colonial or Imperial importance, with which he has been identified in the past, are brought on the tapis. It was a matter of general regret that Mr. Service should have been absent from the Melbourne Federation Conference of 1890, and still more that he should have felt bound to disregard the unanimous wish of the Legislative Council that he should attend as one of their representatives at the Sydney Convention in 1891. It is understood that Mr. Service has on two occasions refused the honour of knighthood.
Sewell, Hon. Henry, sometime Premier of New Zealand, was the son of a solicitor in the Isle of Wight, where he was born. He adopted his father's profession, and after practising for some years in England, settled in Canterbury, N.Z., in Feb. 1853. He was one of the leading members of the Canterbury Association, being deputy-chairman of the committee of management before leaving London. Mr. Sewell practised as a solicitor in New Zealand, and sat in the first House of Representatives as member for Christchurch in 1854. He held office in the first inchoate Ministry formed under Mr. Fitzgerald from June to August 1854, and himself became Premier in May 1856, resigning in the same month owing to the refusal of the acting Governor to concede full responsible functions to the administration. Mr. Sewell was a member of the first Stafford Ministry from June 1856 to April 1859, when he resigned, after holding the portfolios of Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs for varying periods. In the Fox Ministry which succeeded, he was Attorney-General from August 1861 to August 1862, and held the same post as a member of the Legislative Council in the Domett Government from August 1862 to Jan. 1863. In the first Weld Ministry he was again Attorney-General from Nov. 1864 to Oct. 1865. In the third Fox Government he was Minister of Justice, Commissioner of Customs, and Commissioner of Stamps for varying periods from June 1870 to Nov. 1871. For several years subsequently he resided in England, where he died in 1879. Mr. Sewell was the brother of that eminent scholar and writer the late Rev. William Sewell, B.D., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and Principal of St. Peter's College, Radley, which was started at his instance and on his plans. His sister, Miss Elizabeth Missing Sewell, is also the author of numerous works of High Church fiction.
Seymour, David Thompson, Commissioner of Police, Queensland, third son of Thomas Seymour, of Ballymore Castle, co. Galway, by Matilda Margaret, daughter of Walter Lawrence, was born at Ballymore Castle in 1832, and educated at Ennis College. He arrived in Queensland on Jan. 13th, 1861, bringing a detachment of the 12th Regiment, in which he held a commission as lieutenant, this being the first arrival of military after the separation of the colony from New South Wales. The same year he was appointed aide-de-camp and private secretary to the Governor, Sir George Bowen, and held the position two years. On Jan. 1st, 1863, he became Commissioner of Police for the colony, and in August 1878 a member of the Brisbane Relief Board, both of which appointments he now holds.
Shaw, Bernard, eldest son of the late Edward Carr Shaw, of Swansea, Tas. and Anne his wife, daughter of the late James Fenton, was born at Swansea, Tas., in 1836. He was appointed Deputy. Clerk of the Peace at Swansea in Sept. 1853; Justice of the Peace in Feb. 1862; Police Magistrate in 1866; Secretary of Mines in 1883; and Sheriff of Tasmania and Commissioner of Police for the colony in Feb. 1886.
Sheehan, Hon. John, M.H.R., eldest son of David Sheehan, an early Auckland settler, was born on July 5th, 1844. He studied for the law, and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in 1868; was elected to the Auckland Provincial Council in 1869, and in the following year became a member of the Provincial Executive. He was elected to the House of Representatives on March 20th, 1872, being the first native-born member of the New Zealand Parliament. During the session of 1877 he was appointed one of the whips of Sir George Grey's party, when in opposition, and on the defeat of Major Atkinson on Oct. 8th Mr. Sheehan accepted the portfolio of Minister of Justice and Native Minister under Sir George, offices for which his extensive acquaintance with native matters, his knowledge of the Maori language, and
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