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And sittings of quarter sessions often have to be
rearranged because the chairman or recorder has
duties to perform as judge or consel elsewhere.
As expected, the report has recommended a
much more flexible court system designed to speed
up and increase efficiency of the administration of
justice. The six circuits proposed would each have
a headquarters employing a circuit administrator
responsible for all aspects of the court service.
The new court centres and the distribution of
courts within each circuit should go a long way
to minimizing the present delays. The success of
the commission's proposals, however, will rest
with the administrator and his staff.
The commission is anxious to retain the assize
principle of High Court judges moving from one
place to another, and has rightly extended it to
the proposed new permanent bench of circuit
judges. The argument has often been put forward
that criminal judges sitting always in the same
court may become " prosecution-minded ", and
the commission has met this by providing that all
circuit judges should circulate within their area.
If the new circuit bench is to be constituted in
the way suggested by the commission, it is logical
that solicitors should be eligible to become circuit
judges, since they can now be appointed chairmen
of county quarter sessions. But the flexibility of
the jurisdiction
recommended
for the circuit
judges is such that it would be possible for a civil
action involving more than £1,000, or a criminal
case where the offence carried a life sentence, to
be tried by a county court judge.
To place the responsibility for running the
courts, for the provision of staff and buildings,
under one authority is obviously good sense. This
proposal should be accepted at once and extended
to cover the magistrates' courts, so that the Lord
Chancellor would
then be responsible for all
courts and be able to embark on the unified court
building programme which is so badly needed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Land Registry Central Office,
Chancery Street,
Dublin 7.
3rd December, 1969.
Dear Mr. Plunkett,
As you know by order dated 21st May, 1969
(S.I. No. 87 of 1969) the Minister for Justice
applied the compulsory provisions of section 24
of the Registration of Title Act 1964 (No. 16 of
1964) to counties Carlow, Leix and Meath on and
after 1st January 1970.
82
This means that every conveyance on sale of
freehold land or a grant or assignment on sale on
or after 1st January 1970, must be registered in
the Land Registry within 6 months after such con
veyance, grant or assignment.
Before making any application for registration
under the compulsory provisions of Section 24 of
the Registration of Titles Act 1964 the applicant
should be satisfied that he has suitable maps on
his title deeds sufficient to identify the property
the subject of the application and any easements,
etc. for Land Registry purposes. If not, the appli
cant should obtain a 25 inch Ordnance Survey
map and have marked the necessary particulars
thereon by a
competent person such as an
engineer, surveyor, etc.
Yours faithfully,
Desmond McAllister,
Registrar.
EXHIBITION OF LAW BOOKS
An exhibition of
law books published by
Messrs. Butterworth and Co. will be on view in
the Library in Solicitor's Buildings from Monday,
19th January 1970, to Friday, 23rd February.
1970. Their representative, Mr. Edward Toner,
will be in attendance.
THE REGISTRY
Register A
The practice, offices and office equipment of the late
Stephen J. Gannon, Solicitor, Killeshandra, Co, Cavan,
are for sale. Enquiries should be made to Mr. James
Smith, Solicitor, Arva, Co. Cavan.
Practice
in North Leinster established for 30 years.
Applications
treated
in confidence. Apply Box No.
A2J2.
SOLICITOR
W. Ronan & Son, 94 South Mall, Cork, have a vacancy
for an Assistant Solicitor with a view to partnership,
in reply please give particulars of education and
experience. Enquiries to be addressed to Mr. J. G.
Ronan at 94 South Mall, Cork, and marked " Personal."
Register C
Mary Gordon deceased late of Stonehill House, Carriga-
line, County Cork, formerly of Boho, Ballintubber,
County Roscommon. Will any person having know
ledge of the whereabouts of the Will of the above
deceased please contact the undersigned.
Signed : PATRICK J. McELLIN,
Solicitor,
Claremorrisj Co. Mayo.