No. X.
An Act to authorize the resumption or occupa tion and use of any Lands required for purposes of Military Defence and to make Compensation to the Owners thereof. [4th
August, 1854.]

W

H E R E A S it is e x p e d i e n t t h a t t h e G o v e r n o r of N e w S o u t h W a l e s s h o u l d be a u t h o r i z e d t o r e s u m e p e r m a n e n t l y a n d t h a t t h e m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s of t h e Colony should h a v e t h e p o w e r of o c c u p y i n g a n d u s i n g t e m p o r a r i l y as t h e case m a y r e q u i r e a n y l a n d s w h i c h it shall be considered i m p o r t a n t t o t h e p u b l i c service t o t a k e for t h e erection of fortifications or for a n y o t h e r p e r m a n e n t or a n y t e m p o r a r y p u r p o s e of m i l i t a r y defence A n d w h e r e a s i t is p r o p e r t h a t compensa t i o n s h o u l d be a w a r d e d a n d p a i d to t h e o w n e r s of s u c h l a n d s for such r e s u m p t i o n o c c u p a t i o n t a k i n g or use t h e r e o f a n d for a n y d a m a g e t h e r e t o B e it therefore e n a c t e d b y H i s Excellency t h e G o v e r n o r of N e w S o u t h W a l e s b y a n d w i t h advice a n d consent of t h e Legislative Council t h e r e o f as follows :-- I t shall b e lawful for t h e G o v e r n o r i n t h e n a m e a n d on behalf of H e r M a j e s t y t o r e s u m e a n d t a k e i n t o H e r M a j e s t y ' s h a n d s or to cause t o b e occupied a n d u s e d t e m p o r a r i l y a n y piece of l a n d r e q u i r e d for t h e erection of fortifications t h e r e o n or for a n y o t h e r p u r p o s e connected w i t h t h e defence of t h e Colony a g a i n s t invasion or hostile or p r e d a t o r y a t t a c k a n d t o t r e a t a n d agree w i t h t h e owner thereof or a n y person h a v i n g a n y i n t e r e s t t h e r e i n for t h e s u r r e n d e r thereof t o t h e C r o w n or for t h e possession or use thereof d u r i n g such t i m e as t h e exigence of t h e p u b l i c service shall r e q u i r e A n d i n case t h e o w n e r of a n y s u c h l a n d or a n y p e r s o n h a v i n g a n y i n t e r e s t t h e r e i n shall refuse or decline t o e n t e r i n t o s u c h c o n t r a c t t o u c h i n g t h e same as shall be satisfactory t o t h e said G o v e r n o r or shall b e u n a b l e to do so b y reason of infancy c o v e r t u r e or or o t h e r disability or c a n n o t b e found or t r e a t e d w i t h as expeditiously as t h e exigence of t h e p u b l i c service shall r e q u i r e it shall be lawful for t h e G o v e r n o r t o notify i n t h e Government Gazette t h a t such piece of l a n d h a s been r e s u m e d or is t o be t e m p o r a r i l y occupied or u s e d for purposes of defence a n d t h e r e u p o n t h e fee-simple of t h e said l a n d or t h e r i g h t t o t h e occupation or u s e t h e r e o f according to t h e e x i g e n c e of t h e p u b l i c service as t h e case m a y be shall i m m e d i a t e l y vest i n H e r M a j e s t y a n d t h e a m o u n t of compensation to b e m a d e for t h e s u r r e n d e r r e s u m p t i o n occupation or use of s u c h l a n d t o t h e o w n e r s a n d o t h e r p e r s o n s i n t e r e s t e d t h e r e i n shall b e d e t e r m i n e d i n t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t by a n action for d a m a g e s t o b e b r o u g h t b y t h e c l a i m a n t a g a i n s t t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r or u p o n a n issue agreed t o b y t h e c l a i m a n t a n d t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r P r o v i d e d t h a t i n all cases i n w h i c h a n action shall b e b r o u g h t in t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t i n respect of a n y such claim it shall b e lawful for t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r t o p l e a d i n b a r of such action a n y t e n d e r w h i c h m a y h a v e been m a d e b y h i m on p a y i n g i n t o C o u r t in t h e u s u a l w a y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r a c t i c e of t h e C o u r t t h e a m o u n t of t h e m o n e y t e n d e r e d or t o pay i n t o C o u r t s u c h m o n e y as t h e Colonial T r e a s u r e r shall t h i n k fit a n d t o p l e a d such p a y m e n t i n b a r of t h e f u r t h e r m a i n t e n a n c e of such action a n d w h i c h e v e r p a r t y shall succeed i n such action or upon such issue as aforesaid shall be entitled t o costs t o b e a w a r d e d a n d recovered a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r a c t i c e of t h e C o u r t . No. X I .