rown,
judge and clerk of District Court, a judge and a registrar of the
Surrogate Court, and one or two registrars for deeds, with coroners,
according to the extent, at all the principal towns or villages.
In each district is also a sheriff, a clerk of the peace, a treasurer,
and, in some of the district towns, a board of police, with president,
clerk, treasurer, and street-surveyor.
The officers of the incorporated cities or towns are similar to those
at home.
Justice is administered by the courts of Queen's Bench,
Quarter-Sessions, District Courts, and the Town Court, with Division
Courts.
The terms of the Court of Queen's Bench are four; and in Western
Canada, at these times, the judges sit at Toronto to hear counsel on
law questions.
Easter term commences on the first Monday in February, and ends on the
Saturday of the following week.
Trinity term, second Monday in June, and ends Saturday of the
following week.
Michaelmas term, first Monday in August, until Saturday of the
following week.
Hilary, first Monday in November, until Saturday, as before.
The Quarter Sessions are held throughout the province on the 7th of
January, 1st of April, 1st of July, and 18th of November.
The District Courts are held at the same time as the Quarter Sessions.
This court has jurisdiction in all matters of contract from 40s. to
L15; and, when the amount is liquidated or ascertained, either by the
act of the parties, or the nature of the transaction, to L40. Thus a
promissory note under L40 can be sued in this court before the
district judge, who is usually a barrister: and an open or unsettled
account under L15, but none above that amount; also, all matters of
wrong, or, as the lawyers please to call it, _tort_, respecting
personal chattels, when title to land is not brought in question, and
the damages are under L15. The judge of the District Court, by a late
Act, presides also at Quarter Session.
The ordinary costs of a suit before him are from L5 to L10; and in the
Queen's Bench, before a _real_ judge, from L10 to L30.
The Division Courts are a sort of non-descript Courts of Conscience
for recovery of small debts under L10; and here the district judge has
his hands full, for he comes into play as president again, and has to
hold courts in six divisions of his district once in two months.
The Court of Chancery is the _summum bonum_; its costs are, of course,
very great, and its decisions, though not qui
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