THE LATE JUDGE RICHMOND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2581, 6 August 1895, Page 2

THE LATE JUDGE RICHMOND.

EULOGY FROM BENCH AND BAR. ■ There was a very large attendance of members of the legal profession in the Supremo Court yesterday morning, when the criminal sittings opened. Ihe Bar was represented by Sir Patrick Buckley, (Attorney-General), Sir Robert Stout, Dr Findlay and Messrs H. D. Bell, E. D. Bell, Hislop (President of the Law Society), Gray. Travers, M. Richmond, Brandon, Haselden, Edwards, Chapman, 1. F. Martin, Dean, Izard, Hiudmarsh, Quick, Wilford, Andrews, Skerrett. Jellicoe, Gully (Crown Prosecutor), Kirk, G. Hutchison, Treadwell, J. P. Campbell, Hall and Morison. The scene was an impressive one when the Chief Justice entered the Court. All present rose and remained standing. Sir Patrick Buckley said he had been suddenly called upon to make a few remarks, and he could assure His Honor that it was not a mere question of. words when he said that he wished the unpleasant duty which he had to perform had been trusted to some better man. He had been under the impression that his learned friend Mr Travers was, to address the Court on this occasion. He, however, now understood that he would only do so on behalf of the local Bar. He (the speaker) felt, as most of them did, that they .had suffered. a great national calamity in-the death of His Honor’s lamented colleague Mr Justice Richmond. They who . had known him: could.only say everything that was, possible in his favour. As jurist. Judge and, scholar, he probably had no equal in the Australasian colonies. On behalf • of the Bar of New Zealand; ,he wished His Honor to convey to the sorrowing family of the late Judge the sentiments of their deepest regret for so great a loss.

Mr Travers, as senior member of the Bar in: Wellington, wished, on behalf of the members of the Bar of the Wellington provincial district, to add a few. words to what had been said by the AttorneyGeneral. He need hardly toll His Honor that one and all they felt the utmost 'sorrow- at what had occurred. Knowing as they did that Mr Justice Richmond had not. enjoyed very robust health, the circumstance that ho was attacked by the ■ disease to which he succumbed led many Of them to believe that His Honor washear that ultimate change which must come to everyone, but the fact that they had anticipated it did not , make the loss the less. To those who had had con-, stanf opportunities of practising before him his loss would be,still more, felt, for: he had brought; to, bear, as His Honor knew, great perspicacity, patience and ‘ learning l on all the questions that cams before him. : Everyone felt that although some difference of opinion might arise as between His, Honor and a particular suitor, that whatever he did was done in his .known character as: an upright Judge., :He felt personally more than many others who had . the opportunity,of, associating: with: His Honor, both publicly andprivately; because he bad known him for many, more years than perhaps anyone present in that a Court. He: remembered •him as a member of the early legislature of Now Zealand, when ho:. took an, active part in the stirring scenes which followed: the introduction;of responsible government, in this Colony,*: Although; he (the speaker) * differed, from, him in regard , to; some, of the, measures which he, as a, member of the -Go vernment; Tin ISuG, introduced iutojthe Legislature, still he felt that ,his opinion should give way, knowing the entire honesty of purpose he brought to bear: on all questions Iwhichacamei. before- him. Early .in the year lSG.l,.while ho (Mr Travers) was residing in' Christchurch,; Mr Richmond visited that district, and in .a conversation with him he mentioned how much- he ( was harassed and perplexed by the performance, of his political duties. He (Mr Travers) took it upon himself to suggest that. it. would be wiser, and more in the interest : of the public of New Zealand, that he should use his very great abilities as a lawyer by. .Ascending . ■ the .Bench,* which. he knew.at. that time he had an opportunity of doing. Ho could truthfully say that from the very moment that ho. occupied; the. position of .Judge ho ensured the reverence and esteem ’of.all‘who had had occasion to know him. 'To-‘the.-Bar of this provincial;district, his; loss would be very greatly felt. Ho was satisfied that if those who practised before •him would only study the object lesson which his life afforded they would be, of; ■enormous service; to .-them. and .those who , sought their advisp. To His Honor the Bar wished-.to convey.their condolence fop.the ■ great loss; he had sustained in the .death of a Colleague in,whom they , all felt he would repose the utmost confidence.; ,T)ie late Judge had worked fqr nearly 20 years, perhaps more. in the . inpst cordial relations which could subaist between man and man and Judge,and, Judge, . They felt, that, he had lost not merely a colleague. but a friend. . He hnd to join with the Attorney* General in askingithat the sympathy of the, • Bar of • this, provincial district should be.' conveyed.to the family of the late Judge,, who were, no doubt, plunged in dire grief by the event -which had just occurred. ~ .

The Chief Justice,, who was so overcome with emotion .that 1 his remarks were frequentlylnaudible, said that a groat' Judge and an excellent man. had ' been? taken from them. ’ To ; the, AttorrieyrGeneral ; and Mr Travers he had to. offer his sincere thanks.,, There, could: be no. doubt that Mr, Justice Richmond : was, endowed by nature with mental powers of a most extraordinary character—the . keenness, brightness ;and power of penetration, breadth, and , soundness, of. every judgment were, he believed, such ,as • were rarely bestowed upon man, He.wasa man of art, his varied; knowledge of many •.branches; of . science . all tendered , him qualified' to shine in .society and at ,tho Bar. Before he became Judge, as Mr Travers had reminded them, he had attained the’ highest, eminence as . a statesman. I , The. country, had: in ; him a lawyer trained in the best school and under the ablest, men..l .With [[.all. - these; qualifications .fie crime to' the. Bench. As, a lawyer, as a Judge, he ... ,was as emiribnt, ■ as. any man, not only in the Australasian colonies, but in the British Dominions. His mental powers not only fitted- him for [the position of Judge, but, they knew also that he had patience and unwearying, ate; ;,terition in the judicial, seat,; and extra-- . Ordinary diligence in performing, his duties when inot in the judgment seat. There was, however, one more trait in.,,his, .character ; which, was more ..admirable still. ; With [what fortitude -he had borne; the physical suffering which riature,,, eiiyibns ...of,;. her gift of his merital powers, had determined: that he should be hampered with. . But hampered, (he believed, ho was not. They all knew, that'ljb. had. neyqr .complained of physical, suffering,.,or allowed .it to overcome .the spttit with, whiofi he performed his duties. Tie, had Very feebly and very insufficiently , expressed what ho left,, and what. they all .and the public at large;felt. The,latb Judge'had,left them,an example—let them J follow'it. .. • ■ l; :

The Court v?as, then, (XQ.23 ; a.m.) adjourned until.ll a.m..out of respect to the. momory of the deceased. Judge., - The Grand, Jury yesterday •afternoon; before ,they were .discharged, through their foreman, M r G- Wilson, expressed ■ their sense of the great loss the Colony had sus-, ■tained through the death of Mr Justice Kiohmond, and ’their deep sympathy with the widow arid relatives of the deceased gentleman. ; . , , ■

V THE FUNERAL. . The funeral of the late Judge . Richmond takes place to-day. The-body will, be takon)f romjthe family resi lencein Brougham street: to; | St,. Mark’s : Church at, ,1.45 p.m. to-day, and at 2 p.m. service 'will be conducted in the church by Bishop Wallis, ■assisted by the Rev R. Coffey. The body will bo interred at the Karori Cemetery. From the house the route to the church will be by Ellice street. From the church the-route .will; be back to BUioo street, and thence -by Taranaki _ street, W o hb street, Upper Willis street and :Polhill’s Gully to Karori, The funeral arrangements are in the hands of Mr 0. J. Johnson. undertaker. The local courts and offices will bo closed to-day; from 12 o’clock. The offices of solicitors practising in the city will r bo closed from I o’clock, .

By Telegraph.—'Free/Association. , i Auckland, August 5. At tho Supreme Court this morning, MrJustice Conolly and the Bar spoke in terms of deep regret at the death of Mr Justice Richmond. Mr Theo. Cooper said the deceased, from his attainments, was fitted to, occupy a seat on the Bench of the English High Court of Justice. Mr Justice Conolly said he had not only lost an old friend and colleague, but a dear biother. Tho Hew Zealand Bench . had sustained a deep loss in Mr Justice Richmond's death. : ! Cheistchueoh, August 5. The : Christchurch Magistrate’s Court adjourned to-day as a mark of respect to tho late Mr Justice Richmond. Mr Justice Denniston has left for Weldington to attend the funeral. • ■ i . " . Dunedin, August 5. . At the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Downie Stewart, speaking, on behalf of the Bar, expressed regret at Mr Justice Richmond’s . death, and sympathy with his widow and family., Ho referred to tho great ability and justice with which the deceased had dealt with all matters. 1 -Mr Justice Williams agreed with the remarks of Mr Stewart.' The Magistrate’s Court adjourned to-day for a few' minutes as a mark of respect, and tho Supreme Court will adjourn - to-morrow during the funeral. Palmerston Noetii, August 5... The i District and, .Magistrate’s; Courts i were adjourned’ this morning out of respect to the memory of Mr Justice Rich-, mond. Judge Kettle, in adjourning- the Court, said that: as a colonist, a statesman, - an able, upright and fearless Judge, and a

cultured gontlemiin, the late Judge had at all ti'mes been held iu the greatest esteem and the greatest affection by all classes. Although his familiar kindly face would not bo seen again, ho would not bo forgotten, for he had left behind him as a monument an unsullied and stainless reputation which time could not destroy. Mr Fitzherbert, on behalf of tho Bur, said Mr Justice Richmond had been esteemed as an upright and honourable Judge who feared nothing, and whoso judgments remained as a monument among the records of tho country. Wanganui, -August 5.

The Magistrate’s Court adjourned this morning out of respect to the memory of the late Judge Richmond. Genuine expressions of regret were made both by the Magistrate (Mr Brabant) and Mr Fitzherbert (representing the local legal fraternity). From Our Own Correspondent. Mastkrton, August 5.

Tho news of the death of Mr Justine Richmond did not reach here until tho arrival of the New Zealand Times. Tho sad intelligence created a profound sensation, and scores of residents who read tho kindly references to the career of the deceased in the columns of tho Times were much affected: The opinion entertained in this district about the late Judge is that hertvasaman of honour, a-firm friend, a genial companion, l ‘‘a skilful lawyer, an adornment of the Bench and A gentleman.