*
{
COPY.
Sir,
Enclosure.1.
Chambers,
253
36285
GE26 NOV 10)
Supreme Court, Hongkong,
31st. August, 1910.
The state of the cause list in the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court at the close of the judicial year makes it incumbent on me to report that the appointment of a Third Judge is now a pressing necessity, and that it is in- -porative if the Court is to perform its duties properly.
2.
During my absence on leave the Acting Chief Justice Mr. Rees-Davies tried several long cases, including one of abnormal length lasting 54 days covering a period of over 4 months. When I returned, the list had in consequence be-
-come unduly congested. The time at disposal has been insuffici- -ent to work off arrears, and two heavy cases fixed for hear- -ing before the vacation have had to be postponed till next term. The long cage above alluded to is coming on for appeal before the Fill Court, and a moderate estimate for its hearing is 3 weeks. So that next Term is already full, and all other cases must stand over. The appointment of a Third Judge would relieve the pressure as well as prevent arrears in Chambers and Bankruptcy which must inevitably accumulate.
3.
It is my duty therefore to urge upon you
the necessity of sending a cable to the Secretary of S ato giving him the substance of this report on the state of business; this will enable him to consult with Sir F. Lugard at once on the subject.
4.
A point has been sometimes made in the
past that the number of Barristers was insufficient to keep two
Courts; this is not the case now. I pointed out in one of my later letters on the subject last year that while it might be
possible to carry on the business of the Original Jurisdiction
side