THE LATE MR. LEWIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 September 1927, Page 4

THE LATE MR. LEWIS

TRIBUTES BY LEGAL PROFESSION. Prior to the commencement of the business at the sitting of the Magistrate's Court in Hastings this morning, tributes were paid to the memory of the late Mr. T. W. Lewis, who for many years took an active part before the Bar. “He was a man who held the highest respect of the members of the profession and also of the whole town for many years,” stated Mr. H. Holderness in paying his tribute. “I have known him personally for more than 20 years and I knew him as an example of what a member of the profession should be, both in public and private life.” “The late Mr Lewis’s influence had always been fur the good and he had shown the younger members how a life should be led,” continued Mr. Holderness, who expressed regret at the loss the profession and family had sustained. “I can sincerely say that it will be a long time before we see another who has been such a credit to the public and the profession.’’ “1 desire to pay my tribute to my late friend and partner with whom 1 was associated since 1910,” stated Mr. E. V. Simpson, who until recently was in partnership with the deceased gentleman. “Mr Lewis practiced with distinction in the Native Land Court and the Native Appellate Court. His cases were always well prepared. He was a clean fighter and never attempted to win a case except.on its merits. He was always prepared to place his cards on the table. He was not only an expert Maori linguist but a Maori scholar as well. He was dignified, innately courteous, kindly and always considerate of others. He was meticulously just and unswerving truthful—in fact his corner-stones were truth and justice, and he had a remarkable faculty for holding the scales of justice evenly—even where there might have been a personal bias. He was a reserved man but nevertheless he was a public-spirited one, who took a keen interest in public affairs, although he himself was not a public man.” Mr Simpson then referred to the late Mr, I<ewis as a man of wide culture and well read. His friendships were enduring ones which testified to the esteem and affection in which he was held by all who knew him—Europeans and natives alike He maintained a very high standard of conduct both in his private and professional life, and those who knew him were the better for having known him. “He was a devoted husband and father and the loss his wife and children have sustained is indeed great.’* stated Mr. Simpson in conclusion. “I mourn the loss of a leader who had many great qualities and who wns at al! times an English gentleman.” In associating himself with the members of the Bar in their loss, His Worship, Mr. A M. Mowlem, S.M. expressed hi s regret that he had not met the deceased gentleman. “It is a great tribute for any member of the profession to say that he is all the better for having known the deceased,” stated His Worship.