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2. Our laws in regard to natives, Indians, and immigration in particular, differ very widely indeed from those of the Cape Colony.

3. As regards native law, a special Court-the Native High Court-has been estah- lished to deal with native cases which do not come within the jurisdiction of Magistrates. The Courts of Zululand again differ from those of Natal.

4. The system regulating the admission to the Bar is unlike that of the Cape. 5. I am not aware of any gentleman of high standing at the Cape who is acquainted with our laws in so far as they differ from those of that Colony.

6. It is desirable that the gentleman selected to represent this Colony should be one acquainted with the law and practice of Natal, and who is in possession of the ideas of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the leading members of the profession.

7. A consideration of the constitution of the Privy Council from the Natal point of view must be affected by the probability of federation in South Africa. The Dominion and the Commonwealth will both be represented, and for the same reason, South African Colonies should be represented separately, as it has no federal Ministry.

8. The increasing importance of Natal and probable future developments seem to me to entitle Natal to have separate representation.

HENRY BALE,

Attorney-General.

March 1, 1901.

1930.

SIR,

!

No. 17.

COLONIAL OFFICE TO COUNCIL OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 20,]

Downing Street, April 17, 1901.

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform you that he has received a telegram* from the Officer administering the Government of the Straits Settlements, asking that one member of the Final Court of Appeal in cases from the Colonies may be selected from present or retired Crown Colony Judges.

2. Before considering this request, Mr. Chamberlain would be glad to know what proportion of the work of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council at present consists of cases from the Crown Colonies.

3. Mr. Chamberlain would accordingly be obliged if you could see your way to furnish him with a statement showing-(a) the total number of petitions for leave to appeal, and of appeals actually heard by the Judicial Committee during the last five years; and (b) the number of such petitions and appeals coming from the Crown Colonies (ie., all Colonies except Canada, Newfoundland, the Australian Colonics, New Zealand, Cape Colony, and Natal).

I am,

&c.

II. BERTRAM COX.

Enclosure 2 in No. 15.

PRIME MINISTER to GOVERNOR.

13979.

No. 18.

CEYLON.

البير

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

7

His Excellency,

FOR your Excellency's information.

Mr. W. B. Morcom, K.C., M.L.A., has signified his willingness to act as the representative of this Colony, and would like to know when it is probable that it will be necessary for him to leave Natal.

Mr. Morcom states that he will be prepared to leave on the 10th, the 17th, or the 25th of this month, but would prefer the last-named date.

March 1, 1901.

11930.

No. 16.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

A. H. HIME,

Prime Minister.

ACTING GOVERNOR SIR F. A. SWETTENHAM TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received 9:45 A.M., April 3, 1901.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 22.]

LEGISLATIVE Council and Chamber of Commerce urge that one member Final Court Colonial Appeals be selected from Crown Colony Judges or retired Judges.

GOVERNOR SIR J. WEST RIDGEWAY TO MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(No. 96. Miscellaneous.)

SIR,

(Received April 22, 1901.)

[Answered by No. 23.]

Queen's Cottage, Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon, March 29, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to forward, for favourable consideration, copics of letters from the Attorney-General and Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, inclosing Reso- lutions passed by the Bar of Ceylon and the Chamber, in relation to the representation of Judges of the Crown Colonies on the Bench of the proposed Imperial Court of Appeal.

2. I also forward a Memorandum from the Attorney-General expressing his own views on the subject, and I would record my own opinion in favour of the proposal. Its adoption would give much satisfaction to this and probably to all Crown Colonies.

I have, &c.

WEST RIDGEWAY.

Enclosure 1 in No 18.

RESOLUTION in relation to the representation of JUDGES of the CROWN COLONIES on the BENCH of the proposed IMPERIAL COURT of APPEAL,

(No. 139.)

Attorney-General's Office, Colombo, March 15, 1901

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to forward you a copy of a Resolution adopted by the Bar of Ceylon at a meeting called on Thursday, the 7th instant, for the purpose of con-

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• No. 16.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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