Markets and Fairs Clauses Act, 1847

Interpretation.

Citing the Act.

3. The following words and expressions in both this and the special Act, and any Act incorporated therewith, shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction; (that is to say,)

Words importing the singular number shall include the plural number, and words importing the plural number shall include also the singular number:

Words importing the masculine gender shall include females:

The word “person” shall include a corporation, whether aggregate or sole:

The word “lands” shall include messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments, or heritages, of any tenure:

The word “lease” shall include a missive of and an agreement for a lease:

The expression “the market of fair” shall mean the market or fair, and the works connected therewith, by the special Act authorised to be constructed or regulated:

The word “cart” shall include wagon, and also any carriage used wholly or chiefly for the conveyance of goods:

The word “driver” shall include the carter or other person having the care of any cart:

The word “cattle” shall include horse, ass, mule, ram, ewe, wether, lamb, goat, kid, or swine:

The expression “the collector” shall mean the person appointed by the undertakers to collect the stallages, rents, or tolls authorized by the special Act, shall include the assistants of the collector.

The word “month” shall mean calendar month:

The expression “superior courts,” when the matter submitted to the cognizance of the court arises in England or Ireland, shall mean Her Majesty’s superior courts of record at Westminister or Dublin, as the case may require, . . . and when such matter arises in Scotland, it shall mean the Court of Session:

The word “oath” shall include affirmation in the case of Quakers, and any declaration lawfully substituted for an oath in the case of any other persons allowed by law to make a declaration instead of taking an oath:

The word “county” shall include riding or other division of a county having a separate commission of the peace; and in Scotland, any division of a county having a separate sheriff, and it shall also include county of a city or county of a town:

The word “justice” shall mean justice of the peace acting for the place where the matter requiring the cognizance of any such justice arises; and if such matter arise in respect of lands situated not wholly in any one jurisdiction, shall mean a justice acting for the place where any part of such lands shall be situated; and where any matter is authorised or required to be done by two justice, the expression “two justices” shall be understood to mean two or more justices assembled and acting together:

The word “sheriff” shall mean the sheriff depute of the county in Scotland in which the matter submitted to the cognizance of the sheriff arises, and shall include the substitutes of such sheriff depute:

The expression “quarter sessions” shall mean quarter sessions as defined in the special Act; and if such expression be not there defined it shall mean the general or quarter sessions of the peace which shall be held at the place nearest to the market or fair, or the principal office thereof, for the county or place in which the market or fair is situate, or for some division of such county having a separate commission of the peace.

And with respect to citing this Act, or any part thereof, be it enacted as follows: