RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11059, 10 May 1899, Page 5

RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

[BY telegraph.—rr.rss ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. Chief Justice I'iikxhkruast has tendered his resignation, but has not yet received word of its acceptance. CiißisTcnnncn, Tuesday. To-day's Press says: "We learn 011 what we believe to be good authority that the Chief Justice (Sir James Prendcrgast) has sent in his resignation. If this turns out to he true the news will be received with general regret, for the colony will lose the services of a very able judge."

Our Wellington correspondent writes: — 1 Some time ago I reported that the resigna- j tion of Sir James Prendergast, tlio Chief j Justice, which was then thought to be remote, was probable. It was coupled with j the rumour that Sir Robert Stout might sue- j cced him. When Sir James Preudergast j was raised to the Bench (1865) he held the , noil-political office of Attorney-'General. In 1875 be was appointed Chief Justice. In | 1081 ho was knighted. The Hon. Mr. ! Buckley was the last Attorney-General raised | to the Bench There has grown up a feeling that the successor to the office of Chief Justice must have parsed the rank of Attorney* General. The present law authorities aro " Solicitor-General" and " Law Adviser, and there is no sign that either ot these officers is likely to be raised to the Bench. Sir Robert Stout has been Attorney-General, and there has been a general consensus of opinion that when promotion came in ordinary course he was suited to this office by his great forensic and legal talent. ihis probability was in the public mind when, t-ho lirst rumour of Sir James Prendergast's retirement wits circulated. Sir Robert is, perhaps, the most popular man in the legal profession, and the public service he rendered ; in connection with the Midland Railway Company left the Government his debtor in a sense, seeing that lie declined to receive any remuneration for his services on that occasion. Public feeling is bent in the same direction still. Whether the offer, if made to him, would be accepted is, of course, another and different consideration, but there is no doubt whatever that his appointment would be approved by every section of the people of the colony. The Hon. Sir James Preudergast, 8.A., Chief Justice of New Zealand, is the second son of the late Micliacl Preudergast, Q.C., by his marriage v/ith Caroline, sister of tho late George Dance, R.A. He was born in 1828. and educated at St. Paul's School, and at Queen's College, Cambridge, where ho graduated li.A. in 1849. He entered as a student of the Middle Temple in May, 1849, and was called to the Bar ill April, 1856. Having practised in iingland for a time as a special pleader, be emigrated to Otago, New Zealand, and was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1862. In 1865 ho was appointed to tilt office of non-political Attor-ney-General, which he held till 1875. In that year ho became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Sir James during the absence of the Governor has several times administered the government of the colony. He was created Knight Bachelor in November, 1881.