MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2295, 9 January 1909, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.

MR. KIRK DECLINES TO ACT

Speaking to a “Times” reporter yesterday, Mr. J. R. Kirk, barrister and solicitor, of Gisborne, who last month was offered an appointment as a Stipendiary Magistrate, said that lie had intimated to Sir Joseph Ward that ho issuable to accept the ap7)ointmont. In a letter written to the Prime Minister, Mr. Kirk said bo was grateful to the Government for the honor done to him by the o*ffor of the position. but taking into consideration the fact that life, with its many possibilities,, was before him, he did not think it wise in bis own .interests to accept. He quite recognised that in the honorable position of a. magistrate a man had many opportunities of_ rendering good service, but at the 'same time he thought it was possible to serve one’s country in different ways while at the Bar. Mr. Kirk has decided to admit into partnership Mr. Leonard T. Buraard, LL.B., barrister and solicitor, of Dunedin, who, since the elevation of Mr. Justice Sim to the Arbitration Court bench, has been filling his place in the legal firm of Messrs. Mondy, Sim, and Stephens. Dunedin. Mr. Burnard is a young man of s exceptional ability. On four different occasions be represented the Otago Universityat the inter-collegiate debating contests, and twice won first place for the impromptu speech at the Dunedin competitions. He also-won the “Walter Scott” scholarship at the Otago University, and was complimented from the Bench by Mr. Justice Cooper on his address to the jury in his first criminal case some years; ago. Mr. Burnard will join Mr. Kirk in practice on January 26th.