CHANGE OF

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1921, Page 5

CHANGE OF

THE TARANAKI DISTRICT MR. ORR WALKER Members of the Taranaki Law Society assembled in the Law Library, New Plymouth, yesterday morning, to farewell I Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., who has been appointed Chief Justice at Samoa, since his arrival in New Plymouth ft [short time ago. The president (Mr. J. C. Nicholson) said that although. His Worship bad been witii them only . feiv weeks lie spoke with sincerity on behalf oi every member of the profession in New Plymouth when he said that Mr. Orr Waik-

• er’s departure was greatly regretted. .Although His Worship’® term of office had 1 been very short, it had been sufficiently long to impress on everyone Iht.ving nees with the Magistrate’s Court in New Plymouth that his qualifications and ability for the position were of a high standard. Mr. Nicholson eaid they deeired to take the opportuni’..y of offering Mr. Qn? Walker their warm congratulations on his oppointment to the office of duel Justice at Samoa, a high and rc -ponsibie position, and one which carried with it the office of Deputy Administrator. They had no doubt that in carrying out these duties the same success which had marked his work in New Plym<*uth would be 1 shown. Mr. Nicholson said he felt sure His Worship would leave them with pleasant recollections o' his associations in New

Plymouth, ami they trusted that Mr. and Mrs. Orr Walker would find in their new sphere congenial eurrovndings and every happiness and prosperity. Replying, Mr. Orr Walker expressed his hearty thanks for the k'.ndly ♦•xprea-’ sions made ,n behalf of the Bar. “One feels regrets/* he said, “at leaving a district such ns this—a. district which I pus down as the/very bast Magisterial dis*trict in New Zealand, besides offering great attractions as a residential FTeft/ 1 He said they also lad a bar of whidfir an ? district might be proud. He found, right through the gre . teat help from them, as he had expected when he came, to the district. Their libraries were most excellent, and this itself made 4% magistrate’s work a light one. He WMgoing to a hot place, which it was saad’ was the destination of all members of the bar, but he was coming back< (Laughter). Samoa got a bad name, bufi he knew a little of it, and it was not such an unhealthy place as waft some-? times pictured. His duties he understood i would be responsible, but the expressions mode by the president would be of the greatest encouragement in his endeavors to uphold the h’gh -traditions of British justice, of which he would be a poor representative, in one of the new territories of the Empire. His Worship concluded by again thanking the bar.

WELCOME TO MR. MOWLEM, S.M. Prior to the commencement of business in the Magistrate’s Court, a welcome?' was extended to Mr. X M. Mowlem, S.M., who took the Bench for the first time in New Plymouth, and will be relieving Magistrate. On behalf of the New Plymouth pA.ctitioners, Mr. Nicholson welcomed Mr. Mowiem. Ho said that, as His Worship had probably heard, the Magistrate's '■ work in the district was fairly strenu*ous, the chief reason being that there* were a number of country courts to attend to, involving .some travelling. That was u matter whiah they hoped would bo remedied in the future, as not only did it throw a good dbal of work on the Magistrate, but also frequently caused delay in the despatch of chamber work in town.

Mr. Nicholson said he did not knou whether His Worship was to be in New Plymouth permanently or not, but he could be assured of the hearty co-opera-tion of all members of the bar, in regard to the busineas of the Court, and he had no doubt that the relations between Bench and Bar would be cordial and harmonious throughout. His Worship said that as they knew, this was the first occasion on which ho had presided at New Plymouth. He had come from the South-—a place of rigorous climate, of extremely kindly hearts, and where coxirteey and kindness, and everything that went to make life worth while, were very much in evidence. He had also come from a Bar that was traditional in its character for kindness and courtesy, and for keenness. He had also come to a Bar that was traditional for its kindness, courtesy, and keenness. His Worshi-p, in accepting the expressions of kindly feelings towards himeelf, siad he had no doubt that cordial relationship would exist between Bench and Bar. He was glad to hear Mr. Nicholson’s offer of co-operatioh, and he assured them that he would rely on the Bai* to a large extent.