492 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

In case the owner of the ground is a non-resident of the County,
suit may be brought by attachment, which shall be equivalent
to notice and demand for payment.

Such certified bills shall in all cases be prima facie evidence
of the execution of the work, and of the correctness of the rates
and prices, amount thereof, and of the liability of any person
therein named as the owner of the land, charged with such
bill, to pay the same; provided, that nothing in this Section
shall be so construed as to prevent the party charged with the
payment of said bill from setting up by way of defense, in
reduction of the amount of the same, that the work was not
done in a good and workmanlike manner, according to the
class of work mentioned in the contract, and that such party,
before the commencement of the suit, tendered to the contractor
a fair value of such work done, and if he shall establish the
same on trial the recovery shall only be for the amount so
tendered, and judgment for costs shall be rendered against the
plaintiff.

The County shall not be liable in any manner whatever for
or on account of any work done which is to be paid for by
special tax bills.

Provided, however, that every special tax bill authorized by
this Act to be levied or assessed for the construction or recon-
struction of such district or joint district water mains or sewers,
may be divided into instalments, and when so divided shall not
be in less than three, nor more than seven, equal parts, as may
be provided by order of the County Commissioners or in the
contract for such work, payable and collectible as follows:
The first instalment shall become due and payable thirty days
after notice of the issuance thereof, without interest; the second
instalment shall become due and payable one year after such
notice; the third instalment, two years; the fourth instalment,
three years; the fifth instalment, four years; the sixth instal-
ment, five years; the seventh instalment, six years; after such
notice; provided, however, that the owner, or any person having
an interest in the property charged with the tax bills may pay
the same in full at any time within thirty days after notice as
aforesaid, without interest, and such owner or person having an
interest may pay such tax bills in full at any time by paying
interest thereon as follows: If paid at or before maturity and
more than thirty days after notice, as aforesaid, at the
rate of six per cent, per annum from the date of notice to the
date of payment; if paid after maturity, at the rate of six per