VPRS 5369 Orders, Decrees and Reports Vice-Admiralty Court

Admiralty jurisdiction is concerned with shipping disputes. Until 1890 with the passing of the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act (UK) which made all colonial courts of law which had unlimited civil jurisdiction a court of admiralty, the Supreme Court was made a Vice-Admiralty Court of the British one. The 1890 Act is the basis for the admiralty jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.The jurisdiction extends to matters such as certain claims for seamens wages, salvage disputes, bottomry bonds, certain claims for damages done to and by ships, certain disputes relating to the possession or ownership of ships and some cargo claims. There is the power to arrest ships or cargoes, attracting jurisdiction over the defendant owner with the ship or cargo becoming available as security to meet the judgment.This series consists of a copy of the appointment of the Chief Justice, Sir William Foster Stawell to the Vice Admiralty Court and copies of the Orders and Decrees made by him and Reports ordered by him in presiding over matters brought in that jurisdiction.VPRS 5369/P was previously registered with the title Report Books. This series was reserialised in 2001 as part of the ARAD Project. The former units 2 - 6 are now serialised as VPRS 12692/P1 units 1 - 5.