DEATH OF MR JUSTICE GILLIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1923, 30 July 1889, Page 4

DEATH OF MR JUSTICE GILLIES.

.Auckland, July. 26. Mr Justice "Gillies was not very well when he went to bed last night. He asked to be called at 8 o'clock this morning. When the housekeeper opened the door he was lying on the bed with blood oozing from his mouth. The doctor was sent for, but the Judge diid three hours later. He was sitting in the Compensation Court yesterday. News of the death of Mr Justice Gillies caused a profound sensation in the city, it was so unexpected. Dr Honeyman gave a certificate that death resulted from apoplexy. Deceased appeared in excellent health, and visited Orakei in connection with * compensation case yesterday.

• The following particulars regarding the life of the deceased are taken, from the Otago Daily Times :—Thomas Bannatyno Gillies, born at Rothesay, Scotland, on the 17th January, 1828, was the eldest ■on of, the late Mr John Q-illies, and brother, of the hie. Mr Robert Gillies, aad the Rev. W. GUie*, Timaru, and of Mr John L. Gillies, Secretary to the Otago Harbor Boari. The education he received was limited to the pariah school, but he had the advantage of having as master a man of superior intellect, and this, with his, borne advantages, enabled him to pass from the parish school to a lawyer's desk. Scarcely satipfiod with his position he decided to abandon the law for mercantile pursuits, and be made his way to Manchester. Here he showed the sound training he had received by gaining a medal which was offered as a prize by the Young Men's Christian Association, of Manchester. His father, Mr John Gillies, having: decided to emigrate, his son decided to cast his lot with him, and just beforeleaving'Jhe married his first wife, Miss (Douglas. He sailed from London in 1852 in the Slains Oasile, and safely arrived in Otago Harbor. He decided to try the life of a coi'ntry settler, and took some land up neir fokomiiriro, but afterwards shifted fo Warepa. Though outward'y contented, it was soon evident that country life in these early days, cut off as he was from all intellectual activity, was scarcely the life best suit d to him. This was shown very plainly in a series of articles •ntitledj'Pencilling*,by the Way," which he contributed to the Otago Witness, and in 1858 Mr Gil ies decided to come to DunediD. Huving passed an examination before the Supreme Qonfrt 'he' started his legal career, joioing the late M!r J. Byde Harris. The business prospered, and in 1860 Mr Gillies commenced to take an Retire part in provincial; and colonial politics.' He was elected'to the General Assembly is representative for Dunedin, and became Attorney-Genernl in 1862, Postmaster-Goneral and Secretary for Lands in 1863:4, and in 1872 became Treasurer ef the short-lived Siaffoid Miuistry. In the meantime the partnership between himself and Mr Harris was dissolved and Mr. Gillies joined Mr 0. W. (now Justice) Richmond. In 1865 Mr Gillies decided to remove to Auckland. Cook Srruit,; of coarse, had to be negotiated by water, but the rest of the journey was performed on horseback. He was not long in Auckland before his sterling merit was recognised, and he was elpcted Superintendent, holding office from 1869 lo 3873, defeating the hie Mr John Williamson in one of the most memorable contests thai; ev«r took placo in that provincial district. He was also elected a raembar of the General Assembly. He strongly opposed „ the Public works policy of Mr (now Sir Julio*) Toge', brought down in 1870. In 1875 be was appointed a Jud><e of the Supreme Court by the Government. He waa given the Auckland circuit, and has discharged the duties of his office t»ver since, wi'h the exception of a shori furlough, when he visited the Old Country, and his place waa temporarily filled by Judge Ward; The deceased gent'eman was.twice morried. By his first wife he had several children. His eldest son, John, h at Glen Inrieoj -N»w South Wales ; dip third son, Doughs, is <>n engineer, lately in the Government service ; and hiHeldwa! daughter;was lately married to Mr John Thompson, of Sydney. By hin second wife he had two f ons. Ho perpetuated the memory of his second wife by founding the Sinclair-Gillies Scholarships" in connection with the Auckland Uniye'flity College, of the xorernicg body of which hi k*n been a member since it was first established. In Otago general regret will b» felt at the news of the Judge's death, as he whs esteemed and respected by all who knew him.