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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
The Hon. Robert Hart
The Hon. Robert Hart, M.L.C., was born in the Strand, London, on the 28th of December, 1814, and was educated at the University College, London. He studied the law and was a member of the Law Debating Society, which, during his time, included Lord Macaulay, Whiteside, the celebrated Chancellor of Ireland, and other notable men. He arrived in Wellington on the 10th of August, 1843, and at once commenced practice as a lawyer in parthership with another English barrister, Mr. Holroyd, afterwards a New South Wales judge. Later on he became partner with Mr. (afterwards Sir Richard) Hanson, Chief Justice of South Australia. In 1859 he revisited England, and on his return was appointed District Judge for Wellington and Napier, which office he resigned, and resumed practice as a barrister in 1861. He was joined in 1866 by Mr. (Sir Patrick) Buckley, and that firm existed until 1878, when the senior partner retired. Among other celebrated trials he took part in that of the Manugatapu murderers at Nelson, in 1866, when three of the murderers were found guilty and executed. Mr. Hart sat in the first Parliament as member for Wellington, in 1854, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1872, and filled the seat with dignity and merit, so long as his health enabled him to attend to his duties. He acted as Revising Barrister for Friendly Societies, and for electoral purposes; became Law Officer for the Government in the absence of the Attorney-General and was offered, but declined, a seat on the Suprem Court bench. He married, in 1867, a sister of the late Sir Donald McLean, and died full of years and honours on the 16th of September, 1894, aged eighty years, and the Legislative Council, then in session, adjourned its business for the day in order to allow members to pay their last respects to their late colleague.