Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 759

322

PORT, CONSULAR, CUSTOMS, AND HARBOUR REGULATIONS, &c.

an executive Committee or Council, to consist of not more than five persons, for the purpose of levying the rates, dues, and taxes hereinbefore mentioned, and applying the funds realized from the same for the purposes aforesaid, and for carrying out the Regulations now made: and such Committee, when appointed, shall have full power and authority to levy and apply such rates, dues, and taxes for purposes aforesaid, and shall have power and authority to sue for all arrears of such rates, dues, and taxes, and recover the same from all defaulters in the Court under whose jurisdiction such defaulter may be.

IV.-When in pursuance of these Regulations the above-mentioned Committee or Council shall be duly elected, all the power, authority, and control conferred by the Bye-laws now sanctioned and annexed to these Regulations, and all the rights and property which by such Bye-Laws are declared to belong to any Committee or Council as aforesaid, shall vest in and absolutely belong to such Committee or Council, and to their successors in office, and such successors as are duly elected, and such committee sball have power and authority from time to time to make other Bye-Laws for the better enabling them to carry out the object of these Regulations, and to repeal, alter, or amend any such Bye-Laws, provided such other Bye-Laws be not repugnant to the provisions of these Regulations, and be duly confirmed and published; and provided also that no Bye-Law made by the Committee under the authority of these Regula- tions, except such as relate solely to their Council, or their officers or servants, should come into operation until passed and approved by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul and Minister and the Ratepayers in special meeting assembled, of which meeting and the object of it ten days' notice shall be given.

V. And whereas it is also expedient that due provision should be made for the auditing of the accounts of the said Committee or Council, and for the obtaining the approval and sanction of them by the Ratepayers in Public Meeting duly assembled, be it ordered that the said audit, and the said sanction and approval, shall be made at the Annual Public Meeting convened by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul as herein- before mentioned.

VI. Be it also further ordered, that any penalty, or forfeiture, or fees on licences, provided for in the Bye-Laws framed under the authority of these Regulations, and imposed in pursuance of such Bye-Laws, may be recovered by summary proceedings before the proper authority, and it shall be lawful for such authority upon conviction to adjudge the offender to pay the penalty or incur the forfeiture as well as the costs attending the conviction, as such authority may think fit. All fines and penalties levied under these Regulations, and the Bye-Laws framed and to be framed under them, shall be carried to the credit of the Čommittee or Council in diminution of the general expenditure, authorised by the provisions of these Regulations.

VII. Be it further endorsed, that it shall be competent for Her Britannic Ma- jesty's Consul, at any time when it may appear to him needful, or at the requisition of ten of the Ratepayers, seven of whom must be resident within the British Con- cession, to call public meeting, giving ten days' notice of the same, setting forth the business upon which it is convened, for the consideration of any matter or thing con- nected with the Municipality. All resolutions passed by a majority at any such public meeting, on all such matters aforesaid, shall be valid and binding on the whole of the Ratepayers, provided not less than two-thirds of the Ratepayers present be resident within the British Concession. At such meeting Her Britannic Majesty's Consul shall take the chair; and in his absence then such Ratepayer as the majority of voters present may nominate, who shall report to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul the resolutions passed at such meeting for his concurrence and approval, and unless such approval be officially given, such resolution shall not be valid and binding. Provided always, that a term of ten days shall elapse between the date of the resolu- tion and the signification of approval by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul. In all cases in which Ratepayers, in public meeting assembled, as herein provided, decide upon any matter of a Municipal nature not already enumerated, affecting the general interest, any person considering himself prejudiced in property or interests by the resolution, may within the period of ten days aforesaid, represent his case to Her