LATE MR JUSTICE ALPERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 December 1927, Page 4

LATE MR JUSTICE ALPERS

TRIBUTE' FROM NELSON BAR Before the business commenced at the Supreme Court to-day, when there was a full attendance of the Bar, reference was made to the death of Mr Justice 0. T. J. .Alpers. Air C. R. Fell, president of the Nelson branch of the Law Society, on behalf of the Bar, said this was the first occasion the}' had had to make public reference to the matter. The society had already, sent personal condolences to the widow. There was no occasion to state in public the esteem felt for his lat.e Honour or to express regret at his early death. He constantly took trie sittings at Nelson and members ot the Bar had the highest regard for him both as to his capacity as a judge and as to their personal dealings witn him. Mr Glasgow, as the oldest friend at the Nelson Bar of the late Judge, wished to emphasise one aspect of his character —and that was iiis essential kindness. As a schoolmaster, he had endeared himself so much to liis pupils that up to the time of his death he kept, up a correspondence with them m all parts of the world. He endeared himself'to; his clients, to his colleagues, and to liis staff; and gained the esteem of every counsel with whom he came 111 contact. He was essentially a strong man, and lie never showed the strength of liis character to a greater extent than during the last few months of his life in the consideration lie showed to those around him! His Honour said it was quite proper for the Nelson Bar to take the opportunity' of expressing their sorow. Speaking for nimself, he could on.y repeat what he had said in Dunedin the other day—that his death was a very great loss I to the Bench. During his* brief judicial career Tie bad gained the respect and affection l of all his colleagues, arid lie (the speaker), believed of the members of the. Bar with whom lie came in contact. His place would be hard to fill and all that they could do now was to express--their sorrow at. bis death and their sympathy with the widow and her family in the loss they had suffered.