The Gazette 1913-14

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society ol Ireland.

[JULY, 1913

28

Essay Competition for the Law Society's Gold Medal for this Session.

Death of Lord Ashbourne. AT the opening of Trinity Sittings upon the 2nd June, reference was made in the Court of Appeal to the death of Lord Ashbourne by the Lord Chancellor, the Solicitor-General, and by the President. The President said :— " My Lord Chancellor, if I may be permitted " on behalf of the Solicitors' profession, I should " like to add my very humble tribute to the " memory of a great and distinguished " Irishman who has passed away from us, and " of whom we are all, as Irishmen, justly proud. " My particular reason for interfering is that " by the death of Lord Ashbourne the Incor- " porated Law Society has lost one of its truest " and staunchest friends. Himself a son of-a " past esteemed member of the Council of the " Society, he always took the deepest and " keenest interest in all our work. He was " always ready to expend his time and energy "in promoting the objects forwhich our Society " exists. We mourn his1 loss, but his influence " will be long felt in our Council. ' Though " dead, he yet speaketh.' During his long life " and distinguished service to the State as Lord " Chancellor of Ireland he had exceptional "opportunities of coming into contact not only " with past Presidents and members of the " Council of the Society, but also with the " individual members, and we all owe him a " deep debt for his unfailing courtesy and " patience, and forhis encouragement when '' encouragement was often needed. In public " life he was a tower of strength to his friends, " but I think it is a greater tribute still that he " was a generous antagonist to his opponents. " Both friends and opponents, if, indeed, he " had any opponents in later life, must now " deplore the sad termination of a very brilliant " career. On behalf of my brethren throughout " the length and breadth of Ireland I would " on this public occasion offer their sympathy " to Lady Ashbourne and her family on the " very sad bereavement that has fallen upon " them." At the meeting of the Council upon the 4th June, the President read a letter he had received from Mr. Justice Gibson thanking him for his reference to the late Lord Ashbourne in the Court of Appeal, on the opening day of the Sittings. The Council passed the following resolution,

Certificate. An application by a Solicitor for renewal of his Certificate was considered, and was granted. Searches. The President reported that, arising out of a complaint of delay in furnishing a negative search, recently made to the Council, he and Mr. Gamble, Vice-President, attended at the Registry of Deeds Office upon the 12th June, by appointment, to inquire into the working of the Searching Department of the office. The Registrar and his assistants afforded them every facility for investigation and the fullest information as to the wcwk of the searchers' department. The President further reported that with the existing number of searchers, delays are inevitable during periods of pressure, and without a largely increased staff that all searches could not be proceeded with as they came in. * The Registrar stated that such -a staff would be needed only in times of extreme pressure, and would be too numerous for the normal work of the office, and he added that his present staff of qualified searchers is sufficient for the work of the office, and that he would not feel justified in suggesting any increase. Easter and Whitsuntide Holidays. The President informed the Council that he had submitted to the Supreme Court rule recommending authority the draft of a proposed new rule in lieu of the existing Rule 1 of Order LXIII. of the Rules of the Supreme Court, 1905. and that the draft rule had that day been adopted without any modification. The notice of the proposal to make this new rule which has been published in the Dublin Gazette, is reproduced in this GAZETTE.