compared with the preceding.
were
preceding, one of £4,835, and a further saving,
will be effected during the present year, as three Companies of Rifles returned to Ceylon in November last. Although I have already had occasion to remark that the Governor is in no way responsible for the expenses
of this Branch of the service, I have, nevertheless, invariably used my best
efforts
with the respective authorities on the spot to ensure a due
regard
in
on
whenever the contemplated outlay
to
any way connected with the Civil Government,
for instance the proposed repair of the Barracks at Stanley, to which I adverted in my despatch 1219 of the 21st March, 1850.
5.
Under this head five Ordinances were passed during
the year 1849, all of which have
since been approved by Her Majesty. Of these perhaps the most important is A21, by which the Summary Jurisdiction of Police Magistrates and Justices of the Peace was
extended, and
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a Court of Petty Sessions instituted for the trial of certain offences which were
before only cognizable by the Supreme Court. This measure reported by me in detail in despatch 120 of 24 February 1849, has fully answered the expectations I had formed of it, by providing for the more speedy settlement of small debts, minor Crimes and misdemeanours, and I have reason to believe that it has gained the entire confidence of the Community
By Ordinance N3, the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
was
extended to civil cases where the amount in dispute may not exceed 500 Dollars, and for the convenience of parties who might wish to employ legal advisers, such a table of Fees chargeable by attorneys
was drawn up and revised by the Attorney,
seemed necessary for the
protection of suitors, because attorneys and Solicitors, who from the absence of Barristers act here as advocates,
are not subject to that control