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The other Deputy Registrar would under the Superintendence of the Registrar attend to the other branch of the Court. He would have to assist the Registrar if required in the preparation of Reports in drawing up orders, decrees, references, &c., &c., he would also have to discharge the duties now performed by the Sheriff, the Appraiser, and to superintend the Bailiff, the Sheriff's officer and the working of the proposed measure for bringing under the jurisdiction of the Summary Court of all distresses for rent, and to issue the process of the Court. When it is taken into con- sideration that this year there will probably be over 200 Writs of Sammons in Original Jurisdiction and 1,500 Summonses in Summary Jurisdiction, it is obvious that the Deputy Registrar will have a great deal to do. In Summary Jurisdiction Summonses are in most instances applied for by the parties themselves and I think it will be an advantage to poor suitors to get the assistance of one of the Deputy Registrars in preparing his claim rather than to be dependant on one of the Clerks in the Office. The number of people that the Deputy Registrar would have to see on business in the course of the year would be very large, and as under the arrangements I propose he could be constantly in the office, I have no doubt that the business in the Sumniary Court would largely increase and some claims that are now made would possibly under bis advice not be brought forward.
I would propose to attach to his branch the Usher and Clerk of the Court in its Original Jurisdiction when not attending in Court, the Bailiff of the Summary Court and the Sheriff's officer, and the Chinese Interpreter Mr. LI HONG-MI and also of Mr. BALL for the purpose of interpretation when required and not otherwise engaged. I do not think however that either the Registrar or Deputy Registrar could be answerable in damages for the acts of the Bailiff Sheriff's officer, Messenger in bankruptcy or any other officer executing the process of the Court. None of these officers are appointed or removable or dismissable by them or either of them and although each officer would be answerable for his own neglect or default, I do not see how the head of the department of his Deputy could be made liable. The public generally would lose the advantage of having a responsible officer liable for damanges, but power might be given to the Court to punish subordinate officers guilty of misconduct which might be sufficient to prevent its taking place. As a fact I believe no action has ever been brought against the Sheriff except in cases where the Sheriff has acted under a guarantee of indemnity. The office of Sheriff must I think under the new system be abolished and power must be given by Ordinance to the bailiffs, &c., of the Court to serve process and enforce executions.
There only remain attached to the Supreme Court the Clerks of the Judges.
The Puisne Judge's Clerk now acts as Clerk of the Summary Court, setting free the Deputy Registrar who will be able to give his undivided attention to office work. The Summary Court as I have before stated sits for 3 or 4 days in the week. On other days the Judge's Clerk would act as a copyist for the Judge, he is also a medium of communication between the Judge and the members of the profession, he is also a