Sessional_Paper_1906 — Page 153

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10. FEES AND COMMISSIONS.

The total sums collected during the year by way of Fees and Commissions Tables IX paid into the Treasury amounted to $61,984.69, as against $49,108.37 in the and IX (a.) previous year.

11. THE JUDGES.

The Puisne Judge, Mr. Justice ALFRED GASCOYNE WISE, returned from leave of absence on the 22nd May, and resumed his duties on the same day.

The Chief Justice, Mr. (now Sir) FRANCIS TAYLOR PIGGOTT, who was appointed to succeed Sir WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN (retired). arrived in the Colony on the 23rd May, and assumed the duties of his Office on the same day. Sir FRANCIS PIGGOTT received the honour of Knighthood on the 24th June, 1905.

12-COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS, &C.

During the year the following gentlemen were appointed Commissioners for Oaths, &c., so long as they should hold their several offices, viz.:-

Mr. JOHN WILLIAM LEE-JONES, Deputy Registrar and Accountant, to be a Commissioner for taking acknowledgments by married women of the Deeds to be executed by them.

Mr. GEORGE HERBERT WAKEMAN, Land Officer, to be a Commissioner to

administer Oaths, &c.

Mr. CHARLES ALEXANDER DICK MELBOURNE, Assistant Land Officer, to

be a Commissioner to administer Oaths, &c.

Mr. PHILLIP JACKS, Assistant Land Officer, to be a Commissioner to administer Uaths, &c., vice Mr. MELBOURNE whose Commission lapsed on his severance from the Land Office.

13. STAFF.

The Registrar, Mr. ARATHOON SETH, received the honour of a Companionship of the Imperial Service Order on the 24th June, 1905.

Mr. JOSEPH HORSFORD KEMP, Deputy Registrar and Appraiser, acted as 2nd Magistrate from 20th March to 12th April when he proceeded to England on 3 months' vacation leave followed by 9 months' leave of absence on half salary, the discharge of the duties of his Office being arranged departmentally.

Mr. JAMES DYER BALL, First Chinese Interpreter, was appointed to act as Assistant Registrar General on the 10th August, his place being filled by Mr. LI HONG M1, the Second Interpreter, Mr. NICHOLAS GEORGE NOLAN, Interpreter at the Magistracy, taking the place of the latter.

4th April, 1906.

Table I.

ARATHOON SETH, Registrar.

RETURN OF CASES brought under the coynizance of the SUPREME Court of HONGKONG during the Year 1905.

ORIGINAL AND SUMMARY JURISDICTIONS.

Į JUDGMENT.

No. of Depen. Cases Jurisdiction. dency in

1905.

In

Tutal.

Debt and Damages.

Settled or with- drawu

Struck out,

in 1904.

before

trial.

Plaintiff.

Defendiant.

Nonsuit

Struck out of the Cause-Book as Dismissed having been stand-

& lapsed ing over generally

Writs.

for more than

a year.

In Dependency,

Debt and

Damages recovered.

$

Original,

Summary,

257

427*

681 7,815,780.31

61 195 4

$

257

154 2,651,983.63

304 1,889 2,283

749,109.34

752 784 53 15

59

391

226

188,469,12

*

1 Case transferred to Summary Jurisdiction,