Page:Jstraitsrsa31-33.pdf/222

 IN MEMORIAM.

Since its foundation in 1877, the Society has never sustained such a severe loss as that caused by the death of Sir William Maxwell, late governor of the Gold Coast.

Of his distinguished official career in this colony a very brief sketch will here suffice. From 1855 to 1869, he was employed in the Supreme Court, his father, Sir P. Benson Maxwell, being Chief Justice of the Colony. In 1867 he qualified as an advocate of the local bar, and for some years was a magistrate and commissioner of the Court of Request, acting for a short time As a judge of the Supreme Court of Penang. His legal attainments were of a high order, and qualified him to take the important part he did in the work of legislation, especially with regard to the Land question, to which he devoted his great abilities.

Appointed in 1874 Assistant Government Agent, Province Wellesley, he had his first opportunity of improving District administration. In the following year the Perak war took place, Mr. Maxwell serving as District commissioner with the Larut field force and being specially mentioned in despatches and receiving the Perak Medal. In 1878 he was appointed Assistant Resident, Perak, and it was during this period he gained his intimate knowledge of the Malays of the country—their language and folklore. In 1881 he was called to the bar (Inner Temple), and for some years after this, as Commissioner of land titles, he devoted himself to improving the land system in the Colony. The debates in the Legislative Council of this period and Reports on the Land Question shew what a complete mastery he had of the intricacies of land administration and legislation. In spite of determined opposition, he was able to carry out his policy, the good effects of which must now be admitted by his former critics. To him is due the system of District Administration which, started first in the Colony, has been reproduced with