Dean Forest (Mines) Act 1871

PART IThe Mining Commissioners of 1871

5Mining Commissioners constituted.

There shall be three Commissioners for carrying the purposes of this part of this Act into execution, who shall be styled the Forest of Dean Mining Commissioners of 1871 (and to whom the term " the Commissioners " when used in this part of this Act refers).

6Appointment of Commissioners.

One of the Commissioners, being, a person engaged in or conversant with mercantile affairs, shall be appointed by the Board of Trade, one, being a mining engineer, shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor, and one, being a barrister-at-law, shall be appointed by the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench. Any appointment of a Commissioner by the Board of Trade, either originally or for the purpose of filling up a vacancy, may be made by any writing under the hand of the secretary of such Board for the time being.

7Vacancies among Commissioners.

Any vacancy happening by death, resignation, refusal to act, or otherwise in the office of any of the Commissioners (appointed either Originally or on a vacancy) shall be filled up by the appointment of another person, having the same qualifications as the vacating Commissioner, to be one of the Commissioners by the authority by whom the vacating Commissioner was appointed.

8Commissioners neglecting to attend meetings to be considered as a refusal to act.

If any Commissioner (appointed either originally or on a vacancy) at any time wilfully absents himself from any three successive meetings appointed to be holden by virtue of this Act, such Commissioner not having been prevented by sickness or other inevitable cause, to be allowed by the Board of Trade, by some writing under the hand of the secretary to such board for the time being, from attending or continuing at such meetings, then such non-attendance shall be deemed and taken to be a refusal to act within the meaning of this part of this Act.

9Power of two Commissioners.

The three Commissioners shall, unless prevented by sickness or other inevitable cause, sit together for the purposes of this part of this Act, but the acts and decisions of two of the Commissioners shall be deemed to be acts and decisions of the Commissioners.

10Clerk to Commissioners.

The Commissioners shall from time to time appoint by writing a clerk, who shall hold his office during their pleasure.

11Commissioners and clerk, remuneration, &c. of.

Each of the Commissioners and their clerk shall receive, as remuneration for his services, such sum (not exceeding as to a Commissioner two hundred pounds) as the Commissioners of Woods think reasonable and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury shall approve, and they shall be allowed all expenses properly incurred by them in executing this part of this Act.

12Power to employ surveyors, &c.

The Commissioners may from time to time employ land surveyors, mining' engineers, and valuers in such manner as they think fit.

13Expenses of Commissioners.

The remuneration of the Commissioners and of their clerk, and all expenses allowed to them, and the expenses of the employment of land surveyors, mining engineers, and valuers, shall be paid and defrayed by the Commissioners of Woods under the direction of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. '

14Mode of publication of notices by Commissioners.

Notices by this part of this. Act required to be published by the Commissioners shall be published by insertion in the London Gazette, and in three newspapers printed or usually circulating in the county of Gloucester, and by bills posted on or in the Speech House in the Forest of Dean.

15Signature of notice, &c.

Notices, summonses, and other instruments issued by the Commissioners Jar service or delivery shall be under the hand of their clerk.

16Protection of Commissioners.

The Commissioners shall have the like protection and privileges in respect of any act done or omitted to be done in execution or intended execution of their duties under this part of this Act as justices of the peace acting in execution of their office have by law.

17Penalty for disturbing Commissioners.

If any, person wilfully disturbs or obstructs the Commissioners in the execution of their duties, he shall for every such offence be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding five pounds.

18Constables, &c. to aid.

All constables, bailiffs, and other officers shall give their aid to the Commissioners in the execution of their duties.

Duties of Commissioners

19Subjects for decision of Commissioners.

The Commissioners may after due inquiry ascertain and declare—

(a)What is the true meaning, construction, effect, and operation of Rule 4 and Rule 14 according to law, or (if it shall seem more for the substantial benefit of all parties concerned),

(b)What, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, shall be deemed to be the meaning, construction, effect, and operation of Rule 4 and Rule 14.

And after ascertaining and declaring the matters aforesaid, or any of them, the Commissioners may, if they think fit, make new rules in place of and in substitution for Rule 4 and Rule 14, or either of them; and such new rules when made shall, from and after the publication of the award of the Commissioners in manner by this Act directed, be substituted for Rule 4 and Rule 14, or either of them, as the case may be ; provided always, that in making any such new rules the Commissioners shall have regard to the provisions of the principal Acts.

And the Commissioners may settle and determine all matters which may come before them under the provision of this part of this Act, not only in accordance with the legal and equitable rights of the parties as recognised in the courts of law and equity, but upon such terms and in such manner in all respects as they in their absolute and unfettered discretion may think most fit, equitable, and expedient, and as fully and effectually as could be done by Act of Parliament.

20Commissioners to publish notices.

The Commissioners shall within one month after their appointment publish notices appointing a place at which documents may be delivered to their clerk, and at which copies of the rules made by them for regulating their proceedings may be obtained, such place being some convenient place to be appointed for such purpose by the

They shall within two months after their appointment publish notices appointing the times and places at which they intend to hold meetings for the purpose of carrying into effect the purposes of this part of this Act.

21Hearing.

As soon as conveniently may be after the publication of the said notices, appointing the times and places of meetings, but not sooner than one month thereafter, the Commissioners shall consider the matters in question, and shall hear any free miners or galees desiring to be heard, and the Commissioners of "Woods appearing: in either case by themselves, their counsel, attorneys, or agents, and take evidence, if the Commissioners think proper, subject nevertheless to such rules for regulating the proceedings before the Commissioners as they may make.

22Power to send for persons and papers.

The Commissioners, on the application of any person admitted to be heard, shall by summons require the attendance before them of any person to be examined as a witness before them, and shall, on the like application, by summons require any person to bring before them all books, papers, and writings in the possession, custody, or control of such person relating to any matter to be inquired into by the Commissioners.

23Person summoned bound to attend.

Every person so summoned shall attend as directed by the summons, and answer all questions touching the matter to be inquired into, and bring and produce all papers, books, and writings required, according to the tenor of the summons; provided that any person so summoned shall not be bound to obey the summons unless a reasonable sum is first paid or tendered to him for his expenses.

24Penalty for non-attendance or refusing to give evidence;

If any person on whom any summons under the authority of this part of this Act is served, either personally or by delivery at his last known or usual place of abode or business, fails to appear at the time and place therein specified without reasonable excuse, or if any person appearing in accordance with any such summons refuses to be sworn or make affirmation (as the case may be), or to make answer to any question put to him touching any matter being then inquired into by the Commissioners, or if any person fails to produce and show to the Commissioners any book, paper, or writing in his possession, custody, or control which they may require to be produced, every such person shall for every such offence be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds, without prejudice to any other remedy against him.

25Power for Commissioners to examine on oath, &c.

The Commissioners, or any one of them, may administer an oath or an affirmation (where an affirmation in lieu of an oath would be admitted in a court of justice) to any person examined before them, and may take the affidavit or declaration of any person.

26Penalty for false evidence.

If any person on examination on oath or affirmation before the Commissioners, or in any affidavit or declaration used before the Commissioners, wilfully gives false evidence, he shall be deemed guilty of perjury.

27Rules for carrying this part of this Act into effect.

The Commissioners may from time to time, if they think fit, make and publish such rules as seem proper (not being inconsistent with the provisions of this part of this Act) with respect to the following matters:

Any rules made in pursuance of this section shall be deemed to be within the powers conferred by this part of this Act, and shall be of the same force as if enacted in this part of this Act.

Award

28Time for award.

The Commissioners shall make their award (hereafter in this Act referred to as the award) not later than the thirty-first day of July one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.

29Contents of award.

The award shall set forth—

(1)The decision of the Commissioners as to the meaning, construction, effect, and operation of Rule 4 and Rule 14.

(2)The rules (if any) in substitution for Rule 4 and Rule 14, or either of them.

(3)Any other matters in relation to which the Commissioners have taken proceedings under the authority of this Act, and which should in their opinion form part of their award.

30The awards, &c. to be signed by the Commissioners in triplicate.

The award hereby directed to be made shall be signed in triplicate by the Commissioners, and within one calendar month from the date thereof one part thereof shall be lodged in the office of land revenue records and enrolments, another part with the clerk of the peace for the county of Gloucester, and a third part with the gaveller or deputy gaveller of the said forest at his office for the time being in the said county of Gloucester ; and the keeper of land revenue records and enrolments and clerk of the peace and deputy gaveller shall furnish copies or extracts thereof at the rate of sixpence per folio of seventy-two words, and shall, for a fee of two shillings and sixpence, permit the same to be examined and compared with the originals at all reasonable times by any person interested; and the said clerk of the peace, gaveller, or deputy gaveller shall also at all reasonable times permit any person interested to inspect the said award, when so deposited with, him as aforesaid, upon payment of a fee of two shillings and sixpence for each such inspection.

31Publication of award by Commissioners.

A copy of the said award shall be published by the Commissioners once in the London Gazette, and in three newspapers printed or usually circulating in the county of Gloucester once in each of three successive weeks, and shall be posted on or in the Speech House in the Forest of Dean. The said award shall from and after the publication of a copy of the same in the London Gazette be effectual to all intents and purposes and binding upon all persons whomsoever, and shall have the like effect as if the same had been enacted by Parliament; and a production of a copy of such gazette purporting to be published by authority shall be admitted as evidence of such award, and of the several matters set forth in the same, and that all the provisions of this Act in relation to such award have been duly complied with, by all courts, judges, justices, and others, without any proof being given that such copies were so printed.

32Cesser of duties of Commissioners.

From and after the publication in the London Gazette of a copy of the said award the duties and powers of the Commissioners shall cease and determine.