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 the 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 he 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 Westminster or Dublin, as the Case may require, and shall include the Court of Common Pleas of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and the Court of Pleas of the County of Durham, and where such Matter arises in Scotland, shall mean the Court of Session :
The Word " Oath " shall include Affirmation in the Case of Quakers, and any Declaration lawfully substituted for an Oath in the Case of any other Persons allowed by Law to make a Declaration instead of taking an Oath :
The Word " County " shall include any Riding or other Division of a County having a separate Commission of the Peace, and in Scotland shall include Stewartry, and any Ward or other Division of a County or Stewartry having a separate Sheriff, and shall also include County of a City and County of a Town :
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 the Sheriff Depute of the County or Ward of a County in Scotland, and the Steward Depute of the Stewartry in Scotland, in which the Matter submitted to the Cognizance of the Sheriff arises, and shall include the Substitute of such. Sheriff Depute and Steward Depute respectively :
The Expression " Quarter Sessions " shall mean Quarter Sessions as defined in the Special Act; and if such Expression be not there defined, it shall mean the General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace which shall be held at the Place nearest to the Situation of the Harbour, Dock, or Pier for the County or Place in which the Harbour, Dock, or Pier, or the principal Office thereof, is situate, or for some Division of such County having a separate Commission of the Peace :
The Expression " the Lords of the Admiralty " shall mean the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral.