CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 229

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Enclosure 1.

The humble petition of John Roskruge Wood, Student of Lincoln's Inn, to the Treasurer and Masters of the Bench of Lincoln's Inn.

C

SHEWETH,

1. That the Petitioner was from 1896 to 1899 a Classical Scholar of Jesus College in the University of Cambridge; that in 1899 he obtained a First Class in the Classical Tripos and was admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts; and that in 1913 he proceeded to the degree of Master of Arts.

2. That the Petitioner was admitted to Lincoln's Inn as a Student during the Easter Term, 1907; that he then kept four consecutive terms and passed the preliminary examinations prescribed by the Council of Legal Education; that he kept in addition four terms consecutively, commencing with the Michael- mas Term, 1912, and has thus completed eight terms altogether; and that he attended the lectures for the Final Examination at the Inns of Court during the Michaelmas Term, 1912, and the Hilary Term, 1913, presenting himself for the Final Examination in March, 1913, and being placed in Class II.

3. That the Petitioner has been an officer in the Colonial Civil Service in Hongkong since December, 1899; that since the commencement of his service he has only returned twice on leave to England, when he completed the terms before-mentioned; that it was his intention to visit England again in the autumn of 1910 for the purpose of keeping the four remaining terms and that he applied then for permission so to do, which application was refused in consequence of the exigencies of the service.

4. That the Petitioner will have no opportunity to return to England so long as the present war continues; aud, also, that it is unlikely that he will be allowed to return until after a considerable time (probably two years) after the cessation of hostilities.

5. That during his service in Hongkong the Petitioner has been engaged mainly in legal work, being employed in the settlement of land titles in the Now Territories (Hongkong) between 1900 and 1907, and since 1908 having performed the duties of Police Magistrate, an office to which he was permanently appointed in 1909 and which he still holds.

6. That the Petitioner is 40 years of age.

7. That the Petitioner having made every endeavour to fulfil the conditions required by the luns of Court and having been prevented from fulfilling them solely by the continuation of war respectfully presents this humble petition to the Treasurer and Masters of the Bench of Lincoln's Inn that they may be pleased to grant to him exemption of four terms and to call him to the Bar during the present period of hostilities and in his absence from England.

MAGISTRACY,

HONGKONG, 1st May, 1918.

(Signed) JOHN ROSKRUGE WOOD,.

K & C. 2083