DEATH OF JUDGE GRESSON.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 February 1901, Page 4

DEATH OF JUDGE GRESSON.

The death of ex-Judge Gresson at the good old age of 92 was recorded by ua the other day. The deceased who died on bis birthday, held several sittings of the Supreme Court at Hokitika in the earlier days. He was born in the County of Meath, Ireland and took his B.A. degree at Trinity College Dublin. He studied with a view to the profession of a Barrister, and was called to the Irish Bar in Trinity Term, 1833; but was without any intention of offering himself for practice at the time. In London and in Dublin he obtained experience in his profession, and in conjunction with his brother barrister, published a book on Irish Equity Pleading. In 1854 he arrived in Auckland, and thence proceeded to Lyttelton. At this period in the history of the Settlement of Canterbury, there was no regular session of Supreme Court. Judge Stephen used to come occasionally from Wellington to Lyttelton, but there was scarcely any civil business. Shortly after his arrival in Canterbury, Mr Gresson was appointed Provincial Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor, These offices he continued to hold until December, 1897, when he accepted the office of Acting-Judge of the Southern Districts, including Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago. About the year 1874 a resolution was passed by a Joint Committee of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, that the judical districts of the Judges should bo changed. Judge Gresson retired from the office of Judge, preferring to remain and to make his home in Canterbury. He held a Fellowship of Christ College, which he resigned on becoming Judge. He has also ,been President of the Philosophical Institute, and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, Chancellor of the Diocese of Christchurch, and member of the Standing Commission. Gresson street, Greymouth, was named after the deceased Judge.