160 "File Agricultural Holdings {England) Act, 1875. 
sect.). If the forty-nine days expire, and no award is ready 
for delivery, their whole authority ceases (§ 30) and is trans- 
ferred to 
The Umpire. — He thenceforth stands seised of the questions • 
submitted to the referees, and is armed with the same powers of 
calling for samples and documents, of taking sworn evidence, 
and of proceeding in the absence of either party after notice 
duly given to both (§ § 26, 27). His award, when made, must 
also be in writing, and signed by him (§ 28). The referees are 
not required by the Act to inform the umpire of their disagree- 
ment and the termination of their authority. There even 
appears to be no obligation upon the parties to inform the 
umpire of his appointment, and obtain his consent to act. 
Again, there is no exact limit of time within which the umpire 
is required to commence his duties. If the parties are inactive, 
they may postpone the reference to the umpire indefinitely ; or, 
if by this time they have had enough of referencing, a locus 
penitentia: is here afforded to them, and they may settle their 
differences without troubling the umpire. 
Should this happy consummation not be reached, however,^ 
the umpire must have his award ready for delivery within 
twenty-eight days after receiving written notice from either 
party or referee of the reference to him. If he finds that he 
cannot make it ready within this period, he, or either party on 
his behalf, must apply to the Registrar of the County Court, 
who, from time to time, may extend the period just mentioned. 
Such application, however, must be made before the expiration of 
the twenty-eight days, or of any prolongation of time granted by 
the Registrar (§ 30, sub-sect.). There is no limit to the number 
or length of the postponements which may be granted by the 
Registrar, but it is to be hoped that he w'lW do his spiriting 
gently, and in practice exercise this wide discretion so as to 
discourage unnecessary delays. Applications made to the Re- 
gistrar, under the sub-section, to extend the time for preparing 
the umpire's award, ought, it is presumed, to be by summons, 
when made by either party, as upon the appointment of referees 
or umpire ; or after notice to the parties, when the umjiire him- 
self applies. But the County Court orders are silent on this 
point, and the application may possibly, therefore, be treated 
as an ex parte one. 
It is important that the umpire should be asked whether he 
is willing to act before his apj)ointment by the referees, and 
that neither they nor the parties should trust to the chapter of 
accidents. It is true that, if the referees agree, his appointment 
