Bench and Bar.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 75, 2 April 1904, Page 4

Bench and Bar.

VR STANFORD TAKES LEAVE OF NEW PLYMOUTH. IS HIGHLY COMPLIMENTED FOR HIS WORK HERE. Mr R, L. Stanford, S.M., who has been transferred to Wangunui, was farewelied by the members of the legal profession, and the justices, at the New Plymouth Courthouse on fhursdav morning. There was a good attendance of the local bar, and justices from the various farts of the district were also present. On his Worship taking his seat, Mr Oliver Samuel, President of the Taranaki Law Society, on behalf of the members of the legal profession practising in New Plymouth, requested permission on this last occasion on which Mr Stanford would preside in the New Plymouth Court, to say farewell, and in doing so to express the very great regret at his departure after filling for so many years his numerous positions in New Plymouth. These partings, said Mr Samuel. were melancholy things to those who had been associated so happily together as Mr Stanford and the bar of New Plymouth. In carrying out the onerous duties of the public court, these happy relations could not have been maintained but for the unfailing tact, courtesy and ability displayed by the Magistrate. But perhaps it was in his other positions, in those duties that did not come before the court, and where the ceremonies of the court did not exist, and consequently were not present to restrain, that the greatest unpleasantness might have been caused had the duties been carried out otherwise than tactfully. In these circumstances members of the profession were afforded an opportunity of appreciating those fine qualities which Mr Stanford undoubtedly possessed. On behalf of the profession Mr Samuel then read and presented the following address, which was handed to the recipient by Mr T. S. Weston TO R. L. STANFORD, ESQ., Registrar of the Supreme Court, Stipendiary Magistrate, etc., etc,, New Plymouth. Dear Sir,—We, members of the legal professfon at New Plymouth, beg to express our sincere regret at your departure, occasioned by your transfer to Wanganui. During the seven years ypu have discharged the important duties of your many offices here you have evinced courtesy, patience and ability of the highest order, and haye won the confidence, respect and esteem of the whole community, and in particular of those who have had an opportunity of coming into contact with you in the province of your judicial duties. We wish you long life, health and happiness, and hope that the colony may long have the advantage of your services.

i We aro. Ilear Sir, Yours faithfully, Oliver Samuel, President of Tavanaki Law Society, A. G. Bullock, 0. W. Curric, W. L. Fitzherbert. Clement W. Govett, Geo. Grey, David Hutehen. J. 11. Quilliam, F. W. Richmond, .1. 11. Roy, Arthur Standish, A. K. Standish, T. S. Weston, Claude 11. Weston, I-Vank E. Wilson, J. E. Wilson, 11. Cecil Wright. In concluding, Mr Samuel said the words of the address expressed the unanimous opinion of the signatories. It was fortunate that MiStanford was not going far away, and it was to be hoped that they would frequently be able to renew their friendship. He wished Mr Stanford long life, health and happiness, and again voiced the desire that he might long serve the colony. Mr R. Cock, Mayor of New flymouth, on behalf of the Justices assembled, then wished Mr Stanford farewell. He remarked on the departing Magistrate's unfailing courtesy, and said also that during his long term of office Mr Stanford had bestowed great personal favours by performing himself those duties that might have been relegated to the Justices of the Feace. Mr Cockhoped that Mr Stanford would be privileged to return to New Plymouth frequently, not only 011 pleasure bent, but that some day the crier would announce him as "His • Honor the Judge." As Mayor of New Plymouth, he regretted the loss of an excellent burgess, and concluded by wishing Mr and Mrs Stanford and family every happiness in a long and useful life. Mr_f3tanford, who, was evidently deeply you from my very heart for the kind way in which you have spoken of me this morning. I have been here for seven years—seven years and two or three months—and during that time I have endeavoured, as far as in me lay, to carry out the duties imposed on me, or rather, in which I have been honoured, faithfully and honourably." Continuing, Mr Stanford remarked that he was pleased that the Justices had thanked him for relieving them of duties, and ho hoped that was the general feeling. He had had his doubts as to the justices' reception of the course he had pursued in doing those things which generally fell to the Justices, but he acted as he felt right. He had to thank the justices who had presided in the Court during his absence for their consideration in endeavouring to make their decisions harmonise with his. In some places this was not so, but it ought to be, in the interests of justice. During his period of office there had been some memorial incidents. First there was the Maori ploughing all'air, which was settled with consummate tact by Inspector McGovern, and which resulted in extra gaol accommodation bang rendered necessary for about a hundred Maori prisoners. Shortly afterwards, owing to a technical flaw in the polling, he (Mr S.tanford) had found himself in a somewhat desolate position to administer the licensing laws in the district. As they know, he had applied himself closely to this work, and now he took "credit for the lire escapes and balconies in the hotels, insuring immunity from danger in the event of fire. " Stanford's balconies " they had been called by Mr Justice Edwards. It had been said by a well-known gentleman that there should he u balcony erected over Ms tombstone, this memorial having the additional merit of being a lire escape. (Laughter.) Later on, there was the Commonwealth Hotel difficulty. In this he had not received the unanimous public support to which he was entitled, iiul lie had to thank the New Plymouth legal fraternity for their moral support and their extreme and consistent loyalty in the matter. Mr Samuel had referred to the many offices he had been called upon to" fill. There were too many, and the system of investing all these ten <>flices in one man was unfair to the public. The Deeds Registry Ollice in particular should be under separate control, and he suggested that the time was ripe for application for increased accommodation and convenience there. During his ten years' experience here, ten appeals had been lodgtd against his decision. One of these was still pending. In two cases Judge Conolly had ruled the Magistrate was wrong, but in the other seven his decision had been upheld. He considered this a record. Mr Stanford thin the .iked the members of the profession for the consideration invariably shown towards him. Of course there had been differences, lie himself might have been irritable, or counsel, warming to the interests of a client might have uttered a remark that he as a magistrate objected to ; but he believed that the New Plymouth lawyers had always looked upon themselves as officers of the court of justice, whose dignity it was theirs to t phoid. He agreed with the recently published remarks that the secret of England's successful colonization and the secret of her greatness was based on her administration of justice whoreever the British flag was hoisted. It might be administered roughly sometimes, or in the Privy Council, the perfection of courts of justice. but it was always meted out honestly, This court and its

counsel wore components of Ibe great Temple of .Justice, and he was pleased to believe that this was recognised by every lawyer in New Plymouth. Every help had been given him by l!\o bar. Amongst them he had many very tnir friends, and of them all he could say they had been guided by respect for the great principles of justice, which had been represented here by himself. The address was a beautiful work of art, handsomely illuminated, and designed by Mr Lees, of Messrs Hooker and Scott. The blindfolded ligure of justice, holding the scales in one hand and a sword in the other. headed the tablet, tuid a desk with law volumes, quill land ink were also conspicuous. In a panel on the left of the body of the address was a miniature picture of the New Plymouth Courthouse, whilst the address was «*ulnscribed by facsimile of the signatures of the gentlemen named above. The address was handsomely framed in carved wood, with gold slip. This was the work of Mr JSellringer, Devon Street.