5130.
MY LORD DUKE,
No. 18.
(VIRGIN ISLANDS.)
QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Doctors' Commons, May 21, 1860.
C
I AM honoured with your Grace's commands, signified in Sir Frederic Rogers' letter of the 3rd May instant, stating that he was directed to request that I would consider the accompanying Virgin Islands Ordinance, No. 67, To regulate divorce and matrimonial causes," and report to your Grace my opinion whether it may receive the Royal Assent.
In obedience to your Grace's commands, I have taken this Ordinance into considers- tion, and have the honour to
Report
That I see no sufficient reason why this Ordinance should not receive the Royal Assent.
If my opinion is desired upon any one or more particular points, I request that they may be indicated. Nothing but the text of the Ordinance itself is transmitted to me, and I am, of course, unable to say whether the Chief Judge of the Virgin Islands (for the time being) may always hereafter be relied on as a fit person to exercise matrimo- nial jurisdiction; or whether the other necessary ingredients of a proper Matrimonial Court, such (for instance) as a competent registrar and a reasonable number of regularly educated practitioners, exist in the Virgin Islands.
The Right Hon. his Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c.
&c.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed J. D. HARDING.
• 16278-289. 25.-3/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference:
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-