[i roto i te reo Māori]

§ 38.—Civil Jurisdiction.

One duty of these officers is to hear and determine Civil matters. But they do not interfere in these matters until some complaint is made to them.

They must not listen out of Court to any matter upon which they are to adjudicate but on certain days, which are previously fixed and known to all, they sit in Court to hear such matters.

Any person who has a cause of complaint against another must go the Magistrate there, and ask for a summons against the man who has done him wrong. The Magistrate then, if he thinks fit, issues his summons to the defendant, and fixes a day, named in the summons, when the matter will be heard.

This summons, is given to the plaintiff, and he must take care that it is delivered to the defendant. He must allow no delay in the delivery; so that the defendant may have time to get up his case, and travel to the place appointed by the Summons for the hearing.