206 TRINIDAD. 



or of the stipendiary justices in their respective districts ; but by 

 a recent ordinance in Judicature Act of 1879, the Supreme 

 Court has power, on the motion of the Attorney- General, to 

 order all proceedings from inferior courts to be sent up to it 

 there to be reviewed. 



Rural Districts Courts. — There are in the island seven of 

 these courts, presided over by stipendiary justices, who reside in 

 their respective districts. 



Every stipendiary justice has jurisdiction over the whole 

 island. 



The Rural Districts Courts have a summary jurisdiction in 

 all cases of a criminal or quasi-criminal nature, where the offence 

 committed is not of an indictable nature. When the offen< 

 committed is of an indictable nature, the stipendiary justice 

 take preliminary depositions, and forward the same to the 

 Attorney-General, who determines whether the party charges 

 should be indicted or not. 



The power of imprisonment by a stipendiary justice is limite 

 to six months, with or without hard labour. 



A court of similar jurisdiction to those of rural districts sit 

 daily in Port-of-Spain. It is presided over by the stipendiai 

 justice of the western district of the county of St. George ane 

 the town of Port-of-Spain. 



The important duties of .coroner are performed by the stipen- 

 diary justices. The verdict of the jury must be unanimous, 01 

 the jurors are confined for several hours, until they concur in a 

 final agreement, or are dismissed on some good ground. 



As there are many foreigners in the island — Spaniards, 

 .French, Portuguese, Hindoos, Chinese — there are interpreters 

 attached to the different courts. 



Executions take place within the precincts of the Royal Gaol, 

 in the presence of all the prisoners assembled, and a certain 

 number of the public admitted for the purpose. 



Chief Justice, £1,800; first puisne judge and commis- 

 sioner of Petty Civil Court, Port-of-Spain, £1,200; second 

 puisne judge, £1,000 ; clerk to the judges, £200 ; messengers, 

 porter, £145 ; allowance and contingencies, £130 : total, 

 £4,475. 



Registrar of the Courts. — Registrar, £600 ; four clerks, £455 : 

 total, £1,055. 



