IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 12

IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

PROMINENT PEOPLE OF THE PERIOD. In a recent number of “Truth,’ there arc some chatty notes concerning tlio character and career ol the late Lord Alverstone, which arc of special interest to Now Zealanders, because they tell a new story ot the jurist s concern with tlio famous Mokau ease, In the davs when Lord Alverstone was still “Dick Webster” to bis acquaintance,” sav.s the writer, be was not universally popular, and be sometimes incurred dislike. He was natiirally inclined to be cold and reserved, and in struggling against this quality lie would put on a cordiality of manner which bad an air of being forced and exposed him to the imputation of insincerity. He was not the sort of man to make intimate friendships readily, but, as always happens in those cases, a better friend nobody could wish to have. Another admirable trait in lus character was bis keen interest, in boys and young men, and his readiness to undertake any trouble for "their benefit. This was part and parcel of tho keen interest in athletics which, he kept up all hi s life. Any kind of philanthropic or social work which promised to be useful to the rising generation found m him instantly sympathy and support.

Lord Alverstono’s constancy m friendship was well illustrated 111 tlie extraordinary history of Mr Joshua Jones and tlio Mokau estate. Mr Jones,” continues tlio writer, ‘ Mas a typical ‘squatter’ and frontiersman, who came to London the owner ot 5:1,000 acres of land in New Zealand, which in a few weeks into tho possession of his solicitor. The fight which ho subsequently waged lor fifteen years—alas! in vain—to recover what ’ho bad lost, occupied at times every branch of tho Supreme Court, as well as the Bankruptcy and Central Criminal Courts. In this heroic fight, Mr Jones, a forlorn, penniless man and a complete stranger in London, found two friends. One of them was tho late Lord Alverstone; tho other was a humble newspaper. At the end of the first round in tlio fight—in which Mr Jones got into Chancery and came out hopelessly beaten—the late Lord Chief Justice was Attorney-General. He interested himself in the case, looked into tlio papers (already voluminous), and communicated officially to tlie Incorporated Law Society bis opinion that the conduct of tlio solicitor _ required their consideration. The Society were not to be moved oven by an At-torney-General. A year or two later, when Mr Jones first found bis way to “ Truth ” Office, wo took the liberty of asking Sir Richard Webster privately his opinion of tlie case. He gave it unhesitatingly. In 1900 Sir Richard became Master of the Rolls, and one of his first steps in that office was to use bis general jurisdiction over solicitors by ordering the Incorporated Law Society to liokl the inquiry which they had refused to him when lie was Attor-ney-General. The inquiry was held, anil resulted adversely to tho solicitor concerned. The success did not put Mr Jones on his legs, but it was 110 fault of the Master of tlio Rolls that it did not do so.

“ Not till many years afterwards did T learn the explanations of Lord Alverstono’s interest (n Joshua Jones, which puzzled us all at the timo. It was this: Long years before, when Jones was a. prosperous man in Australia, 110 bad most generously befriended 11 complete stranger to him who was in a serious difficulty and who happened to boa, ncjjj- relative of the late Chief Justice. W’lien lie was himself walking the streets.of London, penniless and friendless, he happened to meet that same mail. 111 this way tho story of the Mokau Estate liocame known to Lord Alvarstone, with the results above related. Mr Jones told me the facta in confidence a few years ago when lie was leaving England, but now that Mr Jones’s benefactor is dead 1 think they deserve to be The very last time I ever met Lord Alverstone ho inquired if I know what had become of Mr Jones, and showed that ho still felt an interest in him. This is a long story, but it proves the proposition that Lord Alverstone was a good man to have for a friend.”

A more general note concerning Lord Alverstone may be quoted. “He no doubt owed something at his start in life to tlie fact that his father wore silk before him,” says “Truth,” “and after lie got into Parliament lie had a good deal of luck in the falling of plums at the time when ]j.c was in a position to pick them up. To this it may bo attributed that his extraordinarily brilliant and successful career did not quite correspond to anything equally brilliant in his own intellect. It can hardly be said of him that lie was a great lawyer or a great judge. But in tho main he owed all that he gained to his own abilities and industry, and his industry was immense—especially at the timo of life when industry counts for most. He was endowed by nature with valuable aids to success at the Bar a fine voice and presence, a splendid constitution (which it is to be feared bo overtaxed) and a marvellously retentive memory; and be developed a great aptitude for the technical subjects in which ho specialised. Thus equipped, lie strode upwards through life, distancing all competitors, just as he hail done on tho ’Varsity running ground, failing ill nothing to which he set his liaiicl, and incurring no reproach. It would be difficult to find in his time a "Snoro typical specimen, of the clearheaded,’ strong-bodied, resolute, serious, God-fearing Englishman.”

A unique honour has been paid to Admiral Moresby, now in bis eighty-sixth year, in that, one Sf the latest destroyers has been named after/him. Admiral Moresby retired in 18SS. His name takes one back to events almostforgotten, for as a lieutenant, in 1853, ho was in command of the small-arm men of the Thetis in an expedition against the Indians of Vancouver Island. Ho saw service during tlio Crimean v|ar. A few years Inter he was in China waters, where he had the experience of commanding Chinese troops against tho rebels at Shanghai. Numerous piratical junks fell to his guns in river and coastal expeditions. Then ho was employed in the trouble with Japan and was promoted for his services. It was as captain of the Basilisle that he come into southern waters, where exploration and survey work, with occasional affairs with island natives, kept him busily employed. He could claim to have charted over 400 miles of coastline and 140 islands, if. was lie who mapped the New Guinea coast, and of course the principal harbour on the southern shore bears his name.