reading when these Rules received the sanction of the Legislative Council. Mr Hulmston was not present, though he had that morning attended at the laying of the first stone to the new Church.
is of
Under this clause the Judges' vacation is reduced to 4 months - I do not think that any Judge can reasonably complain that 4 months' vacation is insufficient - Indeed, compared to the Judges in England, Calcutta, or Her Majesty's Colonies, the Judge of Hong Kong may be said to have a perpetual vacation - In England and Calcutta during the long vacation, writs are issued - Pleadings are delivered and filed throughout the year, excepting in the interval of time from the 10th of August to the 24th of October.
One of the Judges is always in attendance in chambers to transact business, except during the above interval. I am not quite sure, but I believe in Calcutta the Judge is in attendance even during that interval - In Hong Kong the only business which the Judge is required to do in vacation is the signing of an order for the issuing of writs to hold to bail upon affidavit that the party sought to be detained is about to leave the Colony - This is an order of course here and any one of the Officers of Court might be authorized to issue such order in the absence of the Judge. There is nothing in the 5th Clause of these new Rules to prevent the Judge enjoying a vacation of three months, namely from the close of the Criminal Sessions in July to the commencement of the next Sessions on the 15th October - By the terms of his Commission he cannot absent himself from the Colony without leave previously obtained from the Governor without avoiding his office as Judge - At the same time he makes his application for leave of absence he might apply for the temporary
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