other legal process shall be brought or allowed to remove any such rules into any of Her Majesty's Courts of Record and every copy of the copy deposited with the registrar of joint stock companies shall be made without fee or reward except the actual expense of making such

XVI. No rule certified by the said revising officer or allowed by a judge of the Supreme Court shall be altered or repealed except at a general meeting of members convened by public notice signed by the secretary or clerk of such society in pursuance of a requisition for that purpose by seven or more members which requisition and notice shall be published by advertisement specifying the proposed alterations or repeal in some newspaper circulating in the place where the society is established at least twice during the month next before the general meeting for the purpose of such alteration or repeal Provided always that if a committee of members shall be nominated for that purpose at such general meeting such committee shall have the like power to make such alteration or repeal Provided also that such alteration or repeal shall be made with the concurrence and approbation of threefourths of the members present at such meeting or by the like proportion of such committee.

XVII. Every such society shall in its rules specify the place at which it is intended to hold its meetings and such rules shall contain provisions with respect to the powers and duties of the members at large and of any committee or officers to be appointed for the management of its affairs Provided always that the society may alter its place of meeting upon giving one week's notice thereof in writing to the registrar of joint stock companies for the district in which the society is established such notice to be signed by the clerk or secretary and also by three or more members and provided that the new place of meeting shall be situate within the district in which the rules of the society are deposited as aforesaid.

XVIII. Every such society may at any of its usual meetings or by any committee to be appointed for the management of its affairs appoint a steward president warden treasurer or trustee and also such clerks and other officers as shall be necessary to carry into execution the purposes of such society and may appoint others in the room of any who may vacate or die And such treasurer trustee and every other person who shall be appointed to any office in anywise concerning the receipt management or expenditure of the society's money shall before he be admitted to take upon him the execution of any such office or trust (if required so to do by the rules of the society) become bound in a bond or by policy of fidelity guaranteed to be approved by the trustees according to the form prescribed in the schedule A. to this Act annexed with two sureties for the faithful execution of such office or trust and for rendering a true account according to the rules of the society and in all matters lawful to pay obedience to the same in such penal sum of money as by the major part of the members present at any general meeting shall be thought expedient And every such bond shall be given to the registrar of joint stock companies where the society shall be established without fee or reward And in case of forfeiture it shall be lawful to sue upon such bond in the name of the registrar of joint stock companies for the time being for the use of the society fully indemnifying and saving harmless such registrar of joint stock companies from all costs and charges in respect of suchsuit. XIX. Every such society may from time to time appoint any number of its members to be a committee for general purposes the number

whereof shall be declared in its rules and may delegate to such committee any powers given by this Act such powers and their duration being first declared in the rules And may also appoint committees for particular purposes the powers delegated. to each committee being reduced into writing and entered into a book by the secretary or clerk And every committee shall in all things delegated to it act for and in the name of the society and all acts and orders of such committee under the powers delegated to it shall have the like force and effect as the acts and orders of the society at any general meeting thereof could have had in pursuance of this Act Provided always that the transactions of every committee shall be entered in a book belonging to the society and shall be at all times subject to the review allowance or disallowance and control of the society in such manner as the society shall by its rules direct.

XX. The treasurer or trustee for the time being of any such society is hereby authorized and required from time to time with the consent of the society to be testified in such manner as shall be directed by its rules to lay out or invest any moneys of the society not required for immediate use either on real or Government securities in the proper name of such treasurer or trustee and from time to time with such consent as aforesaid to alter transfer and sell such securities and all dividends and proceeds to arise from the moneys so laid out or invested shall be regularly brought to account by such treasurer or trustee and shall be applied according to the rules of the society.

XXI. Every person who shall have or receive any money or effects belonging to any such society or shall in any manner be entrusted with the disposal management or custody thereof or of any securities books papers or property of the society shall or in the event of his death his executors shall upon demand made or notice in writing given or left at the last or usual place of residence of such person or of such executors in pursuance of any order of the society or of any committee to be appointed as aforesaid immediately give his account to the society or to such committee thereof to be examined and allowed or disallowed and shall on the like demand or notice pay over all moneys remaining in his hands and assign and deliver all securities and effects books papers and property taken or standing in his name as aforesaid or being in his hands or custody to the treasurer or trustee for the time being or to such other person as the society or committee shall appoint and in case of any neglect or refusal to comply with such demand or notice it shall be lawful for every such society in the name of some principal officer thereof to exhibit a petition in the Supreme Court which may proceed thereupon in a summary way and make such order therein as to such Court shall seem just which order shall be final and conclusive and all assignments sales and transfers made in pursuance of such order shall be good and effectual in law to all intents and purposes whatsoever.

XXII. When any person seised or possessed of any land Govern. ment securities or other property or any estate or interest therein as a trustee of any such society shall be out of the jurisdiction of or not amenable to the process of the Supreme Court or shall be idiot lunatic or of unsound mind or it shall be unknown or uncertain whether he be living or dead or such person shall refuse to convey or otherwise assure such land property estate or interest or to transfer or indorse such Government securities to the person duly nominated as trustee of such society in his stead either alone or together with any continuing trustee as occasion shall require it shall be lawful for a judge

F

of the said Court to appoint a person on behalf and in the name of the person seised or possessed as aforesaid to convey surrender release assign or otherwise assure the said land or property estate or interest or indorse or transfer such Government securities to such trustee so duly nominated as aforesaid and every such conveyance release surrender assignment or assurance indorsation or transfer shall be as valid and effectual to all intents and purposes as if the person being out of the jurisdiction of or not amenable to the process of the said Court or not known to be alive or having refused or being idiot lunatic or of unsound mind had been at the time of the execution thereof of sane mind memory and understanding and had himself executed the

same.

XXIII. No fee or gratuity whatever shall be demanded or received by any officer or minister of such Court for anything done in such Court or by any judge of such Court in pursuance of this Act.

XXIV. If any person appointed to any office in any such society and being entrusted with the keeping of the accounts or having in his hands or possession by virtue of his office any moneys or effects deeds or securities belonging to the society or relating thereto shall die or become bankrupt or insolvent or have any execution or attachment or other process issued or action raised against his lands or effects or make any assignment thereof for the benefit of his creditors his heirs executors administrators or assignees or other person having legal right or the sheriff or other officer executing such process or the party using such action or execution shall within forty days after demand made in writing by the order of the society or of any committee thereof or the major part of them assembled at any meeting deliver and pay over all moneys and other things belonging to the society to such officer of the society as shall be appointed for that purpose and shall pay out of the estates assets or effects of such person all sums of money remaining due which such person may have received by virtue of his said office before any other of his debts shall be paid or satisfied or before the money directed to be levied by such process as aforesaid or which may be recovered or recoverable under such execution and all such lands and effects shall be bound to the payment and discharge thereof accordingly.

XXV. All property whatever and all securities and evidences and all rights or claims belonging to such society shall be vested in the treasurer or trustee for the time being for the use and benefit of the society and after the death or removal of any freasurer or trustee shall vest in the succeeding treasurer or trustee for the same estate and interest as the former treasurer or trustee had therein and subject to the same trusts without any assignment or conveyance whatever and also shall for all purposes of action or suit as well criminal as civil in law or in equity be deemed and taken to be the property of the person appointed to the office of treasurer or trustee of such society for the time being in his proper name without further description and such person shall and he is hereby authorized to bring or defend any action or prosecution criminal as well as civil in law or in equity touching the property right or claim aforesaid of or belonging to the society provided such person shall have been thereunto duly authorized by the consent of the majority of members present at any meeting of the society or committee and such person so appointed shall and may in all cases concerning the property right or claim aforesaid sue and be sued in his proper name as such treasurer or trustee without other description and no such action or prosecution shall be discontinued or abate by the death of such person or his removal from the office of treasurer or trustee but the same shall be proceeded in by the succeeding treasurer or trustee in the proper name of the person commencing the same and such succeeding treasurer or trustee shall pay or receive like costs as if the action had been commenced in his name for the benefit of or to be reimbursed from the funds of the society.

XXVI. On the trial of any action or other proceeding respecting the property of any such society or in any proceeding before any justice of the peace any member of such society shall be a competent witness and shall not be objected to on account of any interest he may have as such member in the result of such action or other proceeding.

XXVII. The treasurer or trustee or any other officer of any such society shall not be liable to make good any deficiency which may arise in the funds of such society Provided always that the said treasurer trustee and every other officer of any such society shall be personally liable for all the moneys actually received by them on account of or for the use of the said society.

XXVIII. Whenever the trustees of any such society at any time after the decease of any member shall have paid any sum of money to any person who shall at the time of such payment appear to such trustees to be entitled to the effects of any deceased intestate member the payment of such sum of money shall be valid and effectual with respect to any demand of any other person as next of kin or lawful representative of such member against the funds of such society or against the trustees thereof but nevertheless such next of kin or representative shall have remedy for such money so paid as aforesaid against the person who shall have received the same.

XXIX. In case any member of any such society shall die who shall be entitled to any sum not exceeding twenty pounds it shall be lawful for the trustees or treasurer of such society if they shall be satisfied that no will was made and left by such deceased member and that no letters of administration will be taken out of the goods of such member to pay the same at any time after the decease of such member according to the rules of the society and in the event of there being no rules made in that behalf then the said trustees or treasurer are hereby authorized to pay the same to the person or persons entitled to the effects of the deceased member without administration.

XXX. For the more effectually preventing fraud on such societies if any person whatever shall fraudulently obtain possession of any moneys of such society or having in his possession any sum of money belonging to such society shall fraudulently withhold the same and for which offence no especial provision shall be made in the rules of the society it shall be lawful for any one justice of the peace residing within the district within which the society is established upon complaint made on oath by an officer of the society appointed for that purpose to summon the person against whom such complaint shall be made to appear at a time and place to be named in such summons and upon his appearance or in default thereof upon proof on eath of the service of such summons it shall be lawful for any two justices residing within the district aforesaid to hear and determine the said complaint according to the rules of the society and upon conviction for such fraud the said justices shall award double the amount of money so fraudulently obtained or withheld to be recovered in a summary way and to be paid to the treasurer of the society together with such costs as to such justices shall seem meet Provided nevertheless that nothing herein contained shall prevent the society from proceeding by indictment or complaint against the party complained of and provided also that no party shall be proceeded against by indictment or complaint if a previous conviction has been obtained under the provisions of this Act.

XXXI. It shall not be lawful for any such society by any rule at any general meeting or otherwise to dissolve or determine itself so long as the intent or purposes declared by it or any of them remain to be carried into effect without obtaining the votes of consent of fivesixths in value of the shares held by the then existing members to be ascertained in manner hereinafter mentioned and to be notified under their hands respectively and for the purpose of ascertaining the votes of such five-sixths in value every member shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each share held by him And in all cases of dissolution the intended distribution of the property of such society shall be fairly and distinctly stated in the proposed plan of dissolution prior to such consent being given and it shall not be lawful for the society by any rule to direct any such distribution amongst its members other than for carrying into effect the general intents and purposes of the society as declared by them and certified as aforesaid but any such rules for the dissolution or determination of such society without such consent as aforesaid or for the distribution of the property of such society contrary to the rules which shall have been certified as aforesaid shall be void and of none effect and in the event of such distribution without such consent the trustee or other officer or person aiding or abetting therein shall be liable to the like penalties as are hereinbefore provided for in cases of fraud.

XXXII. Provision shall be made by one or more of the rules of every such society specifying whether a reference of every matter in dispute between the society or any person acting under them and any member thereof or person claiming on account of any member shall be made to two or more justices of the peace for the district in which the society may be established or to arbitrators to be appointed in manner hereinafter directed.

XXXIII. When according to the rules of the society the matter in dispute as aforesaid shall be referred to arbitration certain arbitrators who shall not be beneficially interested in the funds of the society shall be elected at the first meeting of the society or general committee thereof that shall be held after the deposit of its rules with the registrar of joint stock companies as aforesaid three of whom shall be chosen by ballot in each such case of dispute the mode of ballot being determined by such rules Provided always that the names of such arbitrators shall be duly entered in the book in which the rules are entered as aforesaid and in case of the death or refusal or neglect of any of the said arbitrators to act the society or its general committee shall at their next meeting elect new arbitrators as aforesaid to act in the place of the arbitrators so dying or refusing or neglecting to act and whatever award shall be made by the said arbitrators or the major part of them according to the true purport and meaning of such rules shall be in the form to this Act annexed and shall be binding and conclusive on all parties and shall not be removable into any Court of law or restrainable by the injunction of any Court of equity and if either of the said parties in dispute shall refuse or neglect to conform to any such award it shall be lawful for any one justice of the peace residing within the district within which the society is established upon proof of such award having been made and the refusal of the party to