High Peak Mining Customs and Mineral Courts Act 1851

22 U.K. If the Barmaster shall, in any Matter connected with the Duties of his Office, require a View to be made by the Grand Jury, or if the Plaintiff or Defendant in any Action of Title or Trespass in the Small Barmote Court, or if any Miner or other Person shall for any Purpose require a View to be made of the Mine or Works of any Person whomsoever, then and in each and every of such Cases a View shall be made, and the Person so requiring a View shall, when the Grand Jury are assembled, deliver to the Steward a Bill of Directions describing the Mine or particular Part or Parts of a Mine, or Ground or Works, or other Matters or Things, which the Grand Jury are required to view, and stating the Question upon which their Opinion is required, but such Bill of Directions shall contain no Argument or Comment whatever, and thereupon the Steward shall openly read the said Bill of Directions to the Grand Jury, and, if the same is in the Opinion of the Steward properly framed, deliver it to One of the Grand Jury, who shall take the same with him for the Guidance of himself and the rest of the Grand Jury in making their View; but if any Person affected by the said Proceeding object to the said Bill of Directions or to any Cross Bill delivered as herein-after mentioned as containing Matter of Argument, Assertion, or Comment not being a Description of the Mine, Ground, or Works, or other Matters or Things to be viewed, or a Statement of the Question necessary for the Guidance of the Grand Jury in making their View, the Steward before delivering the Bill or Cross Bill to the Grand Jury shall in all Cases decide upon the Validity of such Objections, and if he thinks the same well founded shall cause the Bill or Cross Bill to be altered and corrected in such Manner as the Steward shall think right, and after making such View such of the Grand Jury as shall concur in Opinion shall in answer to such Bill and Cross Bill, if any, write their Opinion and sign it, and such of the Grand Jury as shall not concur in Opinion with any of their fellow Jurymen shall write separate Opinions and sign them, so that the Signature of each of the Grand Jury shall be affixed either to his own separate Opinion or to that of himself and some other or others of the said Grand Jury; and the said Bill and Cross Bill, if any, with the Opinions, shall be delivered to the Steward, who shall thereupon openly read the same in the Presence of the Grand Jury and of the Person or Persons who shall have preferred such Bill or Cross Bill; and such Bill and Cross Bill, if any, and the Opinions thereon, shall be kept by the Steward with the Documents of the Barmote Courts, but the Steward shall, if required by the Plaintiff or Defendant in the Action in which the View shall have been had, permit such Bill and Cross Bill, if any, and the Opinions thereon, or either of them, to be used by such Plaintiff or Defendant for the Purpose of Evidence on the Trial of the Action: Provided always, that no Plaintiff or Defendant in any Action shall be entitled to require a View unless he shall have given Notice thereof in Writing to the Barmaster Six clear Days at the least before the Day appointed for the Trial; and the Expenses of Views shall be paid in manner herein-after mentioned, that is to say, in Cases where the Barmaster shall require such View the Expense shall be borne by the Owner of the Mine or other Matter to be viewed, provided the Steward shall consider that such View was properly required by the Barmaster, and shall allow such Expenses; and in Cases where the View shall be required by a Plaintiff or Defendant in any Action, the Expenses of such View shall be Costs in the Cause, and abide the Event of the Action; and in all other Cases the Expenses shall be paid by the Person requiring the View, if no Cross Bill is presented, and if a Cross Bill is presented, then in equal Proportions by the Person requiring the View and the Person presenting the Cross Bill. Any Person who may be affected by the Proceedings at any View may appoint a Shower to accompany the Grand Jury, and to show on his Behalf the Place to be viewed.