Outhwaite family (Auckland): Difference between revisions

Thomas Outhwaite was born at ormside Hall in Westmoreland in 1805. He practised as a solicitor in Paris before coming to New Zealand in 1841 on the "Tyne" with the first Chief Justice of New Zealand, Sir William Martin and Hon William Swainson, the first Attorney-General of New Zealand. Thomas Outhwaite was appointed as Registrar of the Supreme Court for Sir William Martin and was the first person to hold that position which he took up on 01 January 1842. One of his most exciting experiences was during the trial of a Maori man for murder when 100 of the accused's supporters "... came rushing up the totally unformed street, shaking spears and brandishing tomohawks above their heads to rescue [the accused] from the clutches of the law. And they did rescue him, while the court sat petrified, unable to avert the lawless deed or arrest the doers, ... [this in the very heart of the capital of the country." In 1843, Thomas Outhwaite, in company with Sir William Martin and Henry St. Hill, M.L.C. (Member of the Legislative Council), returned to Auckland overland on foot from Wellington, where they had gone on the Government brig "Victoria" (a three-week sea voyage), to hold a session of the court. The return trip occupied a period of six weeks. When Thomas Outhwaire retired in 1869, Sir George Arney, the second Chief Justice of New Zealand, paid a tribute to Outhwaite's extraordinary firmness, patience, discretion and self-command. Outhwaite was very fond of music, and was founder of the Auckland Philarmonic Society and of hte Auckland Choral Society, acting as conductor to these and of Anglican church choirs. He died on 14 Jult 1879.