No. XXVII.
An Act for t h e A m e n d m e n t of t h e Law as to
Claims against t h e Crown.
[Reserved—10th
May, 1861.]
W
H E R E A S i t is e x p e d i e n t to a d o p t t h e L a w of E n g l a n d r e l a t i n g
t o P e t i t i o n s of R i g h t a n d t o a d a p t t h e same as n e a r l y as m a y
b e t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h i s Colony B e it therefore e n a c t e d b y t h e
Q u e e n ' s M o s t E x c e l l e n t M a j e s t y b y a n d w i t h t h e advice a n d consent
of t h e L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c i l a n d Legislative A s s e m b l y of N e w South
W a l e s i n P a r l i a m e n t a s s e m b l e d a n d b y t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e same as
follows :—
1 . A P e t i t i o n of R i g h t m a y if t h e s u p p l i a n t t h i n k fit b e i n t i t u l e d
i n t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t of N e w S o u t h W a l e s in t h a t j u r i s d i c t i o n thereof
i n w h i c h t h e subject m a t t e r of s u c h p e t i t i o n or a n y m a t e r i a l p a r t
t h e r e o f w o u l d h a v e b e e n cognizable if t h e same h a d b e e n a m a t t e r i n
dispute b e t w e e n subject a n d subject a n d if i n t i t u l e d i n t h e C o m m o n
L a w J u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e said C o u r t shall s t a t e in t h e m a r g i n t h e v e n u e
for t h e t r i a l of s u c h p e t i t i o n a n d s u c h p e t i t i o n shall b e addressed to
H e r M a j e s t y i n t h e f o r m or t o t h e effect i n t h e first S c h e d u l e h e r e t o
a n d shall s t a t e t h e C h r i s t i a n a n d S u r n a m e a n d u s u a l place of abode of
t h e s u p p l i a n t a n d of his A t t o r n e y if a n y a n d shall set forth w i t h
c o n v e n i e n t c e r t a i n t y t h e facts e n t i t l i n g t h e s u p p l i a n t t o relief a n d
shall be signed by s u c h s u p p l i a n t his Counsel or A t t o r n e y .
5 u — V O L . 4.
2.
2. T h e said p e t i t i o n shall h e left w i t h t h e Colonial S e c r e t a r y
b y w h o m i t shall f o r t h w i t h b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e G o v e r n o r for h i s
consideration a n d i n order t h a t h e m a y if h e shall t h i n k fit i n t h e
n a m e a n d o n behalf of H e r M a j e s t y g r a n t h i s flat t h a t r i g h t b e done
a n d n o fee shall b e p a y a b l e on so leaving or r e c e i v i n g b a c k s u c h
petition.
3. U p o n t h e G o v e r n o r ' s fiat b e i n g o b t a i n e d t o such p e t i t i o n a
copy of s u c h p e t i t i o n a n d fiat shall b e left a t t h e office of t h e C r o w n
Solicitor w i t h a n i n d o r s e m e n t t h e r e o n i n t h e form or t o t h e effect i n
t h e second Schedule h e r e t o p r a y i n g for a plea or a n s w e r o n b e h a l f of
H e r M a j e s t y w i t h i n t w e n t y - e i g h t d a y s a n d t h e same shall b e prosecuted
i n t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t i n t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n thereof i n w h i c h t h e s a m e
shall b e i n t i t u l e d .
4. T h e t i m e for a n s w e r i n g p l e a d i n g or d e m u r r i n g t o such
petition o n behalf of H e r Majesty shall b e t h e said period of t w e n t y e i g h t days after t h e s a m e w i t h such p r a y e r of a plea or a n s w e r a s
aforesaid shall h a v e b e e n left a t t h e office of t h e C r o w n Solicitor or
such f u r t h e r t i m e as shall be allowed b y t h e C o u r t or a J u d g e thereof
P r o v i d e d always t h a t it shall b e lawful for t h e C o u r t or a J u d g e
thereof on t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l or of t h e s u p p l i a n t
t o c h a n g e t h e v e n u e for t h e t r i a l of such p e t i t i o n .
5. I n case a n y s u c h P e t i t i o n of R i g h t shall b e p r e s e n t e d for t h e
recovery of a n y r e a l or p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y or a n y r i g h t i n or t o t h e
same w h i c h shall h a v e b e e n g r a n t e d a w a y or disposed of b y or o n
behalf of H e r M a j e s t y or h e r predecessors a copy of such p e t i t i o n a n d
fiat shall be served u p o n or left a t t h e l a s t or u s u a l or last k n o w n
place of abode of t h e p e r s o n i n t h e possession o c c u p a t i o n or e n j o y m e n t
of such p r o p e r t y or r i g h t indorsed w i t h a notice i n t h e form set forth
in t h e t h i r d Schedule h e r e t o r e q u i r i n g such p e r s o n t o a p p e a r t h e r e t o
w i t h i n e i g h t days a n d t o p l e a d or a n s w e r t h e r e t o w i t h i n f o u r t e e n d a y s
after t h e s a m e shall h a v e b e e n so served or left as aforesaid a n d it shall
n o t b e necessary t o issue a n y scire facias or o t h e r process t o such
person for t h e p u r p o s e of r e q u i r i n g h i m t o a p p e a r a n d plead or a n s w e r
t o s u c h p e t i t i o n b u t h e shall w i t h i n t h e t i m e so l i m i t e d if h e i n t e n d s
t o c o n t e s t such p e t i t i o n e n t e r a n a p p e a r a n c e t o t h e s a m e i n or t o t h e
effect of t h e f o r m set forth i n t h e f o u r t h S c h e d u l e h e r e t o a n d shall
plead a n s w e r or d e m u r to t h e said p e t i t i o n w i t h i n t h e t i m e specified
i n s u c h n o t i c e or s u c h f u r t h e r t i m e as shall b e allowed b y t h e C o u r t
or a J u d g e thereof.
6. S u c h p e t i t i o n m a y be answered b y w a y of a n s w e r plea or
d e m u r r e r i n E q u i t y or a t C o m m o n Law b y w a y of plea or d e m u r r e r or
b y b o t h p l e a a n d d e m u r r e r b y or i n t h e n a m e of H e r M a j e s t y ' s
A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l o n behalf of H e r M a j e s t y a n d b y or on behalf of a n y
other p e r s o n w h o m a y i n p u r s u a n c e hereof b e called upon to p l e a d or
a n s w e r t h e r e t o i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r as if s u c h p e t i t i o n i n E q u i t y w e r e
a bill filed t h e r e i n or if s u c h p e t i t i o n a t C o m m o n L a w w e r e a declara­
t i o n i n a p e r s o n a l a c t i o n a n d w i t h o u t t h e necessity for a n y i n q u i s i t i o n
finding t h e t r u t h of s u c h p e t i t i o n or t h e r i g h t of t h e s u p p l i a n t a n d
s u c h a n d t h e s a m e m a t t e r as w o u l d be sufficient g r o u n d of a n s w e r or
defence i n p o i n t of law or fact t o s u c h petition on t h e behalf of H e r
Majesty m a y b e alleged o n behalf of a n y such o t h e r p e r s o n as afore­
said called on t o p l e a d or a n s w e r t h e r e t o .
7. So far as t h e same m a y be applicable a n d except in so far as
m a y b e i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s A c t t h e laws a n d s t a t u t e s i n force as t o
p l e a d i n g evidence h e a r i n g a n d t r i a l s e c u r i t y for costs a m e n d m e n t
a r b i t r a t i o n special cases t h e m e a n s of p r o c u r i n g a n d t a k i n g evidence
set-off a p p e a l a n d proceedings i n error i n suits i n E q u i t y a n d p e r s o n a l
actions b e t w e e n subject a n d subject a n d t h e practice a n d course of
p r o c e d u r e of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a t L a w a n d in E q u i t y respectively for
the
t h e t i m e b e i n g i n reference t o s u c h s u i t s a n d personal actions shall
u n l e s s t h e C o u r t shall otherwise o r d e r be applicable a n d a p p l y a n d
e x t e n d t o s u c h P e t i t i o n of R i g h t P r o v i d e d t h a t n o t h i n g i n t h i s A c t
shall give t o t h e subject a n y r e m e d y a g a i n s t t h e Crown i n a n y case i n
w h i c h h e w o u l d n o t h a v e been e n t i t l e d t o s u c h r e m e d y before t h e
p a s s i n g of t h i s A c t .
8. I n case of a failure o n t h e behalf of H e r Majesty or of a n y
s u c h o t h e r p e r s o n as aforesaid called u p o n t o a n s w e r or plead t o such
p e t i t i o n t o plead a n s w e r or d e m u r i n d u e t i m e e i t h e r t o s u c h p e t i t i o n
or a t a n y s u b s e q u e n t stage of t h e proceedings t h e r e o n t h e s u p p l i a n t
s h a l l be a t l i b e r t y t o a p p l y t o t h e C o u r t or a J u d g e for a n order t h a t
t h e p e t i t i o n m a y b e t a k e n as confessed a n d it shall b e lawful for such
C o u r t or J u d g e on b e i n g satisfied t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n such failure t o
p l e a d a n s w e r or d e m u r i n due t i m e t o g r a n t a r u l e t o shew cause why
s u c h p e t i t i o n s h o u l d n o t be t a k e n as confessed as a g a i n s t H e r M a j e s t y
or s u c h o t h e r p a r t y so m a k i n g default a n d if a t t h e r e t u r n of such
r u l e t h e r e b e n o a p p e a r a n c e on t h e behalf of H e r Majesty or s u c h
p e r s o n called u p o n as aforesaid or if t h e C o u r t or J u d g e shall t h i n k
fit u p o n h e a r i n g t o m a k e t h e same absolute a decree m a y be m a d e or
leave m a y b e given b y t h e C o u r t t o t h e s u p p l i a n t t o sign j u d g m e n t i n
his favour P r o v i d e d t h a t such decree or j u d g m e n t m a y afterwards
be set aside b y t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t i n B a n c o if such C o u r t shall see fit
o n s u c h t e r m s as t o t h e m shall seem j u s t .
9. U p o n every s u c h P e t i t i o n of R i g h t t h e decree or j u d g m e n t
of t h e C o u r t w h e t h e r given u p o n d e m u r r e r u p o n t h e p l e a d i n g s or u p o n
a default t o a n s w e r or plead i n t i m e or after h e a r i n g or v e r d i c t or in
e r r o r shall b e t h a t t h e s u p p l i a n t is or is n o t entitled either t o t h e whole
or t o some a n d w h a t p o r t i o n of t h e relief s o u g h t b y his p e t i t i o n or
s u c h o t h e r relief as t h e C o u r t m a y t h i n k r i g h t a n d such C o u r t m a y
give a decree or j u d g m e n t t h a t t h e s u p p l i a n t is e n t i t l e d t o s u c h relief
a n d u p o n such t e r m s a n d conditions (if a n y ) as s u c h C o u r t shall t h i n k
just.
10. I n all cases i n w h i c h t h e j u d g m e n t c o m m o n l y called a j u d g ­
m e n t of amoveas maims h a s i n similar cases i n E n g l a n d heretofore been
p r o n o u n c e d or given u p o n a P e t i t i o n of R i g h t a j u d g m e n t t h a t t h e
s u p p l i a n t is e n t i t l e d to relief as hereinbefore provided shall b e of such
a n d t h e s a m e effect as such j u d g m e n t of amoveas
manus.
1 1 . U p o n a n y s u c h P e t i t i o n of R i g h t t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l or
o t h e r p e r s o n a p p e a r i n g on behalf of H e r Majesty a n d every s u c h o t h e r
p e r s o n as aforesaid w h o shall a p p e a r a n d p l e a d or a n s w e r t o such
petition shall b e e n t i t l e d respectively t o recover costs a g a i n s t t h e
s u p p l i a n t i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r a n d subject t o t h e s a m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d
discretion a n d u n d e r t h e s a m e rules r e g u l a t i o n s a n d provisions so far
as t h e y are applicable as a r e or m a y b e u s u a l l y a d o p t e d or i n force
t o u c h i n g costs i n p r o c e e d i n g s b e t w e e n subject a n d subject A n d for
t h e recovery of such costs s u c h a n d t h e s a m e remedies a n d w r i t s of
e x e c u t i o n as arc a u t h o r i z e d for enforcing p a y m e n t of costs u p o n j u d g ­
m e n t s i n p e r s o n a l actions or decrees rules or orders m a y b e p r o s e c u t e d
sued o u t a n d e x e c u t e d respectively b y or on behalf of H e r Majesty
a n d of such other person as aforesaid as shall a p p e a r a n d plead t o such
p e t i t i o n a n d a n y costs recovered o n behalf of H e r M a j e s t y shall be
p a i d to t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r a n d shall b e c o m e p a r t of t h e Consoli­
dated Revenue Fund.
12. U p o n a n y such P e t i t i o n of R i g h t t h e s u p p l i a n t shall b e
e n t i t l e d t o costs a g a i n s t H e r Majesty a n d also a g a i n s t a n y o t h e r
p e r s o n a p p e a r i n g or p l e a d i n g or a n s w e r i n g t o a n y such P e t i t i o n of
R i g h t i n like m a n n e r a n d subject t o t h e s a m e r u l e s r e g u l a t i o n s a n d
provisions r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d discretion as far as t h e y are applicable as
a r e or m a y be u s u a l l y a d o p t e d or i n force t o u c h i n g t h e r i g h t t o recover
costs
costs in proceedings b e t w e e n subject a n d subject a n d for t h e recovery
of a n y such costs from a n y s u c h person o t h e r t h a n H e r M a j e s t y
a p p e a r i n g or p l e a d i n g or a n s w e r i n g i n p u r s u a n c e hereof t o a n y s u c h
P e t i t i o n of R i g h t s u c h a n d t h e s a m e r e m e d i e s a n d w r i t s of e x e c u t i o n
as a r e a u t h o r i z e d for enforcement of p a y m e n t of costs u p o n r u l e s orders
decrees or j u d g m e n t s i n p e r s o n a l actions b e t w e e n subject a n d subject
m a y b e p r o s e c u t e d sued o u t a n d e x e c u t e d o n behalf of s u c h s u p p l i a n t .
1 3 . W h e n e v e r u p o n a n y such P e t i t i o n of R i g h t a j u d g m e n t
order or decree shall b e given or m a d e t h a t t h e s u p p l i a n t is e n t i t l e d t o
relief a n d t h e r e shall be n o r e - h e a r i n g a p p e a l or w r i t of e r r o r or i n
case of a n y a p p e a l or p r o c e e d i n g s i n e r r o r a j u d g m e n t o r d e r or decree
shall h a v e b e e n affirmed given or m a d e t h a t t h e s u p p l i a n t is e n t i t l e d
t o relief or u p o n a n y r u l e or o r d e r b e i n g m a d e e n t i t l i n g t h e s u p p l i a n t
t o costs a n y J u d g e of t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t m a y u p o n a p p l i c a t i o n i n
behalf of t h e s u p p l i a n t after t h e lapse of f o u r t e e n days from t h e m a k i n g
g i v i n g or affirming of such j u d g m e n t or decree r u l e or order certify
t o t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r t h e t e n o r a n d p u r p o r t of t h e s a m e i n or t o
t h e effect of t h e form i n t h e fifth S c h e d u l e h e r e t o a n d s u c h certificate
shall be left a t t h e office of t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r .
14. T h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r shall p a y t h e a m o u n t of a n y m o n e y s
a n d costs as t o w h i c h a j u d g m e n t or decree r u l e or o r d e r shall b e
given or m a d e t h a t t h e s u p p l i a n t i n a n y s u c h P e t i t i o n of R i g h t is
e n t i t l e d a n d of w h i c h j u d g m e n t or decree r u l e or order t h e t e n o r a n d
p u r p o r t shall h a v e b e e n so certified t o h i m as aforesaid o u t of a n y
m o n e y s i n h i s h a n d s for t h e t i m e b e i n g legally applicable t h e r e t o or
w h i c h m a y b e hereafter voted b y P a r l i a m e n t for t h a t p u r p o s e .
1 5 . T h e J u d g e s of t h e said C o u r t or a n y t w o of t h e m of w h o m
t h e Chief J u s t i c e shall b e one m a y m a k e g e n e r a l rules a n d orders i n
t h e respective j u r i s d i c t i o n s of L a w a n d E q u i t y for r e g u l a t i n g t h e
p l e a d i n g a n d p r a c t i c e on such P e t i t i o n s of R i g h t a n d for t h e effectual
e x e c u t i o n of t h i s A c t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n t e n t i o n a n d object hereof a n d
for fixing t h e costs t o b e allowed for a n d i n respect of t h e several m a t ­
t e r s h e r e i n contained a n d t h e p e r f o r m a n c e thereof a n d for t h e g o v e r n ­
m e n t a n d c o n d u c t of t h e officers of t h e C o u r t i n a n d r e l a t i n g t o t h e distri­
b u t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e d u t i e s a n d business t o b e done or
p e r f o r m e d i n e x e c u t i o n of t h i s A c t a n d m a y frame w r i t s a n d forms of
p r o c e e d i n g s for t h e p u r p o s e s aforesaid a n d all s u c h r u l e s orders a n d
forms shall b e laid before b o t h H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t if t h e n s i t t i n g
i m m e d i a t e l y u p o n t h e m a k i n g of t h e same or if P a r l i a m e n t b e n o t
s i t t i n g t h e n w i t h i n five days after t h e n e x t m e e t i n g thereof P r o v i d e d
t h a t n o s u c h r u l e order or form shall h a v e effect u n t i l t h r e e m o n t h s
after t h e same shall h a v e b e e n so laid before b o t h H o u s e s of P a r l i a ­
m e n t after w h i c h t i m e every such r u l e order a n d form shall b e b i n d i n g
a n d obligatory o n t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a n d h a v e t h e full force of l a w
P r o v i d e d t h a t i t shall be lawful for t h e G o v e r n o r b y a n y P r o c l a m a t i o n
i n s e r t e d i n t h e Gazette or for e i t h e r H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t b y a n y
R e s o l u t i o n passed a t a n y t i m e w i t h i n t h r e e m o n t h s n e x t after a n y s u c h
r u l e s orders or forms shall h a v e b e e n laid before P a r l i a m e n t t o s u s p e n d
or a n n u l t h e w h o l e or a n y p a r t thereof.
16. I n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h i s A c t t h e w o r d " r e l i e f " shall
c o m p r e h e n d every species of relief claimed or p r a y e d for i n a n y such
P e t i t i o n of R i g h t w h e t h e r a r e s t i t u t i o n of a n y i n c o r p o r e a l r i g h t or a
r e t u r n of lands or chattels or a p a y m e n t of m o n e y or d a m a g e s or
otherwise.
17. N o t h i n g i n t h i s A c t c o n t a i n e d shall p r e v e n t a n y s u p p l i a n t
from p r o c e e d i n g as before t h e p a s s i n g hereof.
18. T h i s A c t shall b e styled a n d m a y be cited as " T h e A m e n d ­
m e n t of t h e L a w as t o Claims a g a i n s t t h e Crown A c t 1 8 6 1 . "
FIRST
FIRST SCHEDULE.
In the Supreme Court of
(AT
C
O
M
M
O
N
L
A
W
OR
I N
EQUITY)
New South Wales.
To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty—
Sydney
to wit.
of
The humble Petition of A. B. of
shcweth that [slate the facts'}
by his Attorney E. F.
Conclusion
Your suppliant therefore humbly prays that &c.
Dated the
day of
(Signed)
A.D.
18
A. B.
or C. D. Counsel for A. B.
or E. F . Attorney for A. B.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
The suppliant prays for a plea or answer on behalf of Her Majesty within twentyeight days after the date hereof or otherwise that the petition may be taken as confessed.
THIRD SCHEDULE.
To A. B.
You are hereby required to appear
New South Wales within
within
after
Take Notice that if you fail to
Petition may as against you be ordered to
Dated &.c.
to the within Petition in the Supreme Court of
days and to plead or answer thereto
the date hereof.
appear or plead or answer in due time the said
be taken as confessed.
FOURTH SCHEDULE.
In the Supreme Court of
New South Wales.
(
Petition of Right.
A. B. Suppliant
v. C. D. appears in person.
The Queen
E.F.
Attorney for D. appears for him.
If the appearance be in person the address of the party appearing to be given.
Entered the
day of
18
at
C
o
m
m
o
n
L
a
w or in Equity.)
FIFTH SCHEDULE.
To the Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales—
Petition of Right of A. B. in the Supreme Court of New South Wales (at Law
or in Equity.)
I humbly certify that on the
day of
18
it was by the
said Supreme Court of New South Wales adjudged (or decreed or ordered) that the abovenamed suppliant was entitled to &c.
(Judge's Signature.)
ANNO