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Statutes of Northern Ireland


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COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - LONG TITLE

An Act for consolidating in One Act certain Provisions usually
contained in Acts with respect to the Constitution and Regulation of
Bodies of Commissioners appointed for carrying on Undertakings of a
public nature.
[23rd April 1847]
Preamble rep. by SLR 1893[

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 1
Incorporation with special Act.

1.] This Act shall extend only to such undertakings or commissioners
as shall be authorized or constituted by any Act of Parliament
hereafter to be passed, which shall declare that this Act shall be
incorporated therewith; and all the clauses of this Act, save so
far as they shall be expressly varied or excepted by any such Act,
shall apply to the commissioners constituted by such Act, and to
the undertaking for carrying on which such commissioners shall be
constituted, so far as the same shall be applicable thereto
respectively; and such clauses, with the clauses of every other Act
which shall be incorporated therewith, shall, save as aforesaid, form
part of such Act, and be construed therewith as forming one Act.

And with respect to the construction of this Act, and any Act
incorporated therewith:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 2
""The special Act'':

2. The expression "the special Act" used in this Act shall be
construed to mean any Act which shall be hereafter passed
constituting a body of commissioners as herein-after defined for the
purpose of carrying on any undertaking, and with which this Act
shall be incorporated; and the word "prescribed" used in this Act
in reference to any matter herein stated shall be construed to
refer to such matter as the same shall be prescribed or provided
for in the special Act, and the sentence in which such word occurs
shall be construed as if instead of the word "prescribed" the
expression "prescribed for that purpose in the special Act" had been
used; and the expression "the undertaking" shall mean the undertaking
or works, of whatever nature, which shall by the special Act be
authorized to be executed or carried on; and the expression "the
commissioners" shall mean the commissioners, trustees, undertakers, or
other persons, or body corporate, constituted by the special Act, or
thereby entrusted with powers for executing the undertaking.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 3
Intepretations in this and the special Act:

3. The following words and expressions both in this and the special
Act, and any Act incorporated therewith, shall have the several
meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in the
subject or the context repugnant to such construction; (that is to
say,)Words importing the singular number only shall include the
plural number, and words importing the plural number only shall
include the singular number:Words importing the masculine gender only
shall include females:The word "person" shall include a corporation,
whether aggregate or sole:The word "lands" shall extend to messuages,
lands, tenements, and hereditaments, or heritages, of any tenure:The
word "month" shall mean calendar month:The expression "superior
courts," where the matter submitted to the cognizance of the court
arises in ... Ireland, shall mean Her Majesty's superior courts of
record at ... [Belfast] ...:The word "oath" shall include affirmation
in the case of Quakers, and any declaration lawfully substituted for
an oath in the case of any other persons allowed by law to make
a declaration instead of taking an oath:

Definition rep. by SLR 1980The word "justice" shall mean justice of
the peace acting for the place where the matter requiring the
cognizance of any such justice arises; ...:

Definition rep. by SLR 1980The expression "the clerk" shall mean the
clerk of the commissioners, and shall include the word
"secretary":The expression "the town" shall mean the town or district
named in the special Act within which the powers of the
commissioners are to be exercised.

And with respect to citing this Act or any part thereof:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 4
Short title.

4. In citing this Act in other Acts of Parliament, and in legal
instruments, it shall be sufficient to use the expression "The
Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847."

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 5
Incorporation of parts of this Act with other Acts.

5. For the purpose of incorporating part only of this Act with any
Act of Parliament hereafter to be passed, it shall be enough to
describe the clauses of this Act with respect to any matter in the
words introductory to the enactment with respect to such matter, and
to enact that the clauses so described, or that this Act, with the
exception of the clauses so described, shall be incorporated with
such Act; and thereupon all the clauses of this Act so incorporated
shall, save so far as they are expressly varied or excepted by
such Act, form part of such Act, and such Act shall be construed
as if such clauses were set forth therein with reference to the
matter to which such Act relates.

With respect to the qualification of commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 6
Joint owners or occupiers when eligible as commissioners, in cases
where qualification depends on rating.

6. Where by the special Act the qualification of the commissioners
is made to depend upon their being rated in respect of property of
a given amount, then, if two or more persons be jointly rated in
respect of any property, each of such persons shall, subject to the
provisions herein and in the special Act contained, be eligible to
be chosen a commissioner, provided the property in respect of which
such persons are rated be of a rateable yearly value, which, when
divided by the number of persons so rated, will give to each a
sufficient rateable yearly value according to the provisions of this
and the special Act.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 7
Same property not to qualify both owner and occupier.

7. The same property shall not at the same time give a
qualification as commissioner to one person as the owner, and to
another as the occupier thereof.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 8
Disqualification of bankrupt.

8. No bankrupt ..., or person not qualified as required by the
special Act, shall be capable of being or continuing a commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 9
Commissioner holding office or concerned in a contract to cease to
be a commissioner.

9. Any person who at any time after his appointment or election as
commissioner shall accept or continue to hold any office or place
of profit under the special Act, or be concerned or participate in
any manner in any contract, or in the profit thereof, or of any
work to be done under the authority of such Act, shall thenceforth
cease to be a commissioner, and his office shall thereupon become
vacant.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 10
Shareholders in companies not disqualified as commissioners by reason
of contracts.

10. Provided always, that no person being a shareholder or member
of any joint stock company established by Act of Parliament shall
be prevented from acting as a commissioner by reason of any
contract entered into between such company and commissioners; but no
such commissioner, being a member of such company, shall vote on
any question relating to the execution of this or the special Act
in which such company is interested.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 11
Commissioner not incapable of acting as justice.

11. A person shall not be incapable of acting as a justice of the
peace in the execution of this or the special Act, with reference
to the levying of any penalty thereunder, by reason of his being a
commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 12
Declaration to be made by cmmissioners.

12. No person shall be capable of acting as a commissioner, except
in administering the declaration herein-after mentioned, until he
shall have made and signed, before one of the commissioners, a
declaration to the effect following:

"I, A.B. do solemnly declare, that I will faithfully and
impartially, according to the best of my skill and judgment, execute
all the powers and authorities reposed in me as a commissioner, by
virtue of the [here name the special Act], and also that I [here
set forth a statement of the possession of the qualification
required by the special Act, in the terms thereof]."

S.13 rep. by 1946 c.13 (NI) s.16(3) sch.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 14
Declaration to be made at first meeting.

14. Every person elected or appointed a commissioner shall, at the
meeting of commissioners at which he first attends as a
commissioner, make and subscribe the declaration herein required, and
any commissioner, whether he himself have made such declaration or
not, may administer such declaration.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 15
Penalty on commissioner acting without being qualified, &c.

15. Every person who shall act as a commissioner, being
incapacitated or not duly qualified to act, or before he has made
or subscribed such declaration as aforesaid, or after having become
disqualified, shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty
of fifty pounds; and ... the person sued shall prove that at the
time of so acting he was qualified, and had made and subscribed
the declaration aforesaid, or he shall pay the said penalty and
costs without any other evidence being required from the plaintiff
than that such person had acted as a commissioner in the execution
of this or the special Act; nevertheless all acts as a commissioner
of any person incapacitated, or not duly qualified, or not having
made or subscribed the declaration aforesaid, done previously to the
recovery of the penalty, shall be as valid as if such person had
been duly qualified.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 16
Commissioner neglecting to make declaration, or absent from meetings,
to cease to be commissioner.

16. Every commissioner who for the space of six months after his
appointment neglects to make and subscribe the declaration
herein-before required, or who for six months in succession is
absent from all meetings of the commissioners, and to act in the
execution of this and the special Act, shall be deemed to have
refused to act, and shall cease to be a commissioner.

And with respect to the election and rotation of the commissioners,
where the commissioners are to be elected by the ratepayers or
other like class of electors:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 17
One-third of elected commissioners to go out of office every three
years.

17. Where by the special Act it is provided that the commissioners
shall be elected by the ratepayers within the town, or other like
class of electors, the first body of commissioners, whether appointed
by the special Act, or elected under the provisions of this and
the special Act, shall go out of office according to the prescribed
rotation, and at the prescribed times, and where no rotation or
time of going out of office is prescribed they shall go out of
office by rotation in the following manner (that is to say), on
the first Thursday in the month of September in the year following
that in which the special Act is passed one third of such body of
commissioners shall go out of office, and on the first Thursday in
September in the following year another third of such body of
commissioners shall go out of office, and on the first Thursday in
September in the year following the remainder of such body of
commissioners shall go out of office, and on the first Thursday in
the month of September in every subsequent year one third of the
commissioners, being those who have been longest in office, shall go
out of office; and in each instance the places of the retiring
commissioners shall be supplied by the election of a like number of
commissioners in the manner herein or in the special Act provided:
Provided always, that if the prescribed number of commissioners be
some number not divisable by three and the number of commissioners
to retire be not prescribed, the commissioners shall in each case
determine what number of commissioners, as nearly one third as may
be, shall go out of office, so that no commissioner shall remain
in office longer than three years without being re-elected.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 18
Commissioners eligible to be re-elected.

18. Every commissioner going out of office by rotation, or otherwise
ceasing to be a commissioner, may be re-elected, and after such
re-election he shall, with reference to going out by rotation, be
considered as a new commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 19
Mode of supplying occasional vacancies.

19. If any of the commissioners die or resign, or be disqualified,
or cease to be a commissioner from any other cause than that of
going out of office by rotation, the remaining commissioners, if
they think fit, may, within one month from the happening of such
vacancy, elect another commissioner in his place; and every
commissioner so elected shall continue in office only so long as
the person in whose place he is elected would have been entitled
to continue in office.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 20
Manner of determining the rotation by which the first body of
commissioners shall go out of office.

20. In order to determine the rotation by which such first body of
commissioners shall go out of office, the commissioners shall within
one month after the passing of the special Act (or after the first
election of commissioners, as the case may be,) meet at some
convenient place for the purpose of forming a rotation list; and at
such meeting the clerk, or some person to be then appointed for
that purpose by the commissioners, shall write the names of all the
commissioners on separate slips of paper, all as nearly as may be
of equal size, and having folded them up in the same manner he
shall put them into a balloting box, and shall, in the presence of
the meeting, draw out such slips of paper in succession, and the
names upon the slips so drawn shall be written by the clerk or
other person in a list, in the order in which they are drawn, or,
where the commissioners are elected for wards or other electoral
divisions of the town, (and which electoral divisions are
herein-after called wards,) in as many lists as there are wards or
electoral divisions, and in the order aforesaid, each list containing
the names of the commissioners for one such ward or electoral
division only; and every such list shall be kept by the clerk
among the papers of the commissioners, and the names therein shall
be numbered consecutively, and the commissioners shall retire from
office in the order in which their names appear on such list or
lists, as the case may be, in the proportions herein-before or in
the special Act mentioned.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 21
Annual meetings for election of commissioners.

21. For the purpose of electing commissioners from time to time in
the place of those who go out by rotation, a meeting of the
persons entitled to vote at such election shall be held at the
prescribed place, and if no place be prescribed at the principal
office of the commissioners, on the prescribed day, or if no day
be prescribed on the first Thursday in the month of September in
the year following that in which the special Act is passed, and on
the first Thursday in September in each succeeding year, or, if the
commissioners are to be elected for wards, a meeting of the persons
entitled to vote in each ward shall on the same day be held at
some place to be appointed by the commissioners, of which meetings,
and the time and place of holding the same, public notice shall be
given by the clerk by advertisement, and also by placards affixed
on the principal doors of the parish churches or other public
places in the town, seven clear days at the least before the day
of election, and at such meeting or meetings the election of
commissioners shall take place as herein-after mentioned.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 22
Returning officers at elections.

22. Where the appointment of the returning officer to act at the
election of commissioners is not provided for by the special Act,
the chairman of the commissioners shall be the returning officer;
and if the commissioners are to be elected for wards, the said
chairman shall act as the presiding officer at the election for the
ward for which he was elected a commissioner, and he shall appoint
some other commissioner for each of the other wards to be the
presiding officer at the election for such ward, and in case of
the death of any such presiding officer, or of his declining or
becoming incapable to act, the commissioners shall appoint another of
their body to be the presiding officer in the place of the person
so dying or declining, or becoming incapable to act, and the clerk
to the commissioners shall, two days at least before each election,
by advertisement, placards, or otherwise, give public notice of every
such appointment.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 23
Provision as to voting papers and polling places.

23. At every such election of commissioners the commissioners shall
cause to be printed a sufficient number of voting papers in blank,
in the form given in the schedule (A) to this Act annexed, or to
the like effect, and shall furnish them to the returning officer
for the use of the voters; and if it appear to the returning
officer at any election expedient so to do, he may cause booths to
be erected, or rooms to be hired and used as booths, for taking
the poll at such election, and he shall in such case appoint a
clerk to take the poll at each booth, and shall cause to be
affixed on the most conspicuous part thereof the name of the ward
or district for which such booth is provided; and public notice of
every election, and of the situation of the different polling
places, and of the place where voting papers may be procured by
electors, shall be given by the returning officer two days at least
before the commencement of the poll.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 24
Scale of votes of owners and occupiers.

24. Where by the special Act the owners of property and ratepayers
are entitled to vote in the election of commissioners, and no scale
of voting is prescribed, every such owner and ratepayer shall have
respectively the same number and proportion of votes according to
the scale following; (that is to say,)

If the property in respect of which he is entitled to vote be
rated upon a rateable value of less than fifty pounds, he shall
have one vote:

If such rateable value amount to fifty pounds and be less than one
hundred pounds, he shall have two votes:

If it amount to one hundred pounds and be less than one hundred
and fifty pounds, he shall have three votes:

If it amount to one hundred and fifty pounds and be less than two
hundred pounds, he shall have four votes:

If it amount to two hundred pounds and be less than two hundred
and fifty pounds, he shall have five votes:

And if it amount to or exceed two hundred and fifty pounds, he
shall have six votes.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 25
Electors to vote in wards.

25. Where by the special Act the commissioners are directed to be
elected for wards, every person entitled to vote in the election of
commissioners shall vote for commissioners for that ward only wherein
the property or part thereof in respect of which his name appears
in the rate book is situate; and if any person be rated in
respect of property situate in more than one ward, he may vote for
commissioners for any one of such wards, but having so voted he
shall not afterwards, at the same election, vote for a commissioner
for any other ward; and any vote so afterwards given by him shall
be void.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 26
List of voters.

26. Before any such election of commissioners the commissioners, if
they think it necessary for enabling the returning officer to take
the poll conveniently at such election, may cause an alphabetical
list to be made out of the names of the persons entitled to vote
at such election, as they appear in the rates made for the
purposes of the special Act, and they shall deliver to the
returning officer for the time being a sufficient number of copies
of the list so prepared, to enable the returning officer to take
the poll at the election, and they may defray the expence of
making such list and copies out of the rates payable to them under
the special Act.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 27
Returning officer may summon rate collectors, &c. to attend the
election, and answer questions as to rights of electors to vote.

27. If the qualification of the electors of the commissioners depend
upon the rates payable by such electors, the returning officer may
summon the overseers or inspectors of the poor, collectors, and
other officers employed in the assessment or collection of the rates
to attend the election, in order to assist in ascertaining that the
persons presenting themselves to vote, or who have voted, are or
were duly qualified to vote at such election; and such overseers or
inspectors, rate collectors, or other officers shall attend with the
rates and such other documents necessary for the purpose aforesaid
as may be in their custody or power, at such places and at such
times as the returning officer may direct, and shall answer all
such questions as any presiding officer at the poll shall put to
them respecting the title of any person to vote at the election;
and any overseer or inspector, rate collector, or other officer who
shall wilfully neglect or fail to perform the duties hereby imposed
upon him shall for such neglect or failure be liable to a penalty
not exceeding twenty pounds.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 28
Mode of voting at elections.

28. At every such election of commissioners the voting shall
commence at nine of the clock in the forenoon of the day fixed
for the election as aforesaid, and shall finally close at four of
the clock in the afternoon of the same day, (unless in case of
riot or obstruction,) and shall be conducted in manner following;
(that is to say,) every person entitled to vote may vote for any
number of persons having the prescribed qualification, (not exceeding
the number of commissioners then to be chosen for the town, or,
where the commissioners are to be elected in wards, not exceeding
the number to be elected for the ward in which such person is
entitled to vote,) by delivering to the presiding officer at the
poll a voting paper, containing a description of his qualification
to vote, in the form contained in schedule (A) to this Act
annexed, or to the like effect, and also the names of the persons
for whom he votes, such paper being previously signed with the name
of the person voting, and the poll clerk shall thereupon openly
record such vote in the poll book, and the voting paper shall be
carefully preserved by the presiding officer; and the presiding
officer shall, if he thinks fit, or if he be required so to do
by any person entitled to vote at the said election, put to any
voter at the time of his delivering in his voting paper the
following questions, or either of them:

1.Are you the person assessed as A.B., on the [ ] rate [specifying
the rate which confers the right to vote], in respect of property
described to be situated in [here specify the street, &c. as
described in the rate]?

Or, if the voter claim to vote as the owner of property,

Are you the person described as the owner of the property mentioned
in [ ] rate [specifying the rate], and described as being situated
in [here specify the street, &c. as described in the rate]?

2.Have you already voted at the present election? [or, if the town
be divided into wards], have you already voted for commissioners to
be elected for this or any other ward at the present election?

Poll may be closed if no voting paper be tendered for one hour.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 29

29. The presiding officer at any place of voting may close the
voting or poll at any time before four of the clock, if one hour
have elapsed during which no voting paper has been tendered at such
place of voting.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 30
Examination of poll books and declaration of poll.

30. After the close of the poll the returning officer, or, where
the commissioners are elected for wards, the presiding officer in
each ward, shall examine the poll books, and, if necessary, compare
the entries therein with the rate book and with the voting papers
so delivered as aforesaid, for the purpose of ascertaining the
number of votes given for each person; and so many of such
persons, being not more than the number of persons then to be
chosen for the town, or for each ward, as the case may be, and
having the prescribed qualification, as shall have the greatest
number of votes shall be deemed to be elected; and in case of an
equality in the number of votes for any two or more such persons,
the presiding officer shall, if necessary to prevent an excess in
the number of commissioners, decide by lot which of such persons
shall be elected; and the presiding officer shall, not later than
two of the clock in the afternoon of the day next but one
following the day of such election, unless such day be Sunday, and
then on the day following, publish a list of the names of the
persons so elected, and he shall also send a notice to each person
so elected, informing him of his being elected a commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 31
Voting papers and poll books to be open to inspection for six
months after election.

31. Within four days after every election the returning officer, or,
where the commissioners are elected for wards, the presiding officer
in each ward, shall cause the voting papers delivered as aforesaid
to be arranged in alphabetical order, and numbered according to the
names of the voters, and shall deliver them, together with the poll
books, to the clerk to the commissioners; and such clerk shall,
during six months at least after every such election, keep such
voting papers and poll books at his office, and shall permit any
person to inspect the same on payment of a fee of [5p]; and if
such clerk shall refuse or fail to allow such inspection, he shall
for every such refusal or failure be liable to a penalty of ten
pounds.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 32
Where same person is elected commissioner in more than one ward.

32. If any person be elected a commissioner in more than one ward,
he shall within three days after notice thereof choose, or in
default thereof the commissioners at their next meeting shall
declare, for which one of the wards such commissioner shall serve,
and he shall thereupon be held to be elected in that ward only
which he shall so choose or which the commissioners shall so
declare, and shall cease to be a commissioner for any other ward.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 33
Where no election, adjournment.

33. If from any cause no election take place on the day appointed
for the same, either for the town or for any ward, the election
shall stand adjourned until the same day of the following week, and
the returning officer shall give not less than three days' previous
notice thereof, by advertisement, or by placards affixed in public
places in the town; and in such case the commissioners who would
on that day have retired from office by rotation shall continue in
office until such adjourned election takes place.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 34
Election not to be void for want of title in presiding officer.

34. No election of commissioners shall be liable to be questioned
by reason only of any defect in the title, or any want of title,
of the person by or before whom such election shall have been
held; provided that such person have been actually appointed to
preside, or have been acting in the office giving the right to
preside at such election.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 35
Expences of returning or presiding officer, &c.

35. All expences of or incident to any election incurred by the
returning officer or presiding officer shall be repaid to them by
the commissioners out of the monies arising from the rates
authorized to be levied for the purposes of the special Act; and
all overseers and other parochial officers or other persons shall be
in like manner paid a reasonable remuneration for attendance at the
election with rate books, and for any other services performed in
relation to such election; and any dispute respecting the amount of
such expences and remuneration shall be determined by a justice, ...
who shall have power also to fix the costs attending such
determination and to order by whom the same shall be paid.

And with respect to the meetings and other proceedings of the
commissioners, and their liabilities:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 36
First meeting of the commissioners.

36. The commissioners shall hold their first meeting at the
prescribed time and place, and if a time or place be not
prescribed they shall hold their first meeting at some convenient
place within the limits of the special Act on the third Wednesday
next after the commencement thereof, or, if the first body of
commissioners be not named in the special Act, on the first
Wednesday after the first election of commissioners, or as soon
after such periods respectively as conveniently may be, at the hour
of ten of the clock in the forenoon, and shall proceed to put
this and the special Act into execution.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 37
Chairman of commissioners.

37. At the first meeting of the commissioners they shall, by the
majority of the votes of the commissioners present, elect one of
their body to be their chairman until the next annual meeting of
the commissioners, when, and at every subsequent annual meeting, the
commissioners shall in like manner elect a chairman for the ensuing
year; and in case the chairman die, or resign, or cease to be a
commissioner, or otherwise become disqualified to act as such, the
commissioners present at the meeting next after the occurrence of
such vacancy shall choose some other of their body to fill such
vacancy, and the chairman so elected shall continue in office so
long only as the person in whose place he was elected would have
been entitled to continue chairman; and if at any meeting of the
commissioners the chairman be not present, one of the commissioners
present shall be elected chairman of such meeting by the majority
of the votes of the commissioners present at such meeting.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 38
Voting at meetings of commissioners.

38. At all meetings of the commissioners the questions there
considered shall be decided by the votes of the majority present;
and if there be an equal division of votes upon any question the
chairman or commissioner acting as chairman at such meeting shall,
in addition to his own vote as a commissioner, have a second or
casting vote; provided always, that if at any such meeting there be
an equality of votes in the election of the chairman, it shall be
decided by lot which of the commissioners having an equal number of
votes shall be the chairman; provided also, that at every annual
meeting the chairman going out of office at that meeting shall, if
present and willing to act, be the chairman of such meeting.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 39
Quorum of commissioners.

39. All powers vested in the commissioners under this or the
special Act may be exercised by the prescribed number, and where no
number is prescribed by any five or more of the commissioners
present at any meeting holden in pursuance of this and the special
Act, and no business shall be transacted at any meeting of the
commissioners unless the said number of commissioners be present.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 40
Commissioners to hold annual and monthly meetings.

40. The commissioners shall hold an annual meeting at the prescribed
time and place, and if no time or place be prescribed then on the
third Wednesday in the month of June in each year at a place to
be appointed by the commissioners, and the first of such annual
meetings shall be held in the year after that in which the special
Act is passed; and they shall also hold monthly meetings for the
transaction of general business, and the said monthly meetings shall
be held at the office of the commissioners, on such day and hour
in each month as the commissioners shall from time to time appoint,
and when any such appointment is made the clerk shall give notice
thereof to each of the commissioners, and they shall afterwards,
until the time or place of such monthly meetings is changed, and
notice of such change given to the commissioners, attend such
monthly meetings without notice.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 41
Meetings of commissioners may be adjourned from time to time.

41. The commissioners present at such first meeting, or at any
annual or monthly meeting, or at any adjourned meeting, may from
time to time adjourn such meeting to the same, or any other place
within the limits of the special Act, and if at any meeting of
the commissioners there be not the prescribed number, or where no
number is prescribed five commissioners, present within one half-hour
after the time appointed for such meeting, the commissioners present,
or the major part of them, or any one commissioner if only one be
present, or their clerk if no commissioner be present, may adjourn
such meeting to another day at the same or any other place within
the limits of the special Act.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 42
Monthly meetings to be held for transacting ordinary business.

42. The said monthly meetings of the commissioners shall be held
for transacting the ordinary business of the commissioners under this
or the special Act, and amongst the rest for appointing and
removing the inferior officers of the commissioners, and
superintending their conduct, and for inquiring into the conduct of
the contractors or other persons employed by them to execute any
works, and into the state and progress of such works, and generally
for giving such directions from time to time as may be necessary
for carrying into effect the purposes of this and the special Act.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 43
No extra-ordinary business to be transacted at monthly meetings,
unless notice be given.

43. Where any business other than ordinary business is required or
intended to be transacted at any monthly meeting, the clerk shall
give notice thereof to each of the commissioners, and no such
extraordinary business, nor any new rules or regulations, shall be
adopted at the monthly meetings, unless due notice thereof have been
given at a prior meeting and sent to each commissioner in the
manner required for special meetings.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 44
Revocation of resolution of commissioners.

44. No resolution at any meeting of the commissioners shall be
revoked or altered at any subsequent meeting, unless notice of the
intention to propose such revocation or alteration be given by the
clerk to each of the commissioners seven days at least before
holding the meeting, nor unless such revocation or alteration be
determined upon by a majority consisting of two-thirds of the
commissioners present at such subsequent meeting, if the number of
commissioners present at such subsequent meeting be not greater than
the number present when such resolution was come to, or by a
majority, if the number of commissioners present at such subsequent
meeting be greater than the number present at such former meeting.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 45
Special meetings.

45. The commissioners may hold special meetings, and any five or
more of the commissioners may require a special meeting to be held,
but no such meeting shall be held unless two clear days' notice
thereof at the least be given.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 46
Where things can be done by special order only, special notice to
be given, and resolution to be confirmed.

46. Where by the special Act the commissioners are empowered to do
any thing by special order only, they shall not do such thing
unless the resolution to do the same have been agreed to by the
commissioners in some meeting whereof special notice has been given,
and have been confirmed in a subsequent meeting held not sooner
than four weeks after the preceding meeting, and which subsequent
meeting has been advertised once at least in each of the weeks
intervening between the two meetings, and special notice thereof
given to each of the commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 47
Notices of meetings of commissioners.

47. All notices of any meeting of the commissioners shall be in
writing or in print, or partly in writing and partly in print, and
shall be by the clerk delivered or sent by the post, or otherwise,
to the usual place of abode or place of business, if any, within
the limits of the special Act, of each of the commissioners, two
clear days at least previous to such meeting, and every such notice
shall specify the time and place of meeting, and in case of a
special meeting shall specify the object thereof, and no business
shall be transacted at any special meeting except such as is stated
in the notice thereof.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 48
Expences of meetings.

48. At all meetings of the commissioners they shall defray their
own expences, except what may be incurred for the use of the room
in which the meeting is held, and for books, stationery, and fire.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 49
Power of commissioners to appoint committees.

49. The commissioners may at any meeting, from time to time,
appoint committees for any purposes which in the opinion of the
commissioners would be better regulated and managed by means of such
committee, and they may fix the quorum of any such committee, and
may continue, alter, or discontinue such committee.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 50
Meetings of committees.

50. Every committee so appointed may meet from time to time, and
may adjourn from place to place, as they may think proper, for
carrying into effect the purposes of their appointment; but no
business shall be transacted at any meeting of the committee unless
the quorum of members, if any, fixed by the commissioners, and if
no quorum be fixed, three members, be present; ... and all
questions shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the
members present, ....

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 51
Vacancies.

51. No proceeding of the commissioners or of any committee shall be
invalidated or be illegal in consequence only of there being any
vacancy in the number of commissioners at the time of such
proceeding.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 52
Informalities in appointment of commissioners.

52. All proceedings of the commissioners, or of a committee of
commissioners, or of any person acting as a commissioner, shall,
notwithstanding it be afterwards discovered that there was some
defect in the appointment of any such commissioners or persons
acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified,
be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and
was qualified to be a commissioner.

S.53 rep. by 1955 c.13 (NI) s.11(2). S.54 rep. by 1966 c.38 (NI)
s.28 sch.3

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 55
Record of proceedings of commissioners.

55. The commissioners shall cause entries of all the proceedings of
the commissioners, and of every committee appointed by them, with
the names of the commissioners who shall attend each meeting, to be
duly made from time to time in books to be provided for the
purpose, which shall be kept by the clerk under the superintendence
of the commissioners, and every such entry shall be signed by the
chairman of the meeting at which the proceeding took place, and
such entry so signed shall be received as evidence in all courts,
and before all judges, justices, and others, without proof of such
meeting having been duly convened or held, or of the persons
attending such meeting having been or being commissioners or members
of committees respectively, or of the signature of the chairman, or
of the fact of his having been chairman, all of which
last-mentioned matters shall be presumed until the contrary is
proved; and such books shall at all reasonable times be open to
the inspection of any of the commissioners and of any mortgagee of
the rates or property of the commissioners.

And with respect to the contracts to be entered into and the deeds
to be executed by the commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 56
Power to commissioners to enter into contracts.

56. The commissioners may enter into contracts with any persons for
the execution of any works directed or authorized by this and the
special Act to be done by the commissioners, or for furnishing
materials, or for any other things necessary for the purposes of
this or the special Act, and every such contract for the execution
of any work shall be in writing, and shall specify the work to be
done, and the materials to be furnished and the price to be paid
for the same, and the time or times within which the work is to
be completed, and the penalties to be suffered in case of
non-performance thereof; and the power hereby granted to the
commissioners to enter into contracts may lawfully be exercised as
follows; (that is to say,)

Any contract which if made between private persons would be by law
required to be in writing and under seal, ... the commissioners may
make in writing and under their common seal, if they be
incorporated, or, if not incorporated, under the hands and seals,
... and in the same manner may vary or discharge the same:

Any contract which if made between private persons would be by law
required to be in writing and signed by the parties to be charged
therewith the commissioners may make in writing, signed by the
commissioners, or any two of their number acting by the direction
and on behalf of the commissioners, and in the same manner may
vary or discharge the same:

Any contract which if made between private persons would by law be
valid, although made by parol only and not reduced into writing,
the commissioners, or any two of them acting by the direction and
on behalf of the commissioners, may make by parol only, without
writing, and in the same manner may vary or discharge the same:

Tenders for contracts and security from contractors.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 57

57. Before any contract to the amount of one hundred pounds or
upwards shall be entered into by the commissioners, ten days' notice
at the least shall be given in some one of the newspapers
circulating within the limits of the special Act, expressing the
purpose of such contract, and inviting any person willing to
undertake the same to make proposals for that purpose to the
commissioners, and the commissioners shall accept the proposal which
upon a view of all the circumstances shall appear to them to be
the most advantageous, and shall take security for the due and
faithful performance of every such contract.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 58
Commissioners may compound for breach of contract.

58. The commissioners may compound with any party who has entered
into any such contract, or against whom any action or suit has
been brought for any penalty contained in any such contract, or in
any bond or other security for the performance thereof, or on
account of any breach or non-performance of any such contract, bond,
or security, for such sums of money or other recompence as the
commissioners may think proper.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 59
Conveyance of lands by the commissioners.

59. Where by the special Act or any Act incorporated therewith the
commissioners are authorized or required to sell or convey any lands
vested in them, and no other mode of conveyance is provided, they
may convey such lands, or such interest as the commissioners have
therein, by deed under the common seal of the commissioners, if
they be a corporation, or, if not a corporation, by deed executed
by the commissioners, or any two of them acting by the authority
of and on behalf of the commissioners; ... and a receipt under
such common seal, or under the hands of two of the commissioners
acting as aforesaid, shall be a sufficient discharge to the
purchaser of any such lands for the purchase money in such receipt
expressed to be received.

And with respect to the liabilities of the commissioners, and to
legal proceedings by or against the commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 60
Commissioners not personally liable.

60. No commissioner, by being party to or executing in his capacity
of commissioner any contract or other instrument on behalf of the
commissioners, or otherwise lawfully executing any of the powers
given to the commissioners, shall be subject to be sued or
prosecuted, either individually or collectively, by any person
whomsoever; and the bodies or goods or lands of the several
commissioners shall not be liable to execution of any legal process
by reason of any contract or other instrument so entered into,
signed, or executed by them, or by reason of any other lawful act
done by them in the execution of any of their powers as
commissioners; and the commissioners respectively, their heirs,
executors, and administrators, shall be indemnified out of the rates
and other monies coming to the hands of the commissioners by virtue
of this and the special Act for all payments made or liability
incurred in respect of any acts done by them, and for all losses,
costs, and damages which they may incur in the execution of the
powers granted to them.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 61
Actions or suits to be brought in the name of any two
commissioners or their clerk, and not to abate by death, &c.

61. In all actions and suits in respect of any matter or thing
relating to the execution of this or the special Act, to be
brought by or against the commissioners, it shall be sufficient,
where such commissioners are not a body corporate, to state the
names of any two of the commissioners, or the name of their clerk,
as the party, plaintiff or defendant, representing the commissioners
in any such action or suit, and no such action or suit shall
abate or be discontinued, or required to be transferred, by reason
of the death of any such commissioner, or by his ceasing to be a
commissioner, or by the death, suspension, or removal of such clerk.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 62
Executions to be levied on the goods belonging to commissioners by
virtue of their office only.

62. Execution upon every judgment or decree against the commissioners
in any such action or suit shall be levied on the goods, chattels,
or personal effects belonging to the commissioners by virtue of
their office, and shall not in any manner extend to charge or make
liable the persons, or private lands or goods, of any of the
commissioners, or the heirs, executors, or administrators of any of
them.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 63
Commissioners to be reimbursed all damages, &c. out of monies in
hands of treasurer.

63. Every commissioner or clerk in whose name any such legal
proceedings shall be carried on, either as plaintiff or defendant,
on behalf of the commissioners, shall be reimbursed, out of the
monies which shall come into the hands of the treasurer of the
commissioners by virtue of his office, all damages, costs, charges,
and expences to which any such commissioner or clerk may be put,
or with which he may become chargeable, by reason of being so made
plaintiff or defendant.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 64
Indictments for injury, &c. to property of commissioners.

64. The commissioners may prefer a bill of indictment against any
person who shall steal or wilfully injure any property or thing
belonging to the commissioners, or under their management, or
institute any other proceeding which may appear to them necessary
for the protection of such property, ....

And with respect to the appointment and accountability of the
officers of the commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 65
Appointment and salaries of officers.

65. The commissioners may from time to time appoint and employ a
treasurer, clerk, collector, assessor, and all such other officers to
assist in the execution of this and the special Act as they shall
think necessary and proper, and from time to time remove any of
such officers, and appoint others in the room of such as shall be
so removed, or as may die, resign, or discontinue their offices,
and may, out of the monies to be raised for the purposes of this
and the special Act, pay such salaries and allowances to the said
officers respectively as the commissioners shall think reasonable.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 66
Offices of clerk and treasurer not to be held by same person.

66. The same person shall not be appointed to the office both of
clerk and treasurer; and if any person being the clerk, or the
partner of such clerk, or in the service of such clerk or of his
partner, accept the office of treasurer, or if any person being the
treasurer, or the partner of such treasurer, or in the service, of
such treasurer or of his partner, accept the office of clerk, he
shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds, and any person may
sue for such penalty by action of debt or on the case in any of
the superior courts, and shall on recovery thereof be entitled to
full costs of suit.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 67
Penalty on officer taking fees.

67. Every officer employed by the commissioners who shall exact or
accept on account of anything done by virtue of his office, or in
relation to the matters to be done under this or the special Act,
any fee or reward whatsoever, other than the salary or allowances
allowed by the commissioners, or who shall be in anywise concerned
or interested in any bargain or contract made by the commissioners,
shall be incapable of being afterwards employed by the commissioners,
and shall forfeit the sum of fifty pounds, and any person may sue
for such penalty by action of debt or on the case in any of the
superior courts, and shall on recovery thereof be entitled to full
costs of suit.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 68
Security to be taken from officers.

68. Before any person, whether treasurer, collector, or other officer
intrusted by the commissioners with the custody or control of monies
by virtue of his office, shall enter upon such office, the
commissioners shall take sufficient security from him for the
faithful execution thereof.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 69
Collectors to pay over monies and furnish accounts.

69. Every collector appointed or employed by the commissioners by
virtue of this or the special Act to collect any rates shall,
within seven days after he shall have received any monies on
account of any such rates, pay over the same to the treasurer of
the commissioners to their account, and the receipt of such
treasurer for the monies so paid shall be a sufficient discharge to
the collector; and every such collector shall, in such time and in
such manner as the commissioners direct, deliver to them true and
perfect accounts in writing under his hand of all monies received
by him and of all monies paid by him to the said treasurer by
virtue of this or the special Act, and also a list of the names
of all persons who have neglected or refused to pay any rate or
money owing by them, with a statement of the monies due from them
respectively.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 70
Officers to account when required and to pay over balances in their
hands.

70. Every collector and other officer appointed or employed by the
commissioners by virtue of this or the special Act, shall, from
time to time when required by the commissioners, make out and
deliver to them, or to any person appointed by them for that
purpose, a true and perfect account in writing under his hand of
all monies received by him on behalf of the commissioners, and such
account shall state how and to whom and for what purpose such
monies have been disposed of, and together with such account such
officer shall deliver the vouchers and receipts for such payments;
and every such officer shall pay to the commissioners, or to any
person appointed by them to receive the same, all monies which
shall appear to be owing from him upon the balance of such
accounts.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 71
Summary proceedings against officers.

71. If any such collector or other officer fail to render such
accounts as aforesaid, or to produce and deliver up all the
vouchers and receipts relating to the same in his possession or
power, or to pay the balance thereof when thereunto required, or if
for five days after being thereunto required he fail to deliver up
to the commissioners, or to any person appointed by them to receive
the same, all papers and writings, property, effects, matters, and
things, in his possession or power, relating to the execution of
this or the special Act, or any Act incorporated therewith, or
belonging to the commissioners, then on complaint thereof being made
to a justice, ... such justice ... shall summon such officer to
appear before two or more justices, ... at a time and place to be
set forth in such summons, to answer such charge; and upon the
appearance of such officer, or upon proof that such summons was
personally served upon him, or left at his last known place of
abode, such justices may hear and determine the matter in a summary
way, and may adjust and declare the balance owing by such officer;
and if it appear, either upon confession of such officer, or upon
evidence, or upon inspection of the account, that any monies of the
commissioners are in the hands of such officer, or owing by him to
the commissioners, such justices ... may order such officer to pay
the same ....

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 72
Officers refusing to make out account and deliver up documents, &c.
may be committed to prison.

72. If any such officer summoned as aforesaid refuse to make out
such account in writing, or to produce and deliver to the justices
... the several vouchers and receipts relating thereto, or to
deliver up any books, papers, or writings, property, effects,
matters, or things, in his possession or power, belonging to the
commissioners, such justices ... may commit such offender to
[prison], there to remain until he shall have delivered up all the
vouchers and receipts in his possession or power relating to such
accounts, and all the books, papers, writings, property, effects,
matters, and things, in his possession or power, belonging to the
commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 73
Warrant against officer about to abscond.

73. Provided always, that if any commissioner, or other person
acting on behalf of the commissioners, shall make oath that he has
good reason to believe, upon grounds to be stated in his
deposition, and that he does believe, that it is the intention of
any such officer as aforesaid to abscond, the justice ... before
whom the complaint is made may, instead of issuing his summons,
issue his warrant for bringing such officer before such two justices
as aforesaid, if the warrant be issued by a justice ...; but no
person executing such warrant shall keep such officer in custody
longer than twenty-four hours without bringing him before some
justice ...; and the justice ... before whom such officer may be
brought may either discharge such officer, if he think there is no
sufficient ground for his detention, or order such officer to be
detained in custody so as to be brought before two justices at a
time and place to be named in such order, unless such officer give
bail to the satisfaction of such justice for his appearance before
such justices to answer the complaint of the commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 74
Proceedings against officers not to discharge sureties.

74. No such proceeding against or dealing with any such officer as
aforesaid shall deprive the commissioners of any remedy which they
might otherwise have against any surety of such officer.

And with respect to the mortgages to be executed by the
commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 75
Mortgages of rates, &c.

75. Every mortgage or assignation in security of rates or other
property authorized to be made under the provisions of this or the
special Act shall be by deed duly stamped, in which the
consideration shall be truly stated; and every such deed shall be
under the common seal of the commissioners, if they be a body
corporate, or, if they be not a body corporate, shall be executed
by the commissioners, or any five of them, and may be according to
the form in the schedule (B) to this Act annexed or to the like
effect; and the respective mortgagees or assignees in security shall
be entitled one with another to their respective proportions of the
rates and assessments or other property comprised in such mortgages
or assignations respectively, according to the respective sums in
such mortgages or assignations mentioned to be advanced by such
mortgagees or assignees respectively, and to be repaid the sums so
advanced, with interest, without any preference one above another by
reason of the priority of advancing such monies, or of the dates
of any such mortgages or assignations respectively.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 76
Register of mortgages.

76. A register of mortgages or assignations in security shall be
kept by the clerk to the commissioners, and where by the special
Act the commissioners are authorized or required to raise separate
sums on separate rates or other property a separate register shall
be kept for each class of mortgages or assignations in security;
and within fourteen days after the date of any mortgage or
assignation in security an entry or memorial of the number and date
thereof, and of the names of the parties thereto, with their proper
additions, shall be made in the proper register, and every such
register may be perused at all reasonable times by any person
interested in any such mortgage or assignation in security, without
fee or reward.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 77
Transfer of mortgages.

77. Any person entitled to any such mortgage or assignation may
transfer his right and interest therein to any other person; and
every such transfer shall be by deed duly stamped, wherein the
consideration shall be truly stated, and every such transfer may be
according to the form in the schedule (C) to this Act annexed, or
to the like effect.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 78
Register of transfers.

78. Within thirty days after the date of every such transfer, if
executed within the United Kingdom, or otherwise within thirty days
after the arrival thereof in the United Kingdom, it shall be
produced to the clerk to the commissioners, and thereupon such clerk
shall cause an entry or memorial thereof to be made, in the same
manner as in the case of the original mortgage or assignation in
security, and for such entry the clerk may demand a sum not
exceeding [25p]; and after such entry every such transfer shall
entitle the transferee, his executors, administrators, or assigns, to
the full benefit of the original mortgage or assignation in
security, and the principal and interest thereby secured, and such
transferee may in like manner assign or transfer the same again
toties quoties, and it shall not be in the power of any person,
except the person to whom the same shall have been last
transferred, his executors, administrators, or assigns, to make void,
release, or discharge the mortgage or assignation so transferred, or
any money thereby secured.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 79
Interest on mortgages.

79. Unless otherwise provided by any mortgage or assignation in
security, the interest of the money borrowed thereupon shall be paid
half-yearly to the several parties entitled thereto.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 80
Power to borrow money at lower rate of interest to pay off
securities at higher rate.

80. If the commissioners can at any time borrow or take up any
sum of money at a lower rate of interest than any securities given
by them and then be in force shall bear, they may borrow such sum
at such lower rate as aforesaid, in order to pay off and discharge
the securities bearing such higher rate of interest, and may charge
the rates and other property which they may be authorized to
mortgage or assign in security under this or the special Act, or
any part thereof, with payment of such sum and such lower rate of
interest, in such manner and subject to such regulations as are
herein contained with respect to other moneys borrowed on mortgage
or assignation in security.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 81
Repayment of money borrowed at a time and place agreed upon.

81. The commissioners may, if they think proper, fix a period for
the repayment of all principal monies borrowed under the provisions
of this or the special Act, with the interest thereof, and in such
case the commissioners shall cause such period to be inserted in
the mortgage deed or assignation in security; and upon the
expiration of such period the principal sum, together with the
arrears of interest thereon, shall, on demand, be paid to the party
entitled to receive such principal money and interest, and if no
other place of payment be inserted in such deed such principal and
interest shall be payable at the office of the commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 82
Repayment of money borrowed when no time or place has been agreed
upon.

82. If no time be fixed in the mortgage deed or assignation in
security for the repayment of the money so borrowed, the party
entitled to receive such money may, at the expiration or at any
time after the expiration of twelve months from the date of such
deed, demand payment of the principal money thereby secured, with
all arrears of interest, upon giving six months' previous notice for
that purpose, and in the like case the commissioners may at any
time pay off the money borrowed, on giving the like notice; and
every such notice shall be in writing or print, or both, and if
given by a mortgagee or creditor shall be delivered to the clerk
or left at the office of the commissioners, and if given by the
commissioners shall be given either personally to such mortgagee or
creditor, or left at his residence, or if such mortgagee or
creditor be unknown to the commissioners, or cannot be found after
diligent inquiry, such notice shall be given by advertisement in the
... [Belfast Gazette] ...

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 83
Interest to cease on expiration of notice to pay off a mortgage
debt.

83. If the commissioners shall have given notice of their intention
to pay off any such mortgage or assignation in security at a time
when the same may lawfully be paid off by them, then at the
expiration of such notice all further interest shall cease to be
payable thereon, unless, on demand of payment made pursuant to such
notice, or at any time thereafter, the commissioners fail to pay
the principal and interest due at the expiration of such notice on
such mortgage or assignation in security.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 84
Sinking fund.

84. In order to discharge the principal money borrowed as aforesaid
on security of any of the rates, the commissioners shall every year
appropriate and set apart out of such rates respectively a sum
equal to the prescribed part, and if no part be prescribed one
twentieth part, of the sums so borrowed respectively, as a sinking
fund to be applied in paying off the respective principal moneys so
borrowed, and shall from time to time cause such sinking fund to
be invested in the purchase of Exchequer bills or other government
securities, ... and to be increased by accumulation in the way of
compound interest or otherwise, until the same respectively shall be
of sufficient amount to pay off the principal debts respectively to
which such sinking fund shall be applicable, or some part thereof
which the commissioners shall think ought then to be paid off, at
which time the same shall be so applied in paying off the same in
manner herein-after mentioned.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 85
Commissioners shall determine by lot which mortgages shall be paid
off, and give notice accordingly.

85. Whenever the commissioners shall be enabled to pay off one or
more of the mortgages or assignations in security which shall be
then payable, and shall not be able to pay off the whole of the
same class, they shall decide the order in which they shall be
paid off by lot among the class to which such one or more of the
mortgages or assignations in security belong, and shall cause a
notice, signed by their clerk, to be given to the persons entitled
to the money to be paid off, pursuant to such lot, and such
notice shall express the principal sum proposed to be paid off, and
that the same will be paid, together with the interest due thereon,
at a place to be specified, at the expiration of six months from
the date of giving such notice.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 86
When payment of interest in arrear may be enforced by appointment
of a receiver.

86. Where by the special Act the mortgagees or assignees in
security of the commissioners are empowered to enforce the payment
of the arrears of interest, or the arrears of principal and
interest, due to them by the appointment of a receiver, then, if
within thirty days after the interest accruing upon any such
mortgage or assignation in security has become payable, and after
demand thereof in writing, the same be not paid, the mortgagee or
assignee in security may, without prejudice to his right to sue for
the interest so in arrear in any of the superior courts, require
the appointment of a receiver; by an application to be made as
herein-after provided; and if within six months after the principal
money owing upon any such mortgage or assignation in security has
become payable, and after demand thereof in writing, the same be
not paid, together with all interest due in respect thereof, the
mortgagee or assignee in security, without prejudice to his right to
sue for such principal money, together with all arrears of interest,
in any of the superior courts, may, if his debt amount to the
prescribed sum, alone, or, if his debt do not amount to the
prescribed sum, he may in conjunction with other mortgagees or
assignees in security whose debts, being so in arrear, after demand
as aforesaid, together with his amount to the prescribed sum,
require the appointment of a receiver, by an application to be made
as herein-after provided.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 87
Appointment of receiver.

87. Every application for a receiver in the cases aforesaid shall
in ... Ireland be made to two justices, ... and on any such
application such justices ... may, by order in writing, after
hearing the parties, appoint some person to receive the whole or a
competent part of the rates or sums liable to the payment of such
interest, or such principal and interest, as the case may be, until
such interest, or until such principal and interest, as the case
may be, together with all costs, including the charges of receiving
the rates or sums aforesaid, be fully paid; and upon such
appointment being made all such rates and sums of money as
aforesaid, or such part thereof as may be ordered by the said
justices ..., shall be paid to the person so to be appointed, and
the money so paid shall be so much money received by or to the
use of the party to whom such interest, or such principal and
interest, as the case may be, shall be then due, and on whose
behalf such receiver shall have been appointed, and after such
interest and costs, or such principal, interest, and costs, have
been so received, the power of such receiver shall cease.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 88
Account books to be open to the inspection of mortgagees.

88. The books of account of the commissioners shall be open at all
seasonable times to the inspection of the respective mortgagees or
assignees in security of the commissioners, with liberty to take
extracts therefrom without fee or reward.

And with respect to the accounts to be kept by the commissioners:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 89
Accounts to be kept of receipts and disbursements.

89. The Commissioners shall cause books to be provided and kept,
and true and regular accounts to be entered therein of all sums of
money received and paid for and on account of this and the special
Act, and of the several purposes for which such sums of money
shall have been received and paid, which books shall at all
reasonable times be open to the inspection of any of the
commissioners, and any mortgagee, assignee in security, or other
creditor of the commissioners, without fee or reward, and the
commissioners and persons aforesaid, or any of them, may take copies
of or extracts from the said books, without paying any thing for
the same; and any clerk or other person having the custody of the
said books who shall not on any reasonable demand of any
commissioner, mortgagee, or creditor as aforesaid permit him to
inspect the said books, or to take such copies or extracts as
aforesaid, shall be liable to a penalty of [#20] for every such
offence.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 90
Annual statement of accounts.

90. The commissioners shall cause their accounts to be balanced in
each year to a period not less than one month before the annual
general meeting at which they are to be produced, as after
mentioned; and fourteen days at the least before such meeting the
commissioners shall cause a full and true statement and account to
be drawn out of the amount of all rates or assessments made, and
of all contracts entered into, and of all monies received and
expended, by virtue of this or the special Act, during the
preceding year, and also of all debts then owing by the
commissioners, and they shall cause such statement and account to be
printed, and shall allow the same to remain for inspection at the
office of the commissioners; and every creditor on the rates and
assessments by this or the special Act, or any Act incorporated
therewith, authorized to be made, and every person paying any such
rate or assessment, or any person acting on behalf of any such
creditor or ratepayer, may, at all reasonable times, inspect such
statement and account, and compare the same with the books and
documents relating thereto in the possession of the commissioners;
and the clerk shall, on demand, furnish a printed copy of the said
statement and account to every such creditor and rate-payer, without
fee; and fourteen days at the least before to the meeting for
examining and settling such account the commissioners shall give
public notice of such intended meeting, stating in such notice that
the said statement and account are printed, and lie at the office
of the commissioners ready for the inspection of the creditors and
rate-payers or other parties interested.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 91
Accounts to be examined and settled at an annual meeting.

91. The accounts of the commissioners, so balanced as aforesaid,
together with the said statement and account, shall be produced at
the annual meeting of the commissioners, or at some adjournment
thereof, at which meeting all creditors and rate-payers and other
persons interested may be present, and the accounts shall be then
finally examined and settled by the commissioners, and if the same
be found just and true they shall be allowed by the commissioners,
and certified accordingly under the hand of the chairman of such
meeting; and after such accounts have been so allowed and signed by
such chairman, and also by the auditors, as herein-after provided,
the same shall be final in regard to all persons whomsoever, unless
an appeal be prosecuted against such accounts, as herein-after
provided.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 92
Auditors to be appointed.

92. Except in the cases where by the special Act provision is made
for the appointment of a permanent auditor, and such auditor shall
have been appointed accordingly, the rate-payers present at the said
annual meeting may appoint two or more persons, not being
commissioners, to be auditors of the accounts of the commissioners;
and if no other person present at such meeting propose the names
of two persons to be appointed auditors by such meeting, it shall
be the duty of the chairman of the meeting to propose the names
of two persons to be so appointed; and the persons so to be
appointed auditors shall have the like qualification, and shall be
subject to the like disqualification or disability, as the
commissioners; and before entering on their office they shall make
and sign before a justice or the sheriff a solemn declaration of
the like purport and effect to that hereby required to be signed
by the commissioners; and the auditors so appointed shall receive a
reasonable remuneration for their time and trouble, not exceeding
[#2.10] each for every day they shall be fully employed on such
audit, and all such expences as they shall be put unto attending
the auditing of the said accounts; and if any dispute arise as to
the amount of the remuneration and expences to be paid to such
auditors, it shall in ... Ireland be settled by two justices ...

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 93
Auditors to inspect accounts.

93. The auditors so nominated, or the said permanent auditor, if
any shall have been appointed as aforesaid, shall attend as soon as
conveniently may be after the said annual meeting, at the office of
the commissioners, or at some other convenient place to be appointed
by the commissioners, and from time to time shall, in the presence
of the clerk to the commissioners, if he desire to be present,
proceed to audit the accounts of the commissioners for the year
preceding the said annual meeting; and the commissioners shall by
their clerk produce and lay before such auditors the accounts so
allowed and certified as aforesaid, together with the statement and
account herein-before mentioned, accompanied with proper vouchers in
support of the same, and all books, papers, and writings in their
custody or power relating thereto; and any person interested in the
said account, either as a creditor of the commissioners or as a
rate-payer, may be present at the audit of the said accounts by
himself or his agent, and may make any objection to any part of
such account; and if the said accounts be found correct, such
auditors shall sign the same in token of their allowance thereof,
but if such auditors think there is just cause to disapprove of
any part of the said accounts, they or any other person interested
in the said accounts as aforesaid may appeal against any such parts
of the said accounts as shall be so disapproved of, to one of the
two next quarter sessions in ... Ireland, ... notice in writing of
such appeal being given to the clerk of the commissioners fourteen
days at the least before the hearing of such appeal.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 94
The court may order payment of the costs of the appeal.

94. Upon the hearing of any such appeal the justices or the
sheriff may make such order as they or he think fit respecting the
payment of the costs of the appellant out of the monies coming to
the hands of the commissioners under the special Act or otherwise,
as they or he think fit, and such order shall be final.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 95
Annual account to be made up and transmitted to the chief clerk,
and to be open to inspection.

95. The commissioners shall every year cause an annual account in
abstract to be prepared, showing the total receipt and expenditure
of all funds levied by virtue of this and the special Act, and
any Act incorporated therewith, for the year ending on the day down
to which their accounts shall have been made up for the said
annual meeting, or some other convenient day in each year, under
the several distinct heads of receipt and expenditure, with a
statement of the balance of such account, duly audited and certified
by the chairman of the commissioners, and also by the auditors
thereof, and shall, if the undertaking is situated in ... Ireland,
send a copy of the said account free of charge to the [chief
clerk for the county court division] where the undertaking is
situate, ... on or before the thirty-first day of January then
next, or within one month after the same has been duly audited,
which account shall be open to the inspection of the public at all
reasonable hours, on payment of the sum of [5p] for every such
inspection; and if the commissioners shall omit to prepare and
transmit such account as aforesaid, they shall be liable for every
such omission to a penalty of twenty pounds.

And with respect to the making of byelaws:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 96
Byelaws for regulating the conduct of the officers, &c. of the
commissioners.

96. The commissioners may from time to time make such byelaws as
they think fit, for the purpose of regulating the conduct of the
officers and servants of the commissioners, and for providing for
the due management of the affairs of the commissioners, and may
from time to time alter or repeal any such byelaws, and make
others, provided such byelaws be not repugnant to the laws of that
part of the United Kingdom where the same are to have effect, or
to the provisions of this or the special Act; and such byelaws
shall be reduced into writing, and shall have affixed thereto the
common seal of the commissioners, where the commissioners are a body
corporate, or shall be signed by the commissioners, or any two of
them, where they are not a body corporate; and a copy of such
byelaws shall be given to every officer and servant of the
commissioners affected thereby.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 97
Penalties for breach of byelaws.

97. The commissioners may by such byelaws impose such reasonable
penalties upon all persons, being officers or servants of the
commissioners, offending against such byelaws as the commissioners
think fit, not exceeding [#20] for any one offence.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 98
Byelaws to be so framed as that penalties may be mitigated.

98. All the byelaws to be made by the commissioners shall be so
framed as to allow the justice ... before whom any penalty imposed
thereby may be sought to be recovered to order a part only of
such penalty to be paid, if such justice ... think fit.

And with respect to giving notices and orders:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 99
Service of notices upon commissioners.

99. Any summons or notice, or any writ or other proceeding at law
or in equity, requiring to be served upon the commissioners, may be
served by the same being left at or sent through the post office,
directed to the commissioners, at their principal office, or one of
their principal offices where there shall be more than one, or by
being given personally to the clerk, or in case there be no clerk,
then by being given to any one commissioner.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 100
Notices by advertisement.

100. All notices required by this or the special Act, or any Act
incorporated therewith, to be given by advertisement, shall be
advertised in the prescribed newspaper, or if no newspaper be
prescribed, or if the prescribed newspaper cease to be published, in
a newspaper circulating in the district within which the undertaking
shall be situated.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 101
Authentication of notices and orders.

101. Every order, summons, notice, or other such document requiring
authentication by the commissioners shall be sufficiently authenticated
if signed by two commissioners, or by the clerk of the
commissioners, and it need not be under the common seal of the
commissioners, although they be incorporated, and the same may be in
writing or in print, or partly in writing and partly in print.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 102
Proof of debts in bankruptcy.

102. And with respect to the proof of debts in bankruptcy ..., if
any person against whom the commissioners have any claim or demand
become bankrupt, ..., the clerk or treasurer of the commissioners,
in all proceedings against the estate of such bankrupt ..., or
under any fiat, sequestration, ... against such bankrupt ..., may
represent the commissioners, and act in their behalf, in all
respects as if such claim or demand had been the claim or demand
of such secretary or treasurer, and not of the commissioners.

S.103 rep. by 1893 c.61 s.2 sch.

And with respect to the recovery of damages not specially provided
for, and of penalties, and to the determination of any other matter
referred to justices ...:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 104
Railways Clauses Acts, as to damages, &c. to be incorporated with
this and the special Act.

104. If the undertaking be situate in ... Ireland, the clauses of
the Railways Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, with respect to the
recovery of damages not specially provided for, and of penalties,
and to the determination of any other matter referred to justices,
shall be incorporated with this and the special Act; ... and such
clauses shall apply to the undertaking and to the commissioners
respectively, and shall be construed as if the word "commissioners"
had been inserted therein instead of the word "company."

S.105 rep. by SLR 1976. S.107 rep. by SLR 1875. S.108 rep. by
1946 c.13 (NI) s.16(3) sch.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 109
Saving as to rights of the crown.

109. And nothing in this or the special Act shall be deemed to
extend to or affect any Act of Parliament relating to Her Majesty's
duties of customs or excise, or any other revenue of the crown, or
to extend to or affect any claim of Her Majesty in right of her
crown, or otherwise howsoever, or any proceedings at law or in
equity by or on behalf of Her Majesty, in any part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

And with respect to access to the special Act:

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 110
Copies of special Act.

110. The commissioners shall at all times after the expiration of
six months after the passing of the special Act keep in their
principal office of business a copy of the special Act, printed by
the printers to Her Majesty, or some of them, and shall also
within the space of such six months deposit in the office of the
[chief clerk for the county court division] in which the undertaking
is situate, a copy of such special Act, so printed as aforesaid;
and the said [chief clerk] ... shall receive, and they and the
commissioners respectively shall keep, the said copies of the special
Act, and shall permit all persons interested to inspect the same,
and make extracts or copies therefrom, in the like manner, and upon
the like terms, and under the like penalty for default, as is
provided in the case of certain plans and sections by the
Parliamentary Documents Deposit Act, 1837.

COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES ACT 1847 - SECT 111
Penalty on commissioners failing to keep or deposit such copies.

111. If the commissioners fail to keep or deposit, as herein-before
mentioned, any of the said copies of the special Act, they shall
forfeit twenty pounds for every such offence, and also five pounds
for every day afterwards during which such copy shall be not so
kept or deposited.

S.112 rep. by SLR 1875

[or

Voting paper for the town [or district] or

Voting paper for ward, in the town [or district] of]

vote for the persons named in the above list as commissioners for
this town [or district, or ward, as the case may be].

Here the name of the voter should be written.SCHEDULE (B)6Form of
MortgageBBY virtue of [here name the special Act], we [here name
the corporation, if the commissioners be incorporated, or if not
incorporated, five of the commissioners,] appointed in pursuance of
the said Act, in consideration of the sum of paid to the treasurer
to the said commissioners by A.B. of , for the purposes of the
said Act, do grant and assign unto the said A.B., his executors,
administrators, and assigns, such proportion of the rates, rents,
profits, and other monies arising or accruing by virtue of the said
Act from [here describe the rates or other property proposed to be
mortgaged] as the said sum of doth or shall bear to the whole sum
which is or shall be borrowed upon the credit of the said rates,
rents, profits, or monies, to hold to the said A.B., his executors,
administrators, and assigns, from this day until the said sum of ,
with interest at per centum per annum for the same, shall be fully
paid and satisfied (the principal sum to be repaid at the end of
years from the date hereof [in case any period be agreed upon for
that purpose]). Given under our corporate seal [or, In witness
whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, ...] this day of
one thousand eight hundred and

I A.B. of , in consideration of the sum of paid to me by C.D.
of , do hereby transfer to the said C.D., his executors,
administrators, and assigns, a certain mortgage, [or, if the deed be
granted in Scotland, a certain assignation in security,] number ,
made by "The Commissioners for executing the [here name the special
Act] to , bearing date the day of , for securing the sum of and
interest, [or, if such transfer be by endorsement, the within
security,] and all my right, estate, and interest in and to the
money thereby secured, and in and to the rates, rents, profits, or
other monies thereby assigned. In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal ... this day of one thousand eight hundred
and

Schedule (D) rep. by SLR 1891


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