A.-6

4

28. That, if practicable, one sitting of the Court of Appeal be held every year in Christchurch. 29. That printed copies of the draft rules of procedure, when prepared, be circulated amongst the members of the Commission before the next full meeting of the Commission takes place, and that the members be permitted to lay the same before the respective Law Societies for their opinion thereon. 30. That the criminal jurisdiction of the local Courts with limited jurisdiction be the same as is now exercised by the present Resident Magistrates, and in local Courts with extended jurisdiction be at least as extensive as that now exercised by the present District Courts. 31. That all motions for new trial on leave reserved be made on notice of motion; and that on all motions or rules for new trials cause be shown in Banco, if practicable, before two Judges. 32. That Registrars and Deputy-Registrars hereafter appointed be, if possible, members of the legal profession, and that no service as Registrar or DeputyRegistrar hereafter serve as qualified for admission as barrister or solicitor

DIGEST OE SUGGESTIONS MADE Note. — Suggestions on matters not within the scope of the Commission, or dealing with small matters of detail, and all argumentative matters, have teen omitted. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE. 1. Erom Government, as to amendment of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act. 2. As to sittings of the Supreme Court at Invercargill. 3. Extract from New York Civil Code of Procedure. SUGGESTIONS Returns. That a list of District Court Judges and Resident Magistrates be obtained, with the salaries, duties, and officers, also statistics of the work done in the several offices, the number of Petty Sessions, amounts paid for travelling expenses. The information to be obtained for the current year Courts. District Courts should be abolished. Resident Magistrates should always be lawyers. Some amendment should be made of the law by which very small cases are often dismissed on account of the questions of title to land being incidentally raised. All Courts should be guided by the same rules of law No Magistrate ought to be allowed to decide according to equity and good conscience. Resident Magistrates should try all questions of fact in many actions, and cases should come up to the Supreme Court on special case, the facts being found by the Resident Magistrate. District Courts and Petty Sessions Courts should be abolished. That there must be a Supreme Court, and, with the present system of one Supreme Court Judge sitting in Banco, there must be an Appeal Court. The only Court that might be abolished is the District Court. That the procedure of the Supreme Court should be simplified, and that it should sit at such additional times and places as to enable it to overtake the work at present done by the District Courts; additional Judges to be appointed if necessary That, in proceedings before the Court of Appeal,—■ (1.) The costs should be fixed at a definite sum, thus*— (a.) Cost of printing , (b.) All other costs, so much for case. (2.) The Court should sit twice a year in the Middle Island, the sitting could be at Christ church,

Name of Pebson suggesting.

Mr. Grisborne.

Mr. Woodward,

Mr. Travers.

Mr. Ollivier.

Mr. Stout.