55^ C 12, 13. Ann^vlcefimo feptimo Georgii II. A. D. 1754. Shillings for every Ton of Brandy Wines, and Strong Waters imported, was granted by the herein before- ComenihgSpin- mentioned A61 made in the fourth Year of the Reign of his prefent Majcfty. tMiui Lijuon jee Jarlher 31 Get, 2. c, 36. 31 Get, 2. c. 29, 33 Oa. z. c 9 i=f 28. CAP. XII. An Aft for improving and prefcrving the Navigation from Sailer s Load Sluice in the County oi Norfolk, to Standground Sluice
the. Qouniy o{ Huntingdon ; and from Flood's Ferry in the
Ifle of Ely in the County of Cambridge, to Ramfey Fligh Load in the fliid County o^ Hwiling- don; and alfo the Navigation from Old Bedford Sluice in the faid County o^ Norfolk, to the River A^OT^, in the Parini oi Ramfey, in the faid County of Huntingdon. PR. H E R E A S the Navigation from the Port of King's Lynn to Standground Sluice near the City of Peterborough, was anciently carried on from Salthirn Land, otherwife Salter's Load Sluice, in the Couaty oi Norfolk, through Well Creek and the River A'"if«f'_, to Flood's Ferry in the County oi Cambridge; and from thence ih'coii^-i Rmnfey Mere, Ugg Mere, and IFhittlrfea Anre, in Che County o( Huntingdon; but " "" ' ' ■ ~- ' ' ■ ^j^j mnd 'in called IFhittlefea Dyke, being the fafeft and neareft Paflage : And whereas the Navigation from the P:;riih of Ramfey, and the adjacent Places to the faid Port of King's Lynn, will be moft conveniently carried on by Flood's Ferry, through the River Nene, (Veil Creek and Salter's Load aforefaid : And whereas the Navi- gation from the Tov/ns of Chaiteris, Maney and Welney, to the faid Port of King's Lynn, has for many Years been chiefly carried on through a certain Drain called the Forty Foot Drain, and the Old Bedford River : And whereas the Trade carried on upon the faid R-ivers, and through the faid Creek and Drains is greatly increafed, and it is become neceflary to clean, depthen, widen and fcour the faid Rivers, Creelc and Drains, which cannot be effefted without a confiderable Expence : And whereas the preferving and improving of the faid Navigations will be a great and general Advantage to the faid Port of King's Lynn, and the City of Peterborough, and to all the Towns and Villages fituate near the faid Rivers, and to the whole adjacent Country;' May it therefore pleafe your Majeity, that it may be enacted, ^'c. Commiffioners appointed for preferving the Navigation of the River. Inhabitants to meet annually in their Veftries on Monday in Eq/ler Wetk, and choofe Commiffioners. Certificates of the Perfons fo chofen to be tranfmitted to the other Commiffioners. Inhabitants neglefting to choofe Commiffioners, they are then to be chofen by the Commiffioners at their next Meeting. Vacancies of Commiffioners by Death, &'c. to be filled up within a Month. Notice to be given of Meetings for that Purpofe. Tolls granted for compleating the Navigation, viz. For every Chalder of Coals, Hundred of Battens, Half Hundred of other Deals, Load of Timber, Eight Packs of Wool, Weigh of Salt, Load of Wheat, Rape- feed, Linfeed, Coalfeed, Barley, Rye, Peafe or Beans, Laft of Oats or Barley Bigg, Two thoufand of Turf, Load of Reed, Sedge, Hay, Flax or Hemp, Laft of Malt, Thoufand of Tiles, Five hundred of Bricks, Twenty Feet of Stone, and every Chalder of Lime, ;^d. and the like Sum for every Ton of other Goods. The Toll vefted in the Commiffioners. Pleafure-boats exempted. Colleftor not to be Keeper of any of the Sluices. Commiffioners may borrow a Sum not exceeding 3000/. on the Credit of the Tolls. Commiffioners may make Pen Sluices, and let out Towing Paths and Haling ^Vays, making Satisfaftion to the Owners. Nine Commiffioners may receive Propofals, but no Contrai5t to be concluded unlefs 25 be prefent. Perfons interefted refufing to treat for the Sale of Lands, a Jury to fettle the Re- compence. Verdft of the Jury and Judgment of the Commiffioners to be conclufive; and to be deli- vered to the Clerk of the Peace. Commiffioners may examine Witneffes, and order the Jury to view the Places. Commiffioners to maintain and repair the Towing Paths, and fct up Gates and Stiles, and erei Bridges where neceffary. Where a Breach fliall happen, or there be Danger of one in any of the Banks which the Commiffioners are to keep in Repair, the Occupiers of Lands are to give Notice; and if the fame be not timely repaired, they may do it, and the Expences to be repaid them. Confervators of the Great Level to ere£t Ebb Doors at the Sluices. Gates to be erefted at the Mouth of Old Beciford River. Old Bedford River and the Forty Foot Drain may be cleanfed. The Confervators neglefting to repair the Ebb Doors, the Commiffioners may do it, and deduifi: the Expences out of the annual Sums payable to the Confervators. The Improvement and Prefervation of the Navigations to be under the fole Direvftion of the Commiffioners. Boat Mailer anfwerable for the Damage done by his Boat or Crew, is'c. Per- fons aggrieved by the Order of any Juftice for Offences ngainit this Adt, may appeal to the Quartcr- Seffions. Order of Juftice not to be quaflied for want of Form. Deftroying or damaging any of the Works, Felony. Commiffioners at their annual Meetings may reduce the Tolls^ and raife them again it neceflary. Commiffioners may fummon and examine on Oath Perfons intrufted with the Rcceipc or Expenditure of Money, and levy the Balance in Arrear, i^c. by Diftrefs and Sale; and for want of Diftrefs may commit the Party." C A P. XIII. An Aft to indemnify Perfons who have omitted to qualify themfcives forOffices and Promotions within- the Time limited by Law, and for allowing furtlacrTime for th.-it Purpofe. EXP. [Time given to28Nov. I754-] C A P.