NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3937, 2 May 1929, Page 2

NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

MR. MICHAEL MYERS APPOINTED. Wellington, April 30. The Premier announced to-day that Mr. Michael Myers, K.C., of Wellington, had been appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand. A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. Air. Justice Myers’s appointment, it is believed, will be generally approved, for he has long been regarded as an outstanding member of the legal profession in New Zealand. His career has been one of brilliant achievement. Born in Motuelka on September 7, 1873, the new Chief Justice is a son of the late Mr. J. Myers, founder of the firm of Messrs J. Myers and Co., Ltd. He was educated at Tliorndon School, Wellington College, and Canterbury University College, distinguishing himself at the age of twelve by winning—and topping -the list in—a primary education board scholarship, of which at that time only six were awarded. He attended Wellington College for five years, and in addition to winning another primary education hoard scholarship obtained various college exhibitions and scholarships, including the Turnbull scholarship.

In 1892, ho joined the staff of Messrs Bell, Gully, and Izard, and graduated L.L.B. four years later. In March, 1897, he was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, and in 1899 he was admitted to partnership in the firm. He'remained as a member of Messrs Bell, Gully, Bell and Myers (altered in title in 1919 to Messrs Bell, Gully, Myers and O’Leary), until September, 1922, when he became a King’s Counsel, and, in accordance with the terms of the Law Practitioners Amendment Act, 1915, he commenced practice on his own account as a barrister only. Immediately after his admission to the Bar in 1897. he gained a substantial practice, both as barrister and solicitor, and for many years until 1910 lie took a large proportion of Crown cases, both criminal and civil. There have been few important civil cases in the last twenty years in which Mr. Myers has not appeared. Mr. G. ,C. Black, M.P., for Motueka, has telegraphed to Mr. Justice Myers as follows: “Motueka is proud to think that one of her sons lias been elevated to such a high office in the land. On behalf of iny constituents throughout the whole electorate I desire to "offer you our sincere congratulations on your attainment.”