FORMAL FAREWELL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13867, 1 April 1909, Page 2

FORMAL FAREWELL.

; ; --; TO MR C! A. WRAY, S.M. - •Mr Charles. Allen Wray, who for the past twenty years has been.Stipendiary Magistrate, Coroner, and chairman of Licehsihg Committees at Timaru and neighbouring centres, having baen placed oil the retired list according to law, yesterday held his final sitting as Magistrate at Timaru, and Justices of the 'fence and members of the legal profession assembled at the hearing to bid Air Wray farewell at its close. There were present the following Justices of the Peace:—Messrs M. A\ bite, M. J. Gray, D. Stuart, F. Smith, J. P. iS'ewinau, li. H. Bowie, P. C. Thoreau, W. M. Howe, W. H. Williams, J. Sealey, F. Palliser, and apologies were made for Messrs J. Jackson, AV. Evaiis and J. Craigie. The solicitors present were Messrs J. W. -White, Cl T. Hi Perry, AI.'J. Knubley, J. Hay, . S.' G. Raymond, S. F. Smithson, F. J. Rolleston, AV. Shaw, J. Emslie, and W. Miller. The business of the Court having been disposed of, , Mr J. W. White, Crown Prosecutor, and senior member of the Bar of Timaru, made a farewell address to Mr Wray • on behalf of the Bar, as follows: —As it is known that owing to the Civil Servants Act and Regulations you are retiring from the.Bench, and that this will be the last day on which you will preside in this Court, the niembers of the legal profession in South Canterbury here present have deputed me to represent them and others who are unavoidably absent and, to address to you a few farewell words. 'For .about twenty years you have presided here with dignity, ability, and courtesy; you have been equally courteous to the latest juniors as to the seniors of the Bar, and have earned our grea£ respect and esteem. We feel'assured that the manner in which you have discharged the onerous and responsible duties appertaining to your important office carses all members of the community to unite with us-in giving expression to the liigh estimation in which you are held:"" No doubt at times suitors and counsel, especially when unsuccessful, have thought you erred, but subsequent consideration has in many instances satisfied them that your decisions were correct. As showing ,that your judgments were generally right, it is sufficient "to say that in all these years comparatively-very few. have been challenged by appeal, and when appealed from, your judgments have generally been upheld. Accused persons on coming into Court arid finding you on the Bench knew that they would obtain a careful hearing and that even if convicted they would receive justice tempered with mercy. As Stipendiary [Magistrate presiding for many years over the Licensing Committee in this district,' you. have' always acted impartially between all. parties interested in the liquor question, and Jiave obtained their full approval. It is indeed with sincere regret that after an experience of twenty years of your unfailing courtesy and ability, we are now to lose we one and all earnestly hope that the future may have health, strength, happiness and prosperity in store for you and that your years may be many and happy. (Applause.) Mr At. J. Knubley, as representative of the South Canterbury Law Society, added a few remarks to those in which Mr White had so well expressed the sentiments entertained by members of the Society towards the Bench. As their representative he had often had to put before Mr AVray matters .concerning the welfare of the members of the Society, and had always been met with urbanity and courtesy, and as far as was consistent with his duty to the Government, Mr AA'ray had done" all that he could to make the lot of the practising barristers as light as possible. They all hoped that he would long live to enjoy the rest he had so well earned. . Sub-inspector Green, . for the police force of the district, thanked Mr Wray for his and consideration. Personally he had had his duties in conducting cases before the Court-made pleasant, ar.d while regretting that they were to be deprived of his services, they wished M.r AVray many years of comfort and happiness. Mr M. AVhite, for the Justices of the Peace and members of the Timaru Licensing Committee, expressed their extreme regret at Air AA'ray\s retirement from the position he had held for so many <-ears with conspicuous courtesy and ability. They wished him long life, health and happiness in his retirement. Mr AVhite apologised for Mr Jackson and Mr Evans,, and.read a letter from the latter, regretting his unavoidable absence in Christchurcii, as he would have had great pleasure in being present at the farewell to a gentleman of the old school, and a conscientious and painstaking Magistrate. Mr LV,Stuart, seconding the remarks of Mr AVhite, spoke of the assistance Air AA'ray had given to the Justices and of his care, as chairman of the Licensing Committee, in the selection of persons to be given licenses, and in seeing that the hotels were well furnished and adequate accommodation provided for the travelling public. Air J. Sealey followed, with appreciative remarks on j\lr AA'ray's services as chairman of the Ashburton Licensing Committee,- and as Alagistrate for that district. ~' - Air .Wray, in reply to the addresses, said that as he.looked round on those fajniliar'walls, knowing that it was the last tinie he would occupy the seat on that bench, and looking round upon so many familiar faces, and listening to the "kind remarks that had been made, he felt that after all his retirement was not much of a frost, the warmth of their farewell compensated him for the stern fact that the time had arrived when he bad to vacate his office. Regarding the kind remarks of Air AA 7 hite and Air Knubley on behalf of the Bar, he could only say that although they had praised him far beyond his deserts, he attached the very greatest value to such expressions' of their good opinion. He felt those remarks very much indeed. He had owed a great deal to the legal profession. Ever since he arrived in Timaru, twenty-one years.ago, they had always treated him with the greatest consideration, had always been ready to assist him in every way, and if he had made any successes, these had been in a great measure due to the assistance he had received at their hands. He had always been proud of the legal profession in Timaru, knowing that so far from encouraging litigation they had whenever possible brought parties together and settled cases out of Court, avoiding the wrangling of a public hearing, and saving the pockets of litigants—often to the detriment of their own pockets. There had been no " re/grettable incidents" between Bench and Bar, and if ever warm words had been said they had left no lasting irritation. He owed the members of the profession the most cordial feelings, of respect and gratitude for the way they had treated him. AA'itb regard to what had been said about tlie way ho had done his duty, he had done bis best to bring to its performance a good heart and' an honest mind, without which the possession of mere ability could be of no real service He valued highly the good opinion of his fellow Alagistrates; he thanked them for their great courtesy and' kindii"jw. and he rejoiced in the fact that"' their relations had always been marked by good feeling. Front the police lie had always received courtesy and assistance, and be had made it his duty to support them. Timaru, bo considered, had always been well served by the

police, and he was pleased that they reciprocated his feeling towards them. Mr Wray added a few words regarding his debt to their veteran reporter for the care that had been taken in publishing liis decisions. In conclusion he said he was giving up his dirties with great regret. He hoped however to remain in Timaru, for a time at all events, and he hoped to be able to employ his leisure in some use hi I way—in some of those ways which a Magistrate was precluded from. He had always been happy in Timaru. The last twenty-one years of his life had been spent amongst a most generous community, one that had always been very free from crime, as had often been remarked by Judges,, comparing Timaru with other parts of New Zealand. And there was very little litigation, which had rendered his own labours nruch easier. That was due no doubt to the district having been long settled, the people knew each other, and they were not of a quarrelsome disposition. It was a prosperous community too, and there were many of its members willing to give up their time to the service of the public on the local 'governing bodies; and with the splendid land around Timaru, capable of supporting a l ar e e population ln peace.and plenty, he looked forward to a great future for the district, and he hoped that all present would share in thnt prosperity. Mr Wray shook hands with all present, and a most decorous gathering (as suited the onickly separated. Mr Wray was followed to liis room bv Mr Taylor and other Court officials, Sub-inspector Green, and one or two other members of the police force, and on hMialf of .the Court officers and police of Timaru, Temuka, Gerak I dine. and Fairlie, Mr Taylor presented to Mr AVray, as a token of esteem and regard, a gold-mounted umbrella. A rroTd band round the handle bears an inscription: " Presented to ..Captain Wrnv, S.M.. on his retirement, bv the Court Officials and Police, 31-3-lfW Mr Wray thanked the donors for the;*useful memento, and said the good will and good wishes it betokened would"" he a p-ood set-off to the bad w»ather in which he might have to use it.