NOTED LAWYER

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 10

NOTED LAWYER

Death of Sir Alexander Gray, K.C. WORK FOR PROFESSION The death of Sir Alexander Gray, K.C., which occurred at 6.30 yesterday morning at his residence in Brougham Street, came as a great shock to professional and business circles. He had been attending to his usual professional duties on the preceding day. and his death came quite unexpectedly. Sir Alexander’s last public appearance in the city was at the next-of-kin service on Anzae Day. Sir Alexander Gray, who was president of the New Zealand Law Society, was recognised as one of the leading members of the Bar in New Zealand, and his name has been associated with many of the important eases which have come before the higher courts of New Zealand in recent years. Born in 1860, he was educated at Wellington College, and began his legal career by being articled to .Mr. F. H. D. Bell (now Sir Francis Bell), of the firm of Izard and Bell, ami was admitted to the Bar in 18S1. For some years he practised in Greytowu, but transferred to Wellington in 1886, when the firm of Campbell and Gray was established. He was appointed King’s

Counsel in 1912, and since taking silk had largely devoted himself to work'in the Appeal Court. He was for many years president of the Wellington District Law Society, and upon the elevation of the late Sir Charles Skerrett to the position of Chief Justice in 1926, I was elected president of the New Zealand Law Society, which position he held at the time of his death: he presided at the legal conferences in 1928, 1929 and 1930. In 1926 Sir Alexander Gray was appointed commissioner to inquire into hospital affairs at Auckland. He was chairman of the committee of management of the Solicitors’ Fidelity Guarantee Fluid, and a member of the rules committee established under the Law Practitioners Amendment Act. 1030. Sir Alexander received hi- knighthood in January last. He. leaves a widow. Lady Gray, a daughter, Miss Margery Gray, now in London, and a son. Mr. Sinclair Gray, of Wellington. The funeral will take place to-mor-row (Sunday), leaving the residence for Karori Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. Tributes to Deceased. "The news of the sudden decease of Sir Aiexunder Gray carries with it to the legal practitioners in Wellington City amt district not. only a feeling of the deepest regret, lint a sense of personal loss," said Mr. E. I’. Huy, president of lhe Wellington District Law Society yesterday. "Apart altogether from his great mental attainments alml the eminence he had attained in practice, he possessed in an unusual degree those qualities which engendered a real affection for him among his brother practitioners. One of his distinguishing characteristics was the consideration he nt all times displayed towards the junior members of I lie profession. There was uo one who did more to maintain a high standard of conduct in practice: or to cultivate that esprit de corps 'which exists in a marked degree among Hie practitioners in this district. Whether it was in the routine of practice. or in liis advocacy at the Bar, he at all times displayed that calmness of demeanour, aud that inherent courtesy whicli were his well-known characteris- j Distinguished t'residoiif. Upon the occasion of a knighthood being conferred upon Sir Alexander Gray, the Hou. Sir Francis Bell, K.G., writing in the “New Zealand Law Journal,” said: “Nearly sixty years have passed since I was admitted to tlie New Zealand Roll. Many events of that long period were of special interest to tlie profession, and were tlie subject of 1-01111)10111. and discussion at our gatherings. 1 can recall none iu regard to whicli there was more complete and unanimous satisfaction than the grant by the Sovereign of tlie distinct ion of Knighthood Io our president. . . • When in 1926 Sir Charles Skerrett became Cliief Justice, and it became ne-i-essary to elect a successor to him in rite presidency of the society, tiiere was general and cordial agreement in the choice of Alexander Gray. K.C., .since emphttsised each year ity rouenal of that expression of confidence. We owe to ids initiative ami guidance Hie proud deteriuination of tlie profession to accept responsibility for those few of its members who disgrace it by de- > iTamling clients of moneys entrusted to their care, aud to his energetic advocacy is largely due tlie power conferred on us by I’.-irliainent to levy a heavy animal tax upon all of lhe profession Io establish a fund siiliii-ient for fho promised indemnity.’' Tributes l-'rom Bem-li. Reference to tlie deatli of Sir Aicxaii- I dec was made in Hie Police Court yes- ■ terday morning. Ou the Bench were i .Messrs. E. Page, S.M.. T. I!. McNeil, i S.M.. ami J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. "Tlie Court lias just learned ef'ilie. death of Sir Alexander Cr-i.v. president ■ of the New Zealand Law Socieiy. who has been for ninny years ;i lender of tin* Bar. and one of the most noted I advocates of the day.” Mr. Page said, j “Out of respect for his memory, this Court proposes to adjourn.” I At 10 n.m. on Mondny tributes to I the late Sir Alexander Gray will be paid j by tlie Bench and Par nt the Supremo ; Ceurt in Wellington. > I