INTERESTING CEREMONY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1928, Page 7

INTERESTING CEREMONY

WIUTE GLOVES PRESENTED TO JUDGE. A time-honoured ceremony was re.•ived in the Supreme Court in Clirist-!,n,-,h yesterday, after more than fifty years. It indicates a healthy pubic condition, and, although occupying only a lew minutes, it was watched with interest hv all in court. The ceremony was the presentation < , AG- .Justice Adams of a pair of white ■ doves, in view of the fact that thcio was not a single case on the list for - :e criminal session, fixed to he opened vesterdaY morning. The Sheriff. Air AV. D. 'Wallace, said: '■ i our Honour. I have no calendar of prisoners to present, and T ask your Honour to permit me to present you with a pair of white gloves to mark the occasion.” J|is Honour replied: “Mr Sheriff. Tt m a matter of congratulation not only to this Court, but also to the whole i(immunity, that there are no indictments for the Grand Jury to consider. “Out of curiosity, 1 had a search Hide into the Court records, and I was unewhat surprised to iiud that, going buck fifty-two years at any rale, there docs not appear to have been any other occasion on which the holder of the ■ union 1 office had the pleasure of receiving a pair of white gloves from the .Sheriff. “At out last session, T think, there were fifteen indictments, and when T presided in Christchurch for the first time, in ’ ID2I, there were no fewer than twenty-three. The difference is very marked. “I nm not quite prepared to say that it indicates a sudden and violent conversion on the part of the whole <‘<>mimmily, hut one can say at least that It is very gratifying to the com mu nitv.”