THE OBSERVER CARTOON.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 89, 27 May 1882, Page 164

THE OBSERVER CARTOON.

No. 20.— Mr Justice Gillies,

His Honor Thomas Bannatyne Gillies, Judge of the Supreme Court for the Northern District, was born in Eothcsay, Bute, Scotland, in 1825. Haying completed his education he was articled to his father, Mr John Gillies, solicitor, but he was afterwards engaged in mercantile pursuits in Manchester. In 1854 ,he settled in Otago, and became a farmer at Warepa. Finding, however, that the practice of his profession was more advantageous than agriculture, he entered into partnership with Mr Richmond (afterwards Mr Justice Richmond, of Nelson). Turning his talents to politics, he became a member pf the Otago Provincial Council, and was elected to the House of Representatives. He held the portfolio of Attorney-General in the Domett Ministry of 1862, Postmaster-General and Secretary of Lands in the Fox-Whitaker Cabinet, 1863. He settled in Auckland in 1865, and was elected to the House of Representatives for Auckland City East. He became a strong opponent of the Fox-Yogel Ministry, and denounced the Public Works and Immigration Policy immediately on its introduction as wild and chimerical. Mr Gillies was elected Superintendent of Auckland, and joined the Stafford Administration of 1872 as Treasurer, only holding office about a month. He retired from the next election for the Superintendence being succeeded by the late Mr John Williamson, and in 1875 he succeeded Sir George Arney as Judge of the Supreme Court for the Northern District. As a judge Mr Gillies is painstaking, clear, and zealous, and the straightforward fearlessness with which he discharges the functions of his high office is shewn by his ruling on the law relating to the West Coast Maori prisoners. While some judges unfortunately manifest a tendency to political bias, and. to uphold the illegal acts of the Government, it is gratifying as well as reassuring to find one whose high regard for the constitutional liberty and safeguards of the people, and chivalrous sense of justice to a weaker race, impel him, in spite of popular clamour, the condemnation of an interested section of the Press, and the possible dislike of the Government, to fearlessly interpret the law. The introduction of another Indemnification Act is sufficient vindication of Mr Justice Gillies' high judicial rectitude and legal acumen.

"You're drunk, t)ick," said one toper to another. "'You're jealous, you're jealous," retorted tho other.

Several of our leading medical men give it their opinion that smoking is a pernicious vice, and ought to be discouraged. One oi the faculty actually coes so far as to say that the use of tobacco colours the bones. It may he so, and 'baccy may even have tho effect attributed to it. But some of us don't mind having our hones coloured, especially when the colouring agent is such a superior preparation as Tilly's Mellow Mixture, prepared only by Arthur Tilly, City Cigar Divan, 64> Queen-street, opposite the B<vnk of New Zealand. ,