CROWN SOLICITOR IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27277, 18 February 1954, Page 10

CROWN SOLICITOR IN CHRISTCHURCH

Successor To Sir Arthur Donnelly

APPOINTMENT OF MR A. W. BROWN

Mr A. W. Brown has been appointed Crown Solicitor in Christchurch in succession to the late Sir Arthur Donnelly.

Mr Brown, who has appeared for the Crown in many notable criminal trials in the Supreme Court at Christchurch, was born at Kumara in 1897, his father, known there as Banker Brown, being a contemporary of Richard John Seddoh. He was edu-

cated at the Temuka District Higl School and at the Christchurch Boys Eiigh School. Before going to Can terbury University College to stud; aw, he was a probationary teacher a he Lyttelton District High School. H< mlisted in the Army in 1916. and wen

into camp in 1917, but a broken ankle kept him in New Zealand until June. 1918, when he sailed for Europe with the 40th Reinforcement in the Tahiti, about 80 men dying from influenza on the voyage to England. After the armistice he was a lecturer to the troops under the Army Education Scheme. He returned to New Zealand in March, 1919, and joined the staff of the School for the Deaf. Sumner, remaining there to December of that year and also completing his university course. That experience has occasionally proved useful in Court cases when a witness has been deaf or dumb.

In January. 1920. Mr Brown joined the legal firm of Messrs Raymond, Stringer, Hamilton, and Donnelly. He was admitted as a solicitor in March. 1921. and as a barrister of the Supreme Court in November of the same year He was made a partner of the firm of Raymond. Stringer and Donne 1 ly in 1924. and is now the sole survlv.ig partner.

Mr Brown was well known on the amateur stage in Christchurch f>i a

number of years. From 1920 to 1923 he I wrote, produced and took leading parts l in college plays and revues. He con-i ducted community sings in 1932. 1933. and 1924. when more than £3OOO was! raised He also took a prominent parti m musical comedies and operas, chiefly I those produced by the Amateur Opera,; tic Society

[ He was a member of the National Reserve in the Second World War and ‘was mobilised in December. 1941. In February. 1942. he was commissioned as a pilot officer and was in charge of a flight of Air Training Corps cadets, to whom he taught navigation. He remained With the corps until the end of the ’ war. when he held the rahk of flying officer. Mr Brown appeared with Sir Arthur Dcnrwllv in a number of notable trials m the Supreme Court, including the Patience murder case in 1939 FTeouently in recent years he has acted as Crown Prosecutor in Court cases.