ADAMS, ALEXANDER SAMUEL (1861-1937) was born at Taieri Mouth, his father, John James Adams, having arrived in Otago in 1848. Educated at the Stone school in Dunedin (while Sir Robert Stout was a teacher there), he decided at the age of seventeen to become a lawyer and entered the office of his brother (J. A. D. Adams). On passing his final examination in 1883, he received the Canterbury Law Society's honours certificate. Having been admitted, he entered into a partnership with his brother which lasted till 1910. In 1888 he successfully conducted the Roche case, in which it was held that a married woman could not hold a publican's license. His opponent was Stout, then at the height of his fame at the bar. In 1919 Adams took his two sons into the firm. In 1920 he became crown solicitor in Dunedin (in succession to W. C. Macgregor), and a few months later he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. Adams was deeply interested in social movements, especially temperance. He was president of the New Zealand Alliance and of the Otago and Southland No-license Council; of the Council of Churches (1903-04) and of the Baptist Union (1905-06). He married Margaret, daughter of John Boyd (Tapanui). He died on 10 Sep 1937.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; The Press, 11 Sep 1937.

Reference: Volume 1, page 18

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