REVIEW.

Evening Star, Issue 3932, 1 October 1875, Page 2

REVIEW.

I$ A Digest of the Law and Practice of Realdent Magistrates’ and District Courts, &c.,” by (L B. Barton, of the Middle Temple, Barristei-at law, Dunedin. Henry Wise, Princes street. Mr Barton points out in his pn face to this very u-eful work that, owing ‘o the peculiar circumstances in which the Courts of this C dony have been placed-through the want of stiiiable means ot communication between them, it has been hitherto almost impossible to elevate the practice of the law iu New Zealand into a sclentilic system.” He believes, however, that s i many materials have accumulated since the establishment of County Courts iu England and in the Colonies, and that so many le.al questions which have arisen iu the cour. e of practice have been set at rest, that an attempt to furnish means of immediate reference to the authorities on men matters is c died for, and is likely to be of real use to the profession. Accordingly he has given a digest of cases that have beth settled in the English and Colonial Courts, “in which any light, appears to be thrown on the practice of our Resident Magistrates’and district Courts.” The peculiar feature of this work is that it does not, like most books of the kind, merely give the hc.id-note of the report, but states the facts fully and often gives the exact words of the Judges who have decided the cases. The County Court practitioner has here, therefore, a sort of rack mccim , complete as far as it goes-in short, a work which, in our opinion, will prove eminently serviceable to him. The arrangement is luminous, and the style clear ami free from all unnecessary verbiage. It is hardly likely that the publication of such a work will be of much benefit to the pocket of the author, but it ought at all events to enhance considerably his reputation as a clearheaded and painstaking lawyer; We are fully persuaded of the truth of. the proverb “He who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client,” still wo cannot help thinking that. merchants, and persons generally whoso calling brings them now and then into courts of law as plaintiffs or defendants, would do well to have a copy of this work iu their offices. The book contains much information on many points that are very ill understood by laymen, and which are yet not beyond their reach. Ic we had space to spare we could quote many passages to prove that this is the ease. As it H wc must content ourselves with referring our readers to the articles on “ “ actoff,” and “ Partnership.” Wo should add taut the get-up of the book is good, and does credit to the printer.