ART. 54.] BRITISH CONFISCATED LANDS. 905

P. G. L., (1860,) art 54, sec. 11 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

18. Before issuing any patent under the preceding section,
the said commissioner shall order the party applying therefor to

cause to be inserted in one of more newspapers published in the
county or city where the land lies, if there be a newspaper
published therein, at least once a week for three successive
weeks, an advertisement setting forth the object of the applica-
tion, and describing therein by metes and bounds, and such other

description of the land for which the patent is sought, as he may

direct, so that the land may be known, and also particularly
describing the claim of the applicant for such patent, and con-
taining a notification of the day and hour on which the appli-

cant will apply to the commissioner to issue such patent, which
day shall be at least sixty days from the day of filing the appli-

cation, and warning all parties interested to appear before said

commissioner on the day and hour therein designated, to show

cause, if any they have, why such patent should not be issued.

Ibid. sec. 12. 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

19. If no person appears to contest the said application on the
day so appointed, a patent shall issue to the applicant; but if
opposition be made to the issue of such patent, the party
making such opposition shall, by a day to be designated by
the commissioner of the land office, not exceeding thirty days,
file in the land office his objections in writing to the issue of
said patent.

Ibid. sec. 13 1852, ch 361, sec. 1.

20. The said commissioner shall fix some day, not less than
ten nor more than twenty days after the objections are filed, to
hear such application, and shall then hear the respective parties,
if they appear before him, and if not, he shall proceed to deter-
mine ex parte the rights of the parties claiming to be interested,
and shall, within thirty days after such hearing, decide in favor
of or reject the application as to him shall seem right and proper,
filing his reasons therefor in writing.

Ibid. sec. 14. 1781, ch 20, sec 6. 1789, ch 35, sec. 4.

21. The said commissioner shall have full power and author-
ity to hear and determine all disputes which may arise concern-