Wrecks Inquiries MONTSERRAT
CHAPTER 7.04
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT
Revised Edition showing the law as at 1 January 2002
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws—
Page
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT 3 Act 1 of 1876 .. in force 21 April 1876
Amended by Acts: 24 of 1956
8 of 1966
MONTSERRAT
CHAPTER 7.04
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT
Revised Edition showing the law as at 1 January 2002
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner under the authority of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws—
Page
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT 3 Act 1 of 1876 .. in force 21 April 1876
Amended by Acts: 24 of 1956
8 of 1966
Wrecks Inquiries CAP. 07.04 3 Revision Date: 1 Jan 2002
LAWS OF MONTSERRAT
CHAPTER 7.04
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
1. Short title 2. Magistrate to hold inquiry into causes of wrecks 3. Penalty for non-attendance of witness at such inquiry 4. Governor may order formal investigation 5. Assessors 6. Costs of investigation 7. Remuneration of assessor, etc.
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CHAPTER 7.04
WRECKS INQUIRIES ACT
(Acts 1 of 1876, 24 of 1956 and 8 of 1966)
Commencement
[21 April 1876]
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the Wrecks Inquiries Act.
Magistrate to hold inquiry into causes of wrecks
2. Whenever any ship is lost, abandoned, materially damaged, or stranded, on or near the coasts of Montserrat; or whenever any ship causes loss or material damage to any other ship on or near such coasts; or whenever, by reason of any casualty, happening to or on board of any ship on or near such coasts, loss of life ensues; the Magistrate or any person duly authorized by the Governor in that behalf, may make inquiry respecting such loss, abandonment, damage, stranding, or other casualty; and he shall, for that purpose, have the following powers, that is to say—
(a) he may go on board such ship and inspect the same;
(b) he may, by summons under his hand, require the attendance of all such persons as he thinks fit to call before him and
4 CAP. 07.04 Wrecks Inquiries Revision Date: 1 Jan 2002
LAWS OF MONTSERRAT
examine for such purpose, and may require answers to any inquiries he thinks fit to make;
(c) he may require and enforce the production of all books, papers, or documents, which he considers important for such purpose;
(d) he may administer oaths, or, in lieu thereof, require every person examined by him to make and subscribe a declaration of the truth of the statements made by such person in his examination.
(Amended by Act 8 of 1966)
Penalty for non-attendance of witness at such inquiry
3. Every person who refuses to attend as a witness when summoned, or who refuses or neglects to make any answer or give any return, or to produce any document in his possession, or to make or subscribe any declaration required of him under the authority of this Act, shall, for each offence, be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding $240. And, upon the conclusion of the case, the Magistrate shall send in his report thereof to the Governor.
Governor may order formal investigation
4. Should it appear to the Governor on reading such report, that a more formal investigation is requisite or expedient, he shall notify his opinion to such Magistrate, who shall thereupon associate with himself a second Magistrate, if any, and the Registrar of Shipping, if any, and in the absence of either of them, such person or persons as the Governor may appoint, and shall, together with them or him, as the case may be, form a Court for the purpose of rehearing the case. And the Court so formed shall proceed to rehear the same, and fully inquire into all the circumstances thereof, with the view to a further report thereupon; and shall for that purpose, so far as relates to the examining of persons, compelling the attendance of witnesses, and the conduct and regulation of the proceedings, have and exercise the same powers as if the same were a proceeding relating to an offence, or cause of complaint, upon which a Magistrate has power to decide summarily, or as near thereto as circumstances permit. And, upon the conclusion of the case, the said Court shall send in a report to the Governor containing a full statement of the case and of their opinion thereon, accompanying such report with the evidence taken and such observations as they may think fit.
Assessors
5. In cases where nautical skill and knowledge are required, the Governor shall have the power, either at the request of such Court, or at his own discretion, to appoint some person of nautical skill and knowledge to act as assessor to such Court; and such assessor shall, upon the conclusion of the case, either signify his concurrence in their report by signing the
Wrecks Inquiries CAP. 07.04 5 Revision Date: 1 Jan 2002
LAWS OF MONTSERRAT
same, or, if he dissents therefrom shall signify such dissent and his reasons therefor, to the Governor.
Costs of investigation
6. The said Court may make such order with respect to the costs of any such investigation, or any portion thereof, as it may deem just; and such costs shall be paid accordingly, and shall be recoverable in the same manner as other costs in summary proceedings before a Magistrate.
Remuneration of assessor, etc.
7. It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council, to allow to the assessor reasonable remuneration for the services performed by him, not exceeding in each case $24, and there shall be paid to the Magistrate, or other person, holding an investigation under this Act, such sum as he shall show, to the satisfaction of the Governor, to be a reasonable charge for the clerical duties performed by any clerk employed by him in taking down the evidence and making a fair copy thereof, and of the report, and for actual travelling expenses incurred by him; and there shall further be paid to each witness attending any investigation as aforesaid who may be brought from any place other than that in which the investigation is held or who may be about to depart without the jurisdiction of Montserrat such an allowance as the Governor in Council may deem fair and reasonable not exceeding however, the allowance usually made to witnesses summoned to the High Court in civil cases.
(Amended by Act 8 of 1966) ___________


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