OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 127, 16 October 1912, Page 4

OBITUARY.

ill!. T. S. WESTON. Mr. Hioinas iShailer Woston passed away peacefully at his residence, 'young street, at 9.30 o'clock last night, at the age of 70 years.

The late Mr. Weston was a wellknown and highly-respected figure in pubtic life, having held numerous important positions on Itoyal commissions and educational bodies, and served the country in other connections. Born in London on June 7, 1830, he was a son of John James Weston and Mary Weston (with ■whom lie came to New Plymouth in 1850). In ISO 7he married a daughter of Mr. Henry Hill, solicitor, Auckland. The deceased gentleman was educated at private schools in London. He was called to the bar in New Zealand in 1861, practising at New Plymouth till 1863, when he removed to Invcrcargill. While there he was appointed to represent southland at the inauguration of the first Dunedin Exhibition in 1864, but could not attend. He transferred his activities to Auckland, where he practised his profession from 1864 to 1873. VVlinc at Auckland he took a very keen interest in the development of the Thames goldlields. He was appointed a district judge and saw service in this capacity at Napier in 1873 and on the West Coast of the South Island from. 1874 to 1880, when he retired on compensation under the retrenchment policy. He then practised in Christchurch, remaining there till 1902, when he removed to New Plymouth, and in January 190!), was appointed Crown Solicitor for the Taranaki Judicial District, which position he held at the time of his death. In 1902 he sat on the Education Commission as chairman, and , was offered the chairmanship of the Land Commission of about six years ago, but declined the position. The deceased gentleman, who was a very active-minded and particularly able man, also served his country in the capacity of a member of the House of Representatives. In June, 1881, he was returned at a byeelection to represent the Grey electorate, and at the general election in the same year to represent Inangahua. He resigned in November, 1883, and was appointed a representation commissioner, which office he relinquished in 1911. He was a member and twice chairman of the North Canterbury Education Board, and from 1894 to 1902 was a governor of Canterbury College, being chairman at the timo of his retirement. From 1881 to 1886 lie was law examiner for the whole State. In 1875 he was appointed with Mr. Richmond Beetham, R.M., to the West Coast Reserves Commission, and he was also a member of the commission on staffing and salaries of primary schools. He was an active member of the East and West Coast (South Island) Railway Leagues.

Tn 1863 he was retained by the Government to defend the Maori charged with the murder of Dr. Pope and Lieutenant Tragett, the prisoner's, sentence of death Tiring afterwards commuted. Again, in 1865, he was retained to defend the Maori charged "with the murder of the Rev. Mr. Hamlyn. The late Mr. Weston was president of the Law Society at New Plymouth in 1911, and was at one time president of the Canterbury District Law Society. As a man always closely related to his business as a mem&er of the firm of Weston and Son, solicitors, of this town, the deceased gentleman practically died in harness. He had been ailing for the past eighteen months, but was in active practice right up to practically the time of his demise. As recently as a fortnight ago he.was down at his office, but for tiie last ton days he had been confined to his room, and his end was not unexpected. Mrs. Weston predeceased him in 1908. The surviving members of his family are four sons—Mr. T. S. Weston, of Wellington, of the legal firm of Izard and Weston; Mr. G. T. Weston, barrister and solicitor, of Christchurch. practising under the name of the old firm. T. S. Weston and Son; Air. Walter 0. Weston. manager of the faranaki Herald, New Plymouth: and Mr. Claude H. Weston, a member of the firm of Weston and Weston, barristers nnd solicitors, of this town. Mr. Henry Weston, proprietor of our contemporary, is a brother of the deceased.

MR. J. BRUNETTE. There died in Hawera at an early hour yesterday morning an old colonist •and resident of tlint town in the person of Mr. John Brunette, who had been ill for some weeks. The deceased was born in London in 1537. and was educated there. Tn the year IS7O he, with his wife and family, came to New Zealand in the ship Monarch, and settled in Christchurch, whore he remained for eleven years. He afterwards decided to go to Hawera. and has resided there for 31 years. The deceased, who was a jeweller by trade, took an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the town, and was for many years a member of the Hawera Borough Council. At the time of his death he was president of the Swimming Club and a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Technical School Committee. He had also been connected with many other of the local bodies. Mr. Brunette was a Justice of the Peace. He was at one time a prominent Freemason. The deceased leaves a grown-up family of eight, twenty grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.—Hawera Star.