VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 969, 15 August 1868, Page 3

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

From the " Wan ganui Herald." The legal gentlemen of Wanganui, Messrs. Perham, Roberts, Caffray, Quick, Keon, and Hodge, attended to-day in the Court House, to present His Honor Judge Ward with an address, expressive of their feelings in consequence of his elevation to another sphere in another part of the colony. Mr. Perham briefly and appropriately introduced the matter, and handed to His Honor the following address : — To His Honob C. D. R. Wabd, Esq. The address of the practitioners of the District Court of Wanganui, N.Z. May it please yotjr Honoe — With mingled feelings of regret and hope, we appear before you on this occasion to make our unanimous acknowledgment of the ability and patience you have always displayed in the administration of the important branch of legal economy hitherto entrusted to you, and to express our grateful sense of the courtesy and attention we, as practitioners, experienced during the period of your Honor's discharge of the duties of the Judge of the District Court of Wanganui. We offer our respectful but cordial congratulations that it has pleased the G-o--vernor of this colony to raise you to a higher position, and we are persuaded from experience that your judicial qualities will, in that more exalted, yet not less trying sphere, be honorably and lastingly appreciated. We beg you, sir, to accept this tribute of respect and regard, with sincere wishes for your welfare and happiness — with high, hope that a brilliant and valued career lies before you. His Honor, in reply, said — I fear, unaccustomed as I am to speak on such an occasion, I shall not express the sincere gratification I feel, but I only express what I have already felt — your courtesy, kindness, and good feeling towards me. I have to acknowledge the assistance you have always given me, without which it would be difficult for us to proceed with the duties we have to fulfil. It is now 12 years since I paid my first visit to Wanganui in a judicial capacity. ' During that time I have received the good-will, kindness, and hospitality of all classes. I trust, if I should ever come to Wanganui again, as I may do in connection with, the Supreme Court, I shall find as much difference then, as I find between Wanganui of 12 years ago, and your present town, which is one of the most flourishing in the colony. His Honor again thanked the learned gentlemen for their address ; and the present and last sittings of the District Court in. Wa.nga.n,u,i wer,e ended.