the mode of appointing the said trustees established by the said charter, by electing them at the annual town-meeting, without being particularly summoned by a constable under the order of the existing trustees, and that it had become doubtful, whether or not by so doing, the existence of the corporation had not become questionable, and the important rights, interests and estates by the said corporation held and enjoyed, affected and jeopardized; the petitioners therefore prayed, that the legislature would pass a law to amend the said charter in relation to the election of the said trustees and re-establish all the rights, interests and estates, now actually held and enjoyed under the said charter, and would also confirm the last election by the freeholders of the said trustees for the current year. And whereas it appears to the legislature that the contents of the said petition are true, and that the particular circumstances and inconveniences under which the said corporation labors, furnish a case highly proper and fit for the legislative amendment and interference; Therefore,

Sec. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the council and general assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, Freehodiit shall and may be lawful for the freeholders, ers when inhabitants of the township of Bergen, on and where every first Monday in May, hereafter, at the hour of ten o'clock in the forenoon, to meet and assemble at the same place where the annual town-meeting for the said township is held, and then and there by a plurality of the

to meet.

trustees.

votes of the said freeholders, then met and as To elect sembled, to elect and choose out of the whole body of the said freeholders seven persons as trustees of the freeholders inhabitants of the township of Bergen; which said seven persons when so elected and chosen, shall be and continue in office, for the term of one year next after such election, and for and during said term of one year, shall be invested with and shall hold and enjoy all the rights, privileges Powers. powers and authorities whatsoever, which by the before mentioned charter of incorporation, and the act confirming the same, were granted and invested in the seven persons therein named, and their successors, duly appointed conformably to the said charter, any thing in the said charter or in the act confirming the same, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

2. And be it enacted, That in case any one Vacancies. or more of the offices of the said seven trustees shall become vacant by death, resignation or otherwise, it shall and may be lawful for the remaining trustees, or a majority of them, to order and direct the person officiating as clerk to their board, to put up written notices in three of the most public places in the township at least ten days before the day of meeting, advertising to the freeholders of the said township the time and place of their assembling, for the purpose of choosing fit persons to fill up such office or offices which have become vacant as aforesaid; and any person or persons so elected to such vacant office or offices, shall be and remain a trustee or trustees, and shall have all the power incident to the office of a trustee till the next general election of trustees shall take place.

3. And be it enacted, That the said charter of

continued:

incorporation, with all the powers, authorities, Charter privileges, rights, interests and immunities how far therein contained, except as herein before altered, amended and provided for, and excepting also so much of said charter as may be repugnant to the constitution of this state and of the United States, shall be and remain firm, valid, confirmed and effectual to all intents and purposes whatsoever.

Present

4. And be it enacted, That John Van Hou- trustees. ten, Garret I. Van Rypen, Peter Sip, Jacob Van Wagener, Jerry Van Winkle, John Van Horn, and Casparus Prior, the persons appointed and chosen trustees of the freeholders inhabitants of the township of Bergen, by a vote of the said freeholders, and now acting as such trustees, shall be and remain trustees of the said freeholders, inhabitants of the township of Bergen, with the same powers and authorities as if they and each of them had been appointed to the office of trustee aforesaid after the manner and form prescribed by the aforesaid charter of incorporation; and they the said above named persons shall remain and continue trustees aforesaid till the next general election ordained and established in and by this act.

1

Property

vested in

5. And be it enacted, That all deeds, mortgages, bonds, bills, notes of hand, securities, the trusengagements and contracts, of every nature tees. and kind, and all interests, property and estates, real and personal, of every nature and kind, given, granted to, had, held, possessed or enjoyed, by the said incorporation, shall be vested in, continue and remain to the said incorporation, in the same manner and form, in all respects and to all intents and purposes, the same as if the aforesaid trustees and their pre

Y

Preamble.

decessors in office, had from time to time been duly elected and appointed to office, according to the mode and plan prescribed by the aforesaid charter; and all grants, conveyances, mortgages, bonds, notes, contracts, and engage. ments of every nature and kind, given, made, done and entered into, by the persons acting as trustees of the freeholders, inhabitants of the township of Bergen, under an election of the said freeholders, shall be as firm, valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes, against the trustees hereby ordained and established, and their successors, as if the same trustees, so elected by the said freeholders, had been duly appointed according to the manner and form prescribed in and by the charter aforesaid..

AN ACT for the publication of law reports.

Passed March 12, 1806.

WHEREAS the publication of the reports of adjudicated cases in the supreme court of judicature of this state, especially those that relate to causes removed from the courts for the trial of small causes into the said supreme court is highly necessary for the information of the citizens of this state, as also for the justices of the said courts for the trial of small causes, the suitors and officers thereof; Therefore,

Sec. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the council and general assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, Reporter That from and after the passing of this act, pointed. there shall be appointed by the joint-meeting of the council and general assembly of this state, and commissioned by the governor of

to be

ар

the same, annually, a fit and proper person, skilled in the laws of this state, to collect and compile in regular order, all such cases as His duties. shall be adjudicated in the said supreme court, with the opinion of the justices of the said court thereon as shall arise on causes removed from the several courts for the trial of small causes in the several counties in this state, by certiorari, as he shall think will tend to promulgate useful information to the citizens of this state; and also to collect and compile as aforesaid the cases on all other important and intricate subjects, with the opinions of the justices of the said court thereon; and to furnish the printer of the state-laws, with such cases and opinions regularly digested with a proper index to the same, yearly; and it shall be the duty of the said printer, to print the be printed. same with the said laws, at the end thereof, that they may be distributed in the same manner as the said laws are distributed, for which the said printer shall be compensated at the same rate, and in the same manner as for printing the laws of this state.

Reports to

court to

2. And be it enacted, That it shall be the Justices of duty of the justices of the said supreme court, the su from time to time, to furnish the person so as preme aforesaid appointed, with the reasons in writ- furnish ing for the reversal or affirmance of all judg- nish their ments brought into the said supreme court by and opinjudgments certiorari directed to any justice of any court ions. for the trial of small causes, and also their opinions in writing on all important and intricate cases determined by them in the said

court.

sation of

3. And be it enacted, That the person so Compen. appointed shall receive as compensation for such service, the sum of one hundred dollars,

reporter.