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Town Councils of certain Boroughs may adopt this Act if determined by Inhabitants.

Expenses of car. rying Act into

execution in a

Borough to be paid out of the Borough Fund.

Board of any District within Limits of any Improvement Act may adopt this Act if determined by Inhabitants.

Public Libraries and Museums.

Office and acting in the Execution of any Improvement Act, being an Act for draining, cleansing, paving, lighting, watching, or otherwise improving a Place, or for any of those Purposes; "Improvement Rates" shall mean the Rates, Tolls, Rents, Income, and other Monies whatsoever which, under the Provisions of any such Improvement Act, shall be applicable for the general Purposes of such Act.

IV. The Mayor of any Municipal Borough the Population of which, according to the then last Census thereof, shall exceed Five thousand Persons, shall, on the Request of the Town Council, convene a Public Meeting of the Burgesses of the Borough, in order to determine whether this Act shall be adopted for the Municipal Borough, and Ten Days Notice at least of the Time, Place, and Object of the Meeting shall be given by affixing the same on or near the Door of every Church and Chapel within the Borough, and also by advertising the same in One or more of the Newspapers published or circulated within the Borough, Seven Days at least before the Day appointed for the Meeting; and if at such Meeting Two Thirds of such Persons as aforesaid then present shall determine that this Act ought to be adopted for the Borough, the same shall thenceforth take effect and come into operation in such Borough, and shall be carried into execution in accordance with the Laws for the Time being in force relating to the Municipal Corporation of such Borough: Provided always, that the Mayor, or, in his Absence, the Chairman of the Meeting, shall cause a Minute to be made of the Resolutions of the Meeting, and shall sign the same; and the Resolutions so signed shall be conclusive Evidence that the Meeting was duly convened, and the Vote thereat duly taken, and that the Minute contains a true Account of the Proceedings thereat.

V. The Expenses incurred in calling and holding the Meeting, whether this Act shall be adopted or not, and the Expenses of carrying this Act into execution in such Borough, may be paid out of the Borough Fund, and the Council may levy by a separate Rate, to be called a Library Rate, to be made and recoverable in the Manner herein-after provided, all Monies from Time to Time necessary for defraying such Expenses; and distinct Accounts shall be kept of the Receipts, Payments, and Liabilities of the Council with reference to the Execution of this Act.

VI. The Board of any District, being a Place within the Limits of any Improvement Act, and having such a Population as aforesaid, shall, upon the Requisition in Writing of at least Ten Persons assessed to and paying the Improvement Rate, appoint a Time not less than Ten Days nor more than Twenty Days from the Time of receiving such Requisition for a Public Meeting of the Persons assessed to and paying such Rate in order to determine whether this Act shall be adopted for such District, and Ten Days Notice at least of the Time, Place, and Object of such Meeting shall be given by affixing the same on or near the Door of every Church and Chapel within the District, and also by advertising the same in One or more of the Newspapers published or circulated within the District, Seven Days at least before the

Day

Public Libraries and Museums.

Day appointed for the Meeting; and if at such Meeting Two Thirds of such Persons as aforesaid then present shall determine that this Act ought to be adopted for the District, the same shall thenceforth take effect, and come into operation in such District, and shall be carried into effect according to the Laws for the Time being in force relating to such Board.

ment Rate.

VII. The Expenses incurred in calling and holding the Meeting, Expenses of whether this Act shall be adopted or not, and the Expenses of carrying Act carrying this Act into execution in any such District, shall be into execution paid out of the Improvement Rate, and the Board may levy as to be charged on ImprovePart of the Improvement Rate, or by a separate Rate to be assessed and recovered in like Manner as an Improvement Rate, such Sums of Money as shall be from Time to Time necessary for defraying such Expenses; and the Board shall keep distinct Accounts of their Receipts, Payments, Credits, and Liabilities with reference to the Execution of this Act, which Accounts shall be audited in the same Way as Accounts are directed to be audited under the Improvement Act.

sent of Two

VIII. Upon the Requisition in Writing of at least Ten Rate- Certain Papayers of any Parish having such a Population as aforesaid, the rishes may Overseers of the Poor shall appoint a Time, not less than Ten adopt this Act, Days nor more than Twenty Days from the Time of receiving with the Consuch Requisition, for a Public Meeting of the Ratepayers in order Thirds of the to determine whether this Act shall be adopted for the Parish; Ratepayers. and Ten Days Notice at least of the Time, Place, and Object of the Meeting shall be given by affixing the same on or near the Door of every Church and Chapel within the Parish, and also by advertising the same in One or more of the Newspapers published or circulated within the Parish, Seven Days at least before the Day appointed for the Meeting; and if at such Meeting Two The Vestry to Thirds of the Ratepayers then present shall determine that this appoint ComAct ought to be adopted for such Parish, the same shall come into missioners for carrying the operation in such Parish, and the Vestry shall forthwith appoint Act into exenot less than Three nor more than Nine Ratepayers Commissioners cution, who for carrying the Act into execution, who shall be a Body Cor- shall be a Body porate by the Name of "The Commissioners for Public Libraries Corporate. and Museums for the Parish of in the County of

66

," and by that Name may suc and be sued, and hold and dispose of Lands, and use a Common Seal: Provided always, that in any Parish where there shall not be a greater Population than Eight thousand Inhabitants by the then last Census, it shall be lawful for any Ten Ratepayers to deliver a Requisition by them signed, and describing their Place of Residence, to the Overseers or One of the Overseers of the said Parish, requiring the Votes of the Ratepayers at such Meeting to be taken according to the Provisions of the Act passed in the Fifty-eighth Year of the Reign of King George the Third, Chapter Sixtynine, and the Votes at such Meeting shall thereupon be taken according to the Provisions of the said last-mentioned Act of Parliament, and not otherwise.

IX. At the Termination of every Year (the Year being reckoned from and exclusive of the Day of the First Appointment of Com

missioners)

One Third of such Commis

sioners to go

out of Office yearly, and

others to be appointed, &c.

General and Special Meetings of Commissioners.

Minutes of Proceedings of Commissioners to be entered in Books.

Distinct Accounts to be

kept by Commissioners, and duly audited.

Expenses of executing Act in any Parish to be paid out of Poor Rate.

Public Libraries and Museums.

missioners) a Meeting of the Vestry shall be held, at which Meeting One Third or as nearly as may be One Third of the Commissioners, to be determined by Ballot, shall go out of Office, and the Vestry shall appoint other Commissioners in their Place, but the outgoing Commissioners may be re-elected; and the Vestry shall fill up every Vacancy among the Commissioners, whether occurring by Death, Resignation, or otherwise, as soon as possible after the same occurs.

X. The Commissioners shall meet at least once in every Calendar Month, and at such other Times as they think fit, at the Public Library or Museum or some other convenient Place; and any One Commissioner may summon a Special Meeting of the Commissioners by giving Three clear Days Notice in Writing to each Commissioner, specifying therein the Purpose for which the Meeting is called; and no Business shall be transacted at any Meeting of the Commissioners unless at least Two Commissioners shall be present.

XI. All Orders and Proceedings of the Commissioners shall be entered in Books to be kept by them for that Purpose, and shall be signed by the Commissioners or any Two of them; and all such Orders and Proceedings so entered, and purporting to be so signed, shall be deemed to be original Orders and Proceedings, and such Books may be produced and read as Evidence of all such Orders and Proceedings upon any judicial Proceeding what

soever.

XII. The Commissioners shall keep distinct and regular Accounts of their Receipts, Payments, Credits, and Liabilities with reference to the Execution of this Act, which Accounts shall be audited yearly by the Poor Law Auditor, if the Accounts of Poor Rate Expenditure of the Parish be audited by a Poor Law Auditor, but if not so audited, then by Two Auditors not being Commissioners, who shall be yearly appointed by the Vestry, and the Auditor or Auditors shall report thereon, and such Report shall be laid before the Vestry by the Commissioners.

XIII. The Expenses of calling and holding the Meeting of the Ratepayers, whether this Act shall be adopted or not, and the Expenses of carrying this Act into execution in any Parish, to such Amount as shall be from Time to Time sanctioned by the Vestry, shall be paid out of a Rate to be made and recovered in like Manner as a Poor Rate, except that every Person occupying Lands used as Arable, Meadow, or Pasture Ground only, or as Woodlands or Market Gardens, or Nursery Grounds, shall be rated in respect of the same in the Proportion of One Third Part only of the full net annual Value thereof respectively; the Vestry to be called for the Purpose of sanctioning the Amount shall be convened in the Manner usual in the Parish; the Amount for the Time being proposed to be raised for such Expenses shall be expressed in the Notice convening the Vestry, and shall be paid, according to the Order of the Vestry, to such Person as shall be appointed by the Commissioners to receive the same: Provided always, that in the Notices requiring the Payment of the Rate

there

Public Libraries and Museums.

there shall be stated the Proportion which the Amount to be thereby raised for the Purposes of this Act shall bear to the total Amount of the Rate.

rishes may

adopt the Act.

XIV. The Vestries of any Two or more neighbouring Parishes Vestries of Two having according to the then last Census an aggregate Popu- or more neighlation exceeding Five thousand Persons may adopt this Act, in bouring Palike Manner as if the Population of each of those Parishes according to the then last Census exceeded Five thousand, and may concur in carrying the same into execution in such Parishes for such Time as they shall mutually agree; and such Vestries may decide that a Public Library or Museum, or both, shall be erected in any One of such Parishes, and that the Expenses of carrying this Act into execution with reference to the same shall be borne by such Parishes in such Proportions as such Vestries shall mutually approve; the Proportion for each of such Parishes of such Expenses shall be paid out of the Monies to be raised for the Relief of the Poor of the same respective Parishes accordingly; but no more than Three Commissioners shall be appointed for each Parish; and the Commissioners so appointed for each of such Parishes shall in the Management of the said Public Library and Museum form One Body of Commissioners, and shall act accordingly in the Execution of this Act; and the Accounts of the Commissioners shall be examined and reported on by the Auditor or Auditors of each of such Parishes; and the surplus Money at the Disposal as aforesaid of such Commissioners shall be paid to the Overseers of such Parishes respectively, in the Proportion in which such Parishes shall be liable to such Expenses.

Rates levied not to exceed One Penny in the

Pound.

XV. The Amount of the Rate to be levied in any Borough, District, or Parish in any One Year for the Purposes of this Act shall not exceed the Sum of One Penny in the Pound; and for the Purposes of the Library Rate all the Clauses of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act, 1847, with respect to the Manner of making Rates, to the Appeal to be made against any Rate, and to the Recovery of Rates, shall be incorporated with this Act; and whenever the Words "Special Act" occur in the Act so incorporated they shall mean "The Public Libraries Act, 1855;" the Accounts of the said Board and Commissioners respectively Accounts of with reference to the Execution of this Act shall at all reasonable Board and ComTimes be open, without Charge, to the Inspection of every Person missioners to be rated to the Improvement Rate or to the Rates for the Relief of open to Inspecthe Poor of the Parish, as the Case may be, who may make Copies of or Extracts from such Accounts, without paying for the same; and in case the Board or the Commissioners, or any of them respectively, or any of their respective Officers or Servants having the Custody of such Accounts, shall not permit the same Accounts to be inspected, or Copies of or Extracts from the same to be made, every Person so offending shall for every such Offence forfeit any Sum not exceeding Five Pounds.

tion.

XVI. For carrying this Act into execution the Council, Board, Power to Counor Commissioners respectively may, with the Approval of Her cil, &c. to torMajesty's Treasury, (and as to the Commissioners, with the Sanc

row on Mort

gage.

Provisions of

8 & 9 Vict. c. 16.

as to borrowing, extended

to this Act.

Lands, &c. may be appropriated, purchased, or rented for the Purposes of this Act.

8 & 9 Vict. c. 18 incorporated.

Lands, &c. may be sold or exchanged,

Public Libraries and Museums.

tion also of the Vestry and the Poor Law Board,) from Time to Time borrow at Interest, on the Security of a Mortgage or Bond of the Borough Fund, or of the Rates levied in pursuance of this Act, such Sums of Money as may be by them respectively required; and the Commissioners for carrying into execution the Act of the Ninth and Tenth Years of Her Majesty, Chapter Eighty, may from Time to Time advance and lend any such Sums of Money.

XVII. The Clauses and Provisions of "The Companies Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845," with respect to the borrowing of Money on Mortgage or Bond, and the Accountability of Officers, and the Recovery of Damages and Penalties, so far as such Provisions may respectively be applicable to the Purposes of this Act, shall be respectively incorporated with this Act.

XVIII. The Council of any Borough and the Board of any District respectively may from Time to Time, with the Approval of Her Majesty's Treasury, appropriate for the Purposes of this Act any Lands vested, as the Case may be, in a Borough, in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, and in a District in the Board; and the Council, Board, and Commissioners respectively may also, with such Approval, purchase or rent any Lands or any suitable Buildings; and the Council and Board and Commissioners respectively may, upon any Lands so appropriated, purchased, or rented respectively, erect any Buildings suitable for Public Libraries or Museums, or both, or for Schools for Science or Art, and may apply, take down, alter, and extend any Buildings for such Purposes, and rebuild, repair, and improve the same respectively, and tit up, furnish, and supply the same respectively with all requisite Furniture, Fittings, and Conveniences.

XIX. "The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845," shall be incorporated with this Act; but the Council, Board, and Commissioners respectively shall not purchase or take any Lands otherwise than by Agreement.

XX. The Council, Board, and Commissioners aforesaid respectively may, with the like Approval as is required for the Purchase of Lands, sell any Lands vested in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, or Board, or Commissioners respectively, for the Purposes of this Act, or exchange the same for any Lands better adapted for the Purposes; and the Monies to arise from such Sale, or to be received for Equality of Exchange, or a sufficient Part thereof, shall be applied in or towards the Purchase of other Lands better adapted for such Purposes.

General Ma- XXI. The general Management, Regulation, and Control of such nagement to be Libraries and Museums, Schools for Science and Art, shall be, as vested in Coun- to any Borough, vested in and exercised by the Council, and as to cil, Board, or District in and by the Board, and as to any Parish or Parishes Commissioners. any in and by the Commissioners, or such Committee as such Council or Board may from Time to Time appoint, the Members whereof need not be Members of the Council or Board or be Commissioners, who may from Time to Time purchase and provide the necessary

Fuel,

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