FAREWELL TO JUDGE HASELDEN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 99, 24 May 1909, Page 4

FAREWELL TO JUDGE HASELDEN

The local liar farcwellcd District Judge Haseiden on Friday. Ulr. J. B. Roy, as president of the Taranaki District Law Society, said lie presumed the occasion was the last on which his Honor would sit as a District Judge in New Plyinoutn, in consequence of the recent proclamation abolishing District Courts. On behalf of the Law Society and Bur of New Pilyiuoulli, he desired to say a few words to express the regret that the Bar i'elt at his Honor's retirement from the Air. Roy apologised for the absence ut the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. T. S. Weston, who was absent at Strntfoi-J. liie present occasion was not one uu which to apeak of the abolition ot the u.strict Courts. The District Conns were originally constituted exactly fifty yea .a . ago." Throughout that long period they had materially assisted in carrying out the judicial work Of the Dominion. ' a former days the District Courts were mostly purely local. The Xaranaki District Court was constituted auuut 18u0, and wet first presided over by the late Judge William Halsg. At the present time the. District Courts in the Su"pttme Court centres were 7iot of such • great assistance to the legal profession, chiefly, as Mr. Roy thought, owing to the -now antiquated and cast-iron rules framed in 1859. His Honor Judge flaselden had, however, interpreted those rules in a spirit that'had been of great assistance to the legu, profession. The Bar much regretted that the time had come for severance. The relation* between nis Honor and the Bar had always been most cordial. Mr. Roy spoke in terms of high praise of his Honor's attainments, and of his courtesy to the •Bar, and wished hini many years yt of life and usefulness. The Bar hoped that this usefulness would take the form W a hign position in the judicial work. •In reply his Honor said he appreciated very higlilv the compliments that bad been paid him. He thanked Mr. Boy for his discretion in not making Temarks embarrassing for him to hear or reply to. His Honor would look backward with great pleasure to the time during wliicb he had presided over the New Plymouth Court. The relations between the Bar and the Bench {had alwavs been all that could bo desired. There had been nothing to disturb tbe amicable tone that should always exUt between the two branches of «* Judicature. The, Bench would lie - seriously embarrassed b$ the absence ot the Bar. His Honor hoped and believed that the traditions of the profession would in the future be maintained. at as liigh a standard as they had been in tne past- He wished the Bar of New - Plymouth and their glorious district nil ~ " tbe prosperity tbey could possiblv attain to, and hoped that lie would always remain on terms of friendship with them.