SIR ROBERT STOUT

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1925, Page 6

SIR ROBERT STOUT

A REMARKABLE CAREER

SCHOOLMASTER TO CHIEF JUSTICE.

"Lovers of freedom, that's what, the Norse were, and they are that today. 'l*he Norwegians are the freest people in Kurope." In these words New Zealand's veteran Chief Justice, .Sir Robert .Stout, P.C., K.C.M.0., who intends to retire from that exalted position in February next, summed up his ancestors in a special interview accorded u Press representative. Almost 62 years ago, Robert Stout, a young Shetlunder of lit who was already a surveyor and a schoolmaster, first sighted "The Long White Cloud" of New Zealand, the land of his adoption, which has given him almost every office of distinction from Prime Minister to Chief Justice. "Yes, there have been many changes since I first landed at the Bluff from the Lady Milton on April 3, 1864," he remarked. "The changes are so enormous that they arc almost beyond conception."

The story of the young Shetlander, destined to hold the highest legal office New Zealand has to bestow, after guidI ing the tempestous political ship of I State as Premier and serving as a Minister of State in the Cabinet of Sir George Grey, reads almost like a romance. The Dunedin Heads were reached on the evening of April 7, 186-1. The young "dominie" then made his way to Port Chalmers, and within a few days he was given employment as master at the Grammar ; School. "Mathematics were my special charge," he continued. "I remember the weather was wet, as the footpaths were just being' formed. Dunedin was more like a quagmire. Many of the people were living in tents. What houses there were were small,and were built of brick. Gold came down by coach from the diggings, as much as 2000oz. or more on a single trip." What impressed the Shetlander wag the spirit of optimism abroad. The people were cheerful and happy, with a great belief in the future of their country. It was ten years before Sir Robert Stout saw Wellington, although he had travelled throughout the South Island. It hud immensely changed, he declared. The reclamation work had been most extensive. He landed from a boat where one of the principal hotels now stands. It was not until 1879 that he visited Auckland, but long before that the inclination of the future Prime Minister had turned in the direction of law. Towards the end of 1867 he gave up the post at the North Dunedin School. Iji July, 1871, he was admitted as a barrister by Mr Justice Chapman, father of Sir Frederick Chapman, the judge also acting as examiner. His attention, however, had been caught in the maelstrom of politics. The following year Sir Robert Stout entered the Provincial Council, and some time later was appointed Provincial Solicitor, and that office was held until the Councils were abolished in 1576. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1575, and within three years he had achieved the Attor-ney-Generalship in the Ministry of Sir George Grey. From 18S4 to 1887 he headed the famous Stout-Vogel Cabinet. •Sir Robert Stout gained his knighthood in ISB6. In 1599 the late Mr Seddon offered the Chief Justiceship to Sir Robert Stout and he accepted it. He had resigned his Wellington seat the previous year, and ever since with distinction and ability he has retained

the office. The year 1921 saw Sir Robert Stout a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

No member of the 1875 Parliament in which he first sat is now living. The Chief Justice is also the oldest member of the Executive Council. Sir George Grey, Sir Harry Atkinson, Mr John Ballanec, the Eight Hon. R. J. Seddon, Sir William Hall-Jones, Sir Thomas MacKenzie, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr W. F. Massey, names to conjure with in the past, have all played their part on the political stage during Sir Robert Stout's long association with public affairs in New Zealand. Governors have come and gone, and on more than one occasion Sir Robert has acted in that capacity. After an absence of 46 years the Chief Justice visited his native place in the Shetlands, and again in 1921 when he took his seat with the Privy Council. When he was appointed to the Bench in 1899 his colleagues were Sir Joshua Williams, Mr Justice Donniston, Sir Basset Edwards, and Mr Justice Connelly. Of these only Sir Robert Stout and Sir Basset Edwards remain. The latter has retired, of course, from the judiciary. Sir Robert is also the oldest' K.C.M.G. in the Empire. The only other survivor of the voy age of the Lady Milton is the Hon D. T. EleniiiigjME.C, who was then a child. When asked if it were not his intention to place on record his autobiography. Ihe Chief Justice smilingly replied, '' ! am too busy yet." Sir Robert Stout was born at Lerwick, Shetland islands, on September 2S, IS4I, and though thus in his eighty-second year of life continues mentally and bodiiy virile. On December 27. iS7(i, he married Anna Patersun, daughter of the late Mr John Logan, their progeny being fo'ir sons and two daughters, one of the former, .Mr Qlni Eric Stout, being a legal practitioner resident in Whanga-