A.—9

1874. NEW ZEALAND.

DISTRICT COURTS ACTS AMENDMENT, 1873. (LETTER FROM HIS HONOR THE CHIEF JUSTICE RELATIVE TO.)

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by command of His Excellency.

His Honor the Chief Justice to the Hon. the Pbemieb. Sib,— Wellington, 6th June, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that, in compliance with your request, I have Drought under the consideration of the Judges of the Supreme Court in conference, the printed Bill termed " The District Courts Act Amendment Act, 1873." As regards those portions of the Bill which confer, and provide for the working of, the enlarged powers to be thereby conferred upon the District Courts, the Judges do not presume to offer any comment. The Government and the Legislature, upon the information which they possess, can alone judge of the policy of such a measure. And'with regard to the Bill generally, seeing that it does not constitute the Judges of the Supreme Court Judges of an inferior Court, but merely empowers them to hear and determine certain causes, according to the practice and procedure of the District Courts, in lieu of the ordinary procedure of the Supreme Court, the Judges desire to offer no objection to the Bill. If indeed it should be in contemplation to introduce in the Session of 1875 a new measure, reconstituting the Supreme Court w rith a scheme of practice and procedure more nearly resembling that of the District Courts as now constituted, it may be a question whether it will be deemed desirable that the Supreme Court should, during the interval, exercise its functions upon two different systems of practice. In any event, the Judges will discharge any new duties imposed upon them as Supreme Court Judges, to the best of their ability. I have, &c, Geobge Alfbed Abitet, The Hon. the Premier, &c. Chief Justice. By Authority: Geobob Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB74. Price 3d.]