ENCLOSURE 2
103
4:
Extract from the "Daily Press" of the 28th. Apr11,1897.
In the report of the proceedings in the Supreme Court yesterday it will be noticed! that Mr. Francis, Q.C., on behalf of the legal profession, paid a very high compliment to the Hon. T. Sercombe Smith, who will shortly leave the judicial Bonch to take up his duties at the Treasury. The compliment was heartily endorsed by his Lordship the Chief Justice and we are quite sure that everyone who knows the thoroughness and ability shown by Mr. Sercombe Smith while acting as Puisne Judge will heartily concur in all that was said.
Mr. Fraucis replied and concluded as follows -I would now like, my Lord, as this will pro bably be the last occasion on which there will be an opportunity, to express, on behalf of my- self and the members of the Bar aud of the members of the other branch of the profession, our very highest respect and appreciation for the learned Judge who will soon be leaving the Bench, our admiration for the manner in which he has performed his duties, and our sincere regret that he is leaving the active practice of the legal profession and going into another branch of the Civil Service.
The Chief Justice-Mr. Francis, I am glad you have taken an opportunity to express the sense of the Bar of the merits as a Judge of my learned friend, and I take leave to concur entirely with you and to express my personal regret he is leaving the Beuch. I have known him now for nearly twelve months and although we do not often sit in Court together, still we frequently see something of one another and; we see something of one anothor's work, and j without wishing to say too much in his favour I must express my admiration for his high judicial qualities and my regret that be is leaving the legal service.
Mr. Francis-Your Lordship has expressed our sentiments much better than I could have done.
The Acting Paisne Judge-As you may imagine, the few words you have spoken have taken me completely by surprise this afternoon, and I am very much indebted to you for the opinion you have expressed. I must say I value it very much indeed and it will encourage me, if I am placed in such an important posi- tion again, to deserve your further approbation. As I say, I have been very much taken by surprise and I hope you will be content with this very brief acknowledgement which I make from the bottom of my heart.
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