BENCH AND BAR.

Evening Star, Issue 4059, 29 February 1876, Page 3

BENCH AND BAR.

Before the City Police Court, was formally adjourned yesterday, Mr E. Cook, on behalf of the Bar, thanked Mr Pyke for the very able manner in Which he had. presided over the Court lor the last two months, that being the last day of his Chairmanship. Mr Cook spoke as follows : ~ /!■■

May ife please your Worships,—l believe that the. business of the Court is now concluded, and before the adjournment ia made I wish to say a few words, lunderstaud that this is the hist day on which yonr Worship the Chairman will sit in that capacity for a considerable time. It is well known that you ’sir tove l^elyassisted in initiatiiig and carryingon the businessol; the' Court under a new system for some time past. The Mmisfltr of JuatioehHa recognised the recent services of the Dunedin; Justices of the approbation was certainly weU merited. On .behalf of brethren who practice in this -court I have to express our Sense of your services,- of, your urbanity and patience in the discharge of yonr duties. - The new system has added to the dignity and given weight to the decisions of this Court;. . From,-my business ‘ connections I am ablet to say that a considerable portion of the public agree in what I have said. We hope that yonr Worship- - will in - due: tiitm again occupy yonr present position on the Bench. -

Mr Pika said it was I quite an'unexpected compliment from the professional gentlemen, and, it afforded him, p very great deal of pleasure to find .that his services had been appreciated by the gentlemen of the Bar, who were the best capable of judging of the manner in which his duty had been performed, and whose Opinion was therefore, the most valuable. Magistrates, like other men, were liable to err and were more liable than other men tq public .misapprehension. He had endeavored to hold tne balance of justice equally between all parties, and to discharge .the important functions: entrusted to him with •a/efulness,; and during the, term of office which he had taken at the request of his brother magistrates, he hoped he bad succeeded in accomplishing that which ho had undertaken to perform—viz,, securing uniformity in the practice of the Comt. He thanked Mr Cook very much for the ehcomuim, and he thanked the gentlemen of the bar for the courtesy which they had. shown him, and for the very valuSmIW he had received at their hands. To Mr Mallard also, and the police generally, his thanks were due for their courtesy and attention to the Court, 3