XXX11 



fundity of his learning, and his mathematical distinctions — all were 

 passed nnder review. " ISo community could desire to build up their 

 series of Chief Justices upon a more upright and steadier foundation- 

 stone than the late Sir James Cockle." (' Brisbane Telegraph/ 

 January 30, 1895.) The following estimates of his character and 

 work as a Judge are from the pens of his successors, both of whom 

 had exceptional opportunities of knowing him in that capacity. Sir 

 Charles Lilley, who was his colleague on the Bench and succeeded 

 him as Chief Justice, writes : — 



" Sir James Cockle's services to Queensland as Chief Justice were 

 of a high order. He was an excellent lawyer, and the dignity and 

 urbanity of his judicial presence upheld the tone and character of the 

 Bench and Bar as one of the highest institutions of the country. He 

 felt and manifested the feeling that his decisions should be absolutely 

 just. At times those who observed his anxiety to give exact and 

 righteous judgment, thought it savoured of weakness and hesitancy, 

 but this was an entirely erroneous idea of his character and conduct. 

 It arose from his settled idea that if by any labour of his own he 

 could do right according to law, it was his duty to apply himself with 

 diligence to the necessary task. He was fearless, and eminently suc- 

 cessful in his administration of the law, few appeals resulting from 

 his decisions, and only two being successful during his fifteen years* 

 presidency of the Supreme Court of the Colony as Chief Justice. He 

 was courteous to the Bar, loyal and helpful to his colleagues on the 

 Bench, and an example to the world of a righteous judge. He rendered 

 great service to the Colony by a consolidation of large portions of the 

 statute law, especially of the criminal law, the mercantile law, consti- 

 tutional law, and of the procedure of the courts. He took an interest 

 in the charitable institutions of the country, and for some years was 

 Chairman of the Brisbane Boys and Girls' Grammar Schools. He 

 was President for some time of the Queensland Philosophical Society. 

 Indeed he was one of its founders, and took an active part in its pro- 

 ceedings by contributing some valuable papers, since included in a 

 publication collected from his contributions to several periodicals. 

 He rendered in many ways most important services to Queensland. 

 Not least was the example of his life as a Christian judge and 

 gentleman. My friend was a sincerely convinced Christian. He had 

 satisfied himself of the truth and beauty of Christian Faith and Hope, 

 founding his belief on the proof of the great central miracle of the 

 Resurrection. The news of his death was received with profound 

 regret throughout the Colony, and from the Bench of the Supreme 

 Court his life and services were eloquently eulogised by his suc- 

 cessors. I regard my own loss of my old friend as irreparable." 



Sir Samuel Griffith, the present Chief Justice, and a former 

 Attorney- General of Queensland, writes : — " The position of Sir James 



