THE LATE JUDGE GILLIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2660, 30 July 1889, Page 2

THE LATE JUDGE GILLIES.

The late Judge Gillies was born at Rothesay, Bute, Scotland, in 1523. Having completed his educati"n he was articled to his father, Mr John Gillies, who was a solicitor in Rothesay, and the town clerk of the borough. He then left for Manchester where he remained for several years, and afterwards entered a bank. In ISol he left for the colony of New Zealand, with his wife and young family. Landing at Dunedin, he proceeded to Warepn, and was for some years a settler there, but a few years afterwards he returned to Dunedin, and resumed the practice ol Ir.s profession as a solicitor and barrister. lie entered politics as a member of tho Ota;*o Provincial Council, and was returned ti the House of Representatives for the district of Wallace. About 181.1 Mr Gillies entered into patnership in his legal business with Mr Richmond, subsequently Judge Richmond, of Nelson, and now of Wellington As a member of the House of Representatives. Mr Gillies soon showed that he had particular talents for political life, and was a good speaker. In IMS 2, when the Fox Ministry was defeated by Mr Domett, Mr Gillies joined the new Government as Attorney-General, but he held office only for a fortnight, when he retired in favour of the Hon. M.r Sewcll. He was a member of tho Whitaker-I* ox Ministry, when he held the portfolios of Postmaster-General and Secretary of Lands. Mrs Gillies died in Dunedin, and Mr Gillies, in 1802, came to Auckland, and for some time remained out of politics, practising at the bar with great success. In ISO'.), he was brought forward as a candidate for the Superintendeucv against tho late Mr John Williamson, and after a keen content was elected by a majority of 30 votes. He was returned as a member of the House of Representatives for a Northern district, and in 1809 was elected to represent Auckland City West. In September, 1872, a new Ministry was formed, in which Mr Stafford was Premier and Mr Gillies Colonial Treasurer. The Government, however, had but a brief existence. Mr Gillies did not seek re-election as Superintendent, and in February, 1873, he finally retired from the field of politics, for he was then appointed successor to Sir George A. Arney as Judge of the Supreme Court for the Auckland district, and held this position up to the time of his death. The late judge was strongly opposed to Sir -T. Vogel's scheme of Public Works, and in the House at the time, made these remarks A more wild and extravagant scheme never was brought before that House, or before any country, and he might say that if the House were to put that scheme into effect it would simply be tho signal for every man who had any respect for himself, or property, to make preparations as soon as he cmid to raise a reasonable amount of money, to get rid of his property, and go out of it.

[BY TELEGUAI'H.—OWN COUUKSI'ONDENT.] Auckland, Monday. Tiik late Judge Gillies' funeral was largely attended to-day. Dr. Giles represented the Government by request of the Premier. Colonel Haultain was to have accompanied Dr. Giles as Government representative, but was unable to, being absent in the Waikato.