ORDINANCE No. 15 OF 1844. 59
Supreme Court.
distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, as by any
ordinance of His Excellency the Superintendent of the Trade of British subjects in
China hath been, or shall be, given.
24. And be it further enacted and ordained, that it shall be lawful for the said Powerto regulate
sittings ofthe
Court, and to
Supreme Court to make and prescribe such rules and orders, touching the times and make rules and
orders.
place of holding the Court, form of process, pleadings, and other business and pro
ceedings of the said Court , and of the fees payable therein, as to the said Court shall
seem fit, and such rules and orders , from time to time, to alter, amend, or revoke, as
occasion may require ; and also that it shall be lawful for the said Court to alter or
revoke any rule or regulation, contained in this Ordinance, touching the aforesaid
matters.
25. And be it further enacted and ordained , that there shall be four terms in each Sittings of the
Court.
How many
year for the despatch of the civil business of the said Supreme Court, and the said terms terms, and when
to be held.
shall be the months of January, March, May, and November, and shall commence on
the first, and terminate on the last , day of the said months respectively : Provided ,
that whenever it shall happen that any of the said months shall commence, or end , upon
a Sunday, the term shall commence on the Monday following, or end on the Saturday
preceding .
26. And be it further enacted and ordained, that there shall be four sittings in Sittings at nisi
prius, &c.
every year for the trial of all civil causes and actions, and for the hearing and deter
mining of all matters of complaint under the summary jurisdiction of the said Supreme
Court, as hereinafter provided ; and such sittings shall commence on the 1st day of
February, 1st day of April, the 1st day of October, and the 1st day of December, and
shall terminate on the 14th day of each of such months respectively : Provided , that
whenever either of the said days shall commence, or end, upon a Sunday the sittings
shall commence on the Monday following, and end on the Saturday preceding : Pro
vided also, that if at any time it shall appear to the Chief Justice of the said Court
necessary or expedient that the Court should sit for the purposes aforesaid at any other
or different periods, it shall be lawful for the said Chief Justice so to do, upon given
reasonable notice thereof.
27. And be it further enacted and ordained , that there shall be four sessions in Criminal
sessions.
every year for the despatch of the criminal business of the said Supreme Court ; the said
sessions to commence on the 15th day of February, the 15th day of April , the 15th day
of October, and the 15th of December, in every year, and shall terminate on the last day
of each of such months respectively. Provided, that whenever either ofthe said days shall
happen to commence, or end, upon a Sunday, the sessions shall commence on the Monday
following, and end on the Saturday preceding : Provided also, that if at any time it
shall appear to the Chief Justice of the said Court necessary or expedient that a criminal
session should be held at any other or different period , it shall be lawful for the said
Chief Justice so to hold the same, upon giving reasonable notice thereof,