FAREWELL ADDRESS TO J. N. WOOD, ESQ. R.M.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1108, 7 January 1885, Page 3

FAREWELL ADDRESS TO J. N. WOOD, ESQ . R.M.

At the close of theR.M. Oourt business on Monday last, Mr M 'Coy remarked that as that was the last occasion on which Mr Wood would preside in his official capacity on the Ltwrence bench, he, along with the other members of the legal profession in Lawrence, desired to present him the following address : — May it please your Worship,— As this ia the last sitting of the Court at which you will preside, we desire to thank your Worship for the uniform courtesy extended by you to the members of the legal profession practising here — a courtesy which has never failed ; and to assure you that the genial and kindly way in which you have always been ready to assist us with the knowledge derived from your long experience, when difficult or UDusual matters have arisen, has been warmly appreciated. Iv the business before your Worship, we have always felt that your strong common sense and practical insight would prevent any injustice happening in the name of the law— a matter which the policy of the Resident Magistrates' Act especially aims at ; while the legality of your decisions is sufficiently shown by the fact that none have been appealed against. While regretting that the regulations of the service cause your removal from this district, we hope that the surroundings in your new sphere will be in every way as pleasant as we could desire for you, and that you may have health and strength for many years to perform those duties in the carrying out of which you have already made so many friends. It remains only to most cordially wish your Worship good-speed, and to hope that you will remember us as kindly as we shall think of you. John Copland Wm. Nott Gooday F. H. M'Coy David Finlayson Alfred Crooke. Mr Wood, in reply, thanked Mr M'Coy and the other members of the legal profession in Lawrence, for the kindly tono which pervaded the address which had just been read. Although this was the last occasion on which b. 6 would preside on the bench in Lawrence, still he felt very sorry that he was obliged to take his departure. He hadalways endeavored to mete out justice to all partit s alike — be they rich or poor ; and that would ever be his constant aim and endeavor. There were occasions on which he might have appeared rather harsh in his judgment and perhaps a little hasty in temper, but these failings, to which all were more or less prone, he trusted would be overlooked. If he had spoken sharply at any time, he desired to be forgiven ; for he regretted as much as anyone his shortcomings in. this respect. His best thanks were tendered to the members of the bar for the assistance they had invariably rendered him in arriving at his decisions, and likewise for the kindness and courtesy he had always received at the hands of those practising in the Courts within the district over which he presided. His successor had his (Mr Wood's) best wishes in coming to Lawrence. He desired to thank the Press for the very fair and correct reports of the Court proceedings which had been published during his sojourn here. He would also take this opportunity of thanking the officers of the Court for the courtesy and civility they had always shown him, and concluded by again thanking the members of the local bar for their address.