LATE MR JUSTICE ALPERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 301, 22 November 1927, Page 7

LATE MR JUSTICE ALPERS.

A BRILLIANT CAREER

Tlio late Mr Justice Alpers, whose death occurred at his Wellington residence yesterday, landed with his parents from Denmark at Napier at the aee of 10, and could not then speak English, but such was his brilliant capacity that before he was actually 13 years of age he had not only mastered the language, but had qualified as a pupil teacher in a Napier school. In 1884 he went to Christchurch and entered Canterbury College on a scholarship. There lie was fortunate in attracting the attention of Professor J. Macmillan Brown, who occupied tho chair of English, and who recommended the brilliant young Danish student to do coaching work in order to have funds to complete Iris education. He graduated B.A. in 1887, and took the John Tinline scholarship in English literature. In the following year he took his M.A. degree with first-class honours in Latin and English literature Soon afterwards he was appointed assistant lecturer in English to Professor Macmillan Brown, and on the visit of the latter to England and Europe, in 1893, Mr Alpers cook the chair as his locum tenens.

Wlien Professor Brown returned from Europe, Mr Alpers, in 1893, accepted a post as assistant master of tho staff of tho Christchurch Boys’ High School. He was an inspiring teacher of English, with the nicest sense of all tho beauties of English language and literature, and he had the rare capacity for awakening in very many of the. boys he taught an appreciation of them During the eleven years ho was at the Boys’ High School he was active as a journalist and author. In 1900 Mr Alpers wrote tho jubilee ode which, set to music by Mr M. Barnett, was sung at the opening of the Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition in November of that year. Subsequently it was sung twice in the Opera House, Wellington, under the baton of Mr Barnett.

The law lrad exercised an appeal for Mr Alpers during his mastership at tho Christchurch Boys’ High School. Ho attended lectures by Mr G. T. Weston, lecturer in law and jurisprudence at Canterbury College. In 1904 he qualified for the LL.B. degree, although he did not actually take Iris diploma until a few years ago, when, as a grey-haired barrister, ho went up with graduates of a much younger generation and received it at the hjnds of Professor Macmillan Brown, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand. Ho was admitted to the Bar by the lato Sir John Denniston in 1904. He first practised in Timaru in partnership with Mr J. W. White, Crown Prosecutor. In 1907 he returned to Christchurch and practised as a partner with a former pupil, Mr A. S. Nicholls. In 1910 lie and Mr Nicholls joined the firm of Garrick, Cowlishaw and Fisher, Mr Alpers taking the place of Mr J. B. Fisher. In Christchurch he achieved a notable reputation as a barrister in the Supreme Court at the criminal and civil sessions. During tho war period Mr Justice Alpers took a very prominent and enthusiastic part in recruiting and war fund activities in Canterbury. He edited tho Red Cross Record, was the primo mover in the Christchurch Soldiers’ Club movement, and chairman of the committee, which erected the fine buildings for the returned soldiers in that city. In recognition of his services he was made a life member- of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and it was at the special request of members that he delivered the principal oration at the 1925 Anzac Day memorial service in Christchurch. The crowning of his career came on February 7, 1925, when the Prime Minister announced, the appointment of Mr Alpers to the Supreme Court Bench to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Justice Hosking. His health began to fail about eighteen months ago. bui> in spite of serious illness be continued his judicial duties until a few months ago. Ho last sat as a judge on August 3. when he admitted Mr F. H. B. Nixon, his associate, as a barrister. Mr Justice Alpers married in 1911 a daughter of the late Mr Henry Rose, of Dunedin, who is left with two sons and a daughter. TRIBUTE FROM LEGAL PROFESSION. Per Press Association. CHRISCHURCH, Nov. 22. Members of the legal profession gathered at the Supreme Court this morning and paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the late Mu Justice Alpers. Mr Justice Adams said: “I was impressed with his charming personality, his great ability and bis wonderful versatility. Ho was la man of great industry.” “A CULTURED GENTLEMAN.” Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Nov. 22. Prior to the commencement of the Supreme Court business reference was made to the death of Mr Justice Alpers by the president of the Law Society, who said that the late judge was a cultured gentleman, charming and delightful and highly esteemed. Sir William Sim said that the Bench had suffered a serious loss. In his brief judicial career Mr Justice Alpers had gained the respect and affection of all his colleagues on the Bench.