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The fiscal and Revenue duties at present performed by the Chief Remembrancer, might easily be transferred to and transacted by the Master, at the law side of the court, who has scarcely any duty to perform beyond a general superintendance over the other officers.

The Court of Chancery, with the addition of a fifth Master, could with its present machinery, beyond doubt, transact the whole Equity business of Ireland. There is no arrear of business in the Court of Chancery, or the Rolls Court. The Master of the Rolls concluded his business on the 13th of March last; the Lord Chancellor, with an unusually heavy list, about two days later,-and if those courts should continue their sittings for even near the periods during which the English Equity Judges sit, there can be no doubt, but that the entire Equity business could be by them efficiently discharged without the necessity of creating a Vice-Chancellor, and if so, an addition of at least £6000) a-year, would result to the Revenue.

The present staff of Chancery, (with the addition of a few copying clerks, who would be remunerated by the increased fees on the additional business), is unquestionably adequate to transact the entire business, including the proposed addition.

Suppose, however, it should turn out that an additional Equity Judge would be required, the expense thereby to be entailed would be:A Vice-Chancellor. (Salary and jurisdiction, similar to that of the Master of the Rolls,)

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An additional Registrar, (the Ex-
chequer Registrar to be the first,
and the future patronage of this
and the other offices, to be vested
in the Vice-Chancellor), -
Crier and train-bearer,
A clerk in court, (same as Rolls
Court, and an Exchequer officer,
might receive the first appoint-
ment),

£3,969 4 7

1000 0 0
140 0 0

600 0 0

£5709 4 7 Thus even creating an additional Judge, the change could be effected without loss to the consolidated fund.

Again, a Vice-Chancellor might be selected from the Barons of the Exchequer, and that vacancy filled up by a transfer of one Judge from the Common Pleas for the business of which three Judges would seem sufficient; and a Queen's Counsel might be selected to act, as is frequently the case, as a Judge of Assize.

rested, and shall also have authority to seize his books, papers, monies, goods and chattels, wheresoever they may be found, &c.

5. Any person so arrested, or whose books, &c., are seized, may apply for his discharge forthwith, or that the petitioning creditor do shew cause why his books, &c., should not be delivered up. Commissioner may make such order as seems to him fit. Order may be appealed from.

6. Any person so arrested may apply for his discharge forthwith. Cominissioner may discharge the person or not. Order of commissioner may be appealed from.

7. No person liable upon an act committed more than 12 months prior to issuing of commission.

8. Act of bankruptcy committed within a year of the issuing of a commission whether prior or subsequent to petitioning creditor's debt, sufficient to support adjudication.

9. Requisite amount of petitioning creditors debt. For single debt of such creditor, or of two or more partners £50, of two creditors £70, three or more creditors £100.

10. Persons herein specially named liable to become bankrupts.

11. Creditor of a trader making affidavit of his debt, and of his having required payment, commissioner may summon the trader.

12. Manner of proceeding on summons of trader by a creditor.

13. Trader not attending summons, or refusing to admit the demand, and not making deposition of belief of a good defence thereto, and not paying or compounding within a certain time, or giving bond for payment, to be deemed to have committed an act of bankruptcy.

14. Trader signing an admission of demand in form prescribed, and not paying, securing or compounding within a certain time, an act of bankruptcy.

15. Trader admitting part only of a demand, and not making deposition of a good defence to the residue and not paying, securing, or compounding for sum admitted, and as to residue not paying or compounding or entering into bond to pay any sum recovered with costs, an act of bankruptcy.

16. What shall be deemed a refusal of admission of debt. Commissioner may enlarge the time for admission of demand.

17. Admission of debt signed elsewhere than in court, if attested by attorney of trader may be filed, and have the same force as an admission signed by a trader on his appearance before commissioners under the summons.

18. Trader summoned on affidavit of debt to have such costs as the commissioners shall think fit. Or commissioner may direct the costs to abide the AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF BANK-event of any action for the debt.

A BILL INTITULED AN ACT FOR THE

RUPTCY IN IRELAND.

1. Date of commencement of this act.
2. Laws at variance with this act repealed.
3. Petitioning creditor's bond may be dispensed

with.

4. Person against whom a commission has issued on proof of probable cause for believing that he is about to quit Ireland, or to remove or conceal his goods with intent to defraud creditors, may be ar

19. Wherever a creditor plaintiff shall not recover the amount sworn to in his affidavit of debt filed against a trader, if such affidavit be made for such amount without probable cause, the trader defendant shall be entitled to costs.

20. Trader not paying, securing, or compounding for a judgment debt, upon which the plaintiff might sue out execution, within 14 days after notice requiring payment, an act of bankruptcy.

21. Trader disobeying order of any court of equity, or order in bankruptcy or lunacy, for payment of money, after service of order for payment on a peremptory day fixed, an act of bankruptcy. 22. Trader filing a declaration of insolvency in the office of the secretary of bankrupts, an act of bankruptcy.

23. Secret transfer of goods shall be deemed an act of bankruptcy.

24. Transfer of goods and chattels when to be deemed a secret transfer within the meaning of last section. Proviso to save right of bona fide purchaser or holder for value without notice. Proviso for assignment of vessels under 3 & 4, Wm. IV. cap. 55. 25. Filing petition for arrangement between a trader debtor and his creditors, with the concurrence of a certain number thereof to be an act of bankruptcy if petition dismissed.

26. Manner of making a debtor a bankrupt by affidavit of debt and notice to pay. Creditor to file an affidavit of debt, and serve notice requiring payment within 21 days.

27. If commission not proceeded on by petitioning creditor within 3 days, any other creditor may proceed on it.

28. If bankrupt shall not proceed to dispute the commission and prosecute with effect, the Gazette to be conclusive evidence of the bankruptcy, as against the bankrupt and against persons whom the bankrupt might have sued had he not been adjudged bankrupt. Saving present rights for which any proceedings are pending.

29. Provision for debtor to the bankrupt's estate paying the debt into court when sued by the assignees within the time for bankrupt to dispute.

30. One or two persons being merchants, brokers, or accountants, or persons who have been engaged in trade, or resident in Ireland, shall be chosen by Lord Chancellor to act as official assignees. Their duty.

31. Commissioners may take security by recognizance or of Guarantee Society.

32. Official assignees to receive bankrupt's estate and effects. How to apply same.

33. Proviso restricting the authority of the official assignee.

34. Lord Chancellor may remove official assignees, and may fill up vacancy in their number.

35. Power to appoint official assignees to act with the existing assignees under commissioners now pending, and to whom the latter shall deliver over effects.

36. Official assignee may act until creditors assignee appointed. May sell the property, if commissioner so order. And make allowance to bankrupt for his support. Property vested in official assignee to go to his successor.

37. To exempt official assignee from personal responsibility.

38. Debtor and creditor account to be furnished by official assignee to creditors assignee before dividend.

39. Remuneration to official assignee. 40. Pay, half-pay, and pensions of bankrupts to be applicable for the benefit of creditors.

41. Audits and dividends to be had and made

wages

whenever the commissioner thinks fit after the time appointed for the bankrupt's last examination. 42. Commissioner may order three month's or salary to clerks or servants. 43. Commissioner may order wages not exceed. ing 40s. to labourer or workman. 44. Search-warrants may be granted. 45. In cases of member of a firm being bankrupt, the commissioners, upon application, may authorize actions or suits in name of the assignee of the bankrupt and the remaining partner. Partner to have notice of such application, and may shew cause against it. Commissioner may direct partner to

have part of proceeds.

46. Bankrupt not surrendering or submitting to be examined, or making discovery of his estate and effects, or not delivering up his estate, books, &c. or concealing, &c., to the value of £10, guilty of felony, and liable to transportation or imprisonment with or without hard labour.

47. Commissioner may enlarge the time for the bankrupt surrendering himself. Commissioner may order that bankrupt shall be free from arrest for three months after final examination.

48. Bankrupt destroying or falsifying any of his books, &c., or making false entries guilty of a misdemeanour, and liable to imprisonment, with or without hard labour.

49. Bankrupt, within three months of his bankruptcy, having obtained goods on credit under false pretence, or removing, concealing, &c., goods so obtained, guilty of a misdemeanour.

50. Bankrupt arrested under warrant from commissioner may be committed.

51. Warrant of committal for unsatisfactory answering or refusing to answer, need not specify questions. Copy of examination to be furnished to the person committed.

52. Obstructing the messenger, &c., a misde

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54. Commissioner may order release of bankrupt in execution under a Ca Sa after a certain term of imprisonment.

55. Prosecution against bankrupt for any offence under this act may be ordered by the commissioner acting in the prosecution of the commission.

56. Bankrupt may be discharged by certificate of conformity in manner hereinafter prescribed. Discharge of bankrupt not to release or discharge a partner or person jointly bound.

57. Bankrupt not entitled to certificate if he has lost by gaming £20 in one day, or £200 within twelve months; or £200 by stock-jobbing; or concealed or destroyed books, &c.; or made fraudulent entries, or concealed any property, or permitted fictitious debts to be proved.

58. On the application of bankrupt, commissioner may appoint a sitting, of which twenty-one days notice in Gazette. Creditor may oppose. Commissioner may grant at discretion. Certificate not to be a discharge unless commissioner certify a full conformity.

59. Contracts or securities to induce creditors

forbear opposition to be void. Certificate of bankrupt to be also void.

60. Penalties for obtaining money, goods, &c. as an inducement to forbear opposition or consenting to allowance or confirmation of certificate.

61. Bankrupt having obtained his certificate free from arrest. Certificate to be evidence of the bankruptcy and proceedings. Bankrupts in execution may be ordered to be discharged.

62. Pankrupt not liable upon any promise to pay debt discharged by certificate, unless such promise be in writing.

63. Allowance to bankrupts. £5 per cent., and not exceeding £400 as soon as 10s. paid in the pound. £7 10s. per cent. and not exceeding £500 if 12s. 6d. £10 per cent. and not exceeding £600 if 15s. Allowance not payable till twelve months after date of commission, and then only, if requisite, amount of dividends paid. And not to be payable to any bankrupt who has not been a trader for 12 months. If at expiration of twelve months, the dividend paid be under 10s., or if no dividends paid, bankrupt may be allowed not exceeding £3 per cent. or £300, although not a trader for twelve months. 64. One partner may receive allowance though

others not entitled.

65. Interest allowed upon all debts or sums certain proveable, though not agreed for. From time debt is payable by virtue of some written instrument, or if none, from time of demand in writing.

66. Duplicate copy of schedule deposited with the registrars by bankrupt before final examination, and open to inspection.

67. When proceedings cease file to be deposited with the registrars.

68. Registrars and secretary of bankrupts to hold office during good behaviour.

69. 1st Vict. c. 48. Whenever bankruptcy fund insufficient, the salaries of second commissioner of bankrupt and assistant-registrar shall be paid out of the Suiters Fee Fund.

70. Commissioners may permit mortgagees to bid at sale.

71. Goods and chattels under seizure by virtue of attachment shall, upon demand, be delivered up to any person appointed by the commissioner.

72. Before whom affidavits are to be sworn. 73. Rules to be made for regulating the forms of proceedings and practice to be observed in prosecuting commissions.

74. Warrants to be under hand and seal, and every summons to be in writing under the hand of a commissioner.

75. How summons may be served where the party is keeping out of the way. Delivery of copy of notice or summons to the wife or servant or some adult inmate, shall be equivalent to personal service.

76. Punishment of persons giving false evidence, or swearing or affirming anything which shall be false.

77. Application of forfeitures.

78. All bills of solicitors and attorneys to be taxed by one of the registrars of the Court of Bankruptcy, subject to review.

79. Bills of auctioneers, appraisers, valuers, and accountants, to be settled in the same manner.

80. Power to commissioner with consent of cre

ditors to remove creditors assignee, and appoint another in his stead.

81. 6 W. 4, c. 14. Personal and real estate of bankrupt to vest in the new assignee by virtue of appointment. The removed assignee shall fully account.

82. Actions or suits not be abated by removal of assignees.

83. Costs may be awarded by commissioner of bankrupt. Persons brought up by warrant may be ordered to pay the costs of bringing them up.

84. Orders of commissioners of bankrupt for payment of money or costs, to be enforced by writs out of Chancery.

85. Persons capable of giving evidence respecting trading or act of bankruptcy; or suspected of having bankrupt's property and being in prison, may be brought for examination under warrant from commissioners of bankrupt.

86. Bankrupt in custody in England or Scotland or Ireland to be brought before the commissioners. 87. Depositions, &c. under commissions may be entered of record without order of Lord Chancellor being necessary. Certificate of entry endorsed to be evidence of the entry. Fee of Is. payable on search for any such record.

88. Where second or other commission is issued against one or more partners, proceedings under second commission shall be stayed and form part of first commission if Chancellor so order.

89. Three-fifths in number and value of creditors of bankrupt may accept a composition. 90. Mode of voting in deciding upon such composition.

91. How notice shall be given to the creditors. 92. Creditors served with notice, bound to accept the composition agreed to, whether they shall or not have proved their debts under the commission.

93. Any debtor unable to meet his engagements with his creditors and unable to obtain their consent to a deed of composition, may with the concurrence of two thirds in number and value petition the commissioners.

94. Petition to be in form in Schedule I, and supported by affidavit.

95. Commissioners privately to examine into matter of petition, and if satisfied may allow the same de bene esse, and appoint meeting of creditors, and may grant protection during examination, and after allowance de bene esse of petition.

96. How notice shall be given to the creditors.

97. Commissioner to examine into matter of petition. If resolution of creditors not confirmed, petition shall be dismissed and protection cease.

98. Commissioners may renew protection, and if petitioning debtor be in custody, may order release, &c.

99. Commissioner to appoint a registrar of the court, or one of the principal petitioning creditors to preside at the meeting of the creditors.

100. If, at first meeting, major part in number and value, or nine-tenths in value, or nine-tenths in number, whose debts exceed £20 assent, another meeting to be called.

101. If, at second meeting, three-fifths in number and value of all the creditors present agree to accept,

&c., resolution to be binding on all, provided one full third in number and value be present.

102. Creditors to vote according to balance due to them on account fairly stated.

103. Resolution to be submitted to the Commissioners, and the Commissioners if they think it reasonable after hearing creditors for and against, to approve and confirm the same, and to cause it to be filed, and to grant certificate of protection. 104. Estate to vest in trustee if any be appointed. 105. Resolution to be enrolled, and copy of it to be evidence.

106. Trustee to file account every six months, or oftener if required.

107. If petitioning debtor has not made a true discovery, &c. he may be summoned and examined 108. If any difficulty arise as to execution of resolution &c. a special meeting may be called.

109. When resolution or agreement has been carried into effect, commissioner to give petitioning debtor a certificate thereof and such certificate to operate as a certificate of conformity.

110. Commissioners on being satisfied that trustee has fully performed his trust, to give him a certificate thereof, and such certificate to be a full release and accquittance for all matters done by such

trustee.

111. Commissioners of the Treasury authorized to grant superannuation allowances to commissioners and registrars of Court of Bankruptcy in Ireland. Accounts of such allowances to be laid before Parliament.

112. Nothing contained in act 3 and 4 Viet c. 105, s. 22, shall entitle a judgment creditor to any preference over other creditors. Saving such judgments as have been the subject of some legal decision before the passing of this Act.

113. Recites 3 and 4 Vic. c. 105, s. 12. Judgments shall before 1st day of 1849 be entered on all warrants of attorney executed on or before 1st November, 1840, if not already entered. Otherwise such warrants of attorney shall in certain cases, be deemed fraudulent and void.

114 A book or index of the names, descriptions and additions of persons granting warrants of attorney to be kept which shall be open to inspection on payment of sixpence.

115. Lord Chancellor to settle fees, &c. 116. Construction of act.

117. Act may be altered this session.

(Continued from p. 184.)

26. That after the appointment of the general committee every member appointed shall continue to be a member of the committee until the end of that session of parliament, or until he cease to be a member of the House of Commons, or until he resign his appointment (which he may do by letter to the Speaker,) or until the general committee report that he is disabled by continued illness, or until the committe be dissolved

27. That in every case of vacancy in the general committee of elections the Speaker, on the first day on which the house meets after such vacancy is known by him, shall make known the vacancy to the house, and thereupon all proceedings of the general committee shall be suspended until the vacancy is supplied.

28. That if the general committee of elections report to the house that, by reason of the continued absence of more

than two of its members, or by reason of irreconcileable disagreement of opinion, the said committee is unable to proceed in the discharge of its duties, or if the house resolve that the general committee of elections be dissolved, the general committee shall be thereby forthwith dissolved.

29. That every appointment to supply a vacancy in the general committee, and every re-appointment of the general committee after the dissolution thereof, shall be made by the Speaker by warrant, laid upon the table of the house on or before the third day on which the house meets after the and the warrant shall be subject to the disapproval of the dissolution of the committee or notification of the vacancy, house, as is provided in the case of the first warrant for the appointment of the general committee; and upon any re-appointment of the general committee the Speaker may, re-appoint any of the members of the former committee who are then willing and not disqualified to serve on it.

the first meeting of the general committee of elections, and 30. That the Speaker shall appoint the time and place of the committee shall meet at the time and place so appointed; but no member shall act upon such committee until he have been sworn at the table of the house, truly and faithfully to perform the duties belonging to a member of the said committee, to the best of his judgment and ability, without fear

or favour.

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32. That the general committee shall make regulations for the order and manner of conducting the business to be transacted by them.

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33. That the general committee shall be attended by one of the committee clerks of the house selected for that pose by the clerk of the house, and such committee clerk shall make a minute of all the proceedings, in such form and manner as shall be directed by the committee, and a copy of the minutes so kept shall be laid before the House of Commons.

34. That if at the time of the dissolution or suspension of the proceedings of the general committee there be any business appointed to be transacted by such general committee on any certain day, the Speaker may adjourn the transaction of such business to such other day as to him seems con venient.

35. That every member more than 60 years old shall be excused from serving on election committees, provided that on or before the reading over of the names of such excused

members, or upon his afterwards becoming entitled to make

such claim, he claim to be excused, by declaring in his place, or in writing under his hand delivered to the clerk at the table, that he is more than 60 years old; but no member

shall be so excused who does not claim to be excused before he is chosen to serve.

36. That in the first session of every parliament, on the next meeting of the house after the last day allowed for receiving election petitions, and in every subsequent session on the next meeting of the house after the Speaker has laid on the table his warrant for the appointment of the general committee of elections, the clerk of the house shall read over the names of all the members who have so claimed to be excused.

37. That every member having leave of absence shall be excused from serving on election committees; and if any member offer any other excuse, either at the reading over of the said names or at any other time, the substance of the allegations shall be taken down by the clerk, in order that the same may be afterwards entered on the journals, and the opinion of the house shall then be taken thereon; and if the house resolve that the said member ought to be excused he shall be excused from serving on election committees for such time as to the house seems fit, but no member shall be so excused who does not claim to be excused before he is chosen to serve; and every member who has served on one election committee, and who within seven days after such committee has made its final report notifies to the clerk of

the general committee his claim to be excused from so serving again, shall be excused during the remainder of the session, unless the house resolve, upon the report of the general committee, that the number of members who have not so served is insufficient; but no member shall be deemed to have served on an election committee who on account of inability or accident has been excused from attending the

same.

38. That every member who is a petitioner complaining of an undue election or return, or against whose return a petition is depending, shall be disqualified to serve on election committees during the continuance of such disqualification.

39. That the clerk of the House of Commons shall make out an alphabetical list of all the members, omitting the names of such members as have claimed to be excused from serving on election committees; and the clerk shall also distinguish in such list the name of every member then excused or disqualified, and shall also note in the list every cause of such excuse or disqualification, and the duration thereof; and such list shall be printed, and distributed with the votes of the house, and the names of all the members so omitted shall be also printed, and distributed with the

votes.

40. That during three days next after the day of the distribution of such corrected list further corrections may be made by leave of the Speaker, if it appear that any name has been improperly left in or struck out, or that there is any other error in such list.

41. That the list so corrected shall be referred to the general committee of elections; and the general committee shall select, in their discretion, six, eight, ten, or twelve members, whom they think duly qualified to serve as chairmen of election committees; and the members so selected shall be formed into a separate panel, to be called the chairmen's panel, which shall be reported to the house; and while the name of any member is upon the chairmen's panel he shall not serve on an election committee otherwise than as chairman; and every member on the chairmen's panel shall be bound to continue upon it till the end of the session, or he cease to be a member of the house, or until, by leave of the house, he be discharged from continuing upon the chairmen's panel: provided that every member of the chairmen's panel who has served on one or more election committees, and who notifies to the clerk of the general committee of elections his claim to be discharged, shall be so discharged; and every such member shall be excused from serving upon any election committee, either as chairman or otherwise, during the remainder of the session; but no member of the chairmen's panel shall be deemed to have served on an election committee who on account of inability or accident has been excused from attending the same.

42. That after the chairmen's panel has been so selected, the general committee shall divide the members on such list into five panels, as to them seems most convenient, but so that each panel may contain as nearly as may be the same number of members, and they shall report to the house the division so made; and the clerk shall decide by lot the order of the panels so settled, and shall distinguish each of them by a number denoting the order in which they were drawn; and the panels shall then be returned to the general committee of elections, and shall be the panels from which members shall be chosen to serve on election committees. 43. That the general committee of elections shall correct the said panels by striking out of them the name of every member who ceases to be a member of the house, or who from time to time becomes entitled and claims to be wholly excused from serving on election committees, and by inserting in one of the panels to be chosen by the general committee, at their discretion, the name of every new member of the house not entitled and not having claimed to be wholly excused, and shall also distinguish in the manner aforesaid in the said panels the names of the members for the time being excused or disqualified for any of the reasons aforesaid; and the general committee shall, as often as they think fit, report to the house the panels as corrected; and as often as the general committee reports the said panels to the house they shall be printed, and distributed with the

votes.

44. That when leave of absence for a limited time has been granted by the house to any member, the general committtee of elections may transfer the name of such member from the panel in which it has been placed to some other panel subsequent in rotation, having regard to the length of time for which such leave of absence has been granted, and to the number of select committees then about to be appointed.

45. That whenever any member of the chairmen's panel ceases to be a member of the house, or is by leave of the house discharged from continuing upon the chairmen's panel, or is so discharged by reason of service, the general committee shall select another member to be placed upon the chairmen's panel; and in case it at any time appear to the general committee that the chairmen's panel is too small, they may select two, four, or six additional members to place upon it, so nevertheless that the chairmen's panel shall not at any time consist of more than eighteen members, without the leave of the house first obtained.

46. That all election petitions received by the house shall be referred to the general committee of elections, for the purpose of choosing select committees, to try such petitions; and the Speaker shall communicate to the house and to the general committee every report by the examiner of recognizances to him concerning the recognizances to any election petition; and in every case in which any election petition is withdrawn, or the examiner of recognizances reports to the Speaker that the recognizances are objectionable, the order for referring such petition to the general committee of elections shall be discharged, and no further proceeding shall be had upon such petition; and the general committee shall make out a list of all election petitions in which the examiner of recognizances has reported to the Speaker that the recognizances are unobjectionable, and in which the proceedings are not suspended, in which list the petitions shall be arranged in the order in which the were so reported upon; and in every case in which the proceedings in any petition inserted in such list are afterwards suspended the petition shall be struck out of the list, and shall be again inserted at the bottom of the list at the end of such suspension of proceedings.

47. That when notice of the death or vacancy of the seat of any member petitioned against, or that it is not the intention of such member to defend his election or return, is given to the general committee of elections by the Speaker, the general committee shall suspend their proceedings in the matter of the petition referred to in such notice, until 21 days after the day on which notice of such death or vacancy, or intention not to defend, has been inserted in the Gazette, under the provision herein-before contained, unless the petition of some person claiming to be admitted as a party in the room of such member be sooner referred to them.

48 That when more than one election petition relating to the same election or return are referred to the general committee of elections, they shall suspend their proceedings in the matter of all such petitions until the report of the examiner of recognizances upon each of such petitions, is received by them; and upon receipt of the last of such reports they shall place such petitions at the bottom of the then list of election petitions, and such petitions shall be dealt with as one petition.

49. That the general committee of elections shall choose the committees to try the election petitions in the order in which such petitions stand in such list, and they shall determine how many committees shall be chosen in each week for trying such petitions, and the days on which they will meet for choosing such committees, having regard to the number of select committees then sitting, and to the whole number of such committees then to be appointed, and they shall report to the house from time to time the days appointed by them for choosing such committees.

50. That if parliament is prorogued after any election petition has been presented, but before the appointment of a select committee to try such petition, the general committee of elections appointed in the following session shall, within two days after their first meeting, in case the sureties have been then reported unobjectionable, appoint a day and hour for selecting a committee to try the petition so stand

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