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528 but subsequently (February 5, 1881) cancelled by order of the Secretary of State, An Order of the Privy Council (October 23, 1877) directed that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court should include crimes and offences committed by, or disputes existing between, British subjects at any place on land being within 10 miles of any part of the Colony. The defalcations of the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, discovered in October 1878, gave a sudden and painful shock to the community, because the investigation revealed a total absence of control and audit in the Supreme Court Department, for which the latter blamed the Executive, while the Executive sought to lay the blame on the Court. Sir John appointed (September 14, 1878) a Commission (Ch. May, G. Philippo, A. Lind, W. Wotton) to inquire into the management of all monies or securities coming into the hands of any officers attached to the Supreme Court, but substituted, for this Commission, later on (November 7, 1878) another (Ch. May, G. Philippo, Th. Jackson, W. Wotton), instructed to inquire whether or not greater precautions may be adopted for the security and distribution of moneys or securities received by the Supreme Court. In accordance with some of the recommendations made by this Commission (May 25, 1879), the office arrangements of the Supreme Court were remodelled and a new Registrar (H. Gibbons) was sent out (April 14, 1880) by the Secretary of State. But internal friction now arose in the Court, through continuous misunderstandings between the Chief Justice and the new Registrar, which culminated in a lamentable public scene (July 26, 1880), and put a stop to the business of the Court until the Registrar was interdicted (July 30, 1880) from the performance of his duties. After the great fire of 25th and 26th December, 1878, which destroyed 361 houses in the centre of the town, and which, in the opinion of the community demonstrated the absence of all system in the management of the Fire Brigade, Sir John promised (January 18, 1879) various reforms. But nothing of any moment having been done, the foreign community deputed a Committee (W. Keswick, Ph. Ryrie,