BENCH AND BAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1136, 25 May 1911, Page 8

BENCH AND BAR.

♦ - ' FIXING THE CIVIL LIST. The conclusion of the criminal business at the Supreme Court came suddenly yesterday, and then ensued a rather troublous Chamber sitting for tho arrangement of the order of the civil coses. All the counsel were not present when their cases were mentioned. Later, arriving in some instances in extreme haste, they complained that no notice, had been given them of the Chamber'sitting. Tho De-puty-Registrar- explained that all ■ the offices had been duly notified.

"I shall strike the cases out if the solicitors ore not here," said his Honour, "They must apply to have them reinstated. This is tho fourth timo this has occurred." ,

Several of • the .solicitors explained the difficulties of the position, but his Honour would listen' to no excuses, and said it was dono in the olden days. The Bar assumed they. could get the fixtures as they pleased. The whole circuit arrangement could not be upset, because some of the cases were unprepared. If there were fixtures struck out. the litigants must know it was the fault of their solicitors. He had recently read of a Judge in Liverpool striking out fifteen cases because the solicitors responsible were not present, and would jiot allow them to be reinstated. Honour then 'expressed to the waiting jiiror.s his regret ■ that it would he necessary for all of tliem-to be retained until Friday morning at 10 o'clock, but he could not call less, than a full panel. . "