TRIBUTES PAID TO JUDGE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 11

TRIBUTES PAID TO JUDGE

Ceremony at Supreme Court THE LATE MR JUSTICE ADAMS ! | Tribute was paid to the memory of the Hon. Mr Justice Adams (who died last week) by his Honour Mr Justice Northcroft, a'nd by Mr K. M. Gresson (president of the Canterbury Law Society), when members of the legal profession and representatives of the Supreme Court Bench and the Magistracy gathered at the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr H. A. Young, senior Magistrate, attended. "It is with feelings of profound respect that we mark the passing of the Hon. Alexander Samuel Adams," Mr Justice Northcroft said. "Throughout a long and honourable life he has enriched this community, whether by his services as a member of our profession at the Bar and on the Bench, or by his faithful and disinterested services in the cause of social reform. His was of a deeply religious nature, inspired by a strong sense of duty and a firm adherence to principle." These virtues, Ml- Justice Northcroft added, had made Mr Justice Adams a figure in many forensic and political struggles undertaken for social causes. At the Bar he had always been a zealous student of the law. Such qualities marked him as eminently suited j for the exercise of judicial functions. For the last 10 years of his life he adorned the Supreme Court Bench in Christchurch. He was an earnest student, and formed his judgments from profound .scholarship. He had ennobled judicial tasks by personal virtues, and his wisdom would linger in recorded judgments. "His personal attributes, particularly of courtesy and consideration for you who were privileged to practice before him. will long continue as a happy memory—the longer indeed as his kindly help was the more generously given to those who were younger and less experienced," Mr Justice Northcroft added. "Your Bar has lost a kindly friend; the Bench, a good himself with Mr Justice i Northcroft, and speaking ior the Canterbury District Law Society, Mr I Gresson said: "Those of us who in the years past have practised m this Court know as perhaps no one else knows what legal scholarship reposed in him who, for some 12 years or more, was our resident Judge, to whom we bade an affectionate farewell only four years ago, and to whose worth we nay to-day a further final tribute and at the same time offer to his relatives our deepest sympathy in their bereavement. Most of his judicial life was spent here with us: at his coming, to most of us he was unknown; but in a surprisingly short time there grew up between him and the Christchurch Bar a relationship extraordinarily happy and harmonious, and one tnat, as the years went by, ripened into a real affection from us towards him who was invariably so courteous, so helpful, so considerate. "To the extent and depth of his legal learning and particularly to his outstanding knowledge of equity law as well as to his kindly encouragement, many of us owe more than we properly realise. "Only four years ago we assembled in great numbers when he entered upon his retirement, and there was expressed on our behalf the hope that he might enjoy many years of happy leisure. But it was not to be, and even these brief four years were not years of comfortable ease. It would seem that his services to the State and to us took greater toll of his health and strength than we realised—that literally he wore himself" out in the conscientious discharge of the duties of his high office. "We desire to-day to give public expression to what we all feel—admiration for and appreciation of his learning as a judge, and regard and affection for his countless acts of consideration for us, a deep sympathy towards his family in their grief, and especially towards his sons, .who are professional brethren." TRIBUTES IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND irtLKBB iLSSOCIATIOS TKMGBMf.) AUCKLAND, September 13. "It is fitting that Bench and Bar should unite in doing honour to the merits and services of a distinguished fellow worker whom death has taken from us," said Mr Justice Callan m the Supreme Court this morning in a tribute to the memory of Mr Justice Adams. "He devoted himself with great intensity to that exacting, useful, and honourable calling to which both Bench and Bar belong," said Mr Justice Callan. "It was my privilege to know him and his work and worth during the 15 years of his practice in Dunedin. He was gifted with the type of mind peculiarly suited to command success in our profession—a mind quick, penetrating, and subtle. He had infinite capacity for taking pains, untiring energy and great industry. He was a learned lawyer. "The best tribute we can pay to the memory of Mr Justice Adams and the lawyers and judges of his generation is to see that in our hands the torch they held, and have now passed on to us, does not grow dim." Mr A. H. Johnstone paid a tribute on behalf of the Bar. "Few men were more entirely free of vanity and affectation," he said. The Court adjourned for half an hour as a mark of respect.

DUNEDIN (PiIESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) ' DUNEDIN, September 13. Members of the Bench and Bar met in the Supreme Court this morning, when Mr Justice Kennedy paid an eloquent tribute to the memory of Mr Justice Adams. _„ „ . jm Mr Justice Kennedy, Mr Smith, president of the Law Society, and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart all referred particularly to his helpfulness and kindness as a practising barrister to his younger colleagues. On the Bench with Mr Justice Kennedy was Sir Walter Stringer, a former Judge of the Supreme Court.

* WELLINGTON (PRESS A3SOCUTJOW TEUSORAM.) WELLINGTON, September 13. F:.tures for the Court of Appeal and the Full Court were made this morning before the Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir- Michael Myers), Mr Justice Ostler, Mr Justice Smith, Mr Justice Johnston, and Mr Justice Fair. Before making the fixtures, the death of Mr Justice Adams was brought to the notice of the Bench, and Bar by Sir Michael Myers. Tributef we?e ?aid by the Chief Justice htoself and the Solicitor-General (Mr H H. Cornish, K.C.) on behalf of the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. c*. k. Mason) by Mr G. G G, Watson for the New Zealand Law Society, andMrP. B Cooke, K.C., on behalf of the Wellington District Law Society. Sir Michael announced that after the fixtures had been madeihe_Court would adjourn as a mark of respect until to-morrow morning.

THE FUNERAL Many representatives of the legal profession and private friends of the Hon. Mr Justice Adams and his family joined in the large gathering at his funeral at the Waimam cemetery yesterday. Many expressions of sympathy were received during the day. The services at the houses and at the graveside were conducted by the Kev A. Anstice, president of the New Zealand Baptist Union. The pall-bearers were Messrs H. to. Adams and F. B. Adams (sons), Crosby Morris (son-in-law), D. E. Parton, Douglas Adams, and Hampton Justice (D The e ch S ief mourners were the widow, Mr H. S. Adams, Mr and Mrs D. N. Adams. Mr Douglas Adams, Mr and Mrs Hampton Justice, Mr and Mrs D. E. Parton. Mr and Mrs Frank Adams. Mr and Mrs Crosby Morris, Mrs Ewart McDiarmid. and Mrs John Deaker. Wreaths were sent by Mr H. b. Adams and family, Mr Frank Adams and family. Gladys and Archie, Margaret Crosby. Ann. and Hunter. D.N. and S. J. Adams, Douglas and Marion Adams, Olive Given, Mr and Mrsi D. E. Parton, Ettie and family, Willie, Flossie, Jan, and lan, Mrs Lamb ana family Mrs A. W. Morris. Mr and Mrs M. S. Brown and Phyllis, the household staff. Bob McPherson and family, Jessie and Herkey. Mr A. J. Wood, Annie and family, Mrs T. E. Taylor and family. Mrs Stanley Wilkinson, Christchurch Harmonic Society, New Zealand Law Society, Johnston, White, and Champion, A. T. Donnelly, Canterbury Law Society, Supreme Court staff, Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Vernon Russell, Board of Management of the United Friendly Society, directors of J. and J- Arthur (Dunedin). Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, Auckland Law Society, and Otago Law Society, Mr and Mrs W. J Sim. Hal. and Betty, Arthur and Hampton, Allie and Lou, Nora Gray, W. C. Francis and sisters, Mr L. B. Thompson and family. Mr and Mrs R. Donovan, Dr. and Mrs Stanley Hogg, Mr and Mrs John McPherson. staff of Adams Bros. (Dunedin). Dr. and Mr W. S. Seed Dr. and Mrs M. K. Gray, Ina and Bert, Vera and Boyd, Mrs W. H. Seed, Mr and Mrs Justice. Mrs Morrison and daughters. Florence. Violet, and Luy, Rita and Norman McCrostie, the Carey i family. D. W. and V. W. Russell, W. R. Teape, Arthur Carty, Nell and Ed* gar. Floyd and Belle Sheppard, the Hon. Mr Justice Kennedy and Mrs Kennedy. Mrs John Clegg. Fairy and Charlie, M. J. and E. F. King. Nora Nelson, the Deaker family, the Her-; riott family. Mrs Bryant, Mr and Mrs, E. Elsom.