PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILIC.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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No. 4.-District Court of Port Louis.
[By V. Esnouf, Esq.]
In order to shorten the length of my present statement, I will at once and readily mention, as a general and impartial remark, that I am perfectly satisfied with the good, steady, honest, and praiseworthy conduct of each and every officer of my Court; and I am happy to have this opportunity of paying the greatest eulogium to their zeal, and to the active and clever manner in which they perform their duties.
The duties of the District Clerk, Mr. Shellebeck, are numerous: he issues all the processes of the Court, keeps minutes of the proceedings, and receives and accounts for all moneys received by him.
Mr. Shellebeck, who has been for upwards of eleven years attached to the higher Courts of this Colony, and has thereby acquired a certain amount of legal knowledge, has hitherto shown the best qualifications for his situation of District Clerk, and I have no doubt that the experience which he will derive from the new branch to which he is now attached, will hereafter qualify him for some higher situation.
Ha assistant, Mr. Fox, fulfils almost the same duties as Mr. Shellebeck.
Mr. Fox is a very laborious, careful, honest, and punctual officer, in whom every confidence may be placed: and I have already recommended him for promotion.
'The additional clerk, Mr. Marceau, assists the Clerk and Assistant Clerks in their respective duties, under the control of the District Clerk.
He has just entered the service of Government: he is a very intelligent young man, and I am sure that his endeavours to learn will soon qualify him to be promoted to some higher situation in the district clerkship.
Mr. Henry Ritter, the Interpreter for the French and English languages to my Court, is an elderly man, of very good fame and respectable character, thoroughly acquainted with the aforesaid languages, and is of great assistance to me for the dispatch of the criminal and corrective business.
I will apply the same observations, as to character and ability, to Mr. Johnson, the Interpreter of the Indian languages. His services, which he is at all times ready and willing to afford, have always been most available to me.
Mr. Larry Jacques and Mr. Elodore Mareil, the two ushers attached to this Court, are very honest and active in serving the process of the Court, which they execute faithfully.
The messenger, Setho Mamode, gives me also satisfaction.
(Signed) V. ESNOUT,
Junior District Clerk in and for the District of Port Louis.
No. 5.-District Court, Plaines Wilhems.
[By J. M. Robertson, Esq.]
In conformity to your Excellency's desire, that I should report to your Excellency the best particulars of the Clerks of this Department,which my present knowledge of them will permit, I have the honour to submit the following statement:
District Court, Plaines Wilhems.
M. Emile Ganachaud, District Clerk-Has been sixteen years in the service, takes charge of the Civil Status, and issues the permits and certificates consequent thereon. He also receives the civil plaints and issues the civil process of the Court, and has the keeping of the records of the Court. Mr. Ganachaud has also other duties to perform connected with the Internal Revenue Department. Mr. Ganachaud is regular in his attendance, and steady in his application to business. I believe him to be of the greatest probity.
Mr. J. Dupont, Assistant District Clerk.-Entered the service six years ago. He attends the Civil and Criminal Sittings, and keeps the Minutes of the Court, which, properly speaking, is the duty of the District Clerk. I found the present system had been established by my predecessors, and I have as yet made no alterations in the practice. Mr. Dupont issues the summons in criminal cases, draws informations of parties when directed by me, and makes out warrants, &c. He also keeps the letter-book. Mr. Dupont is intelligent and of some ability: he has a competent knowledge of English, but I regret to be obliged to say, he is not regular in his attendance, which I have been obliged to notice. I would recommend the "Attendance Book" being revived, and rigidly enforced, in the District Courts.
Moka District Court.
Mr. Edward Martindale, District Clerk.-Entered the service in 1848. There being no Assistant Clerk, the whole of the very onerous duty of this office, which in other districts is divided between two offices, devolves upon Mr. Martindale. He is most atten-
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tive to his duties, and regular in his attendance, and will, with more experience and prac- tice, I have no doubt, become a valuable public servant.
B. Clayton, Interpreter. This person being now under an official inquiry, I abstain from giving any opinion respecting him.
Jailer and Assistant Jailer.-So far as I have had occasion to observe, both these persons perform their duty, and I have had no complaints against them.
J. M. ROBERTSON,
District Magistrate.
(Signed)
No. 6.-District Magistrate's Office, Flacq.
[By H. N. D. Beyts.]
The following are the officers now employed in the Courts of the District of Flacq :-
1. V. Singery, Acting District Clerk.
2. H. Pratt, Assistant Clerk in the District Court.
3. W. Dacosta, Clerk to the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court.
4. T. Haddon, Assistant Clerk to the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court.
5. Narsing, Interpreter.
2. Referring to the conduct and qualifications of the above-named Acting District Clerk, I regret to say that I cannot as yet speak as favourably as I should have wished. Hitherto, in my opinion, he has not coped with the duties of his office in the right way. He does not display sufficient activity in the discharge of the business devolving upon him. I have warned him of the necessity I shall be under of representing his conduct to his Excellency the Governor, if the proceedings of the Court suffer any avoidable delay, and I hope that my remonstrances will bring about a good effect. If they do not, I shall revert to the subject, disagreeable as it may be for me to complain against an officer placed in my own department. With respect to his qualifications, I have nothing particular to report.
3. H. Pratt, the Assistant Clerk of the District Court, is specially intrusted with the duties connected with the Civil Status. As far as I have been able to judge, these duties are well performed. This officer's conduct is good. I should think him quite fit to be promoted to a Chief Clerk's situation in a Stipendiary Magistrate's Court.
4. W. R. Dacosta is fully acquainted with his duties, and very attentive in performing them. I do not hesitate say that he is one of the most efficient of the Stipendiary Magis- trate's Clerks who have hitherto been placed under me.
5. T. Haddon, the Assistant Clerk of the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, deserves a favourable mention in this Report. He is laborious young man. I have not the least
doubt that he will soon qualify himself for a promotion in this Department.
6. Of the competency of Narsing, the Interpreter of Indian Languages, I am sorry that I cannot speak in favourable terms. He is chiefly employed in interpreting Hin- dostanee and Tamal, and is perfectly acquainted with neither of these dialects. conduct has not deserved any special notice.
His
(Signed)
H. N. D. Beyts, Acting District and Stipendiary Magistrate.
No. 7.—Office of the District Magistrate of Rivière du Rempart.
[By M. Jules Colin.]
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Mr. Lablache.-I beg to speak first of the District Clerk, Mr. Charles Lablache. Of that gentleman I can confidently speak as of a meritorious, honest, and sealous officer. am obliged, however, to add that although Mr. Lablache is perfectly well fitted for the situation which he occupies, and the duties of which he performs in an excellent manner, yet I do not believe him equal to the labours of a more responsible position, or able to cope with more arduous duties.
Mr. Kyske. The Assistant Clerk, Mr. Kyshe, is a cheerful and willing lad, of good disposition, but as yet unexperienced.
With regard to the duties performed by those gentlemen :--
The District Clerk has the custody of the Records of the Court; he takes minutes of
all proceedings; prepares all warrants; receives and draws up the plaints and informations lodged before the Court; recovers all fines and costs; taxes the costs; issues warrants for levy; and is the accountant of and responsible for all moneys received by or due to the Crown on legal process, or as fines.
He has also to receive certain taxes, and to record the declarations of dogs, vehicles licenses.
He acts also as officer of the Civil Status in the district, for the registration of births and deaths, the recording and celebration of marriages, publications of banns, &c.
The Assistant Clerk aids him in the various above-specified duties.