MR JUSTICE STRINGER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 5

MR JUSTICE STRINGER.

HIS HONOR SWORN IN

YESTERDAY'S CEREMONY,

The formal swearing in of his Honor Mr:Justice Stringer as a Judge of;the Supreme Court took place yesterday at the Supreme Court, the oaths being administered by his Honor Mr Justice Denniston. There was a crowded assembly of the Bar, whose members even overflowed into the jury-box and crowded the back of the Court. Several ladies also were present.

Mr Justice Stringer followed the elder Judge on to the Bench, and took a seat on "his right hand. The wan-ant having been read' by the registrar, the oath of allegiance and judicial oath were then administered by Mr Justice Denniston, those present standing throughout the ceremony. CONGRATULATIONS FROM BAR. Mr H. D. Andrews, acting president of the Canterbury Law Society, conveyed to Judge Stringer, the late president of the Society, the goodwill of the Society and the Bar generally. He congratulated him most heartily and sincerely, and'.expressed the honour that the Canterbury Bar felt for the choice of a Canterbury man who had learnt his profession in Christchurch, and had worked his way right up from the beginning. The choice of Mr Justice Stringer was approved not only :n Canterbury, but throughout New Zealand. Mr Stringer had won the respect, confidence and affection of those with whom he had .worked, and his elevation* tp the Bench was a well-de-served honour* coming at the end of a long and able service as Crown Prosecutor for Canterbury. Mr Justice Stringer was upright, well skilled in law and of ripe experience, and his knowledge of men and his " bumanness" would well fit him for the responsibilities that would fall on him as President of the Arbitration Court, and enable him to retain the usefulness Of that Court ;-in a time of; great industrial unrest. ;;'Mr Andrews held up before Mr'Justice'Stringer the ideal ot judgeship, " Go&is judge,: strong and patient," and in wishing him God-speed expressed the hope that he would ever keep before him the scriptural ideal, and strive to the utmost of his power to attain to it in whatever measure he could. HIS HONOR'S REPLY.

Mr Justice Stringer was affected by the warmth _ of the good wishes heaped upon him, and in returning thanks assured the members of the Bar that no effort would be wanting on his part to justify the confidence that had been expressed in him. It would be his most earnest endeavour faithfully to perform the terms of the solemn oath he had just taken. He hoped to be able to profit by the example of those learned and eminent 'men','the .post and present members of the Supreme Ctourt-Bench, and 'he hoped that he would never he betrayed into saying, or'doing' anything that' would in the.least tarnish the great reputation for - probity, independence and ability that had been established by the Supreme Court of the dominion. It was not given to man to command success, but he hoped, with the full devotion of the powers he.possessed to the duties entrusted to him,,he would at least have the consolation of knowing that he had deserved to succeed. It was a matter of-especial congratulation to him that he should be admitted to the distinguished fellowship of the Judges of the Supreme Court, in the city of his birth; in the Court where he was admitted as a solicitor-in 1879, and where he had practised ever since; and by a Judge before whom he had practised for a quarter of a century with ever-increasing respect for his high ability, love of -justice, fair play and scorn of everything base or mean. He thanked the members of the Bar for attending in such numbers., He would ever regard with the liveliest' interest their welfare and prosperity. He left their ranks with feelings of the deepest regret.