§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. BAGWELLsaid, that this was a Bill to give Mr. Thomas Courtenay, the registrar of the Nisi Prius Court, £300 a year for doing duties which he now performed for nothing. He thought that this required some explanation.
§ MR. WHITESIDEsaid, he had received a communication from the Lord Chief Justice in Ireland informing him that the late Attorney General for Ireland had, at his (the Lord Chief Justice's) desire, promised to bring in such a Bill as this, and asking him (Mr. Whiteside) if he would do so. He replied that he would. Some three or four years ago a new court, called the Consolidated Nisi Prius Court, was established in Dublin. That court was, of course, created by Act of Parliament, but no officer was created to receive records, to swear witnesses, and to sit under the Judge from the commencement to the close of the business. That duty had hitherto been discharged by the Registrars of the Chief Judges in turn, but without payment. The present Bill was to provide payment of £300 a year for that which he did not 2279 think any English solicitor would like to do for nothing.
§ Bill read 2°, and committed for To-morrow.