LLOYD LOWNDES, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

883

householder shall give notice of every birth and death happen-
ing in his house ; the eldest person next of kin shall give
such notice of the death of his kindred ; the keeper of a work-
house, house of correction, prison, hospital, reformatory, alms-
house or other institution, and the master or other command-
ing officer of a ship or vessel shall give notice of every birth
or death happening among the people under his charge.

6 J. The records of births and deaths shall be preserved by
the registrar, and shall be open to inspection by all persons for
proper purposes, by all city, town or county officials, by the

Notice of
birth or
death to be
given.

State Registrar or his accredited representative; provided,
that such examination shall be made in such a way that the
contents of the registers shall not be subjected to risk of
damage or alteration, and the prompt registry of the births
and deaths received by the registrar shall not be interrupted.
The registrar shall promptly inquire into the facts when any
omissions or discrepancies in the personal or statistical facts
are called to his attention, shall truly ascertain such missing
facts of record, and make a certified statement thereof to the
State Registrar, and' enter the correction in red ink over his
official signature upon his record. The contents of the regis-
ter of a copy thereof, duly certified by the registrar, shall be
prima facie evidence in all courts, and for all purposes of the
facts relative to any birth or death therein recorded, and shall
be verified, in case of dispute, by a certified copy of the origi-
nal certificate of birth or death from the State Registrar.
6 K. The local registrars shall receive for performing the

Records of
births and
deaths
preserved.

services required by this Act the following fees: For a permit,
to disinter a human body, except when required for the pur-
poses of legal investigations, twenty-five cents, to be paid by
the person to whom such permit issued ; for a copy of the
record of a birth or death, twenty-five cents, together with
payment for time of search, if over half an hour, at the rate
of fifty cents an hour, to be paid by the person to whom such
copy is furnished. The State Registrar shall certify to each
local registrar quarterly, or oftener, if it shall be considered
expedient, the number of properly executed certificates of
births and deaths received from such local registrar for the year
or portion of year included; provided, that cities having a
population of ten thousand inhabitants or over, shall have
power to fix the compensation of local registrars for the duties
required by this Act.
6 L. The State Registrar shall receive the certificates returned
under this Act, permanently bind and 'preserve them, make

Fees
received.