EDWARDS, SIR WORLEY BASSETT (1850-1927) was born in London, the son of C. S. W. Edwards. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1855 and received his education at the Boys' High School, Dunedin, where he gained special prizes for English essays (1864-65). In 1871 he returned to England to complete his education and spent three years travelling in Europe.

In 1874 Edwards was articled to Julius and O'Meagher, Oamaru, and, becoming a barrister in 1875, he joined W. S. Moorhouse in partnership. He practised in Wellington (1877-90), for the first eight years in partnership with Charles W. Cutten. He contested the Wellington South seat in 1881. In 1890 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and native commissioner, but in 1892 he left the bench, his appointment being declared invalid by a decision of the Privy Council (14 Jul 1892) on the ground that the law provided for only five judges. The government intended to bring down legislation to legalise the appointment, but was defeated and the succeeding government refused to fulfil the promise. He accordingly retired to private practice until 1896, when he was again appointed a judge, and later became president of the Arbitration Court (1898-1900). He was created a knight bachelor in 1919, and retired from the bench as senior judge in 1920.

Edwards married in 1886 Mrs Cutten. He died on 2 Jun 1927.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Butterworth's Fortnightly Notes, 2 Jun 1927; Evening Post, 8 Jun 1927; N.Z. Graphic, 1 Oct 1892 (p)

Reference: Volume 1, page 131

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