A.—6c.

Public Works.

Provided that if before the first sitting of the Court to hear the claim fthe claimant and execute and file (in the Court for filing the claim) an agreement in writing that the claim shall be heard and determined by such Magistrate without Assessors, then such Magistrate alone 5 shall constitute the Court, and shall hear and determine the claim accordingly. 52. If the amount claimed be more than two hundred and fifty pounds, the Judge of the Supreme Court and the two Assessors so appointed as aforesaid shall, except as hereinafter provided, constitute the 10 Compensation Court, and the Judge shall be the President thereof. 53. If the amount claimed be more than two hundred and fifty pounds, and not more than one thousand pounds, the Judge may appoint a Judge of a District Court or Magistrate to be a member of and to preside in the Court in his stead. 15 54. If either the claimant or respondent objects to the person appointed under the last preceding section, the Judge shall, unless he considers such objection to be frivolous or unreasonable, cancel such appointment, and preside in the Court himself. 55. If the amount claimed exceeds one thousand pounds, and the 20 claimant and respondent consent in writing that the claim should be heard before a Judge of a District Court or Magistrate, the Judge of the Supreme Court may order that such claim shall be heard accordingly, and may appoint a Judge of a District Court or Magistrate, as the case may be, to preside in the Court instead of the Judge of the Supreme 25 Court. 56. (1.) If, before the first sitting of the Court to hear any claim as hereinbefore provided, the claimant and the respondent make and execute an agreement in writing to the effect that the claim in question shall be heard and determined by one person named in such agreement, 30 such agreement shall also state the fee (if any) to be paid such person for his services, and shall be filed in the Court for filing the claim. (2.) The person so named shall be deemed to be the Compensation Court; and shall appoint a time and place for the sitting thereof, and shall hear and determine the claim accordingly. 35 57. A Court constituted to hear any claim under this Act may, by consent in writing of the claimant and respondent in any other claim, in respect of the same or of any other land, hear and determine such last-mentioned claim as though the Court had been constituted to hear and determine the same. 40 58. If either party, before the first sitting of the Court, objects to the ,f appointment of any Assessor, the President may, upon the application of such party, unless the objection appears to be frivolous or unreasonable, order the Assessor so objected to to be discharged, and the person having appointed him shall, within twenty-one days after 45 such order, in like manner appoint another in his stead, failing which the Registrar of the Supreme Court shall forthwith appoint one in his stead. 59.|N0 member of the Court shall be deemed to be interested in any case solely of his liability to pay rates on which the 50 compensation awarded may become a charge. 60. If the Judge is interested in the claim to be heard, the Governor shall appoint some other Judge of the Supreme Court to act in his stead.

Parties may '£ dispense with Assessors.

If more than £250 claimed, Judge and two Assessors to constitute Court. 1894, No. 42, sec. 51 When claim not more than £1,000, District Court Judge or Magistrate may be deputy. Ibid, sec. 52 Deputy may be objected to. Ibid, sec. 53

When claim exceeds £1,000, Judge with consent of parties may appoint a District Court Judge or Magistrate to preside. Ibid, sec. 54

Parties may agree] on a single person to constitute the Court. Ibid, sec. 55

Court may hear other claims by consent. Ibid, sec. 56

Assessors may be objected to. Ibid, sec. 57

Liability to pay rates not to be £ deemed interest in a case. Ibid, sec. 58 If Judge interested, Governor to appoint another Judge. Ibid, sec. 59

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