104 THE PROVINCIAL JUDICATURE. 
the Central Judicial District, and at Brandon for the Western 
Judicial District, 
As a Court of Appeal the Queen’s Bench hears appeals 
on points of law from County Courts®; appeals from the 
decision of an election judge on any question of law or 
facts®; appeals from a judge in chambers* and from the 
Surrogate Courts ®, 
Brrrisa COLUMBIA. 
Small Debts Court. Actions in which the sum demanded 
Joes not exceed $100 may be tried before a stipendiary or 
a police magistrate ®. 
County County Courts. Six County Courts have been es- 
Court. tablished under the 46 Vic. ¢. 5. They exercise jurisdiction 
in all civil causes up to $1000 and in equity up to $2500, 
and are invested with the powers of a Court of Probate. 
An appeal on points of law lies to the Supreme Court. 
Supreme Court. By a commission dated the 2nd Sept. 
1858, Her Majesty appointed Matthew Baillie Begbie to 
be a judge of the Colony of British Columbia with full 
power to hold Courts of Judicature and to administer 
justice. Governor Carleton on his arrival issued a pro- 
clamation which had the force of law declaring that the 
Court held before Judge Begbie should be known as the 
Supreme Court of Civil Justice of British Columbia and 
ordained that the Court should be invested with “complete 
cognizance of all pleas whatsoever” and “with jurisdiction in 
all cases civil as well as criminal arising within the Colony.” 
Previous to this an order in Council dated the 4th April 
1856. had constituted a Supreme Court for Vancouver's 
Supreme 
Court. 
1 M. 48 Vic. ¢. 16. 
3 Ib. c. 4, 8. 93. 
5 M. 44 Vie. c. 28, gs. 128, 
2 (0. 8. Man. e. 34, 5. 206. 
4 Tb. ec. 31, 8. 24. 
8 B. C. 49 Vie. c. 6.