of the Incorporated Law Society, presided. The minutes of the meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. W. H. Geoghegan, Auditor, in feeling terms referred to the death of Mr. Gerrard, and proposed the following resolution: "That we, the members of the Solicitors' Apprentices' Debating Society, express our deep regret at the death of Mr. Thomas Gerrard, Solicitor, who has always been a most generous supporter of our society. We tender to his family our sincere sympathy in their great bereavement, and as a mark of respect to his memory, we adjourn our meeting without transacting any ordinary business until this day week."

Mr. Joseph Dudley, Solicitor, seconded the resolution, and referred to the suddenness of Mr. Gerrard's death, and the loss he would be to the society.

The resolution was passed unanimously, and the meeting then adjourned.

WIGS AND GOWNS..

In the life of every man, we are told, one moment stands out pre-eminent in joy. Where is that happiest time in the career of a barrister? Does it come when be receives his maiden brief, or when he obtains the earliest verdict in his favour? On neither of these occasions, delightful as they are, does the fullest measure. of bliss fall? The precious moment comes when the barrister dons his wig and gown for the first time. As the crisply curled wig closes round his head an unknown thrill of delight rushes through his brain, stirring up visions of massive trees of legal knowledge bearing upon their spreading branches golden guineas galore. At the first touch of the brand new gown, his mind becomes a panorama of a successful career at the Bar; the paper-crowded table of the busy junior, the dignified appearance of an eminent Q.C. addressing a jury, the comfortable proportions of a seat on the Bench, and the unsurpassable glory of the woolsack-his thoughts revel in these delights. How brilliant the prospect is! What. smiling eyes Hope has! Once more he looks into the mirror; he fondly shifts bis wig to the position on his forehead that has commended itself last to his fancy, and arranges again his beautifully starched bands with devotional care. He is happy in the boundless possibilities of his position.

The magic touch of wig and gown! It exists at the end as well as in the beginning. Few know of the revereuce with which old barristers regard their professional head-gear. It is the symbol of their labours, the cherished relic of their wars of argument in Court. As the feeble old man, too weak and deaf to go into Court, opens the tin box in which his wig lies, and holds it fondly with his shaking hand before his fading eye, be thinks of the days of his vigour, of the time when he argued boldly with judges and pleaded eloquently with juries, and his thoughts hallow the time-stained wig with their pathos. Not long ago such a barrister in his last hours desired to see his wig and gown before he died. They were fetched from Lincoln's Inn, and held before his eyes, and a long lost smile lit up his face. He asked in almost lifeless tones to have them put on, and anxious not to cross even one of his last wishes, his relatives at his bedside did as he bade them, and gently raising his weary head from the pillow, they placed the ragged wig upon it and hung the rusty gown upon his shoulders. His head sank back upon the pillow, and his eyelids closed. Suddenly his eyes re-opened, his head was raised, and his dry lips moved. "May it please your Lor" As these words fell feebly from bis lips, his weary frame sank back once more. soul was before the Great Judge of all men.

His

We give these instances of the attachment that barristers display towards their wigs and gowns in order to remove an impression existing in certain quarters that Q.C.'s and juniors regard their professional headgear as an inconvenient appendage and that they would willingly dispense with it. The self-constituted philan thropists who manufacture this opinion probably derive their conclusions from observing barristers remove their wigs from their brows in hot weather. Undoubtedly

the temptation to dispense with the headgear on an excessively sultry day in the summer is a very great one; but the advocates of these days are so attached to their wigs that they resist this temptation far more successfully than the last generation of lawyers. In the Times for 24th July, 1868, may be found this interesting paragraph, which amply proves our last statement:

"During the last two days the learned judge and the Bar have been sitting without their wigs, and, in opening a case, Sir Robert Collier called attention to the innova tion, and apologised for not appearing in full forensio costume. His lordship said he had set the example of leaving off the wig in consequence of the unprecedented heat of the weather, as he thought there were limits to human endurance. Sir Robert Collier expressed a wish that this precedent might be generally followed, and hoped that the obsolete institution of the wig was coming to an end-a hope in which many members of the Bar heartily concur.'

"

Twenty-two years have passed away since this delightful scene occurred in the Court of Probate and Divorce, and the example of Sir J. P. Wilde, and the hope of Sir Robert Collier, remain unfollowed and uns fulfilled. The greatest iconoclast that has appeared ou the Bench since that interesting occasion is Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, who appeared in the vacation court the other day with his breast unadorned by bands. So far from proposing to put an end to "the obsolete institution of the wig," barristers frequently discuss the various theories that have been started in explanation of its origin. What a standing subject for debate is the lapel, the little triangular piece of stuff which hangs from the back of a junior's gown. What learned statements respecting this mysterious bag-like appendage we have heard from the lips of young advocates, whose antiquarian researches are illumined with the ruby light of a glass of wine! There are two great theories oonnected with the lapel, and each has its advocates, who never fail to fight with enthusiasm..

It is contended on one side that the lapel is a diminutive representation of the hood which barristers wore before the introduction of wigs and hats, the hood being fastened to the gown in order that it might not be lost when taken off in Court. It is argued by the opponents of this view that the lapel is a wallet. It is divided, us our readers know, into two compartments, one of which is open, and the other enclosed. It is capable of holding small articles such as money; and this is the object that the exponents of the wallet view perceive in it, In the olden times barristers were supposed to give their services gratuitously. They were above the guineas for which their successors fight; in a literal sense, they were above price. But the suitor who enjoyed the services of one of these high-minded advocates invariably slipped an honorarium into the little bag behind his back; and we can readily imagine the eagerness felt by this great-souled practitioner to take off his gown in his chambers and see what sum had been put in.

Such is the interminable discussion that ranges among antiquarian lawyers respecting what, after all, is a very little thing. But the whole gown is the subject of dispute. Everybody who has been inside a court of law has doubtless wondered why a junior's gown differs so widely in shape from other legal robes. The gowns of judge, Q.C.'s, solicitors and ushers are, except so far as material is concerned, alike. They all have the square flaps by the neck and the hanging sleeves by the side; and it is concluded from the similarity of the gowns worn by these four different officials that their gowns are the truly legal ones, and that the juniors' gown has come from the Universities, in which surmise there is probably much truth. However, it is quite clear that silk gowns have long been appropriated to appointments under the Crown, which explains the silk attire of judges and Q.C.'s.

About the beadgear of the higher branch of the profession less mystery prevails. For instance, the fullbottomed wigs, of which there was such an imposing

array in the Courts last Friday, were the full dress wigs of all gentlemen in the time of Charles II., to whom belongs the honour of introducing them into England. At one time, too, juniors encased their beads in them. Kettleby, the barrister immortalised in Hogarth's works, was the last junior to wear one. Since his time custom bas confined full-bottomed wigs to the occupants of the Bench and the leaders of the Bar, a fact for which juniors have every reason to be thankful, for anything more uncomfortable and ugly than a fullbottomed wig bas never been designed for the head of a human being.

Portraits of judges before the Restoration show that their ancient lordships wore no wigs, but contented themselves with a coif, or velvet cap, or dignified their heads with a three-cornered hat. It is sometimes said that the judges of our own time should improve upon this old custom of relinquishing their wigs in favour of their natural hair. We will not stay to inquire into the unknown quantity which their lordships would have to be in favour of, but we earnestly hope that judges and barristers will long continue to keep their borse-hair on, and to preserve the impressive appearance, the picturesque dignity and desirable distinction bestowed upon our Courts by wigs and gowns.-Law Gazette.

THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF

IRELAND.

The Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland was held, on the 26th inst., in the Solicitors' Buildings, Four Courts-the Presideut, Mr. W. BURROUGHS STANLEY, occupying the chair.

Amongst those present were :—

Sir P. Maxwell, C. Walsh, Thomas F. O'Connell, H. 8. Mecredy, M.A.; H. F. Leachman, M.A.; R. Vanston, J. R. O'Connell, LL.B; F. R. Wolfe, M.A: W. B. Stanley, W. Findlater, D. L.; W. Fry, Jun.; W. Grove White, LL.B.; R. S. Reeves, K. H. Hallowes, Thomas Falls, J. L. Scallan, John F. Harkan, W. H. Dunne, E. Fitzgerald, B.A.; V. Kilbride, Geo. Lyster, W. Carey, C. A. Stanuell, MA; T. T. L. Overend, LL.D.; J. A. French, B.A.; A. L Barlee, Wm. D'Alton, J. Galloway, M.A.; John MacSheehy, B. Thompson, John W. Killeen, J. P. Tyndall J. D. Rosenthal, LL.D.; T. C. Baker. H. W. Geoghegan, LL.D.; M. J. Farrelly, F. R. M. Crozier, R. C. Walker, Robt, Reeves, M.A.; J. O. Lindsay, V. B. Dillon. J. P. Maxwell, Wm. Scallan, R. J. Ferguson, J.P.; R. B. White, Thos. C. Franks, W. Deverell. P. K. White, W. J. Shannon, H. T. Dix, R. K. Clay, Ed. Collins, A. Henry, R. Pilkington, J. Read, W. S Hayes, W. Hayes, F. Wilme.

The SECRETARY (Mr. W. G. WAKELY) read the notice convening the Meeting and the minutes of the General Meeting of 16th May last.

The PRESIDENT, with the consent of the meeting, signed the balance sheet for year ending 30th April, 1890.

The SECRETARY read the report of the scrutineers of the ballot for Council for year ending 26th Nov.. 1891, and the President declared the new Council duly elected. The following is the result of the voting

:

John MacSheehy, 202 votes: Wm. Findlater, 198; E. Fitzgerald, 189; Wm. Fry, jun. 178: A. L. Barlee, 176; Henry L. Keily, 173; Richard 8. Reeves, 169; W. Burroughs Stanley, 169; C. A. Stanuell, 160: Edwd. D'alton, 154; George Fottrell, 153: John L. Scallan, 153; Robt. Reeves, 151; W. H. Dunne, 149; A. F. Baker, 142; T. C. Franks, 142; T.T. L. Overend, 142; Sir P. Maxwell, 141; F. R. M. Crozier, 140; John A. French, 140; Thomas F. O'Connell, 140; 8. P. Redington, 140: J Galloway. 129; H. S. Moore, 127: Thos. Falls, 122; Thonia K. Roche, 121: Thomas Gerrard, 119; H. S. Mecredy, 118; R. H. Bauchamp, 93; J. Trevor Fox, 93; J. D. Rosenthal, 91.

Supplemental list to fill vacancies-Bennett Thompson, 88 votes; W. Mooney, 85; R. K. Clay, 81.

It was intimated that the vacancy on the Council caused by the death of Mr. Gerrard would be filled by Mr. Bennett Thompson.

We take the following extracts from the Annual Report:

Members of the Society.-The Council are much pleased to be able to state that the number of members of the Society considerably increased during the past year. There are now 444 members, and it is believed that the fact of each Province having its own Delegate on the Council, who can bring forward questions affecting

country members, and their special interests, will have the effect of further increasing the number. In the month of June last a circular was sent to every Solicitor in Ireland who was not a Member of the Society, pointing out the benefits of the Society, and inviting him to join. The result of this circular was most satisfactory.

The Working of the Supplemental Charter.-The results which have followed the introduction of Extraordinary Members and Provincial Delegates on the Council, under the Supplemental Charter obtained last year, have proved satisfactory. The Northern and Southern Law Societies have acted in friendly concert on all subjects. The Extraordinary Members and Provincial Delegates have attended the meetings, and have assisted in the consideration of numerous questions affecting country business which have arisen during the Session. Among these subjects were included the Improvement of County Court Procedure, Illegal Practitioners Practising at Petty Sessions, Boards of Guardians employing their Clerks as Solicitore, and the carrying out of the Labourers' Cottages Act, besides many others affecting the Profession. It was also found that the Country Members of the Society have been most useful in watchfully representing the Law Society and the Profession in their respective districts, and the Council are convinced that their exertions will be appreciated by the Profession.

Solicitors (Ireland) Bill.-In the year 1888 Lord Esber introduced a Bill which subsequently became an Act of Parliament, under which a Committee of the English Law Society was given power to hear all applications for removing the name of a Solicitor from the Roll, or requiring him to auswer allegations contained in an affidavit, and, if necessary, to report their finding to the Court. It was considered by the Council that any Bill dealing with the regulation of the Profession in this country should be one which would assimilate the law in this country relative to Solicitors with that existing in England, and consequently the provisions of the English Act of 1888 were incorporated in the Bill, which was previously promoted by the Council, and was introduced into the House of Commons; but owing to the difficulties attendant on all private legislation during the past Session, it did not reach its second reading. The Council hope that their successors will have the measure introduced again.

Certificate Duty Repeal Bill.-This measure was not introduced last Session. It will be remembered that it was undertaken during the past few Sessions by Mr. O'Hea on behalf of the Profession; Mr. O'Hea resigned his seat last Session. The Council desire to mark their appreciation of his efforts on the question during the past, and to thank him for same. A proposal made in the House of Commons last Session, that Solicitors should be allowed to take credit for their certificate duty as against the amount of Income Tax they pay, was rejected.

Law Clerks (Ireland) Bill.-This Bill was again introduced into the House of Commons last Session. The text of the measure was similar to that introduced in the preceding Session, with one technical exception. The Council took the like steps against the Bill as their predecessors in office had taken, and they are glad to state that it did not reach its second reading. have the highest respect for Law Clerks as a deserving body, but the objects aimed at by the Bill are such as to necessitate continued opposition on the part of this Society.

They

Public Trustee Bills.-During last Session the Lord Chancellor of England introduced a measure entitled "The Public Trustee Bill." A measure under a similar title was introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. Howard Vincent, and Lord Herschell introduced the Trust Companies Bill. The two Bills introduced into the House of Lords passed that House, but were withdrawn in the House of Commons; and the Bill introduced in the House of Commons did not reach its Becond reading. The three Bills were considered by the Parliamentary Committee of the Council. The

The

Committee came to the conclusion that opposition should be offered to the three measures, and, accordingly, the Report of the Committee on the Bills was forwarded to every Member of the Profession in the House, with a letter requesting him to oppose them. The Committee were of opinion that the object of the Bills, which was to hand the administration of almost all classes of trust matters to a Public Trustee, was not one which would be beneficial to the public in practice, though in theory it may appear good. The private character of trusts might at any time be destroyed, and trusts which affect minors or lunatics, or the administration of assets, which it may be, upon every ground, desirable to keep within the knowledge of a limited number of persons, would, under the Public Trustee Bill, become more or less of a public character. Committee, also, were strongly of opinion that the expenses of administration of all trust funds would be largely increased, as not only were the legal costs to be paid out of the trust funds, but also the expenses of the department of the Public Trustee. In this judgment they have the assistance of the fact, that estates in Chancery are notoriously more expensively and less satisfactorily controlled than those under ordinary management. To the Profession the result of the passage into law of these measures must be that Solicitors, as the confidential advisers of families and persons entitled to trust funds, would cease to be employed, and the duties would drift into the hands of a General or Departmental Solicitor, who could have no intimate knowledge of, or sympathy with, the requirements of those for whom he would act. For these various reasons the Council opposed these measures.

Rules Publication Bill.-This measure was introduced into the House of Commons by the Right Hon. H. H. Fowler, but was not proceeded with after passing its second reading. The object of the measure was to enact, that all General Rules made by any rule-making authority, pursuant to any Statute, should be published in the Gazette forty days before they are signed. The Bill applied to both England and Ireland. The Council gave the measure their earnest support. A petition from the Society was presented in its favour, and a circular letter urging support to the measure was sent to every Member respresenting an Irish Constituency in the House. The Council sincerely hope the measure will again be brought forward. Its passage into law is much to be desired, as it would afford time to consider, discuss, and report upon Rules before they came into force.

Registration of Assurances Bill. This measure was reintroduced last Session of Parliament for the second time, but did not reach the second reading. It has for its object the reconstruction of the Registry of Deeds Office, and a consolidation of the Acts relative to Registration of Deeds. In the month of December, 1889, the Parliamentary Committee of the Council met the Attorney-General for Ireland, and laid their views on the measure before him, and suggested many important amendments. Some of these suggested amendments have been adopted in the Bill of last Session; but the more important ones have not been inserted. The Council hope that their successors will endeavour to have these latter amendments adopted. The Council desire to mention that the amendments they desire to have made are in the interest of the public. Their opposition to the measure is practically confined to certain provisions dealing with equitable mortgages and bank advances, which they consider opposed to established usage, and disadvantageous to the public.

Local Registration of Titles Bill.-This Bill was introduced concurrently with the last-mentioned Bill, and did not reach its second reading. The Parliamentary Committee also discussed this Bill with the AttorneyGeneral for Ireland, and some of their suggestions were adopted. The measure will undoubtedly be re-introduced next Session, and will require the watchful attention of the in-coming Council. It was the original object of the measure to establish a separate Registry in each county in Ireland; but, at the instance of the

Council, this was altered in such a way as to have the central Registry in Dublin, and to have Local Offices in each county to receive and transmit documents to the Central Office; the date of receipt in the Local Office to be the date of registry, but the registry to be completed in the Central Office under the supervision of a competent Registrar. The measure is intended to provide a Register of Freehold Lands, compulsory in cases of purchases under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Acts, and voluntary otherwise. The Council desire to express their sense of the courtesy of the AttorneyGeneral in submitting his Bill to them, and his readiness in appreciating many of the practical difficulties which their experience of such matters suggested. The careful reports on this and the preceding Bill made to the Council by the Parliamentary Committee will be found deserving of the attention of the in-coming Council.

Proceedings under the Solicitors Acts.-The Council during the past year have considered and inquired into such complaints against members of the profession as were laid before them. Most of these complaints were of such a character as not to necessitate any further action; but the Council felt constrained in five casesto bring them before the Court. The names of three Solicitors were struck off the Roll, aud two others were suspended from practising their profession for periods of 12 and 6 months respectively. The Council are happy to say that in the great majority of the cases submitted to them the conduct of the Solicitor was thoroughly professional and satisfactory.

Communication of Proceedings of Council to the Press.A precis of the proceedings of public and professional interest which take place at the meetings of the Council continues to be communicated to the Press, and has from time to time appeared in the daily papers and in the IRISH LAW TIMES. The reports are made as full as circumstances will permit; but it can easily be understood that some matters come before the Council which it would be inadvisable to publish; and that others being of a routine character would be of no interest.

Payments to the Benchers.-It will be remembered that this subject was referred to in last year's report, but as the question is a complicated one it is thought well to agaiu explain the matter fully. In England and Ireland · each apprentice pays a stamp duty of £80 on his inden tures; in Scotland ouly £60. Of each £80 paid in Ireland the Government pay no less than £14 to the Treasurer of the King's Inns Society for no visible purpose whatever, and the question of the origin of the payment was brought before the Council. On investigation it was found that this payment originated in 1790, when a duty of £7 was levied, increased to £14 in. 1791, and it is manifest from what took place at the time that the money was granted by the Crown to the King's Inns Society, which then included Attorneys, with the express object of providing for the expense of the education of these apprentices. In fact the Beuchers at the same time applied for a oharter, with the express object of improving the education of the Legal Profession, and the tax was intended to provide the funds. The charter was granted in February, 1792, and in it the Benchers are termed "Professors of Law." When the agitation for the division of the two branches of the Legal Profession was commenced, the Solicitors urged that the payment of £14 by each apprentice, which amounts on an average to £1,000 per annum, should in justice be paid to the Society instead of to the Beuchers, as the Law Society were in future to represent the Solicitors and have charge of the apprentices' education. The Beuchers met this claim by alleging that the payment was made to them by the Crown in lieu of rent for the site of the Four Courts, which stand on ground which, they stated, once belonged to their Society, and that the payment in lieu of rent was made after they, the Benchers, had brought an ejectment against the Crown in 1796, when the Four Courts were opened, and that this arra gement had been specially co firmed by the statute 37 George III., chapter 12. This allegation was

brought forward so deliberately in a formal memorandum issued by the Benchers, that the Solicitors do not seem to have questioned its accuracy; but your Council were led to inquire into the matter, with the following remarkable results:-1. Instead of the Crown having built the Four Courts without any right to do so, the Courts of Justice were held on their present site as early as 1585, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, rent free. 2. Though the Courts were removed in 1695 to Christchurch-place, the buildings having become ruinous, the Records were still kept on the old site till, at all events, 1740, if not later. In fact there is no proof of actual desertion by the Crown, and the state of the Records was under consideration in 1761. 3. So far from the arrangement being made in 1796, after the commencement of an ejectment, and being expressly confirmed by the statute of 37 Geo. III., c. 12, in that year, there never was any such ejectment or confirmation by statute. The assessment was made in 1790, and increased in 1791, at a time when the then Chancellor, Lord FitzGibbon, was engaged in reforming the Legal Profession, and six years before the opening of the Four Courts. In fact the payment is no more connected with the Four Courts than was the "Deposit for Chambers," which originated about the same time-i.e., 1792. 4. The statute 87 George III., chapter 12, proved to be only the ordinary Stamp Act, and contained no reference whatever to the events alleged to have taken place. It must be borne in mind that even if the payments were by way of rent-which the Council do not admit-the Attorneys formed more than one half of the King's Inns Society from the very earliest times till 1866, and contributed to its resources, and they are just as much entitled as the Bar to their share of its revenues. The correspondence which has taken place on this subject since the Report of the Council of last year, together with the Memorandum of the Benchere, and further Report of the Committee, appear at Appendix A, page 32. The Council bave brought the matter before the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has referred it to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Theycommend this matter to the consideration of their successors.

Unqualified Practitioners.-The attention of the Council was drawn to a case which occured in County Wicklow, in which the complainant was represented at Petty Sessions by his steward. The case having been adjourned for a week, the Council directed their Secretary to serve a notice upon the steward, cautioning him of the penalties he incurred by acting as a Solicitor, and asking him if it were his intention so to do again. Having received a reply from the steward that he did not intend again so to act, the Council did not deem it necessary to take further steps in the specific case in question, but having obtained an opinion from the Solicitor-General for Ireland upon the meaning of the word "Agent" in the Petty Sessions Act, and considering that such opinion would be of use to Country Solicitors and Clerks of Petty Sessions, a copy was sent to all the Country Solicitors and Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland; it will be found in Appendix B, p. 51, of this Report. Since the issuing of the Circular several reports on proceedings by unqualified practitioners have been received from Country Solicitors, and have been considered by the Council, but no case has been presented to them in which there was such a state of facts as would warrant a prosecution. The Council fully recoguise that such infringements of the law are a great injustice to the Profession, particularly to those practising in the country; and they believe that much good has resulted from the circulation of the opinion of the Solicitor-General, as they have ascertained that in many cases the Magistrates have refused to hear any case in which the parties were not properly represented. Unqualified Conveyancers.-The attention of the Council having been drawn to a case in which it was alleged that a Lw Clerk had drawn a lease and been paid for same, a prosecution, at the instance of the Council, and in the name of the Secretary of the Society, was instituted under 27 Victoria, c. 7, s. 3. The case has been heard at Macroom Quarter Sessions, with the satisfactory

result that a decree for the full penalty of £20 was obtained. Notice of appeal against the decree has been given, and will be heard at the next Spring Assizes.

Labourers' Acts.-The Clonmel Board of Guardians, in the month of July last, decided to increase the remunera. tion of their Clerk so as to pay him for doing work under the Labourers' Acts, which can only legally be done by a Solicitor. The Council immediately passed a condemnatory resolution on the subject, which, with a cantionary letter, was sent to the Chairman and Clerk of the Board. The Board not having taken any notice of the letter farther thau to mark it read, the Council passed a forther resolution, asking the Local Government Board not to sanction any resolution of the Clonmel Board of Guardians, whereby the rates would be illegally spent. Communications passed between the Local Government Board and the Guardians, and in the result a letter from the Local Government Board to the Secretary of this Society was received, enclosing a copy of a Minute of the Guardians made at their meeting on 21st August, in the following terms "That Mr. Burke, the Guardians' Solicitor, be instructed to take up the working of the proposed Scheme under the Labourers' (Ireland) Act, when the Sanitary Authority are prepared to petition the Local Government Board for a Provisional Order, and to prepare leases from owners of the several plots to the Sanitary Authority." The effect of this Minute is considered by the Council to be most satisfactory, and to justify their action in the matter. The Council have observed with much regret that the practice of tendering for the Solicitors' work under these Acts is still continued in some places. A resolution condemnatory of the practice was passed three years ago by the then Council, and the Council do not hesitate to express their opinion against the practice. The attention of the Land Commission was recently drawn to the inadequacy of the Fees under the Rules of February, 1889, for work done under the Labourers' Acts. A reply was received in which it was stated that the Rules in question had been made after most careful consideration, but that in any cases presenting special features, applications for an increased scale would receive consideration.

The Society's Calendar.-This publication was again brought out this year, and, owing to its increased sale, the Council believe that the Profession are beginning to recognise its utility. The Editor has given his careful attention to the useful suggestions received from many members of the Profession for its improvement. It will be brought out next year at the same price-viz., three shillings, postage fivepence extra, and the Editor will be glad to receive corrections and information as early as is convenient.

Abolition of Special Prize Examination. For some years past it has been the custom for the Court of Examiners to recommend to the Council, at each Preliminary Examination, those candidates who showed special proficiency, as being eligible to compete at a further examination for the Society's prize in each October. It has been found that out of an average of fifteen eligible candidates rarely more than three present themselves for examination. This is to be accounted for in many ways-some Apprentices living in the country find it inconvenient to come to Dublin for the further examination, and others, when bound, not having time to keep up their study in general knowledge. The Council considered the matter during the past year, and resolved that no Special Prize Examinations shall be held after October, 1890; and that, instead of awarding the Special Prize, the Court of Examiners are, after the Preliminary Examination in each Trinity Sittings, to consider, and report to the Council, whether any, and if so what, candidates at the three previous Preliminary Examinations are deserving of Gold Medals, Silver Medals, or Special Certificates, the three Examinations for this purpose to be considered as one Examination.

Apprentices' Debating Society.-This Society has done good work daring the past year, and the Council have continued to provide for it a room in which to hold meet. ings. They desire to impress on students the desirability of

joining the Society as the best means at their command of obtaining practice in public speaking, which is daily becoming more necessary for Members of the Profession. The Gold Medal for Oratory, presented by this Society, bas been awarded this year to Joseph J. Dudley, a similar medal for Composition to W. H. Geoghegan, and Special Certificates for Oratory to T. W. Delaney and William Sheridan.

Court and Office Arrangements.-The Report of the Committee of the Council ou Court and Office Arrangements was under the consideration of the Judges when the Report of the Council of last year was submitted to the Society. On the 29th January last the replies of the Judges to this Report were received. They were considered by the Committee, and the Report, together with the replies and the comments of the Committee thereon, will be found at Appendix F, page 57. The subject of altering the date of the Long Vacation from August to October to July to September is dealt with in the Report of the Court and Offices' Committee. It will be remembered that in the year 1886 the views of the Bar and Solicitors' Profession were elicited on this subject by a circular from this Society. In reply to this circular, answers in favour of the proposed change were received from 78 Barristers, 670 Solicitors, and 26 Court officials; and against it from 21 Barristers and 135 Solicitors, thus leaving a majority of 618 in favour of the suggested alteration. From the reply of the Judges it will be seen that it is considered by them that the matter can only be dealt with by legislation. It will be seen by the replies of the Judges to the sug gestions of the Court and Office Arrangements Report that the long-promised matter of revising the existing rules has once more been taken up. The Council have already alluded to this subject in connection with the Rules Publication Bill, introduced by the Right Hon. H. H. Fowler. It will be remembered that it was suggested in the Report of the Court and Offices' Com. mittee that it would be well if the Council of the Law Society were afforded an opportunity of considering new rules before they were issued, but the suggestion was not acceded to by the Judges. The Council, having learned that the rules under the Supreme Court of Judicature Aot were being revised, again addressed the Judges, pointing out the expediency of the rules being perused by some practising members of the profession before they came into operation; but no reply to the letter has been received beyond an acknowledgment of its receipt. The Council remain of the opinion that practising members of the Profession should be consulted upon questions of detail and practice, which come within the exercise of their every-day business. The Council regret that their efforts in this direction on behalf of the public and the Profession have not been more successful.

Schedule of Fees.-In the month of June last a carefully prepared table, showing the great difference between the English and Irish Schedules of Fees auder the Judicature Act, was prepared and submitted by the Council to the Judges, with a request that the English scale should be adopted under the proposed new rules. To this request a formal acknowledgment was received, and the request was repeated in the mouth of October, with the result that a letter, written by direction of the Lord Chancellor, was received from his Lordship's Secretary stating that this subject is excluded from the reference to the Committee who are engaged in drafting the new rules, but is reserved for consideration when the work referred to the Committee has been completed. The table will be found at Appendix G, page 74.

County Court Procedure.-A Special Committee of the Council, composed chiefly of the Extraordinary Members and Provincial delegates, was appointed to consider what amendments in the existing County Court Procedure are desirable. The Committee sent a circular to County Court practitioners throughout Ireland inviting suggestions from them. Several most valuable suggestions were received; and the Council desire to thank those country practitioners who responded to the request. The Committee subsequently met and considered the

suggestions received, and ultimately embodied such suggestions as they approved of in a Special Report, which Report was adopted by the Council, and was then forwarded to the Lord Chancellor and each of the County Court Judges, with the hope expressed that, when the County Courts Rules Committee next met, the suggestions contained in the Report would receive favourable consideration. The Report will be found at Appendix H, page 82. The assistance of the Northern and Southern Law Societies was most valuable in connection with this matter.

Land Judges Court.-Deeds Office. -A rule existed in this Court up to the present year, providing that, so long as a country Solicitor was in default in not returning a document within the time he had undertaken to do so, his town ageut should not be allowed to get out any documents in any other matter for himself or another correspondent. This appeared to the Council to press with too much severity on town agents, and a communication on the subject was addressed to the Land Judge. To this a reply was received of a most satisfactory nature. The Jugde coucurred in the opinion expressed by the Council, and, accordingly, changed the rule to one which provides that any Solicitor may lodge with the Keeper of the Deeds an undertaking, signed by his correspondent, to be accountable for deeds taken out of the Court by such Solicitor for such correspondent; the correspondent is then to be deemed guilty of contempt if the deeds are not returned within the time named in the order, and not the town agent; but no Solicitor is to be allowed to take out deeds either for him. self or his correspondent so long as the Solicitor himself shall be guilty of contempt in not returning deeds. The Council consider that this change, made at their instance, will be a great convenience to Solicitors acting as town agents for country Solicitors. They desire to acknowledge the courtesy of the Land Judge in so readily acceding to their request.

The Registry of Deeds Office.In the month of June attention was drawn in Parliament to the delays in this Office-a subject on which the Council had previously been in communication with the Registrar of Deeds. In the month of July the Council had an opportunity of more fully laying their views before the Treasury on the matter, when Mr. Mowatt, C.B., and Mr. Holmes, C.B., on behalf of the Treasury, met a Committee of the Council. The first subject dealt with was the deficient accommodation provided for the official staff and the public in the Registry, especially in the Public Searching Office. The Committee urged the convenience to the Profession and the public which would accrue from the removal of the Probate Offices to the Four Courts, as suggested by the Report of the Court and Offices Committee three years ago, and that the present Probate Offices be given over to the Registry of Deeds Office. The suggestion of the Committee was met with approval, and it is hoped that the change will soon be carried out. The next subject dealt with was a proposal to abolish the existing system of Recording Negative Searches. At present the requisitions for Negative Searches (which must, under the 2 & 3 William IV., c. 87, be written on parchment, and filed by the Registrar) are endorsed by Searching Clerks with the references to the acts disclosed by their searches, and it is from this endorsement that the Certificate of the Negative Search is prepared. The clerk who prepares the certificate copies from the Abstract Book the particulars of each abstract referred to on the back of the Requisition. Hitherto no Registry Search has been allowed to be issued till a full copy of the actual document issued had been recorded in a book kept in the Registry, which has caused considerable delay and great expense. The Committee urged that the Treasury should take imme. diate action to provide for the binding in books or files of all Requisitions for Negative Searches, and indexing them, and that those Reqisitions, with their endorse meuts, should be open to the public, and the system of recording the Negative Searches be abolished, and that when copies of Negative Searches are required, that duplicates be made by reference to the endorsements