260
Marriages to be registered.
Certificates of marriage to be transmitted to Colonial Secretary, &c., &c.
Proof of residence of parties or consent not necessary to establish marriage.
Registrar may ascertain particulars.
Persons vexatiously protesting liable to costs and damages.
Searches may be made and certificates given.
Penalty for falsifying or destroying Register Book.
ORDINANCE No. 1 of 1852.
Marriage.
12. After the solemnization of any marriage under this Ordinance, the Marriage Registrar present at the solemnization thereof shall forthwith register such marriage in duplicate, that is to say, in a book to be called the "Marriage Register Book" according to the form of schedule C. to this Ordinance annexed, and also in a certificate attached to the Marriage Register Book, as a counterfoil; and the entry of such marriage in both the certificate and the Marriage Register Book shall be signed by the person by or before whom the marriage has been solemnized, if there be any such person, and by the Marriage Registrar present at such marriage, whether or not the marriage is solemnized by him, and also by the parties married, and attested by two witnesses; and every such entry shall be made in order from the beginning to the end of the book, and the number of the certificate shall correspond with that of the entry in the Marriage Register Book.
13. The Marriage Registrar shall separate the certificate from the Marriage Register Book, and transmit it, at the end of every month, to the Colonial Secretary of the Colony, or to such other person as the Governor thereof may appoint for the purpose; and the Marriage Registrar shall keep safely the said Register Book until it be filled, and shall then transmit the same to the said Secretary or other person be appointed as aforesaid, to be kept by him with the records of his office.
14. After any marriage has been solemnized under this Ordinance, it shall not be necessary in support of such marriage to give any proof in respect to the dwelling of the parties or the consent of any person, whose consent thereunto is required by law, nor shall any evidence be given to prove the contrary in any suit touching the validity of such marriage.
15. It shall be lawful for the Marriage Registrar before whom any marriage is solemnized according to the provisions of this Ordinance to ask the parties to be married the several particulars required to be registered touching such marriage.
16. Every person who shall enter a protest with the Marriage Registrar against the issue of any such certificate on grounds which such Marriage Registrar, or the Supreme Court, or a Judge thereof, or other person, to whom on the refusal of such certificate an application is authorized by this Ordinance, declares to be frivolous and such as ought not to obstruct the issue of the certificate, shall be liable for the costs of all proceedings in relation thereto, and for damages, to be recovered by suit by the party against whose marriage such protest was entered.
17. Every Marriage Registrar or other person who shall have the custody for the time being of a Register Book of marriages under this Ordinance shall at all reasonable times without fee, allow searches to be made of such Register Book and shall give a copy certified under his hand of any entry or entries in the same.
18. And every person who shall wilfully destroy or injure or cause to be destroyed or injured any such Register Book, or the counterfoil certificates thereof, or any part or certified copy thereof, or shall falsely make or counterfeit or cause to be falsely made or counterfeited any part of such Register Book or of such counterfoil certificates or of certified copies thereof, or shall wilfully insert or cause to be inserted in any...