WELCOME TO MR JUSTICE PENNEFATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 8

WELCOME TO MR JUSTICE PENNEFATHER.

A very large number of members of the Dunedin Bar meb in fche Chambers room of "the Supreme Oourfc on Friday morning for fchs parpcse\>f welcomicg ht« Honor Mr-Juejiice Penne»

father, who.hss been recently appointed a judge -of the Supreme Court, and whojs fco preside over the Ofcago district during thSTabsence of his Honor Mr Justice Williaras.' The members of the legal profession prcsenfc were : — Miss Bacjsmiu, the Hon. J. isl&egregor, Messrs J. M. Gfallaway (president of fche La*? Society). P. Dancan. W. J. Riddel?, A-. S. Adams, T. K. Sttey, J. White, J. R. r Xho>u>.ou, G. Payne, G. ; R. Chapman, 11. Webb, S. Solomon. W. A. i StEo, F. Culver!-, A. J. Park, DAm- Haggitfc, [ S. Brent, J. P. S£. Fraser, J. A. BMop, C C. 1 Finch, J. R. Sinclair, C. M. Mouit, W. C. MacGregor, P. R Chapman, J. P. Stilling, J. G. L. Hewifc, W. Alias, J. H. Hoskmg, D. Cooke, A. Browne-Dorie, J A. Cook, A. James, P. Z, Moore, P. B. O'Reilly, J. P. Woodhouse, A. C. Haulon. J. KouKt, and Gr. A. King. Mr Qallawat s&id : May ife ph;a?e your Honor, — As president for fche year of fche Otago Law Society, the pleasing d:ifey devolves upon me, on behalf of the profession, to congratulate you upen your appointm-nfc, aud to bid you welcome to your new duties. Ifc i 3 important; in the interests of justice, and it is essential so f&r as relates to fcbe dignity and decorum of its administration tha'j a cordial feeling should exist between the bench and bar. Tfae high respect in which hiii Honor Mr Justice Williams is held by the profession has made ifc an e*sy task to preserve such relations in tbis diafcricfc,

and we feel satisfied thafc during you term of; office thsy will continue. We g.'fcdly assure you thafc no effaifc will be wanting on our parb to assiafc you in tbe performance of your imporfcaisfc duties. You may rely upon ouc loyal support, and we sincerely heps and believe fchafc at its termination you will be ab!e to look back upon yoarresidence in Dunedin with pride and pleasure.

His Honor Mr Justice Feknepather, in reply, »a3d : Mr President; — I thsok you very sincerely for tb<r cordial wertts of welcome witih which you, hi fcbo usme of bus 3&? in Dunedin, have gz-eettd mo on ray sti rival. Ido nofc feel taafc I come here entirely a sfcrasger,, because I hav«i been 14- years a member of the Bar of New Zealand, and one of tho happiest periods 10 Kit somewhat varied life has been fche period dur'mg which I was in practice in Wellington. [ I gfcava many old and valued fvieuds, not only j in this ciby, bufc in ofc&ej; parts of Ot«igo s with f whojrt I have si-enfc uciany a&ppy day* oa fche OCC&UO&8 of various visits, heie. I ne&d aoi; say that I feel very de&ply the responsibilities of fche ofSee I have taken, especially when I re* member the ability atd learning of fche Judge whose position I ara for a ahorfc tiuift to occupy. It will help me very luush in fche catEyiug oufc of my duties in knowing th&fc I have the hearty co-oper&fctou of bj brethren ia the profession. I cmi "«aly %%y 1 witi do asy b&tt, lot "'Tis iiofc for him to boast who pufcteth harness on ; bufe him who tstkefch ib off " ; acd I hope we will part good friends wfceu fche time for so doing comes. His Honor was then introduced fco the membars of fche profession present.

Thtsre were nix bankruptcies in the colony last week — a storekeeper, » labourer, % tinsmith, a clerk," a horse trainer, aad a painier.