THE LATE CAPTAIN BELL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 6

THE LATE CAPTAIN BELL

ELOQUENT TRIBUTES FROM BENCH AND BAR . Members of Bencfr' and Bar yesterday morning assembled in the Supreme Court to pay a tribute to the memory of the late Captain William Henrv Dillon Bell, who was killed in action. TRe Chief Justice, Sir Bobeit Stout,- presid3d,.ai:d with him On the Bench were 'their.-Honours Sir. Justice Chapman and Mr. -Justice Hosking. Among those present-were-.— Mr. W. G. Biddell,'S.M., Mr. 1. G. Beid, S.M., Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M.\ Mr. J. W. Salmond, B.C. (Solicitor-General), Mr. C. P. Skerrett, 8.C., Sir.JOlin Findlay, 8.C., Mr. Martin Chapman. 8.C., Mr. 4.. Gray, 8.C., Mr. C. B.'Morison, 8.C.l the Hon. A. T. Maginriity, M.L.C., .and Mr. M. Myers. ' V ■ , Mr. Skerrett, speaking for the Bar, said:—"The members Of the Bar are- met to pay a tribute of respect to the-meniory of a comrade, who has given his life for his country. Captain Bell was born in our midst; of a family which from the dawn of the Dominion's history until the present day has taken'a. conspicuous part in the governance of the Dominion. » e know him as only the close association, and camaraderie of the Bar enable _ a. man to bo known; and many of us sincerely mourn • the loss of a personal friend. He died a young man, and Ins career at the Bar was necessarily short in duration. But in this short time he proved himself a capable lawyer, and ni» work at the Bar afforded every assurance that had he been snared, he would one dav have taken a high place in a. profession with which his name has long been conspicuously and honourably associated. His character and upbnnging imbued him with a respect for the high traditions of the great professioni to which he belonged, and his nrematuie death is a loss to the Bar. He was a man of high character and of the strict> est honour and integrity. Clean-minded and clean thinking. I bel eve no mean or unworthy, thoughtfound harbour-,t. h» mind. He possessed many; attractive. Zliies. He.was' just, kindly, and sincore He was a true friend, associating himself cordially with the successes . f s friends, and helpful and -.yinpatljelio in' theiT misfortunes and troubles. Many of is Sere privileged to call ..... friend, and we know, best his sterling worth. Captain Bell's temperament was ene - gettc, adventurous, and active; and he had a strong sense of public duty. He cane of forbears who have rendered dis-t?n™i°l-ed public services to the D0it....iont and lie.Has not lagged l*hmd Ihem in sacrifice for the public weal He as met a soldier's death, doing hw dnh with his face to the foe, fighting to the last for the Empire and for the cause of r edon, and humanity. To Ins parents ad family we offer our "»«~ "ft* ence= in their great _ sorrow. . Perhaps tlelnowledge that his character is renected and his death sincerely mourned by those with whom he worked and who l-U him best may in some s .gMmea - X~ngtlda r * o° wCtnVprofossion is Wd bv l|« ■of gratitude for great services and ieg°Ject for his high personal c'- acter to one who is our leader-we ■-•: . ■ -T tr ■ t that our tribute to the ~,<-/..> or-y. of his gallant, eon may be «iJ« solace m his grief." ' ".

The Chief Justice's tribute. The Chief Justice, on behalf of Hie Bench, said he thought it--was only fitting that such an assembly should pay a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Captain Bell, and offer condolence ti the family in their great loss. I was greatly impressed with the deceased soldier's 'ability," said His Honour; and m several cases in which he appeared before mew -w that he was not only an able lawyei. lint an able counsel, and honourable ia all his dealings. I thought lie would be one of the foremost men in New Zealand, tnd I have no doubt that if liis life lu l ' been snared lie, would have been so. had known his grandfather. I knew his services to the colony in connection with the first settlement under the New Zealand Compaiiyin one case really as Premier, and in various offices lie field. As Agent-General he was of immense service. T do not know of anyone who was so lone in public life or who'devoted l.imself to the public service so unremittingly and honourably as- Sir Dillon Bell. Sir Dillon, was succeeded T»v bis son Sir Francis, whom T knew when he was a boy. I look nnou his son William as a man who nn« fiffin»ly carried on tl'e great .name or Bell in this colony. We hope tlijt toe fact that we mourn with his family may lie some slight consolation to them. I cpr, only sivy that when I received thy intelligence that CnVtfn Bell was killed I felt deeply grieved."