THE LATE MR JUSTICE RICHMOND.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9177, 7 August 1895, Page 5

THE LATE MR JUSTICE RICHMOND.

■■&»■ EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. Ab the sitting of the Supreme Court* yesterday morniug & large muster of the Bar was present. Araougst othera were Messrs YVeston, Andrews (Seo. Law Society), Lane, Hall, Bsswick, Bruges, Stringer, Oaesidy, Koss, I'urnell, Wilding, Joyat, Caygill, Raphael, Cotterill, Beattie, Byrae, Cowlishaw, Slater, Creaswell, &c. His Honour said—l cannot resume tht business of the Court without referriug te the irreparable loss which since I last bat here the Supreme Court Banch aud the colony have suscaiued by the death of Mr . Justice Richmond. I say irreparable, bocause, though the vacant seat will doubtless iv due course be worthily tilled, yot nothing can replace the unique personality which has gouo from amoagec uj. Mr Justice Kick mond, siuce the earliest days of the colony, r filled a large space in the public view. He held a distinguished position amongst the distinguished men who made the eariy history of the colouy. Hia capacity tor dealing with complicated figures—a taste which he never lost—ga.ve him a high reputation as Colonial Treasurer, and his name is indelibly connected with the history of the relations in early years betweon the* colonists and the Natives, relatious as to which the late Judge always retained a deep interest. But in 1862 he left the strife of politics for the more congenial position l he has since oocupiadi.. For thrce-and-thirty years lie discharged the duties of a , Judge of this Court.- How ho discharged ' them, you gentlemen kujw. His name has ' become a household word in New Zealand ' for everything that is highest aud best in I the judicial character. His intellect had a natural sympathy for the precision and snbtlety of the old system of conveyancing . and pleading iv which he had bean bred and with which he was familiar. Bulv be had too large and too well stored a mind not to be able readily to adapt himself to l more modern procedure. His ju-igmonta will always remain with us as monuments of hia grasp of prmciples, his power of . marshalling facts, and the exquisite felicity . with which he could catch aud express the i most, subtle distinctions and rafi ucments. I do not exaggerate when 1 say that his judg- ' incuts would have commanded rospeoo and ' admiration in auy court in any country. . But bo was no mere lawyer. He w»3 widely read in every branch of literature. Those who hear.i his addresses on literature, art, or philosophy— and he was always ready to lend his aid to the furtherance of any question of publio or philanthropic interest—could appreciate the ; extent and depth of hie taste and culture. ; His mind had a strong natural bent towards the deeper veins of metaphysical speculation, and those who have heard him discuss such subjects know what a distinguished : position 'among the leaders of thought; he . might have taken had circumstances led hia work in that direction. Of his high sense of honour, of the manner in which as a 1 Judge he combined the respeot and ) observance of the best traditions ol the Banch with an unvarying re- , gard to the interests of suitors and of I the Bar I need not speak. Add to these : gifts of mind, the great gift of a singularly > fascinating style, an exceptional felicity of expression, and a more than prdinary en- . dowmont of the saving salt of humour, end ' you have, as I have said, one fitted to take a commanding place in any work and any society. I have spoken of Mr Justice Richmond only as a J udga and a public man. Only those who had the privilege of seeing ■ him in private life could really know the t charm of his manner and the beauty of hir character. But of this I have no right t< speak here, even if I could trust myself U 1 do so. ' Oa his Honour commencing hie address [ all the members of the Bur, many of whom r were xobed, rose, and remained standing dudug the remarks of his Honour. Mr T. S. Weaton said, as the senior member of the Bar present, it became his duty to acknowledge on behalf of the profession the remarks made by his Honour as to the - death of that distinguished judge, Mr Justice : Richmond. He (Mr Weeton) oould claim to have known the deceased ' Judge longer than any member of the profeaoion then present),- and he wished tnosfi 3 respectfully to say how much he agreed with what had fallen from hie Honour. He, had known Mr Justice Richmond asjColonial Treasurer, and he felt assured that no oni bad a greater, deeper, or keener interest in y the welfare of New Zealand than the de- ' ceased Judge. As far as the Bench } was concerned, it had lost its most l distinguished ornament. He (Mr Weston) • only hoped that the Legislature and the 1 Government might be able to find one to fill his place possessing, as the deceased ' Judge most eminently did, a sound knowledge of the law, wisdom, and all the attributes of a gentleman. So far as the pro- ' tession was concerned, whilst Mr Justice 3 Richmond stood out on all occasions for the . dignity of the Bench he was always most ready to assist the profession in every way and, if necessary, to uphold and ' defend the rights of the Bar. It 1 was only by the Bench and Bar working • together hand in hand that the public would accord co law and justice that respecb to which it was entitled. He (Mr Weeton) on behalf of the Bar wiehed respectfully to q join with his Honour in the expression of deep regret at the severe loss which the 3 colony had sustained by the death of Mr , c Justice Richmond. His Honour said he would take no basij ness that day. If there were any very t urgent matters he would hear them in hia [ private room. The Court would now be adjourned.