The Handy Book of Parish Law (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1859. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... The churchwardens and overseers, and also the justices in petty sessions, are authorized to inspect the tax assessment for any parish or township between the 1st July and 1st October in every year, for the purpose of making out or revising the jury list. And any high constable, churchwarden, or overseer offending against the act by neglect of duty or otherwise, may be fined not more than.10, nor less than 40s. by the justices before whom he may be summoned. CHAPTER XI. OP HIGHWAYS. Highways or public roads are those ways which all the Queen's subjects have a right to use. It is said that there are three kinds of public ways: --a footway, a foot and horseway, and a foot, horse, and cartway. Whatever distinctions, however, may exist between these ways, it seems to be clear that any of them which are common to all the Queen's subjects, whether directly leading to a market town, or beyond a town, or from town to town, or village to village, may properly be called a highway. A common street is also a highway, so is a navigable river, and so also a towingpath by its side, although only used for that purpose. A turnpike road is also a highway, although open to the public only on payment of tolls; and although its maintenance is provided for otherwise than is the case with respects to highways in general. It was at one time a question whether there could be a public highway which is not also a thoroughfare. It is, however, now settled, that there is no reason in point of law why a place which is not a thoroughfare should not be a highway, if there has been such a use of it by the public as will lead to the inference that it has been dedicated to the public use for that purpose. At the same time, it must be admitted that the fact of its not being a thoroughfare woul..