§ 31. Seals and records of former superior city courts. The seals, books, files, records, papers and documents of the superior court of the city of New York, the court of common pleas for the city and county of New York, the superior court of Buffalo, and the city court of Brooklyn, shall be deposited in the offices of the clerks of the several counties in which said courts have heretofore existed, and shall be kept and preserved by said clerks, separate and apart from the other books, records, papers and documents in their respective offices, and shall be kept in charge of special deputy-clerks, to be designated by said county clerks, so as to be readily accessible for inspection; and the justices of the supreme court, and the said clerks of the said several counties, respectively, shall have the same powers with respect to the said books, files, records, papers and documents as the judges and clerks of said superior court of the city of New York, and the court of common pleas for the city and county of New York, the superior court of Buffalo and the city court of Brooklyn, respectively, had and possessed in reference thereto.