It is also desirable that they should be men of gentlemanly manners and intellectual powers, capable of mildly reasoning with those who apply to them. Another point, the advantage of which has been established by experience, is, that they should rise early, being on the ground every morning at the earliest expedient time, and remain at their occupation of obtaining information and interviews with the various occupiers until such a period as might be most convenient to the parties they have to see. Afterwards they should devote some time to interviews with any more distant parties from whom it may be desirable or proper to obtain information, so that, as far as possible, each day's work may be completely finished while it is still fresh in the recollection of the persons engaged in preparing it. If they delay the requisite inquiries for several days, they will be sure to experience inconvenience and additional labour therefrom. They should each evening make a fair copy of the work of the day, and transmit such fair copy as instructed. Care must be taken that the numbers on the tracings are not obliterated. Every week or so, they should devote such hours as may be required to seeing any occupiers or other parties whom (their residences being at some distance) it would have been inconvenient to meet upon the day on which the reference takers were going over the line. By this means, several distant visits may be made at

The words " saw should be written

the same time, and many hours thereby often saved. Whenever an inquiry has to be made from a party at a distance, to whom the person making the reference can go in person, a note of the inquiry to be made should be written on the fair copy of the reference. A. B.," "saw C. D," &c., against the name of the occupier whenever it occurs. Where there may happen to be two persons of the same christian and surnames, owners or occupiers in one parish, they should be carefully distinguished by their address, or otherwise, so as to avoid any confusion or mistakes.

If the plan have not been previously numbered by the surveyors, it should be numbered either in pencil or ink by the parties engaged in the reference while they are upon the ground, and notice given to the surveyors that it has been omitted. In no case should this duty be left to the evening; as errors might very easily arise from such delay; and those errors would be sure to cause considerable trouble and mistakes, perhaps not easily rectified. Care should also be taken that the numbers, if in pencil, are not obliterated. The word "ditto" should never be used in the book of reference or in the drafts; but the descriptions and names should be repeated in every instance against every number; and this advice cannot be too strongly impressed upon all.

Indeed, not only in this matter, but upon every

D

one that has been mentioned in this section, the remark is applicable that it is much better that more than enough, rather than less than enough should be done. In all descriptions, details, names, &c., the fullest information may easily be given while the parties are in attendance, from whom such intelligence may be obtained and the extra time occupied in taking them down is trifling and of little consequence, compared with the great injury that might possibly result from the absence of some point that may be requisite to be stated. Much may prove unimportant and not needed; but the error is one on the safe side, and works of supererogation are much better in such cases than a bare and niggardly, and, perhaps, most defective statement of facts. Information that at the time seems to be of little or no consequence, frequently turns ultimately to be most useful, at a time and in a manner the least expected. It should, therefore, be always the object of those to whom the important duties of preparing the books of reference are entrusted to gain all the information possible upon the subject of the property on the line of the proposed work; the various parties connected in any way therewith; their interests and feelings with regard to the contemplated scheme, &c. &c. There will seldom be any cause for lamenting the possession of too much information of such a character; while parties have often to deplore

the deficient knowledge acquired of facts when they were all within reach, by the expenditure of a little time and trouble. It would be well to give to the solicitors all the information upon every particular parish, and as those gentlemen sit with the counsel at the committees, they will, from the possession of such information, be prepared to meet many points of opposing counsel which otherwise might influence the decision of the committee.

Second Deposit of Plans and Sections. (by Dec. 31.)

1. Deposits for Lords and Commons.

On or before the 31st of December, a copy of "all plans, sections, and books of reference," must be lodged in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons and in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments in the House of Lords. (According to Standing Order 28 of the House of Commons, and sec. 8 of Standing Order 223 of the House of Lords.)

2. Plans for Particular Parishes.

On or before the 31st of December, a copy of so much of the said plans and sections (previously deposited at the Board of Trade, &c.,) as relates to each parish in or through which the work is

intended to be made, &c., together with a book of reference thereto, must be deposited with the parish clerk of each such parish in England, the schoolmaster in each such parish in Scotland (or the town clerk in royal burghs) or the clerk of the union within which such parish is included in Ireland. (H. C. 27.) [The Act 1 Vict. cap. 83 compels "clerks of the peace for counties and other persons to take the custody of such documents as shall be directed to be deposited with them under the Standing Orders of either House of Parliament."]

Contents of Parish Plans.

Parish plans are merely extracts of so much of the original plans as are governed by the Standing Orders, with regard to showing the extensions in case of tunnels, gardens, &c., in addition to the ordinary scale. They are sectional divisions of the whole plan, with the enlargements demanded in the plan itself.

Application to Owners, Lessees, and Occupiers.

When any lands or houses are intended to be taken, or an extension of the time granted by any former Act for that purpose is sought, application in writing (in the form set forth in the Appendix to the Standing Orders) must be made to the owners, lessees, and occupiers, on or before