BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 4

BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES

SIR CHARLES HERCUS Sir Charles Hercus was born in Dunedin and educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School and -Otago University. He served with the New Zealand Medical Corps in Gallipoli and Palestine during the Great War, being mentioned in despatches on five occasions and awarded the D.S.O. and 0.8. E. After the war he remained in Britain and engaged in the study of bacteriology and public health. Since his appointment to the professorial staff of the University of Otago, Sir Charles has played a notable part in the development of goitre research work, and has served on the council of the University of Otago, the Medical Research Council, the Dental Council, the Town Planning Board, and the Council of Physical Education. He, was appointed dean of the Medical School in 1937 on the retirement of Sir Lindo Ferguson. SIR HUMPHREY O’LEARY Sir Humphrey O’Leary who was appointed Chief Justice last August On the retirement of Sir Michael Myers, was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1908 and after a long career at the bar in Wellington he was appointed King’s Counsel in 1935. As a barrister he took a leading part in the councils of the Wellington District Law Society and the New Zealand Law Society. He is a past-presi-dent of the Wellington District Law Society, and was elected president of the New Zealand Law Society in 1935. He was the first Victoria College graduate to become president of the New Zealand Law Society. In 1934 Sir Humphrey O’Leary was elected by the Court of Convocation as one of the graduates’ representatives on the Victoria College Council, of which he was chairman for a long period up to the time of his retirement some months ago. For two years he was acting chairman and additional chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Boards. He was born in Blenheim in 1886, and educated at the Masterton School, Wellington College, and Victoria College. At the university he was prominent in athletics and football, being a university representative player, and in debating. He won the Plunket Medal for oratory and the Union Prize for debating in 1906, and, with Professor B. E. Murphy, was the winner of the Joynt Stroll in 1907.