CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3] — Page 266

perhaps be sufficient, reference being had to the increased power vested in the Court to try in a summary manner questions to the extent of $500 instead of $100 as heretofore and for the decision of which a court will always be held once in each month, and I hope oftener, if circumstances appear to demand it. These two amendments in the practice of the Supreme Court, and the facilities afforded by the Petty Court, to enable injured parties to obtain redress in a speedy and comprehensible manner will, I am in hopes, meet in a great measure the objections urged in the Petition; but should further experience prove the system requires to be still more simplified I shall not hesitate to again bring the matter before the Legislative Council and to the notice of your Lordship if necessary.

11. Touching the complaint against the heavy fees demanded in the Court, it is so vaguely worded that I do not clearly understand if it be the ordinary fees levied by the Court and paid into the Government Treasury or those levied by the attorneys for their own benefit that are alluded to. The latter I know to be extravagant, to a degree, for two Bills made up by the attorneys have come under my particular cognizance in an official form. It is difficult however to prevent these gentlemen from making what charges they see fit where clients are concerned because the parties employing them are perfectly ignorant of what charges attorneys are authorized to make, and equally so that these charges can be taxed by the Court, but as regards the fees taken by the Court and which are paid into the Government Treasury