ILLUSTRIOUS JUDGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2684, 2 February 1916, Page 7

ILLUSTRIOUS JUDGE

LATE SIR. JOSHUA WILLIAMS TRIBUTES TO HIS MEMORY FROM". BENCH AND BAR

A tribute, to tho meinorv of the late Right Hon.. Sir Joshua Williams, P. 0., was paid by judges of tho Court of Appeal and. - members of tho Bar in Wellington yesterday. When tho Court assembled at 10.80 a.m., tho bench was occupied by Their Honours tho Chief Justico (Sir' Itobort Stout), Sir. Justice Edwards, Mr. Justioe Cooper, and Mr. Justico Chapman. Among those present in tho body, of tho court were: Tho Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. Herdman), the Solicitor-General (Mr. J. W. Salmond, E.G.), Sir John Findlay, E.G., Mr. 0.. P. Skerrott, K.C., Mr. A. Gray, K.O. Mr. W. G. Eiddoll, S.M., Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., and a. great many other members of tho legal'fraternity.

Attorney-General's Remarks. Addressing their Honours, the Attor-ney-General said: "The gontlemen. of the Bar'havo considered it to be fitting that they should ■ attend Court this morning to pay a respectful tribute to the memory of Sir Joshua Williams, and to express their sincere sympathy with Lady Williams and the' other members of tho'Judge's family in their sorrow. It has fallen to the lot of few men who have, lived in Now Zealand to tho l'espeot, t.he confidence, and tno esteem of their fellow-citizens to the degree that the late Judge Williams did. Some respected him because of Jiis wide knowledge of the law and his hieli intellectual gifts. Others esteemed him bccause he invariably performed the duties pertaining to his high office with dignity and witlr courtesy. Others, ngain, who bad the good fortune to know him intimately, and who recognised.his simplicity of character and the kindness of liis hoart, regarded him with feolings of affection. But all— the highest and tho humblest in the land—were prepared to do him honour oecausa years of devoted service to his Sovereign and to his country had proved him to be a. just and upright Judge, a high-principled English gentleman, pud a distinguished citizen of the Empire..

''What He Did is Imperishable." JiO.JautJClliii. 01 cilb VvUiiLtuinuj' WUS his great worcli becter uiKiersctoui tuuu PX v,to -nicinuurs or tlio jNeiv ]bar. VYiun h'nu we were m.a seuso Jtmow-worliors in tue same vineyard.■lie a-is one or l-iio mustwt;, wo* renuenng a wurOi iMiwbio service. Wo were togiMiuef .-pastfe «t a great insatufaon .wjiici generations oi wise men nave giuuumjy bum upjor tho purpose ol ueiermuiing wnetuer a 'citizen possesses a ngiic, vjuetuor he is entitled to have tWi» right eniorcea, or whether he who Ims aone a: wrong -co another or to the community-' should suiter punishments. iV.e saw uim at work; wo worised with him j wo anew the worth oi his work, and we were Specially able to •pronounce judgment upon it. What lio did m Ins long olhcial iiro to maintain the dignity ami! independent® of the Bench and to help to' build up its high reputation, is imperishable. Wo who represent the Ba.r of Now Zealand especially mourn bis loss, for v/e had in him a great example. , - . .

"j-'iio descendant of an eminent lawyer, he was steeped in the law and gripped its principles with > a, master miira, and througn his judicial deliverances and by. his general attitude as a Judge lie made us understand that the administration of justice by a Judge and the practice of the law by a barrister were indeed great callings, and that it was the special and- peculiar function of Judges on the Bench and barristers at the Bar to see that all citizens, no matter what their station in light might be, should_ receive equal treatment, and that the liherty of the public was proparly safeguarded.

".Ha. was Beloved." "So high was our opinion of the worth •-of the judge's services that when two years ago His Majesty tne iiing was pleased to acknowledge the value of his .worJt.t© the Ifimpire by inviting him to take his place in a tribunal which■ by reason of the variety and ivoigiit of the matters which come before it, and' because of the world-wide character of its jurisdiction is perhaps the most remark- ; able and unique judicial institution that the world has ever seen, we with unanimous voice declared that the honour had indeed fallen upon shoulders well •worthy to hear it. It seems a misfortune that work for w*hich ho was so eminently - suited and which he enjoyed so well ivas so speedily terminated.. - "A great' Judfee is dead. It is with infinite regret that-we realise that wo shall never hear his voice again, that we never again loolt upon his well-known features, that we shall never again listen to words of wisdom falling from liis lips, to his gentle wit or to his clear as crystal judgments.; But wo shall never forget him. He will 'live in our memories until our days are ended, and he will live in the;memory of future generations as long as tho British law is administered in this land in the Southern Seas, and it will ever bo said of Ihim by those who knew and understood his life and character:

■"'He was beloved; and when old Timo did lead liiin to his eW, Goodness" and ho filled up ona monument."

On Behalf of the Bench. The Chief Justice entirely reciprocated on behalf Of" the Bench the sentiments so eloquently expressed by the Attor-ney-General on behalf of the. Bar. New, Zealand had been fortunate in having on its roll of Judges not only great lawyers, but men of great intellectual gifts. On our roll of Judges had occurred the names of Martin, .Chapman, Johnston, Prendergast, Richmond, and others —men who would have adorned tho Bench of any country. Their late brother, Williams they knew njit only as a lawyer and a Judge, but, from an intimate acquaintance of many years, thov had learned to know him thoroughly, to appreciate his high character, liis intellectual attainments, and to see 'how strong his aim was that justice should be declared oven though the heavens should fall. That was bis •character. As a mathematician would | struggle with a problem, so he would strugglo as a Judge to' see that the law was properly administered, careless as to what its effect should be upon the parties, even though he might havo had extreme sympathy with them 111 their losses. 1 , An Example to All. His Honour went 011 to express tho hope that the meeting in Court that 'morning would heljj tho family of the date Sir Joshua Williams to bear tho hlow that had fallen upon them. Sir Joshua himself had had many great" • troubles during his life-time, but lie had never allowed them fa interfere with the performance of his duties. He was indeed an example not only to tho members of the Bar and to the Judges, but also to the whole of the people of this Dominion. His Creatness Recognised. Referring to the late Judge's appointment to the Privy Council, the Chief Justice remarked upon the fact that, as we in this country had recognised the greatness of our illustrious Judge, so

Lord Haldano and others soon became awaro of his great work, and had invited him to take part in the hearing of cases, which had nothing whatever to do with Now Zealand. Hero it had been expected tbut ho would have a long career in his new office, because his strenuous work had not ali'cctcd. his intellectual capacity. But that had not come about, and now we had only his memory to remain with us. 1 It would remain, and bo held in the highest respect not only by members of the legal profession and the Judges, but by all the people of New Zealand.