OVERSEER. (44 and collect the poor-rates. Where no select vestry existed, he was judge of the necessities of applicants for and receivers of parochial relief, an appeal in case of refusal lying before magistrates in petty sessions. We will now describe the pre sent duties of an overseer in parishes sub jected to the operation of the Poor-Law Amendment Act : 1. Relating to the ma nagement of the poor and to the board of guardians of the district ; 2, With respect to returning lunatic lists (where the township for which he acts is not in union under the Poor-Law Act, but where it is in union the clerk of the Guardians by the 5th and 6th Vic. cap 57, sec. 6, is to make out the lunatic lists), and jury lists ; 8, With reference to the registra tion of voters.
1. The Poor-Law Amendment Act limited the authority of an overseer of the poor, by transferring to a board of guar such portion of his duties as related to ascertaining fit objects for parochial re Int the amount of relief to be given, and the manner of giving it. With such services he has now little to do. His first business on entering upon his office is to possess himself as soon as he is able of the parish books and documents, including all old orders of bastardy under which money is payable ; to collect outstanding arrears, if any ; and to settle the balance with the outgoing overseer. He will probably be soon called upon to levy a rate, which must be made by a majority of parish officers. On refusal by any party to pay the rate being sworn to by the overseer, a summons will be granted against the defaulter by a magistrate. An appeal may be carried by the rate-payer to the district petty sessions, on the ground of inequality, unfairness, or incorrectness, if at least seven days' notice be given to the collector or overseer under the hand of the party appellant ; or to the quarter sessions, on the ground that the property is not rateable. It is then the duty of the overseer to appear before the justices to support the validity of the rate. He must collect all arrears that he is able from the fathers of bastard children under the old law, and keep the weekly payments from them currently paid up. In cases of re• fusel to pay, or other difficulties, he should apply to the Board of Guardians for advice before taking the proceedings justified by law. He is only to give relief to the poor
".in any case of sudden or urgent neces sity ;" and, as soon as he is able, is to re port to the relieving-officer his having given such relief. The relief may not be given in money, but only in articles of ab solute necessity. The orders of the Poor Law Commissioners further set forth, that " If any overseer shall receive an order directing relief to be given to any person (duly certified, under the hand and seal of one of the signing justices, to be of his own knowledge wholly unable to work), without requiring that such person shall reside in any workhouse, he shall forth with transmit the same to the relieving officer of his township or place, to be laid before the Board of Guardians at their next meeting." At the end of each quarter the overseer will receive a notice from the auditor of the union or district auditor to attend him, that his accounts may be examined and audited, and the overseer's duties as to this are pointed out n the 33rd section of the 7 & 8 Vic. cap. 101. At these times he should take with him all his parish books, letters, and papers, to any of which reference may possibly be made. He is to manage and collect the rents of parish property ; I and at the end of the Michaelmas quarter he should make out a " terrier of the lands and tenements, and an inventory of stock, moneys, goods, and effects belong ing to such parish or place, or given or applicable in aid of the poor-rates thereof." The accounts of overseers must be sub mitted to two magistrates for their exami nation within fourteen days after the 25th of March, in cases where district audi tors are not appointed, but where that has been done the power of justices to audit is taken away by 7 & 8 Vic. cap. 101, sec. 37. The proceedings for the election of a guardian or guardians in their district are now conducted by the clerk to the guardians, and he must attend the clerk and render assistance. (See the 15th sec •of 7 & 8 Vic. cap. 101.) By the 7 & S Vic. cap. 101, sec. 7, the overseer is not to interfere as to applica tions in bastardy, except in cases of the death or incapacity of the mother.