, 1872-03-13

In our issue for tho 18th Of February mention
is made of a contemplated change in the judicial
offices of this island. Now that the final settle
ment of this matter is at hand, wo beg to give a
historical resume of tho whole matter. In tho be-
ginning of l867 a member of the Colonial Council
introduced a Draft Of Ordinance for abolishing the
Police District in the middle of the Island, the
SO called Center District, established since the In
surroction, and for introducing tho previously OK
listing two Police Districts, and separating the
functions of tho ~Policomasters from those of tho
Town-Judges. Wo copy from the Proceedings Of
the Colonial Council a portion Of the motives of
that draft, as thoy of themselves afford o clear view
of tho previous stages Of the question.
SIN its most submissive report on the Draft OF
the Budget for tho financial year l86l-65 tho Co
lonial Council observed, that it was generally ac-
knowledgod, that q new organisation of the Police
force of this Island was wanted. The Council
showed, that with tho means tho Police had Mt its
disposal, nearly $4,000, II more ofliciont Police
might be established when the administration OF
the entire PolicG-force was placed under one PO-
licemaster, and added, that it was not in tho pro-
vince Of tho Council to franc u plan for Il new
Organisation, but they would express the wish and
hope, that Immediate steps be taken for otfocting
n reorganization of the Police-forcos in this Is
land. These sentiments wore unanimously OK
pressed in the meetings on tho2lst and 23rd April
1864. Tho manner III which the Governor during
the discussions expressed himself led to suppose,
that he would take the matter under early cOnsld-
GRAFTON how far the aforementioned most sub
missive address to His Majesty has accustomed
the authorities in tho mothorcountry, to take steps
in this direction, is not known, but as the Council
now by an answer Of His Excelloncy to Il qucs-
ton put by the LIST member for tho town OF Chris
tianstod in tho meeting the 18th February has
been informed, that the matter has been resting
only for want of time, the undersigned members
of the Council have thought it advisable to bring
forward q draft of an Ordinance concerning the
premises.
Up to tho year 1855 this Island has had not less
than A law officers appointed to the different oitl-
oes of Judges and Magistrates herewith connee-
master for the Professionally erected Police Dis
trict in the middle of tho IsIand.l These Offices
were thus divided, that there were at least two
functionaries in each of tho two jurisdictions OF
the Island, although the several Offices were not
at all times or in both jurisdictions divided in the
same manner the office of Dealingmaster was
never before 1855 joined with the ottico as Ponce
master; the other Offices, ifno special officer ap-
pointed to any one of them, were sometimes JON
ed with the Office of D~ealingmaster, sometimes
with the office of P~olicemaster. In the trst SOS
sion of tho Colonial Council held III the year Ioo-
the Governor introduced, along with the DfaIt OF
the Budget, a plan for separating the JuoiGIor
functions from tho functions of magistrate anu Oh
the executive Police, in order that the courts
might be entirely independent OF the superior au-
thority, and thus remove the improper ~conJunc-
ton of the power of prosecuting and OF passing
Judgment in the same functionary, the PoIcemas-
ter. The Governor therefore proposed: "the
erection Of two offices of Policemaster,-one ID