Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847

3 Interpretations in this and the special Act. U.K.

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 [F1 the Royal Courts of Justice] or [F2 Belfast], as the case may require, . . . F3 and where such matter arises in Scotland, shall mean the Court of Session:

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

• F5 . . .

• [F6 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 [F7 the sheriff principal of the sheriffdom] . . . F8 in Scotland . . . F3 in which the matter submitted to the cognizance of the sheriff arises, and shall include the [F9 sheriff] . . . F3 .

• F5 . . .

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by virtue of Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 (c. 49), s. 224(1)

F2 Words substituted by virtue of S.R. & O. 1921/1804 (Rev. XVI, p. 967: 1921, p. 422), art. 7 (b)

F3 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1891 (c. 67)

F4 Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981 (c. 19), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F5 S. 3 definitions of "county" and "quarter sessions" repealed (N.I.) by Statute Law Revision (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 59), s. 1, Sch. Pt. I; s. 3 definitions of "county" and "quarter sessions" wholly repealed by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV Group 1

F6 Words in s. 3 repealed (E.W.S.) (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 28, 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)

F7 Words substituted by virtue of Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (c. 58), s. 4, Sch. 1 para. 1

F8 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1893 (c. 14)

F9 Word substituted by virtue of Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (c. 58), s. 4

F10 Definition of “Lords of the Admiralty” repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1891 (c. 67)