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.

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 by 1843. In 1844 he bought land and built a house on the south-western corner of Carlton Gore Road and Park Road opposite the Domain in the present-day Auckland suburb of Grafton. This land is now Outhwaite Park.ref>Dinah Holman, Newmarket Lost and Found, The Bush Press of New Zealand, Auckland, 2001, pp. 60-62.</ref>

Thomas Outhwaite's wife was Marie H Louise Outhwaite (nee Roget). She was French, from the city of Besancon. Thomas and Louise led a very active life in early Auckland. For example, in the winter of 1842, the wofe of the first Governor of New Zealand, Mrs Hobson gave a ball at Gornment House. The weather was bad, the roads seemingly impassable, but the guests managed, against considerable odds to be present. Thomas Outhwaite wheeled Louise up to Government House in a wheelbarrow.

Marie H Louise Outhwaite died on 4 July 1905 (aged 91). Thomas and Louise had four children, two sons and two daughters. Victorine Outhwaite was born in Paris in 1837 (and perhaps named after the new Queen in London). Isa Outhwaite was born in Auckland in 1842. Charles Outhwaite was born in Auckland in 1845 and William Eugene (see above) was also born in Auckland in 1847. None of the four children married or had children. Victorine, Isa and Charles Thomas all died in the same year, 1925. Victorine Outhwaite died on 21 March 1925 at the age of 88. Charles Thomas Outhwaite died on 24 June 1925 aged 80. Isa Outhwaite died on 13 December 1925 aged 83. Marie H Louise, Victorine, Isa, Charles and William Eugene are interred at Waikaraka Cemetery, Onehunga. Thomas Outhwaite is buried in the graveyard of St Stephen's Chapel, Judges Bay.

It was Isa Outhwaite who left the house and land in Park Road to the citizens of Newmarket for the establishment of Outhwaite Park and the site on the other side of Khyber Pass Rd to the Catholic Bishop of Auckland for the establishment of St Peter's College. She also left money for the latter purpose. The family also owned the Hen and Chicken Islands and Isa Outhwaite left these to the nationa as a bird sanctuary.

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