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 (now called the High Court of New Zealand) 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 Outhwaite 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 the Auckland Choral Society, acting as conductor to these and of church choirs. He died on 14 July 1879.

Mr William Eugene Outhwaite was the second son Mr Thomas Outhwaite. "Mr William Eugene Outhwaite B.A., Oxon., Barrister-at-Law of the Inner temple, and of the Courts of New Zealand, was a native of Auckland and second son of Mr Thomas Outhwaite ... . He was a man of rare abilites, geneial nature, and much culture; but unfortunately he was obliged to go about on crutches, owing to an accident and subsequent rheumatism, contracted at Oxford where he was a good all round athlete. Though well qualified as a lawyer, he gave more attention to letters than to his profession. As a critic, he wrote under the name of 'Orpheus', and writers, musicians, singers, and actors recognised him as an authority. He was a lover and patron of all sport, over which he exercised a wide and popular influence. Mr Outhwaite died on 10 April 1900. Occur when it may, the death of a man so gifted and accomplished is naturally deeply deplored by his friends, but in Mr Outhwaite's case there was an added grief in the knowledge that his death was really the after result of of injuries received a year before, when he was knocked dow by a recklessly driven brake [i.e. a type of light carriage]."

It appears that Thomas Outhwaite and his family were living near the Auckland Domain