WELCOME TO THE NEW MAGISTRATE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2662, 2 June 1908, Page 5

WELCOME TO THE NEW MAGISTRATE.

Prior to Mr J. S Evans, S.M., taking;{his seat on the Bench for the first time in the local Courts, Messrs L. Hotop, M. J. Gavin, and C. E. Gudgeon, Justices of the Peace, that gentleman and formally welcomed him. Mr Hotop, the senior J.P., said that he wished to extend a welcome to Mr Evans in his new capacity as Magistrate and Warden. Personally he was no stranger to them but its being his first appearance here as a Magistrate they felt that they should recognise his elevation to the Bench. The speaker said that very cordial relations had always existed between the Magistrate and Justices and from his knowledge of His Worship he had no doubt that these would continue. — Mr Gudgeon endorsed all that Mr Hotop had said and gladly joined in the welcome to His Worship. He trusted that the new Magistrate's stay in the district would be a pleasant one.—Mr Gavin said that he was pleased to join with his brother justices in extending a welcome to Mr Evans to the Bench in Queenstown. He also Jiopcd that the friendly feeling whieh had always existed between the Magistrate and J's.P. would continue. If His Worship displayed as much energy and ability as a Magistrate as he did as an advocate he would prove a worthy successor to Mr Burgess. '7 He trusted that, although they did not want to lose him, it would not be many years before His Worship was promoted to a still more important position.

His Worship said that it gave him very great pleasure indeed to be welcomed by the Justices They were not'/only Justices of the Peace'*but were representative citizens of Queenstown. He was very pleased, therefore," to have the assurance of their confidence. He said that he had accepted the position with a due sense of its responsibility, knowing that t he .was following in the footsteps of a Magis trate who had set a very high ideal before the residents of the district. They naturally would expect great things from his successor. His Worship said that nothing would be lucking on his part to carry out his duties in as worthy a manner as his predecessor. In the discharge of his duties no one would have anything to hope for or anything to fear; that he would deal out even-handed justice as far as lay in his power. It was the duty of a Magistrate to render assistance to Justices of the Peace in their capacity as such and it would be his pleasure to do so. He was satisfied that the Justices had discharged their duties in a thoroughly conscientious manner and he would afford them every assistance in the future should they require it. He had no doubt that the pleasant relations which had always existed