Supreme Court Rules 2000

Subject to any order of the Court or a judge, a special referee has the following powers in relation to a reference:to hold the inquiry at, or adjourn it to, any place which may be most convenient; to take evidence and enforce the attendance of witnesses; to inspect or view; to make orders with respect to discovery and inspection of documents; to exercise the same authority in the conduct of the reference as a judge has when sitting in chambers.

This rule does not authorise a special referee – to commit any person to prison; or to enforce any order by attachment or otherwise.