172 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



A new Certificate of Title is granted as often as the property 

 is transferred, so that the title consists of one deed simply, 

 and is always kept clear and distinct, without any accumu- 

 lation of papers and deeds so puzzling to non-professional 

 persons, and so fruitful a source of expense in lawyer's 

 charges and otherwise. It is provided that the original 

 grants and all Certificates of Title granted upon transfer are 

 indefeasible. An exact reproduction of the title is kept in 

 the volumes of the Registrar of Titles, and the Registrar has 

 ample powers to deal with any of the ordinary accidents 

 which may occur in regard to documents. Where any ques- 

 tion of importance arises for example, whether a particular 

 caveat or mortgage should be inscribed first the Registrar of 

 Titles has power to refer, in a summary way, to the Supreme 

 Court, and the Court, after hearing parties, can give direc- 

 tions. 



The whole system of land titles is based upon registration, 

 so that the transfer or mortgage only becomes effective when 

 registered. In place, therefore, of the transfer conveying the 

 property when signed and delivered, as would be the case in 

 England, the transfer is rather the warrant to the Registrar 

 to change the title to the new name. Again, in order that 

 there may be no mistake as to the time when a document 

 concerning land, whether mortgage, transfer, or encumbrance, 

 is handed in, a book is kept called the Presentation Book, in 

 which all documents are entered the moment they are pre- 

 sented for registration. The hour and minute of presentation 

 is at once inserted in the appropriate column, and that date, 

 so fixed, is the date of registration which is thereafter marked 

 on the deeds, and rules the rights of parties. 



The only property in land which is recognised by the law 

 is that of fee simple, so that the whole of the perplexing con- 



