A STUDY IN LEGAL ADMINISTRATION AND RECORDS SHARON ...

The Supreme Court Act created a twa-level judicial system, each
level having its partiwlar jurisdiction. Superior court level comprised
Law, Equity, and Probate courts, each, in tum, having its own jurisdidion.
lnferior court level consisted of the Petty Sessions. The latter took the
place of the earlier Petty Courts which had had jurisdiction over "petty
offences which do not involve any other than a pecuniary fine.n24 In 1872
Petty Sessions were abolished and County Courts established in their
stead. These would serve the minor court needs of the province for
another century.
The act of 1874 gave ctear definition to the jurisdidion of the
superior courts.25 Court of Queen's Bench was rnandated with civil and
criminal jurisdiction. Practice was to be the same as that of England as of
Juiy 15, 1870, unless it was changed by an act of the legislature. The
court was "to detemine matters relative to property and civil rights," but
decisions were not to affect civil rights acquired under the laws of
Assiniboia. Significantly, the court's recording authority was stated
contiguously with its civil and criminal authorities?
The said Court of Queen's Bench, being a Court of
Record and possessing original and appellate
jurisdiction, shall possess and exercise al1 such
powers and authorities as by the laws of England are
incident to a Superior Court of Records of Civil and
Criminal jurisdiction, in al1 matters, Civil and Criminal,
whatsoever, and shall have, use, enjoy and exercise
al1 the rights, incidents and privileges as fully to al1
intents and purposes as the same were on the day
and in the year aforesaid possessed, used, exercised