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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O.8
885
SIR,
No. 59.
(WINDWARD ISLANDS.)
LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Royal Courts of Justice, October 26, 1885. We were honoured with Mr. Meade's letter of the 9th instant, stating that he was directed to enclose a copy of a despatch from the Governor-in-Chief of the Wind- ward Islands (Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and St. Lucia), with extracts from a letter from Mr. Choppin, the Attorney-General of St. Vincent, at present acting as Chief Justice of St. Lucia and Tobago, and a minute by Mr. Schooles, the Attorney- General of Grenada, from which it would be seen that Mr. Choppin entertained the opinion, which was not shared by Mr. Schooles or by the Governor-in-Chief, that in consequence of the Colonies of Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and St. Lucia having ceased to be comprised in the Commission by the Governor of Barbados, the Order in Council of 3rd March 1859, establishing a Court of Appeal for the Colonies of Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and St. Lucia, under the name of the Court of Appeal for the Windward Islands, had become inoperative; and that the Court of Appeal had no longer any authority or status.
That copies of the Order in Council, the Colonial Acts specified in the schedule thereto, and subsequent Acts and Ordinances amending, or repealing some of those Acts, and of the letters patent constituting the respective offices of Governor of Barbados and Governer-in-Chief of the Windward Islands, were enclosed for reference. That it appeared that the view taken by Mr. Choppin was erroneous, but that having regard to the position of that gentleman as (temporarily) one of the Judges of the Court of Appeal for the Windward Islands, it was thought advisable to obtain our opinion on the question.
That our opinion was therefore requested as to whether the status or authority of the Court of Appeal for the Windward Islands had been destroyed or affected by the separation of the Government of the Colonies of Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and St. Lucia from the Government of Barbados.
to
In compliance with the request contained in Mr. Meade's letter we have the honour
Report
That in our opinion the status and authority of "the Court of Appeal for the Windward Islands have not been destroyed or affected by the separation of the Government of the Colonies of Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, and St. Lucia from the Government of Barbados.
The Right Honourable Colonel Stanley, M.P.
&c.
&c.
&c.
We have, &c. (Signed)
R. E. WEBSTER. J. E. GORST.
A 15027.-35. 33-12,85.
13 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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