SIR ROBERT STOUTS TRIBUTE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12767, 20 May 1912, Page 5

SIR ROBERT STOUTS TRIBUTE.

(Special to Herald.)'

- WELLINGTON, this day. "1 lirst remember .Mr Rees on ' his arrival from Victoria,"' remarked Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, <<> your correspondent. -Mr ' Rees had Iwen a minister of. the Congregational Church m Victoria, and had- been admitted to the Bar as a barrister there. He came to Dunedin. and was admitted there, and a very short time after his arrival he appeared iv an important case m the Magistrate's Court. He did not stop long m Dunedin. "To my recollection." said Sir Robert, "he went to Hokitika, and was there m practice for many years, and took a leading position on the West Coast. From there he went, I think, to Auckland, and subsequently to Gisborne. I knew Mr Rees m the House of Representatives. , He came into thc House m 1876, having been elected at the end of 1875. He was looked on as .an able, well-informed I maii, and took a leading part m the! debates m the House. He was personally extremely popular. ; He was member. I .-think, for Auckland East, aiid was one of the strong supporters of Sir George Grey. I, was m the House with Mr Rees -until 1878. I resigned m 1879, and ..Parliament was dissolved shortly after my resignation. 1 have been m close toujh with Mr Rees ever since, meeting him at the Bar, and then as a barrister -, m the Court. T have always admired his ability, liberalism, and his kindness of heart. * He was of Celti<*temperarwnt, and no doubt had he got- rid of idealism he would have been, a wealthy man. But he was idealistic, aiid "that, no doubt, interfered with his making money. I am sure there w r as no one who knew him m the House or came m close contact with him but. was impressed by his goodness and kindness of heart. Many things we disagreed on, but from our first to our last interview we remained friends." - ■ -

„ Touching on the incidents of Mr Rees's career. Sir Robert referred to the "Cadriian": iricidertt, which arose from Mr Rees challenging the Hon. Mr Oadman with' being mixed tip m a Native land transaction m- tlie Dannevirke district. When the matter came to be threshed out m the Court, the verdict was m favor of Mr Gadman. "No doubt Mr Rees had been informed by some people who were not friends of Mr Cadman. The bona, fides of Mr Rees," his Honor added, "were: believed m by the jury, as evidenced m the small sum they awarded." Sir Rees, he safd, had appeared, m many important cas-ss during his ■ career i notably before the Privy Council m the case against the Assets Company.