INNKEEPER'S LIABILITY ACT.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 180, 9 March 1867, Page 3

INNKEEPER'S LIABILITY ACT.

An Act to amend the Law respecting j the Liability of Innkeepers, and to prevent certain frauds upon" THEM. ! -■•" . . '. Whereas it is expedient to amend the law .concerning the liability of innkeepers iii respect of the goods of their guests in manner hereinafter mentioned. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the 'authority of the same as follows :— ■ ; I. The short title of this Act shall be '* The Innkeepers' Liability Act; 1866." 11. N/oinkeeper shall after the passing of this Act be liable to make good to any guest of such innkeeper any loss of or injury to goods or property brought to his inn not being a horse or other live animal or any gear appertaining thereto or any carnage to a greater amount than the sum of thirty pounds/ except in the following cases— That is to say : — ; (1) Where such goods or property shall have been stolen, lost or injured through the wilful act, default or neglect of such innkeeper or any servant in his employ. (2) Where such goods or property shall have been deposited expressly for safe custody with such innkeeper. Provided always that in the case of such deposit it shall be lawful for such innkeeper if he think fit to require as a coiidition of his liability that such goods or property shall be deposited. hi a box or other receptacle fastened and sealed by tlu person clepositingthe same. 111. If any inkeeper shall refuse to receive for safe custody as before mentioned any goods or property of his guest, or if any such guest shall through any default of such innkeeper be unable to deposit such goods or property jis aforesaid such innkeeper, shall not be ' entitled to the benefit of tliis Act in respect of such goods or property. '■fV ."^very innkeeper shall cause at least one copy, of the second section of this Act printed in plain type to be exhibited in a conspicuous part of the hall or entrance to and in each bedroom in his inn and he shall be entitled to the benefit of this Act in respect of such goods or property only as shall be brought to his irin while such copy shall be so exhibited. V.-" The words and expressions hereinafter contained which in their ordinary signification have a more confined or a different meaning shall in tliis Act except where the; nature of the provision or the context of the Act shall exclude such construction be interpreted as follows :— That is to say that the word inn shall mean any liotelj inn, tavern, public house or place of refreshment, the keeper of which is now by law responsible for the goods and property of his " gnests," and the word "innkeeper" shall mean the keeper of any such place.