fitzherbert, solicitor, Palmerston North, P. D. Fitzherbert, solicitor, Dannevirke, S. W. Fitzherbert, solicitor, Te Kuiti, and H. V. Fitzherbert, actor, Sydney, and the Misses Joyce, Taris and Sybil Fitzherbert. The funeral takes place at the Lower Hutt oh Thursday morning.

Tributes to the memory of the late Mr. Fitzherbert were embodied in a motion .passed at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki County Council. \ . ============