PAST AND PRESENT MAGISTRATES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9585, 3 September 1909, Page 5

PAST AND PRESENT MAGISTRATES.

EULOGIES FROM THE iLEGAL PROFESSION. \

At the annual gathering held in the Arcadia Tea Rooms last evening, of the law, banks, and stick and .station agents in Masterton, two speeches were made bearing particular reference to the late Stipendiary Magistrate at Masterton, the late Mr \V. P. James, S.M., and to the relieving Magistrate now resident here, Mr C. G. Graham, SUM, Mr H. C. Robinson,, in respaidfeg to the toast of the legal and banking institutions at Masterton; stated in reference to the Tate Mr James that it was recognised by the legal profession of Masterton that in the late Stipendiary Magistrate the district possessed a gentleman of the highest qualifications for such an important position, and particularly from the standpoint of the person who recognised in the tern* justice what was meant by the administration of common sense principles, and the justice of everyday life. Mr Kobinson referred to the extreme impartiality and thoroughly deep-rooted convictions of equity in its true sense which guided the lately deceased Magistrate in his decisions, and said that it was felt by not only the legal profession, but by the whole community, that a serious loss had befallen the community when Mr James was called from their midst.

During the part of the speech referring to the late Mr James the members of the legal profession stood, and remained standing. Mr G. H. Cullen, in proposing the toast of the Press, took occasion to refer to the excellent impression the relieving Magistrate at Masterton (Mr C. C Graham) had created during his somewhat short sojourn in Masterton. The speaker said that in Mr Graham he recognised an absolute parallel to the late Mr James, in that his decisions were based on the iullest recognition of what was right and proper whatever the subtle distinctions might be from the l?gal aspect, which often failed to satisfy the demands of those who embarked on a litigious course and the public in general. Mr Cu|len said that for a forbearing and kindly disposition Mr Graham had earned for himself an enviable name, and that when his time came to leave this district —in about a week's timeMr Graham would carry with him the good wishes of the whole community. During the course of both speeches trequent expressions of aporobation were given effect to by the assembly.