SUPREME COURT BENCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1921, Page 4

SUPREME COURT BENCH.

THE LATE MR. JUSTICE JOHNSTON

A PORTRAIT UNVEILED. A portrait of the late Mr. Johnston, who sat on the Supreme Court Bench in New Zealand for thirty years—from 1858 to 1888—has been placed in the courthouse at New Plymouth, and was unveiled yesterday by His Honor Mr. Justice Salmond in the presence of a large gathering of members of the Taranaki Law Society, and visiting members of the Bar. In asking His Honor to perform the unveiling the president of the Law Society (Mr. J. C. Nicholson) said the portrait had been presented to the society by, the kindness of Mr. E. Maxwell, a nephew of the late Judge. It was a coincidence that only a few months ago they had unveiled a portrait of the late Sir George Arney, after whose death the late Justice‘Johnston became the senior Judge. It was therefore appropriate that his portrait should be the next tc be unveiled. Touching on the career of the late Judge, Mr. Nicholson Mid they knew from the record of Im work fairs, end as a member of a number o 1 Judge, but also in certain other respects, notably in connection with Native af fairs, ano as a member of a number ol commissions he rendered great service. FAMOUS TRIAL RECALLED. During those thirty years, which included the troublous times of the Maori wad’s, Judge .Johnston presided over many historic trials. One of the mo»'t sensational of these bad been termec the “Severed Hand Mystery.” From: particulars gleaned from a New Plymouth resident, who had been a witnesi in the case, Mr. Nicholson sail that th< trial arose from the fact that one hand minus a thumb, waa found on the bear! at Sumner. Arising from this a clain for a large amount was made in respect of the alleged death of a man who wa: minus a thumb on the right hand. A short time afterwards, however, the mar who was missing was found in the Wai’ rarapa district and tried for attempted fraud, and sentenced to two years* im prisonment. Where the other hand cauu from remained a myntery. As showing the esteem in which th< late Judge was held by his colleagues Mr. Nichokon read extracts from the re marks mode on the occasion of the deatl of the late Judge Johnston in June, 1888 Addressing an assemblage of Judges am members of the Bar, the Chie/ Justice (the late Mr. Justice Richmond) and the Attorney-General (the late Sir Frederick Whitaker) paid tributes to the work of the deceased Judge. The At-torney-General said: “During the period of 30 years he has faithfully filled the office of Judge. He has administered justice in its widest sense, with distinguished ability. This is the first time in the history of the colony that a Judge has died a Judge. As a rule they have retired from the Bench before their death, but Mr. Justice Johnston has died still holding his appointment.” SIR J. SALMOND’S TRIBUTE. .Mr. Justice Salmond said he was one of the barristers who still remembered Mr. Justice Johnston. As a boy he had seen him presiding over the criminal sittings at Dunedin. To his mind then the late Judge presented an exceedingly formidable figure, representing all the terrors of the law. Mr. Justice Johnston was born in Scotland in 1820 and later went south to the English Bar. At the age of 38 he was appointed to the ' Supreme Court in New Zealand. ‘"These,” said His Honor, “were the happy days when a man could attain the position some appreciable time before he died’’ In England Mr. Justice Johnston had been engaged in law reporting, besides editing and writing books on practice, and therefore was of all round capability and distinction.

His Honor said he was pleaded to know that by the kindness of Mr. Maxwell the Taranaki Society had secured a purtrait of the Judge, and that it was only one of a number which hung on the walls. Long after their deaths Judges’ opinions remained to be quoted and discussed, and perhaps disagreed with, and there was something significant in having portraits of past Judges in a court room or law library, so that their likenesses might, also remain, in addition to the books of law report®. He was glad to see they had a number of portraits and that they had been able to add to the collection a portrait of the late Mr. Justice Johnston. His Honor 1 then performed the unveiling ceremony.