The expression “the special Act” used in this Act shall be construed to mean any Act which shall be hereafter passed authorizing the construction or improving of an harbour, dock, or pier, and with which this Act shall be incorporated; and the word “prescribed” used in this Act in reference to any matter herein stated shall be construed to refer to such matter as the same shall be prescribed or provided for in the special Act, and the sentence in which such word occurs shall be construed as if instead of the word “prescribed” the expression “prescribed for that purpose in the special Act” had been used; and the expression “the prescribed limits” used with reference to the harbour, dock, or pier shall mean the distance measured from the harbour, dock, or pier, or other local limits (if any) beyond the harbour, dock, or pier, within which the powers of the harbour master, dock master, or pier master, for the regulation of the harbour dock, or pier, shall by the special Act be authorized to be exercised; and the expression “the lands” shall mean the lands which shall by the special Act be authorized to be taken or used for the purposes thereof; the expression “the harbour, dock, or pier” shall mean the harbour, dock, or pier, and the works connected therewith, by the special Act authorized to be constructed; the expression “the harbour master” shall mean,with reference to any such harbour the harbour master, and with reference to any such dock the dock master, and with reference to any such pier the pier master, respectively appointed by virtue of this or the special Act, and with respect to all Acts authorized or required to be done by such harbour master, dock master, or pier master, shall include the assistants of every such harbour master, dock master, or pier master; and the expression “the undertakers” shall mean the persons by the special Act authorized to construct the harbour, dock, or pier, or otherwise carry into effect the purposes of the special Act with reference thereto.

The following words and expressions in both this and the special Act, and any Act incorporated therewith, shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction (that is to say,)

• Words importing the singular number only shall include the plural number, and words importing the plural number only shall include the singular number:

• Words importing the masculine gender only shall include females:

• The word “person” shall include corporation, whether aggregate or sole:

• The word “lands” shall include messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, or heritages, of any tenure:

• The word “vessel” shall include ship, boat, lighter, and craft of every kind, and whether navigated by steam or otherwise:

• The word “master” when used in relation to any vessel, shall be understood to mean the person having the command or charge of the vessel for the time being:

• The word “owner”, when used in relation to goods, shall be understood to include any consignor, consignee, shipper, or agent for sale or custody of such goods, as well as the owner thereof:

• The word “goods” shall include wares and merchandize of every description, and all articles in respect of which rates or duties are payable under the special Act:

• The word “rate” shall mean any rate or duty or other payment in the nature thereof payable under the special Act:

• The expression “the collector of rates” shall mean the person appointed by the undertakers to collect the rates by the special Act authorized to be levied by them, and shall include the assistants of such collector:

• The word “month” shall mean calendar month:

• The expression “superior courts,” where the matter submitted to the cognizance of the superior courts arises in England or Ireland, shall mean her Majesty’s superior courts of record at F1the Royal Courts of Justice or F2Belfast, as the case may require, . . . F3 and where such matter arises in Scotland, shall mean the Court of Session:

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• F5. . .

• The word “justice” shall mean justice of the peace acting for the place where the matter requiring the cognizance of any such justice arises, and where such matter arises in respect of lands situate not wholly in any one jurisdiction, shall mean a justice acting for the place where any part of such lands shall be situate; and where any matter shall be authorized or required to be done by two justices, the expression “two justices” shall be understood to mean two or more justices met and acting together:

• The word “sheriff” shall mean F6the sheriff principal of the sheriffdom . . . F7 in Scotland . . . F3 in which the matter submitted to the cognizance of the sheriff arises, and shall include the F8sheriff . . . F3.

• F5. . .

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