THE LATE MR. W. P. JAMES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 559, 14 July 1909, Page 4

THE LATE MR. W. P. JAMES.

FUNERAL YESTERDAY. i Tho ftinoial of tho late Air W P James, Stipendiary Magistrate at Miwtrrton, took pheo shortly jiftor tho arrival from ilasterton of the midday express On the platform 0f,% Lambtoii Station wcro irnanj friends and relatives of tho deoooccd ■and a number of Mastorton lceidcnta axu\ed by tho train to l>o present at tho lust ceroimonj The chief mourneii included Messrs 'Gr-orgo Allport (Marino Department), W 13 llhodce (Ta\ Doportment), A. H. Ilolmoa (Clerk of tho Magistralo's Court), W. R 'Holmes (Auckland), P P. Webb (Audit Dcpartaont), Norman James (son), imd Hon C H. Mills (unclo df tho Jocoased) Othew present were the Minister for Juetico (Hon. Di Findlav), and tho Under-Sec-retarv, Mr F Waldcßravo, Dr M'Arthur 'and Mr W -G Riddell, ,Stipondiar\ Alagistr3t<>s, Inspector Ellison, and Mi. lolej. Clerk of tho Court, Ma-storton Tho legal ptofcesion was represented bj Messrs. C. P. Skorrott, K. 0., B. D. Bell, A. Graj, A. do B Brandon, Andrew Wylie, W. Dean, V Meredith, J L Stout, A L Hordman, MP , T Young, and others Mr, D. G A. Cooper, Registrar of the Supremo Court, was also present Among the mimoious mournors wore Messrs. F. M.B, Fisher, M,P., A T. Bate, H. Ljon, F. De Castro, H J. H Blow, A W Newton, G Goldio, and others St Maik's Church, to which Mr. James for many joars belonged, waa also represented. . A voiv largo number of floral tributes evidenced the great lovo and respert in which the deceased magistrate wap held Among, these wero wrcfitha from tho Major, council, and burgesses of Mastorton, tho Masterton Football Club, the Now Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, Mr Rawson, S M (West'port); tho S.M Court staff, tho police, and Mr D Logau, of Hawkc'e Baj. Tho sorvice at the graveside was conducted by the Ro\ A 11. Johnson, vicar of St Mark 8, assisted by tho Rev. Mr Ramc, of Masterton TRIBUTES BY BENCH, BAR, AND • POLICE. . "NO TRUER MAN " At tho Jaw buildings, Wellington, yesterday. members of tho local Bench and legal profession assembled to piy their tributo to tho memory of tho deceased Thoir Worships Dr A. M'Arthui and Mr W G Riddell occupied tho Bench, and the body of the Court was filled with members of the profesi sion When Dr M'Arthur rose to speak all present roso with him and remained standing: His Worship said that many of those present had had tho pleasure of knowing Mr James for a much longer period than he 1 ad known him, but he could assuro them that none had a higher opinion of the deceased gentleman, than he had His Worship bad known him for eight years, and could say that, in all his actions, whether in reference to his magisterial duties, his family life, or his social obligations, thcro was no better, no truer man than Mr James They could find no man more honest, and when thii had been said what more oould bo added? "All I can say," ooncludod his Worship, "is may my work throughout ray llfo be dono as faithfully as ho who has left us and passed away has done his, and I, too, shall pass away content" Mr A. L. Hordman, MP, desired, as president of the Law Socioty, and a member of the legal profession in Wellington, to associate himsolf with the kin Sly remarks that had been made in regard to the lato Mr. James. To a number of thoso present ho had been known for many years, but there were none who had come in contact with Mr, James who had not formed a high opinion of his character They desucd also to express their deep sympathy with thn familv of tl*3 lato Mr James _ Ho had known Mr James only slightly himself, but had alwavs rcgirded him as_fl man of 1 high ideals, who desired to discharge hi» duties with greatest fairness Mr James had a great faculty for making filends Wherever ho Went, he carrmd snnshine with him, and because of liis kindly he'art ho (probably never made an enemy Hn discharged his duties fearlessly and with justice, and lived a straightforward, manly life After saying that, what moie could be said of any man? As a friend of Mr James for 22 years, Mr, T. M Wilford, MP ] desired _to add ' his tributo to what had been said Ho | had known tho lato Magistrate in evorv capacity, as an enthusiastic sport—football was his particular line —and as taking part in various forms of recreation—music, golf, and others He had known him as Clerk of the Court in Wellington hero for many years, and, afterwards, he had the honour of appearing boforo him, both in Mastorton and in Wellington Mr James furnished an oxcellent proof of the argument that it was quite possiblo for a man to be a most excellent magistrate, although ho had not received what was termed "the legal training," but had nsfn from the clerkship of the Court to tho Bench Hβ was not an ordinary magistrate, in that Im> mixed with members of tho profession in their outside lifo, but, when he took his seat on tho Bench, he acted with the greatest impartiality. } As long ai tho Bonon was adorned bv men. like tho lite Mr James, liooplc might rost content that in tho Maglbtrato s Court—the people's Court—they would receive that fiirness and honesty of dochion foi which Ihey naturally looked Inspector Ellison said that he had known tbp late Mr James for 32 or 33 years, and he could only remark that all ho had he/>rd that morning was porfectly correct. His life examplo was a good ono for younger men to follow

After the civil list had been called over, tho Court adjourned until 2 15 p m , as a mark of respect to tho late magistrate