OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 126, 30 May 1928, Page 10

OBITUARY

SIR JOHN HOSKING HONOURABLE LEGAL CAREER Tho death occurred at 9 o'clock this morning at his residenco at Highland Park, Wadestown, of Sir John Hosking, X.8., who retired from tho Supreme Gourt Bench about threo years ago. He had boon in failing health for some months. Sir John Hosking has been ono of tho most useful public men in the Dominion for the last throe or four years, in that his wealth of legal, knowledge and wide experience have been brought to bear upon the serious problems that have arisen as an aftermath of tho Great War. When the difficulties contingent upon the moratorium declared at the commencement of the war had become acute, it was he who, after his retirement from tho Supremo Court Bench, was appointed by the Government, under the Mortgages Final Extension Act, 1924, to make inquiries into the adjustments between mortgagees and mortgagors, a work which involved sittings throughout the Dominion extending over several months, and led to settlements that have been^ of tremendous benefit to tho country.

Again)1 he has acted for some time past as chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board, which is still doing excellent .work in inquiring into the intricate matters arising out of claims to pensions the grounds for which have arisen out of latent disease that lias only developed since the ex-soldiers have re-' turned to their civil occupations. Apart from the valuable < service which he rendered while a member of the Bench, where he was recognised as one of the soundest and most able of our Judges, Sir John also acted with Mr. A. M'lntosh in 1913 as a Royal Commissioner to inquire into the working the Public Trust Office. Owing to his devotion to his calling, Sir John took comparatively little part in public affairs, although several movements in.1 Dunedin. owe much to his ability. Ho was entrusted with the extremely difficult task of devising and framing the novel and complicated legislation connected witli the intervention of the State in the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, and the fulfilment of the task reflected on him the greatest credit. FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AT LAW. .Born at Penzance, Cornwall, in 1554, Sir John IJosking came to New Zealand with his parents as a child, and received his'education in Auckland, where the family settled. At the ago of sixteen he was articled to the late Mr. Samuel Jackson, of Jackson and Russell, one of the early law firms of Auckland, and he was admitted to'practice as a barrister and solicitor by Mr. Justice Gillies in 1875. Shortly afterwards ho removed^ to Dunedin, where, in 1877, he became a member of the firm of Kenyori and Hosking, which was carried on until 1898. For the next ten years jjg prac: tiscd alone, after which he toofc??n Mr. John Cook as partner. In 1907 he was appointed King's Counsel, and in 1914' came liis elevation to the Supreme Court Bench, where lie sat until illhealth compelled him to consider his resignation. In 192-1 lie took a long holiday and visited England." On his return lie announced his impending retirement, but was prevailed upon to continue occupying his seat on the Su-. preme Court Bench in order to deal with applications arising out of the Mortgages Final •' Extension Act. He retired early.in 1925, and his long record of service on the Bench was recognised by the King in conferring on him the honour of Knight Bachelor in the Birthday.List of that year. THE AFFECTION OF ALL. On the occasion of his retirement from the Bench, "a striking tribute was paid him by the present Chief Justice, then Mr. G. P. Skorrett, K.C., voicing the sentiments of the legal profession of New Zealand: —"Your Honour will step down from the judgment, scat after SO years .of connection with the Bar and ten years, of service on the Bench with your robes of office unsullied; amidst the regrets of the profession, and with the respectful esteem and affection of all those who have practised' before you High as lias been the standard of the Judicial Bench, your Honour need not fear to bo measured by that standard in the minds of your contemporaries, or I believe, in "the minds of posterity,' who are the ultimate judges." .Sir John Hosking and Lady Hoslcing took a prominent part in the"affairs of the lloyal New Zealand -Soe-iot.y for the Health of Women and' Children (^hc Plunket Society) from its formation in 1907, Lady Hosking being the first president of the organisation in Dunedin. .Lady Hosking is now president of the Wellington branch. In addition to giving assistance in an advisory capacity in the framing of rules 'mid in other ways, Sir John was a regular .attendant, with Lady Hosking, at the annual meetings of the society. The late Sir John Hosking is survived by his widow, Lady Hosking (nee Miss Reader), and leaves a family of onedaughter1 (Mrs. Dundas Allan, of Sydney, Who is at present in New Zealand); and two sons (Mr. John Hosking, who is at a university in Holland, and Mr. Christopher Hosking, who is farming in Canterbury. There arc no grand children. _Tlie funeral, which will lake place at Karon Cemetery to-morrow morning, will be be preceded by a short service: at •St. Luke's Church, Wadestown.