CHAP.
XVIII.
Commissioners
to choose
a spot, &c.
Market-days
set apart, &c.
Penalty for
selling out of
market, &c.
And slaughtering
in the market-house,
&c.
A clerk to be
appointed,
&c.
Market-house
vested, &c. |
found wandering or strolling about the streets in the night time; and
generally to
exercise all the powers of, and to act as, a constable within the limits
of the
said town.
V. And,
whereas the inhabitants of the said town, have made
liberal subscriptions for the erection of a market-house in the said
town, and it
is thought that the establishment of a market, under proper regulations,
would
contribute greatly to the convenience and accommodation of the inhabitants
of
the said town, as well as to the emolument of the neighbourhood, Be
it enacted,
that the said commissioners may and they are hereby authorised to choose
and fix
on some proper and convenient spot, on the public ground behind the
court-house
of said county, or on some other convenient place not on the public
ground, at the discretion of the commissioners, provided the consent
of the proprietor
or proprietors of the said place be first had and obtained, for the
rection
of a market-house, and to cause to be erected thereon a good and sufficient
market-house.
VI. And be it
enacted, That from and after one month after the said market-house
shall be finished, the Wednesday and Saturday of each week shall be
set
apart as market-days for the said town, subject however to be changed
by the
said commissioners; and that all provisions whatsoever brought to the
said town
for sale, after the market-days are set apart aforesaid, shall be taken
and carried
to the market-house of the said town, and there be sold, or offered
for sale, at
the market-hours, which are hereby established to be from any time
in the
morning till twelve at noon; provided always, that this act shall not
extend to
prevent fish, oysters, and cooked provisions, beef by the quarter or
larger quantity,
or pork by the hog or hogs, or any kind of grain, flour and bread,
or
butter in firkins, or other vessels exceeding twenty pounds net weight,
or cheese,
beef and pork in barrels or larger casks, live cattle, sheep and hogs,
respectively,
brought to the said town, from being sold, bartered, or otherwise disposed
of,
as if this act had not been passed.
VII. And be it
enacted, That if any free person shall presume to sell, or cause
to be sold, any articles of provision in the said town, or within two
miles thereof,
except the articles herein before provided for, either on the stated
market-days
aforesaid, or on any other days during the time of the market-hours,
at any
place whatsoever but in the said market-house, the person buying and
the person
selling, by themselves or others, shall forfeit and pay each the sum
of thirty shillings
current money for every such offence; provided always, that this clause
shall not extend to prevent any person residing within two miles of
the said town
from selling any articles of provision at the place of their actual
residence.
VIII. And be
it enacted, That if any person or persons shall presume to
slaughter or butcher any kind of cattle, sheep or hogs, in or near
the said market-house,
after its erection, or cause the same to be done, or if any person
or
persons shall put, or cause to be put, any horse, mare or gelding,
or any cart, or
waggon or other carriage, into or under the said market-house, on any
pretence
whatsoever, every person so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum
of fifteen
shillings for every such offence.
IX. And be it
enacted, That the commissioners aforesaid shall, within one
month after the erection of the said market-house, appoint a person
of good
repute to be clerk of the said market, who shall, before he proceeds
to act as
such, make oath, or affirmation, as the case may be, before the said
commissioners,
or any one of them, that he will diligently and faithfully, according
to the
best of his skill and judgment, execute and perform the several duties
of clerk
of the said market, without favour, partiality or prejudice.
X. And be it
enacted, That the market-house aforesaid, with the stalls and
shambles thereof, shall be and they hereby are vested in the commissioners
heretofore appointed, and to be appointed in virtue of this act, for
the use and |
