DEATH OF MR JUSTICE JOHNSTON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1858, 4 June 1888, Page 2

DEATH OF MR JUSTICE JOHNSTON

(per press association.) I

Wellington, June 3 Government today rccsived a cable message from the Agent-General announcing the death of Mr Justice Jobna'oi, who r recently proceeded Home for the benefit of his health. ( Wellington. Jane 4 At the Supreme Ooart this morning reference was made to the death of Hie Honor the late Judge Johnston. A fall j Bench and Bar with a number of visiting c barristers wera present. The Ohlef Juatloe ' addressing the Attorney-General said he i well knew how well the late Judge performed hla duties. He w»s possessed of great natural ability, and his loss would be deeply regretted by ihe Bench B?r and public. Sir F. WhitaKer on behalf of the New Zealand Bar B&id that thirty years ago It had been his privilege as AttorneyGeneral to welcome the late Judge to the shores of New Zealand, and to subsequently congratulate him on hla appointment aa a Judge. During thirty yoara he hid administered justice Id the broad eßt sense and bad not only aa Judge, bat also an citizen and neighbor bean highly eateemed by all, and be was a notable example to the legal profession. It was the first ocoaeJoa la New Zealand where a Judge had died a Judge, as all previous holdera of office had resigned before death. In conclusion he regretted the death of bo distinguished a Judge and trusted he would receive the reward of the just. The Court out of reepeofc adjourned till to-morrow. The following details regarding the career of the late Judge are taken from Mr Cox's " Men of Mark m New lealand " :- Alexander Jameß JohnstOD, Judge of the Supreme Ooart, was born at Aberdeen, 15th January, 1820, and eduoated at Mariachal College, aid at King's College, London, and m Paris, He took the MA. degree at Aberdeen m 1835, and entered the Honorable of Lincoln'B [nn November, 1838. Ec was admitted Special Pieader m 1841, and published a short treatise on '• hx hequer Bills" m 1812. Having been called to the Bar by the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple iv Jamriry, 1843, he went the Northern Circuit ani the West Riding (Yorkshire) Remonß from 1843 to 1858. He was Deputy Ro< order of Leeds m 1857. He also practised iv Westminister Hail and on Parliamentary Committees. Along with the Uon (now Mr Justice) G, Denmau and Mr J. X, Bulwer, he contributed the reports of the Court of Common Pleas to the " Law Journal" from 1847 to 1858 Mr Johnston was selected as Puisne Judge •£ New Z jaland, pursuant to a joint resolution of both Hour's of the General .■• ssem:>ly, and received her Majesty's wan ant m April, 1858 He arrived m New Zealand, (.'c.ober, 1858, and resided at Wellington till 1875, and since at Ohrist'.-burch, He acted as Ctnef Justice m 1867 and m 1884. Three volumes of " Reports of the Court of Appeal," 1867 to 1877. were published by him m New Zea'and ; and three editions of the " New Zealand Justice of the Peace and Coroner," 1863, 1870, and 1879 ; also, the " Practice of the Supreme Court " Mr Justice Johnston had boen member of a number of Royal Commissions ; among other ■, of the Statute Law Consolidation Commission, 1879. He tried the greater part of the Native prisoners during the wars of Te Kcoti and Titokowarn, and the M*ungutapu murderers. He has one son — A. R. Fletcher Johnston — a barrister and so icitor of the Supreme Court,