DEATH OF MR JUSTICE RICHMOND.

Evening Star, Issue 9776, 5 August 1895, Page 2

DEATH OF MR JUSTICE RICHMOND.

WELLINGTON, August 4. Mr Justice Richmond died at his residence at six o’clock last evening from pneumonia and inflammation of the lungs supervening on influensa, at the age 'of seventy-four years. He attehdfed the sitting of the AppeUlColirt oh Saturday, 27th July, but has since been confined to the bouse. His death was rather unexpected. The Hon. Christopher William Richmond, puisne judge, New Zealand, eldest son of the late Christopher R. Richmond, of the Middle Temple, was born in London in 1821, and entered as a student at the Middle Temple in January, 1844, beingi&Ued to the Bar in January, 1847. After practising in England, Judge Richmond emigrated to New Zealand In 1853, and was appointed Provincial Solicitor for Taranaki, becoming a member of the House of . Repreasutalivea two years later. In June, 1858’he joined the first Stafford Ministry; and between that date and July, 1861, When the Government broke up, was constantly being shifted from position to position in the Cabinet, being first Colonial Sesretary, then Colonial Treasurer, then Minister of Native Affairs, then Commissioner of Customs, then a member of the Executive Council without portfolio, then again Colonial Treasurer, and finally Commissioner of Customs for the second time. Having led the Opposition to the succeeding Fox Ministry for a single session, Judge Richmond retired from political life, and resumed the practice of his profession, being appointed a puisne judge in October, 1882. As a Minister Mr Richmond had but scant sympathy with the intricacies of Maori territorial rights, his constant aim being to convert them into English freeholds. He also abetted and encouraged Governor Browne’s policy in the ill-fated purchase of the Waitara block, which drove the Maoris into war in 1860. Menuell’s ‘ Dictionary of Australasian Biography.

A number of gentlemen connected with the legal profession in Dunedin assembled in the Supreme Court this morning at eleven o’clock to express to the Court their regret at the demise of Mr Justice Richmond and the sympathy they felt tor his wife and family in their bereavement. There were present the Hon. W. Dov’nie Stewart, M.L.C., Messrs B. C. Haggitt, W. M. Hodgkins, H. Turton, D’Aroy Haggitt, S. Brent, A. Holmes, J. White, J. R. Sinclair, J. H. Hosking, J. F. M. Fraser, P. Duncan, W. A. Sira, H, Webb, J. Mi Gallaway, J. F. Woodhouse, J. A. D. Adams, W, C. Macgregor, J. A. Cook, J. Wood* S. Solomon, J. R. Thornton, A. C. Hanlon, W. D. Milr?i W. Bahnatyne, A. James, F. J. Stilling, D. M. Findlay, J. Wilkinsoli, and A. J. Park. Mr E. H..Carew, S.M., was also present. After His Honor Mr Justice Williams bad taken bis seat on the bench, the members of the Bar rose, and , The Hon. W. Downie Stewart addressed His Honor as follows :—May it please your Honor, as president of the Otago Law Society it is my painful duty, on behalf of the Bar of this part of the colony, to make reference to the great loss which the public, the Bar, and especially the Bench, have sustained through the lamented death of Mr Justice Richmond. It is now nearly thirtythree years since he was elevated to the Bench, and during this long period his profound scholarship, his wide and extensive knowledge of the law in all its branches, his great ability, and his-marvellous industry have been at the service of the Bar and t’e public. His high, and, indeed, I may aud his unrivalled, intellectual endowments ard his unswerving integrity as a judge have earned for him the reverence and sincere admiration of the Bar throughout the colony. Justice has been administered by him in the highest aud broadest sense of the term. Filled with the loftiest traditions of his profession, it is not too much to say that he would have adorned the Supreme Court Bench in England as well as that of any other part of Her Majesty’s dominions. Possessed as he was of a high sense of honor, he exemplified, in his private character a high standard of morality. We deeply deplore his loss, and desire to condole with his widow and family in their sad bereavement. I may add, your Honor, that Mr George Cook, who is the senior member of the Bar, and who was a very intimate friend of the late Mr Justice Richmond, is unable to be present this morning, otherwise I am sure he would have given utterance to his feelings on this occasion.

His Honor replied as follows:—-Mr Stewart and gentlemen of the Bar, it ivery fitting that the members of the profession should join with the Bench in expressing their deep regret at the loss which the country has sustained by the death of Mr Justice Richmond. As to his merits as a judge, it is more becoming, perhaps, th-,t the profession and the public should exprc an opinion on them than that I mys' It should. I can, however, speak from intimate personal knowledge of the merits of the late Mr Justice Richmond as a man. Such a striking personality, such an original mind, such a vigorous and lucid intellect, are indeed seldom to be met with. He was, as Mr Stewart has just said, a judge for a period extending over a generation of men. During the whole of that time he was weak in health and harassed by a painful disease; but, notwithstanding that, he displayed unfailing devotion to duty, and never allowed his pain or weakness to interfere with the proper performance of bis duties. The colony and the profession may well mourn his loss. As for myself, I have lost one who for more than twenty years has been a loyal and most helpful colleague, one who has been a sincere friend, one whom to know was to love and to reverence. It may not be given to all of us to attain to his intellectual level, but at least every one of us can endeavor to follow that path of duly in which during a long life he walked with no halting step, and from which he never deviated. It is fitting, gentlemen, that some mark of respect should be paid to his memory by some adjourumept of the Court. He, I am sure, would have wished that any mark of so paid should be done in such a way as to interfere as little as possible with the public business. I propose, therefore, that on the afternoon of his funeral, which I suppose will be to-morrow, not to sit. As for sitting to-day, if the parties are ready, and if there is any necessity for it, I see no objection to continue the sitting. lam very glad to see such a large muster of the Bar present to-day to pay respect to Mr Justice Richmond's memory.

(Feb United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 5.

When the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court opened this morning there was a very large attendance of the local Bar and the public. When the Chief Justice ascended the bench he remained standing, as did all present, while The Attorney-General made a brief reference to the death of Judge Richmond. Sir Patrick said that the colony had suffered a great national loss, and as a jurist, gentleman, and scholar the dead judge had probably no equal in any of the Australasian colonies. On behalf of the Bar of New Zealand he asked His Honor to convey to the late Judge Richmond’s family their deepest regret for so great a loss. Mr Travers, speaking on behalf of the Bar of the provincial district, referred to the brilliant qualities of the deceased, both as a judge and statesman. His loss would be very greatly felt, especially in Wellington, and it was to be hoped that the objectlesson he gave during bis life would be carefully studied and followed.* He asked that the sympathy of the local Bar should be conveyed to the sorrowing family. The Chief Justice also spoke, but wan so overcome by emotion that it was very difficult to hear his remarks. He said there was no doubt that ids late colleague was endowed by Nature with abilities of a most extraordinary character. He was preeminent as a lawyer and judge in the Australasian colonies, and probably as eminent as any lawyer or judge in the British dominions. His Honor referred 'to the soundness and uprightness of his judgments, his efforts on behalf of literature, art, and science, and to the eminence he had- attained as a statesman. A noteworthy trait of his character was the fortitude with which ho had borne his physical Bufferings; he bad never allowed these to interfere with his duty. The Court adjourned till eleven o’clock to-morrow as a mark of respect,

Ofrfc PifciiiiffetfiATfttftioiß.] WELLINGTON, Atouw 5. . "Speculation iaalreadyrife neto who will be HM late Mr Justice Richmond's soepw* nor. The matter 1 will not-he ob&sidered D# tbeGabiaet till after thh ftineral, bat I thhu tttft be surprised if bet *gffs ihide to Mr B. C/> Haggitt, the CroWfi Srosecutor at Dunedin, in-that ease Mr ustice Williams may be asked to-taka charge of the Wellington district. Tfaeri is little likelihood of either Judge Ward or Mr W. B. Edwards being apnunted/' Both branches of the Legislature art certain to adjourn to-morrow afternoon on the occasion of Judge Richmond’s funeral.

The Magistrate’s Court adjourned for • brief space this morning to allow Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., to attend the Supreme Chart! where a number of members of the legal profession assembled to express their regret at the death of Mr Justice Richmond.