278
...
define them unless he takes the advice of the Judges, be-
cause they are so largely dependent on the staff of the
Registry. I want information often on the spur of the
moment which is, or at least ought to be, known only to
the officers of the Registry; it is impossible that work
should go on harmoniously, if the Registrar may at any
moment question the right of the Judge to ask for it,
leaving the Judge to redress only by means of appeal to the
Governor.
21.
With regard to the action of the Colonial
Secretary in the matter, I venture to offer the following
remarks.
Mr. Seth on this occasion for the first
time rebelled against the exercise of my authority, and
declined to give me the information I had asked for. By
intuition I suspected that he had consulted the Colonial
Secretary, and I discovered that he had been advised to
act as he had done.
...
Your Excellency in your despatch has at
least conceded this, that the question is a delicate one,
and that it would be advisable in future for Mr. Seth to
lay his views before the Chief Justice if he objects to an
order. Yet this very violent and unexpected action