MAGISTERIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 386, 11 May 1910, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

WELCOME TO MR. L. G. REID, S.M. Mr. L. G. Reid, the recently appointed Stipendiary Magistrate, took his seat on the Bench in the New Plymouth courthouse yesterday morning. Mr. Held is relieving here during the absence, through illness, of Mr. H. S. Fitzher.bert, S.M. There was.a full attendance of members of the local bar to tender him a welcome. Mr. D. Hutchen, president of the Taranaki Law Society, expressed the satisfaction of the bar at Mr. Reid's appointment, and voiced the opinion that Mr. Reid would capably carry out the onerous, weighty, and important duties of his office. Mr. Hutchen referred to the fact that the most cordial relations had ever existed here between Bench and Bar, and assured His Worship that the bar would strive to continue those relations.

Mr. T. S. Weston, speaking by virtue | of his standing as the oldest legal practi-, tioner in Xew Plymouth, also tendered, Mr. Reid a hearty welcome. He remarked that from what he knew of Mr. Reid and all his connections he was sure that he would bring to bear upon all busi-J ness brought before him'a vast amount of legal experience, and that he would deal with all cases with absolute jus-, tice. Concluding, Mr. Weston said that whilst welcoming Mr. Reid, the ,profes-l sion would be glad to see Mr Fitzher-| bert back on the Bench again as soon as possible, Mr. ißeid thanked the bar very much 1 for the kindly feeling which had been expressed, and expressed his gratification at the reception. He recognised his responsibilities, he said, and would do his very best according to his abilities. Whatever mistake he might make—and every man made some mistakes—whatever decision he gave, or Whatever action he took 'Would be the result of his honI est conviction. Mr. Reid said that be- : fore coming here he had been assured of a friendly greeting, for the reputation ; of the local bar had reached him at a I distance. He regretted Mr. Fitzherbert's illness, for that gentleman was an old friend of his. He said that he had had to come here at very short notice, owing to the anxiety of the Government that there should be no furtlur congestion of business here. But with the assistance of the bar and the clerk of the court he hoped to pick up the business of the court quickly, and to spend a pleasant time during his sojourn in Xew Plymouth.