Inclosure Act 1845

117 Election of field reeves. E+W

Where any land shall have been converted into a regulated pasture under the provisions of this Act, a meeting shall be called by the commissioners of the owners of the stints or rights of pasture, at such time after the confirmation of the award as the commissioners shall by notice on the church door appoint; and the major part in value of such owners present by themselves or their agent authorized in this behalf at such meeting shall elect a fit person or persons to be field reeve or reeves of such regulated pasture; and every field reeve so to be elected as aforesaid, or to be elected or re-elected at any subsequent meeting, shall continue in office until the expiration of fifteen days after the day of the annual meeting of such owners then next following, and no longer, unless he shall be re-elected at such annual meeting; and such owners shall ever after such first meeting meet for the election of a field reeve or field reeves on the first Monday in February in every year; and the owners assembled at such meetings shall from time to time fix, increase, or diminish the salary or payment to be made to every such field reeve, and may appoint or authorize any field reeve to appoint and employ herds and assistants, as such owners may think fit; and any such field reeve may be removed by four fifths in value of the owners of stints present by themselves or their agents authorized in this behalf at any meeting called for the purpose by fourteen days notice on the church door under the hands of any two such owners of stints; and in case any such field reeve shall die while he shall hold such office or shall be removed as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the majority in value of owners of stints or pastures present as aforesaid at any meeting which upon such vacancy any two owners may call by fourteen days notice on the church door to appoint a field reeve in his place, who shall hold the office until the expiration of fifteen days after the then next annual meeting; and a certificate in writing under the hands and seals of two justices of the peace of the election of any field reeve (which certificates any two justices of the peace are authorized, if they think fit, to give, on the request and upon the declaration of any owner of such stints as the agent of any such owner present at the meeting at which the election shall have taken place,) shall in all matters and proceedings whatsoever in which any acts done by any field reeve in the execution of his office shall be in question be evidence that he was duly appointed field reeve.