HONOURING A JUDGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1913, Page 8

HONOURING A JUDGE

SIR JOSHUA WILLIAMS'S ELEVATION CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE BAR. There was a notable array of legal talent in the Supreme Court this morning to do honour to the Right Honourable Sir Joshua Williams, senior puisne Judge of the New Zealand Court, to mark his elevation to the Privy Council. Fully one hundred members of th& Bar were in attendance, including (seven King's Counsel. Dr.^ A. M'Arthur, S.M., and Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., were present as representing the Magisterial Bench; Messrs. H. H. Ostler and P. Macassey representing the Crown Law Office; Superintendent J. W. Ellison, on behalf of the police; and Mr. J. R. London, on behalf of the Auckland Law Society. Associated with Sir Joshua on tho Bench were : Mr. Justice Denniston, Mr. Justice Edwardß, Mr. Justice Chapman, and Mr. Justice Cooper. The Attorney-General (Hon. A. L. Herdman) offered his congratulations on behalf of the members of the Bar. The event marked an epoch in the administration of justice in New Zealand, as the Dominion was now represented on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. During all the years Sir Joshua Williams had sat on the Bench he had retained the respect, confidence, and admiration of all those with whom he had come in contact. He would leavo behind an example in New Zealand which all must desire to emulate. In N reply, his Honour showed deep emotion, thanking the Attor-ney-General and < all present for their congratulations. He had always thought an ultimate tribunal an important factor in strengthening the bonds of Empire. He regretted that his appointment meant farewell to his friends in New Zealand. It was with sorrow that he had to break the link of his long N association with' the Bar and of his friendship with his brother Judges, past and present. In conclusion, he had to thank members of the Bar and the profession for their long courtesy and kindness, and the press of New Zealand for the fair way in which it had done its work. Ho hoped that before he died he would have an opportunity of returning to New Zealand, and he trusted, with God's help, that he would be enabled to do his duty.