April 1654: An Ordinance touching Surveyors of the Highwayes, for this present year, 1654.

April, 1654

[12 April, 1654.]

Ord. of 31 March, 1654, recited.; Election of Highway Surveyors in present year.; Their powers, etc. to be as by former Ord.

Whereas in an Ordinance for better amending and keeping in repair the common high-waies within this Nation, It is Ordained amongst other things, That two or more able and sufficient Householders, as is in that Ordinance expressed, should be elected and chosen upon the first Tuesday next ensuing the five and Twentieth day of March yearly, to be Surveyors of the High Waies within their respective Parishes for the year ensuing, and whereas by reason of the late publishing of the said Ordinance, the time aforesaid for such election for this year was elapsed, so as such election could not be made on that day in pursuance of the said Ordinance, whereby the benefit intended to the people thereby is obstructed; Be it Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector, by and with the advice and consent of his Council, That the persons which already are chosen, or shall be chosen before the first day of May 1654, to be Surveyors of the Highwaies, (which election is hereby injoined to be made in every place and Parish by the time aforesaid, under the penalties in that Ordinance expressed) in case no election hath been already made, shall undertake the said Office, and be sworn on, or before, the sixth day of May aforesaid, under the penalties in the said Ordinance set down in that behalf, and shall be Surveyors for this present year, as if such election had been made on the said first Tuesday after the said five and twentieth day of March last, anything in the said Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding. And the said Surveyors so sworn, and all other persons authorized by the said Ordinance, shall be, and are hereby impowered, to proceed in, and put in execution all the Directions, Powers and Authorities in the said Ordinance contained, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as if the election had been made on the day therein appointed.