FAITHFUL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1983, 13 February 1914, Page 8

FAITHFUL SERVICE.

WORK OF THE COURT. HONOURING MR. A. H, HOLMES. Quite a largo gathering of the members of the Wellington legal profession assembled at fcfct Magistrate's Court, yesterday ninrinug to say farewell to Mr. A. H. Holmes, who has for-many years been Clerk of■ the Court in Wellington, and who lias now been promoted to the position of Registrar of the Supreme Court at Christchmeh. Mr. 0. P. Skerrett, K.C., speaking on behalf of the. barristers and solicitors of Wellington,, remarked that while they were loth , to lose Mr. Holmes they rejoiced in his promotion. Mr. llo.lm.es possessed those qualities of iflipartialitvj even temperament, and judgment which would, 'not ill-become a seat on the Judicial Bench. Ho-(tho speaker) had known andkept in touch with Mr. Holmes for 'thirty-four years, a.'id daring that lime he had discharged many offices. They wished Mr, and Mrs. Holmes good luck, long life, and happiness. ' (.Applause!) Mj\ Sfcerrett then handed Mr. Holmes a purse, of sovereigns, as a tangible marl; of the esteem, in which he was held by the legal profession . hwc. Mr, T, M. Wilford, M.P., in endorsing tho remarks of Mr. Skerrott, 'summed up Mr. Holmes 1 as a vado meeum for all justices, and a walking encyclopedia for every member of the. Bar.' Mr, lliddcll, S.M., said that ho .was glad,'-indeed, that Mr. Holmes had feceivid promotion. Ho was in the nature, of an. export- in Court procedure, and by his industry and p.pplieatiou.wa.s invii lira bio to - the Court, and of great assistance to litigants. ' ' M-f. ; Bishop, 'S.M., of Clinstchufeh, stated that Mr. Holmes vas.'tne" latest Clerk'of Court who had ever 'served under '-him'. ' Siipfsrthfen-'J<?nt Ellisou, on behalf of the Police Fordo, said they irere all losing a friend "in losing Mr. Hohiics. glad, indeed,. that Mr. Holmes had bi>e'n > ho tyas never too bitsy to give a hearing to a«y meniW'of tho j'oltce Force, aM lie did so in tho most pleasing .and ldmlfy manner possible. His advtco was aKvsM free, for nnv -officer who desired it, and tho friendship frit for him would bo long retained. Ho had maintained his position i;r * most honourable and upright manner. ; In reply. Mr. Holmes said that lie felt It difficult to express his souse, of tho honour which , .' they , had' done lutn. Ho had always endeavoured to reegguiso that he frasajLJublic servant, and that it was his'■ bovindeit <iuiv to yvo- las best services: to'--the public. witfout expectatipu, of; Toward.' The. duties'of'a Qlork of :tho ! Court, in a plaee like Wellington, were multitudinous, and very stTsnvious :rt times, but, at a.ll tiiiiesi'ho liad tried'to do his very best. Ho- i'olt it a great wrench, after 34 years, to have to leave the . present branch*of procedure,, and-, go tb.oiie which was niglier, ; perhaps,' and more reopoiJ-stblo. During tho past ten .years he had taken an active part in iu'itiatinc: sovjtal improvenif-nts in the pro* ccdufe. In 1895 tho first, tiling flat mme under his notice fras the Ftigitivo OffottdCTs Act. Mo had t-iio. honour to. bo asked to tindortito the eoinpjling ef j a set of forms so as U> hnvo a utiiroreal pTOeedu.-B for Now Zealand. Hs did so, and thougli on ono or two occasions the fopriis had boon attacked, ncver'theiesp he svar, pleased to sa,v that those who bad attacked them had repelled tho bombardment. In "1906 he had be<?ii instrumental in savin? time bv having the cvide.nco in indictable cases taken down*,4),v. the typewriter. This had enabled the work of the Court t« be ospeditjoasly earned out. In 1907 h» had beeft entrusted with the task of reorganising ife accounts of fines' and costs, and'after investigating the. Matter, presented a report, and tlie l.hola system was Teofga.Bised. , This ■system Jmd been *well spoken of by the auditing inspectors. Another innovation which ho had been able to start was in connection with the crimes returns. He had suggested the eaftj system, and had worked it out, so that now returns wero CNpejiitiqusly handled and tho figures published every three months, instead of an-uiially, as in the past. In consequence of .the Consolidation of the Statutes in 1908, and the, Amendment Act in. IPO9, .ho had revised the Magistrate's poUrt rules, aii'd thus effected a further saving of time. Ho liad, how* wer, been fortunate in always having associated with him a gooL* loyal band* of officials.