1850-12-14 — Page 1

14th December, 1850.

Present:

His Excellency The Governor,

The Honorable The Chief Justice,

The Honorable The Attorney General,

The Honorable David Jardine, Esquire,

The Honorable J. F. Edger, Esquire.

The minutes of the last Council were read and approved.

The ordinance to prevent the desertion of Seamen belonging to Foreign Ships and Vessels, being No. 4 of 1850, was read a second time, and ordered to be printed and published in the next Gazette.

The ordinance to regulate proceedings before Justices of the Peace which was read a first time on the 3rd Instant, received further consideration when certain alterations and additions were made; these being agreed to, the ordinance was directed to be printed and brought forward for final approval at a Council to be held on Monday the 16th Instant.

His Excellency The Governor then informed the Council, that in certain cases the law of evidence required further improvement, as witnesses, wither by bribery or intimidation, were frequently induced to leave the Colony and thus much inconvenience was felt and the ends of Justice frustrated. An ordinance had therefore been prepared by the Honorable the Attorney General which the Honorable the Chief Justice approving of His Excellency now submitted for the consideration of the Council.

The ordinance entitled "An ordinance for the improvement of the Law of "Evidence at the trial of Criminal cases before the Supreme Court" was then read and approved.

(Signed) S. G. Bonham.

Read and approved, this 17th Day of December, 1850.

(Signed) Charles St George Cleverly,

Officiating Clerk of Councils.