MINER TO MAGISTRATE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1927, Page 4

MINER TO MAGISTRATE

MR J. IV. POYNTON

One of the features of life in the colonies is the opportunities that are afforded to men who will take advantage of them to reach a higher level of life than that to which they are born. An apt illustration is Mr, J. W. Poynton, who, after Monday next, starts on a six months vacation, which was due to him as lie had not taken a holiday for the past thirteen years. A representative of the “Auckland Star’’ had an interesting chat with Mr Povnton upon his past career, which ■ should serve as a stimulus to young men to aim high. Rom at Kyneton, Victoria, on December 11, 1861, Mi- Poynton came across to the Bluff two years later with his parents, his father being the late Mr Joseph I’oynton. The family went to the West Coast. The father walked from Mataura to Dunedin, and from Christchurch to the West Coast. Meanwhile the family lived at Invercargill until 1807, when the father sent for them. “I had attended school at Invercargill,” said Mr Poynton, “but when we moved to the West Coast there was noschool to attend, as we were at the New River. 1 had thus time to studybirds and plants for the want of other schooling, hnd that had a good deal to do with my later paying much more attention to the scientific side of those subjects.”

A YOUNG MINER, “When I was 12 years old, 1 went gold mining. I had a miner’s right issued to mo and got a little gold. At the age of 16 I went underground goldmining at Maori Greek, on the West Coast, and that was the start of my liking for geology, which I have since studied from a, more scientific aspect. After 10 years goldmining, I made up my mind to be a doctor, and while studying for that profession, got .a knowledge of physiology and drugs, which I have often found of use in my duties as coroner. It was meeting Sir Robert Stout on the West Coast when he was Premier, that caused me to turn to the law. Ho appointed me a justice of tlic peace, and to fit. me for my duties J started to study law. It was before the matter of a student passing in the law was handed over to the University, Then the .jndgcU attended to it. I passed the general knowledge examination at Hokitika in 1888. In March, 18S9, T started to study for the law examination, and passed successfully the following September. 1 practised my profession in Wellington till A fay. 1895, when I was unpointed Stipendiary Magistrate at Invercargill. Five years later I was appointed Public Trustee under the administration of the Hon. R. J. Soddon, and after another five years was made secretary' for the Treasury and Superintendent of Advances to Settlers. Then my health broke down.

BACK TO THE BENCH. Tn 1913 T. went l-aek to the Bench, and was stationed at Palmerston North and in 1918 was transferred to Auckland, where I have since remained. After sitting at Onehnnga on Monday iT start my six months vacation. 1 have been interested in practically all scientific subjects, and in conclusion I may say,that the miners oil the West Coast were men of a splendid type. Of course they were really selected specimens of manhood, as on the goldfields tho weaklings fall by the way. Coldminers must be men of resource, r* they are their own blacksmiths and engineers; that naturally has the effect of making them self reliant.”