NRS-960 | Copies of letters to the Commissioners for Compensation

The Act 4 Will. IV No. 11 (Governor in Council) was an act to improve the roads of the Colony, and this involved running roads through private land. The question of compensation therefore arose. Section 1 provided that the proposed roads should be gazetted and that anyone with grounds for complaint should submit his reasons to the Secretary of the Executive Council. Section VI stated that once the roads had been determined, anyone who felt aggrieved (owners or occupiers) should serve notice on the Colonial Secretary for compensation. Section VII describes the duties of the Commissioners for Assessing Compensation, and their mode of appointment. On receiving a claim the Governor could appoint five or less Commissioners, and they, or any two of them, could convene a court at the nearest courthouse, call the claimant before them and require him to produce a £50 bond for costs if the case should go against him. This bond was sent to the Registrar of the Supreme Court. The Commissioners were empowered to issue a warrant on the Chief Constable of the district to produce a jury. There was the right of challenging the jury and the Commissioners could call any witnesses they liked or take the jury to view any relevant land. The jury was to assess the damages and the Commissioners recorded the verdict and the proceedings as well as the court costs involved. This record was sent to the Supreme Court. These are letters to such Commissioners, mainly appointing them, but also on other related matters.(4/6188 part; microfilm copy SR Reel 2996). 1 vol (part). Note: This description is based on Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.