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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. Justice Cooper

Mr. Justice Cooper, A Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr. Theo-philus Cooper, a brilliant member of the Bar, with a colonial reputation, was born in Newington, Surrey, England, in 1851, and is the eldest son of the late Mr. Theophilus Cooper, formerly on the “Southern Cross” newspaper. He was educated at a private school in London, and came to Auckland in 1863 by the ship “Gertrude,” and proceeded immediately with his father to Port Albert, Kaipara, where for about two years he bore his share of the hardships endured by the Nonconformist settlers. His first situation was with Mr. Samuel Johnson, in printing the “Albertland Gazette.” In 1865 he removed to Auckland, and obtained employment in the composing-room of the “Southern Cross,” where he worked four years, and gained the reputation of being one of the quickest type-setters on the staff. Mr Cooper relinquished the printer's calling in 1869, and entered the office of the late Mr. J. B. Russell as a law clerk. In a short time he rose to the position of accountant, but gave up that fairly lucrative situation to study for the profession in which he has since won such brilliant success. He was page 273 articled to Mr. Russell in 1873, completed his term five years later, and was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court by the late Mr. Justice Gillies on the 20th of June, 1878. Mr. Cooper was then taken into partnership by his employers under the style of Russell, Devore, and Cooper. The partnership continued until May, 1883, after which the firm was known as that of Devore and Cooper. Mr. Cooper has often been prominently before the public of New Zealand in connection with important cases of more than ordinary interest, such as the Midland Railway arbitration, the Bank of New Zealand inquiry, and many others. No one has been more frequently seen at the Appeal Court at Wellington than Mr. Cooper. He was counsel for Judge Edwards in the well-known case, of which mention is made in connection with that gentleman's notice in the Wellington volume of the Cyclopedia. For many years Mr. Cooper was a member of the council of law reporting, and was elected a member of the council of the New Zealand Law Society, established under an Act of 1896. As a member of the Auckland Education Board and the Auckland College and Grammar School Board for very many years, Mr. Cooper did much useful work, though his lack of leisure compelled him to repeatedly decline the chairmanship of these bodies. He was for nine or ten years deputy-inspector of lunatic asylums. For many years no election for the House of Representatives took place in Auckland without an attempt being made to induce Mr. Cooper to accept nomination, and he was often mentioned as a prospective occupant of the Supreme Court bench. Besides taking an active part in the politics of the country, Mr. Cooper found time to render valuable assistance to his friend, Mr. Button, in connection with the Sunday afternoon services of the Young Men's Christian Association, and in a variety of ways he unsparingly devoted his time and talents to the welfare of the city of Auckland. Mr. Cooper was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, and Judge of the Arbitration Court, in February, 1901, and shortly afterwards held his first session at Wellington.

Judge Cooper. Hanna, photo.

Judge Cooper. Hanna, photo.