BENCH AND BAR.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 7

BENCH AND BAR.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. May 5. The local practitioners last night entertained the judges of the Court of Appe-xl, Mr H. D. Bell, K.C V presidium N Apologies for absence were received from the Chief Justice, the AttorneyGeneral, Sir James Prendergaat, and Mr Justice Sim. . A resolution, passed by the Otago Law Socioty, was read and tendered to Mr Justice Williams, cougra'tula'ting him ujkmi hie having been, enabled to discharge his high office in a manner beneficial to the public, honourable to himself, and for a term exceeding in duration > that of any; otfer Judge of the Supremo Court in .Australasia. Replyjin.g to the resolution; Mr Justice Williagie-said th.it it was quite true that lie> had anade a record; but die thought that the fact of iliis sitting for 33' Years was creditable, not so mu"ch ; to himself, as to the vitality of his constitution. He hoped to continue to sit for many years to come. Continuing, his Honour said that he hid always done this best to be on good terms with the profession and to assist the younger members of the Bar. The Bench and Bar, 3ie said, had noble traditions, and should do their best to act up to them.

His Honour Mr Justice Williams arrived i:n Dunedin -b*- the Derwentowater in- 1861. but subsequently' came to Canterbury at the end 6f the same year. In 18G2 he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and commenced practice with Mr T. S. Duncan, the Provincial Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor, under the style of Duncan and Williams. In 1864 the partnership came to an «mid, and Mr Williams paid a visit to England, returning at the end of the same year to Christ-church, when he entered into practice on his own aoooumit. He was elected a memiber of tho Provincial Council for Heathcote in 1862, and also in 1866. He -held office as Provincial Solicitor, and was also a member of the Provincial Executive during Mr Moorhouse's Superintendency from 1866 to 1871. He tvas the first District Land registrar in Chxistehurch under the La-nd Transfer Act bein.? appointed in 1871, and became Rpgistrar-Genoral of Land in 18/2. He was also the first chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College In 1875 Mr Williams was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, and the Otaco district waj assigned to him. He hold office as President of the Arbitration CouU from 1895 until his resignation on visiting England in 1898. ~