THE NEW JUDGE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17862, 7 September 1923, Page 8

THE NEW JUDGE.

MR W. C. MACGREGOK

APPOINTED*

(9rxcnii TO "THX SMSSS.")

WELLINGTON, September I

Some time prior to the ment of the last session of Parliament I was able to inform you that- there was likely to be another appointment to the Supreme Court Bench, and that Mr W. C. MacGregor would most probable bo the new Judge. The official announcement of Mr MacGregor's appointment was made to-day. Tho appointment had to await the passing oi an amendment last session of tho Judicature Act, by which the Supreme Court Bench could be increased from | seven to eight. i Once again Otago has the distinction of having added to the list of the Judges of our Supremo Court. No fewer than lire Otago barristers ar& nofr on the Supreme Court Bench, and one, Sir liobert Stout, is the Chief .111 stice. Tho others are Mr Justice Sim, Mr Justics Hosking, Mr Justice Adams, .and now Mr Macolregor. Sir Frederick Chapman, who was for many years on the Bench, and returned to sit temporarily after his retirement, was also a Dunedin barrister, as was also tho late Mr Justice Denniston. Mr MacGregor came to Otago with his parents in 1881. His father was a, well-known and able Presbyterian minister, the late Rev. D. MacGregor, who for many years was at Oarnaru. Tho new Judge was born in Paisley, Scotland, and educated at George Watson's Selipol, Edinburgh, and at Edinburgh University. On coming to New Zealand he entered the office of Messrs Stewart (the father of the Hon. "VV. Downie Stewart) and Denniston. He remained there for five years. Mr MacGregsr passed his final examination in July, 1883, taking tho first position of any law Student in the colony, for which he was awarded the Canterbury Law Society's gold medal. In Sep, tember of the same yeai he was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and commenced to practise in Dunedin. For mfiny years he was legal adviser to the Duhedm City Council, and he has had an extensive practice in the Supreme Court, fie soon became a leading member of the Bar in Oiago, and gained distinction as a King's Counsel, later as Crown Prosecutor, and in resent years as Solicitor-Qeneral, since the appointment of Sir John Salmond, another DunecMriite, to tie Bench. Mr MacGregor takes a keen interest in British Imperialism, and has lectured and written on this and kindred subjects. His scholarly attainments aro recorded in some of his contributions to New Zealand' journals. Both Mr MacGregor and Sir' John Salmond are. . sons .. of Presbyterian theological,, professors. The late Rev. Dr. James MacGregor teas formerly ' Professor ': of Systematio . Theology in the New College,. Edinburgh, and the author of several theological and expository books. The lftte Professor Salmond, ot Dunedhi, Sir John Salmond's father, was for years Theological Professor there, ana be accepted the Chair of Mental \Science in th© Otago University at the request of the Presbyterian Church.