The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Commissioners Powers Act 1867 Amendment Act, 1872.”

No person summoned as a witness under the provisions of “The Commissioners Powers Act, 1867,” shall be liable to the penalty provided by the third section of the said Act, unless at the same time as the service of such summons there shall have been made to such person a payment or a tender of his travelling expenses, according to the scale alowed by the rules of the Supreme Court in civil cases to witnesses.

No person so summoned as aforesaid shall be bound, in obedience to such summons, to go or to travel from his or her usual place of abode a distance of more than two hundred miles, by the usual way, from the place where the Commissioners sit, and at which he is summoned to appear.

No travelling or maintenance expenses of any witness so summoned shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund unless the Commissioners have obtained the authority in writing of the Colonial Secretary for summoning such witness.

If any witness so summoned shall attend before the Commissioners, and no authority in writing as aforesaid shall have been given, such witness shall be entitled to be paid his expenses for travelling and maintenance according to the scale aforesaid from any moneys which shall be deposited with the Commissioners for the purpose by any person requiring the evidence of such witness, which deposit, to an adequate amount, the Commissioners shall require to be made before the summons is issued.

The Commissioner or Commissioners, upon the hearing of any inquiry, may order that the whole or any portion of the cost of any inquiry shall be paid by any of the parties to such inquiry.