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Statutes of Northern Ireland


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_act/ta1868104.txt

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TELEGRAPH ACT 1868

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - LONG TITLE

An Act to enable Her Majesty's Postmaster General to acquire, work,
and maintain Electric Telegraphs{1}.
[31st July 1868]
Preamble rep. by SLR 1893 (No.2)

Short title.

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 1

1. This Act may be cited as "The Telegraph Act, 1868."

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 2
Provisions of 1863 c.112 incorporated.

2. The Telegraph Act, 1863, shall be incorporated with this Act,
except so far as the same, or any part thereof, may be expressly
varied, altered, or be inconsistent with this Act;....

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 3
Interpretation of terms.

3. Terms to which meanings are assigned by the Telegraph Act, 1863,
have in this Act the same respective meanings; and the word "land"
in such last-mentioned Act shall, in addition to the meaning thereby
assigned to it, include any term, estate, easement, interest, right,
or privilege, in, over, or affecting land, and shall include the
works, tubes, wires, posts, and other property purchased or acquired
by the [Post Office].

In this Act:

The term "the undertaking" shall mean the whole or any part of the
electric and other telegraphs, wires, posts, pipes, tubes, and other
works, instruments, materials, lands, tenements, hereditaments,and
buildings, parliamentary, prescriptive, and other rights, powers,
privileges, patents, and all other property whatsoever of any
company, corporation, or persons engaged in the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland in transmitting messages for money or
other consideration by means of electric or other telegraphs:

Definition rep. by 1969 c.48 s.137 sch.8 Pt.I

S.4 rep. by SLR 1960

S.5 rep. by SLR 1893 (No.2); SLR 1960

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 6
Acts, &c. of companies selling their undertakings to remain in
force, and the powers thereof to be exercised by or against the
Post Office.

6. All Acts, charters, and grants, and all valid deeds and
agreements made to, from, by, or with any company whose undertaking
shall be sold and conveyed to the [Post Office] under the powers
of this Act, shall (except as far as they are by this Act
expressed to be varied or repealed, or are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act,) remain in full force, and all matters to
be done, continued, or completed, or which, but for the passing of
this Act, would, might, or could be done, continued, or completed
by or against the company so selling their undertaking, their
officers or servants, shall or may (as the case requires) be done,
continued, or completed by or against the [Post Office], [its]
officers and servants, and those Acts, charters, grants, deeds, and
agreements shall be construed as if the [Post Office] has been
named therein instead of the company so selling their undertaking:
and it shall be lawful for any person to enforce any such Act,
charter, grant, deed, or agreement by action, suit, or other legal
proceeding against the [Post Office]....

S.7 rep. by SLR 1960. S.8 rep. by SLR 1893 (No.2); SLR 1953. S.10
rep. by SLR 1893 (No.2)

Agreements in schedule confirmed.

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 13

13. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the several agreements
referred to in the schedule to this Act are hereby confirmed.

S.14 rep. by SLR 1960. S.15 rep. by 1885 c.58 s.2. S.16 rep. by
1954 c.28 s.2 sch. Ss.17, 18 rep. by 1951 c.52 s.3. S.19 rep. by
1969 c.48 s.137 sch.8 Pt.I

TELEGRAPH ACT 1868 - SECT 20
Punishment of officials for disclosing or intercepting messages.

20. Any person having official duties connected with the Post
Office, or acting on behalf of the [Post Office], who shall,
contrary to his duty, disclose or in any way make known or
intercept the contents or any part of the contents of any
telegraphic messages or any message intrusted to the [Post Office]
for the purpose of transmission, shall in... Ireland be guilty of a
misdemeanor,... and shall upon conviction be subject to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding twelve calendar months;....

Ss.2123 rep. by 1969 c.48 ss.137, 141 sch.8 Pt.I, sch.11 Pt.II.
S.24 rep. by SLR 1875The Schedule sets out the names of the other
party to each of 13 Agreements entered into by HM Postmaster
General in July 1868


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_act/ta1868104.txt