CONGRATULATING MR JUSTIC

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 87

CONGRATULATING MR JUSTIC

WII>L!AK!<. IXYEErARGILL, March 3. Mr Justice Wjlhams w?= congratulated by

the Eau on the thirtieth amwcrsarj cf his service as judgo of the Suine-n.-o Court. i Mi H. A. Mactlonakl (Ciown So! it I tor) referred to the g'-eat i aspect the legsl profession entertained for Mr Justice Wi'hams, and to his maiked ability ana con ukiatiou to the Bitr. ( After Mr H. A. MacDonuLl. p'-^ident 'of the Law f-Jocietj . had congiatuLued Mr Justice William* on llie tlnrt oth anniversary of las elevation to the K'.. ch Mr T. M. MacDo:.ald i=a.id t'lat he l>aU ben asked to say a few fiords on behalf ot the lemainmg few who had had the honour to practise before his Honor from the tune v. hen he was api^ointed. Mr Jusrco Williams had in hi* high office maiiit-iiied tlie gvea^ot respect from e>ery member cf the ..•>:• of vssio.i, found a place in their affection', ui'd g-aintd the hijjhe«t fskcm 3ad rc.=poct of the community. This icmiH liad been attained not only by th" abiiny. learning, and impartiality winch had distinguished j his Hoiior's judgments and conduct of the business of tlie couct, but f<l-o by the kindness, consideration. enuauii»iiiy, and cx- ■ iremc courtesy which the- learned judg"e ! had always shown to members of tlie pro- , isssion and others coming in touch with j. him-. Tho-o on whose behalf JMr Mac- ! dona Id spoke, as well a« tbp public jjeno-r- | ally, would be delighted if his Honor was , spared for many A ear* to continue his •useful and di^tin^ui^hed ser\ ice. 1 Mr Mauiice Thomson (foreman of a j^ry trviaa: a r&so) -eulogized tne manner in m hich the learned judge had always treated ! juries, and stated that his courtesy and j consideration to everybody had become the • s-übject of general remark. The miblic had j tlie utmost eonfideree in the purity of the I New Zealand Bench, and his Honor in particular was held in very great respect. Hi's Honor, who was deeply touched, , replied .- Mr President of the Law ■ Society. Mr Mac Donald. and Mr Forci man, — I find it difficult to thank you for ! this manifestation of kindness towards me. I The whole of the profession have assisted me in my duties, and at their hands I have always found the greatert courtesy 1 and consideration. Thirty yoais c.ccn I commenced with little experience, but the profession were very kind to me. overlookingmy many shortcomings. The least I could do was +o return their kindness. I have aLo to thank the nublic and tho~e who express public opinion — the press — for the consideration they have always shown me. T myself am conscious of many defects, but I have never received anything in the uature of spiteful criticism. On the. contrary, my defect* have been overlooked. It is a great pleasure to see now before m© practising; the worthy son of a worthy father. This is not the only' instance of its kind. Many of tho^e practising are sons of men who when I started were leaders of the_ profession. I think there is a great deal in the Chinese notion that a man's good qualities are to r-e credited to his ancestors. A pprpon who does well in any walk of life -c.nnobles hi=; ancestors. I speak for myself. I know that iP I have succeeded as a nidge it is owing to my father, whose pupil I was, and whose precepts and examr>le I have endeavoured to follow.

You -have wished' rnr> a long- continuance of ray career on the Bench, and I trust that I shall re-main a« long as I am able. But someiimes a man do^s not realise that his faculties ai"o failiner. and is tenanted to lingrer on vrhen he ouerht to retire. In such case his friends should siregest that, his work is done. I hop-e my friends Tvill do po in my es.se. Accept my sincere thanks for the gr-eat and unexpected kindness that you have shown me to-day, aaid for your un'Titerm^tfid kindness throughout my judicial career.

Miss Berry. Avho has been 44- years in the Brisbane Normal School, and is over 70, retires shortly. At a meeting of former pupils, held to organise a fund for Miss Berry, it was stated that 10,000 pupils and scholars had passed through her hands. At the gathering Avere ex-pupils who had become grandmothers.