THE LATE MR RUSSELL

Southland Times, Issue 17584, 20 November 1915, Page 6

THE LATE MR RUSSELL

TRIDUTICS IX COURT. Over a score of members of the legal profession met at tlie Court yesterday before the commencement of the day’s business to pay tributes to the memory of tile- late Mr 'William Russell, who practised here for so long and whose death occurred on Thursday. Mr James Harvey, the senior member of tlie local liar, said he had been requested on behalf of the profession to give expression to their feelings because of the loss sustained by tire death of Mr Russell, tie It ad Known him in bis professional rapacity intimately since IS6t’. It was ditlicul t to give expression to what, one felt when refining to the death, of a very old and esteemed friend. To know Air Russell was not only to esteem him, hut his genial kindness ami tlii'i manner in which lie had ever conducted his cases made one admire the finalities which he possessed, lie fought very hard and discharged Ills duties to the utmost of his ability on behalf of his clients, and he did so uithout creating any angry feeling in those who wore opposed to him. Mr Russell was a thoroughly trained and efficient member of the bar. He served ills full articles and had early impressed upon him the splendid traditions of the profession, as practised in Croit Rrilain. His word was his bond. Once -Mr Russell promised to do anything the wlnde profession recognised there was not the slightest chance of his going had; on what he said. -V good many years ago Air Russell unfortunately had to retire from the active practice of his profession owing to ill-health. lie iiad passed through a pretty, long and severe ill ness, and at last had left the scene of all his hard la hour, and lie had done so leaving not a single angry feeling behind on the part of any of his professional brethren, and ever so conducted himself professionally in a manner that earned the esteem of all. He knew from, actual contact with him he was ever ready, where relatives had quarrelled, to settle a dispute cheerfully out of court. This conduct reflected great credit on a professional man. Ih- kn.-w he was expressing the feelings- of the whole bar, especially the old members, when he said that their friend who had passed away was unik versally esteemed as a professiona I man who was not only of greai attainments.

console a * inu s in the disc cargo of his duties, but of a kindly and forbearing nature that endeared him to the whole profession. They regretted his departure and sympathised wit i Ins widow, 'daughters and sons in their great Joss. Mr G. (Tuiekshank, S.M.. said ho was very -pleased to hear that tribute, and. that he cordially endorsed il. He thought it; right and fitting that in that Court something should be said about the late Mr Bussell. who over half a century ago and until recent years had practised in it. It seemed rataer startling to learn that over half a century ago lie was practising there, as that was before he (Mr ('ru icksh atilt) and others present were born. it seemed quite a link with the past and on .• thing that had drawn him to Mr Bussell was that he had served his time in Auckland, and was one of the trio. .Messrs Harvey, Macdonald anil Kussell. He came here in Uif* onrlv flavs, «ind it- wiis iiit.OFOSt.iTis to him (Mr (’ruickshank) to hear lie was an Arch lander becanise lie had known four lirothcrs in that city. He first met him at Gore in connection a ith an Acclimatisation Society case, and at acclimatisation law be was a master. He then met him down here and grew to respect him—to like the man very much indeed. It was a privilege to go out to his beautiful home and talk to him surrounded by his flowers. He was a fine specimen of the professional English gentleman. He was a 1 nimble, courteous, gentlemanly, honourable and lovable in an who had nobly upheld the traditions of their profession. He fought his eases so well and seemed to play the rules of the game. lie did play the game, and never strained a point more, than was necessary. He fought as hard as possible, but always kept to the rules of the game. Then he was such a keen lover of outdoor amusements, such as fishing and floriculture and a man with, such tastes could not have a base feeling in his soul. Xow he had gone after a long^period of poor health —something like nine years he had been fighting the disease, lie understood the doctors had said he could not last more than a month or two, but in a cool, and philosophic spirit he fought with indomitable pluck, and had held out until Thursday. Now he was gone, one thing he was certair of was that they were poorer for hij loss.