THE RETIRING CHIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 283, 30 November 1925, Page 8

THE RETIRING CHIEF.

X.ONG AND STRENUOUS LIFE. ''- . A WONDERFUL WORKER. Over sixty 'years ago,' Robert Stout came to the young colony of New Zealand as a teacher, a mere youth from the. Shetland Islands, but filled with a faith in the future and a determination to make his way upward. Whilst working: as a schoolteacher, he spent long Lours of each day in. study, and qualified for the law, to become the most distinguished member of the Bar of his day. . Entering politics, his great knowledge and ability rose him to the Premiership, and he later was appointed to the great and honourable office of Chief Justice. Ho now retires from the Bench after twenty-six years of distinguished service, "full of years and honour," and respected and revered by all. Sir Robert Stout was born at Lerwick, Shetland Isles, 82 years ago, and was educated in the Parish School, where his brilliant scholastic mind ran rapidly through, the rudiments of education and made him a pupil teacher at the age of eighteen. Ho was nineteen years of age when he arrived at Dunedin in 1864, and after seven years' teaching, he'was admitted to the Bar. He was lecturer in law at the Otago University until he entered Parliament in 1875 as representative for Caversham. That same year he' was returned as member for Dunedin City. In- 1877, Sir George Grey formed his Liberal Ministry and Sir Robert Stout took office as Attorney-General, together with the portfolios of Lands, Education and Immigration in' the administration of the-day. Owing to urgent private business, however, in 1879 he found it necessary to withdraw'from. Parliament. In the year 1884 he again entered politics, when he was returned for Dunedin East. That year lie became Prime Minister in the first Stout-Vogel Ministry. It only survived for 12 days, when it gave place to one of the Atkinson Ministries. This, in turn, lasted for six days subsequent to which the Stout-Vogel Administration again took office and held on till 1887. That year saw the Atkinson party, returned to power after the general elections. On that occasion Prime Minister Stout was defeated by the present High Commissioner, Sir James Allen. Not till 1893 did Sir Robert Stout reenter the political arena, when he won the Inangahua seat on the West Coast of the South Island. This seat had become vacant through the resignation of Mr. R. H. J. Reeves. There was a general election in 1893, and Sir- Robert was returned as the representative of Wellington City. For the remainder of his. Parliamentary career ho continued to represent that particular constituency. On February 10, 1898, Sir Robert made a public announcement that his du .ty to his family demanded that for some .time he should devote the whole ■ScivfJv tlme to his profession. Fpr 16 ?S 8 Slr *°bevt carried on his law ° n the resignation of Sir Justice £ n T ergaßt ' of the office of-Chief **» appo^T , 1 ?"' Sir Robert Stout S>r Row aa h,s ™«*BBor. characteristics • tti° Xli \ s distinguishing frtvtte, as ,v ell th J ou^ out Ins public, aa. hls judicial career , J* 8 , menal "'dustry. He