COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8057, 15 November 1906, Page 2

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

* la order to fittingly commemorate —so far as the legal profession is concerne..—the opening of the new Courthouse at Hamilton, the members of the Bar entertained His Honor District Judge Kettle and Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M., at a dinner held last evening in the Hamilton Hotel. The excellent menu provided by Host Raynes was discussed by 20 gentlemen, the only visitor outside the profession being Mr J. S. Bond, as Chief Magistrate of the Borough. Iu 'he unavaidable absence of Mr L. 0' • eill, senior member of the Bar, Mr A. Swarbrick presided. In accordance Kith the traditions relating to legil dinners, speeches were net indulged in, the only toasts honoured beiDg these of "The King and " The Bench." In proposing the latter, Mr Swarbrick sp( Ice of the cordial relations existing between judge aDd counsel: iu this district more especially, i these relations were marked with friendliness, cordiality and mutual respect, and the true foundation of that was ,in the i recognition by the legal profession that they were officers of the cmrt. i Mr Kettle, in his reply, enlarged on the benefit derived from such intercourse, away from the necessary formalities of the Court, llegarding the new building, be ' gave great credit to Mr Northcroft for his endeavours to obtain the new Courthonse, wlrch was worthy of the district, the profession and the t)wn of Hamilton. As for the judges, they had often difficult questions to decide, and barristers should bear in mind that their best efforts should be to assist in arriving at a just decision. The whole aim and objeotof our judicial system was that justice might be done; "Fiat justitia ruat ooelum" must ever be their motto, tor himself, he always welcomed criticism—fair, honest criticism, founded , on facts, not on a tissue of falsehood. Mr Northcroft expressed gratification at the arrangements of the new Courthouse, inter alia turning a very neat oompliment to the bar. He expressed the conviction that ere long sittings of the Supreme Court i would be held hers. Mr T. Y. Collins, Te Awamutu, briefly proposed the health of Mr Swarbriok, who i responded in equally brief terms, After the inner man had reoaived justice, a move was made to the smoking room where a pleasant couple of hours were i spent in looiability.