KING'S COUNSEL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13926, 11 June 1907, Page 5

KING'S COUNSEL.

ADDRESS BY MR JUSTICE COOPER,

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON Juno 10.

The Hon. Dr Findlay, Mr M. Chapman, and Mr 11. D. 8011, who have been appointed King's Counsel, took their formal oath at the Supreme Court this morning.' Mr Justice Cooper, in a few roinarke, said that tho Bar of Now Zealand had been distinguished 'or a. groat number of yean for its toning and ability, and that high sense- ot honour which waa ono of tho traditions of tho English Bar. Kio occasion was one to bo fairly termed historic. Tho fientlcmen who had just taken the oath wore threo of tho most distinguished leadcTS of t.ho profusion, and lie regretted tint Mr C. P. Skorrett, who was also held in the highest rospeot, was not present to lake the oath. Ho believed that throughout ho colony tho appointments would be received with satisfaction by members' of tho Bar, by solicitors, and by the genoral public. Tliis occasion, which brought t,ho New Zealand Bar on a level with tho Knglish Bar, marked tho attainment of a. «t;,tU6 for which this country had bcon waiting for many years. In Upper Courts Kings Counsel must have a junior with them who was not in Iheii , own office. Tho prevailing idea h:thorto has l)cen that this disability would not weigh heavily as K.C.'e could take,with thorn a junior from thoir own firm;' Judge Cooper also said, alluding to fact, that up to tho present thero had been no inner bar in New Zcnland courts, that ho sitpposod for tho future the front seats would rank ae the inner bar, and the gentlemen sworn in to-day would be entitled to occupy tJiem. ine gathering of the pTofession, with and without wigs, was the largest over eooh in the court, keen interest bcinjr taken in tho novel ceremony with ite quaint oath.