D.—No. 5

No. 17. Wm. Fisher, Esquire, Christchurch, to the Attorney-General. Sir,— Christchurch, March 10th, 1865. You will possibly remember that last year, when you were in Christchurch, I mentioned to you that 1 had drawn a " proposed new Debtors and Creditors Act" founded on my long experience in the practice of bankruptcy aud insolvency in England. This proposed Act has been perused by Mr. Slater, who will tell you he approves it. Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Cotterell, and other solicitors here, have also perused it, and approve it. I have recently carefully revised it, and now (with the sanction of Mr. Slater) submit it for your perusal, and, if you think fit, adoption. Any information or explanation you may require shall be promptly afforded by me if you think fit to favour me with a line, and any further assistance in the matter that I can render may be depended on. With regard to the appointment of a judge, or commissioner specially for the purpose, it appears to be the general feeling in Christchurch that the business of the Supreme Court interferes materially with that of Bankruptcy. For instance, the hearings are only once in three months, which is very prejudicial to the interests of both creditors and debtors. It has also been suggested that a Small Debtors' Court, on the principle of the County Courts in England, will be a great improvement ou the present system of the Resident Magistrate's Court. This might easily be arranged to be under the jurisdiction of the Judge appointed under the Debtors and Creditors Act, and the remuneration to be from the fees payable for summonses and hearings, on the same self-supporting system as that suggested in my proposed Debtors and Creditors Act. Should you think well of this suggestion, I shall be happy to commit my ideas of a short bill, for a Small Debtors' Court to paper, and send you. I have, dec, The Honorable the Atttorney-General. William Fisher. No. 18. The Attorney-General to William Fisher, Esq., Christchurch. Sir. — Attorney-General's Office, Wellington, 17th March, 1805. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the date quoted in tho margin, and am directed, in reply, to thank you for the same. I have, &c, R. G. Fountain, William Fisher, Esq., Christchurch. For the Assist. Law Officer. No. 19. William Fisher, Esquire, Christchurch to the Atiorney-General. Re Debtors and Creditors Act. Sir, — Christchurch, April, 15th, 1865. It being now apparent that whatever measure may be adopted in this matter, official assignees must be appointed in the different districts. I think the time has- arrived for making known to you my wish to become a candidate for that office in this district. Long experience as accountant in bankruptcy and insolvency in London, which I think will be evident on perusal of the proposed Act, I had the honor to send you, is my pea for the application. The majority of the solicitors here will, I know, join in testifying to my fitness for the office I seek, and I doubt not that such testimony will be numerously backed by several of tbe principal merchants and others here. If successful, I shall be ready to find the needful security. I ha.c, &c, The Honorable tbe Attorney-General William E_sher. No. 20. The Attorney-General to Wm. Fisher, Esquire, Christchurch. Sir, — Attorney-General's Office, Wellington, 18th April, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the date quoted in the margin. I have, &c, R. G. Fountain, William Fisher, Esquire, Solicitor, Christchurch. For the Assist. Law Officer. No. 21. - Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Ist March, 1865. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in tbe margin, and in reply to inform your Honor that the Debtors and Creditors Act is under the consideration of the Government with a view to its amendment next session. 1 have, __c., His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Fred. A. Weld.

March 10th, 1665,

April ... 1-65,

No. _-o.>. 3 15th Feb., 1865.

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