630 Official Circulars and Notices. [nov., 



now be let in holdings up to five acres each, or, if the land is inconveniently situated, it 

 may be sold and the proceeds devoted to the acquisition of more suitable land else- 

 where. By these means it should be possible to turn such land to greater advantage 

 than has been possible hitherto. 



If a Parish Council or the Council of an Urban District (not being a borough) fail 

 to fulfil their obligations it becomes the duty of the County Council to intervene. 

 The County Council can then provide allotments up to one acre at the expense of the 

 defaulting authority, and can deal with applications for over one acre of land under 

 the Small Holdings Acts. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries is the central authority under the Allot- 

 ments Acts except as regards questions of finance which are under the jurisdiction of 

 the Local Government Board. 



The following Memorandum on the Railway Fires Act has 

 been issued as Leaflet No. 212 : — 



The Board consider it desirable to draw the attention 



Railway Fires Act, 0 t farmers and others to the provisions of the Railway 

 1905. Fires Act, 1905, which deals with damage by fires 



caused by sparks or cinders from railway engines. 



The Act, which came into operation on 1st January, 1908, provides that when 

 damage is caused to agricultural land or to agricultural crops by fire arising from 

 sparks or cinders emitted from any locomotive engine used on a railway, the fact that 

 the engine was used under statutory powers shall not affect liability in an action for 

 such damage ; but this provision does not apply in the case of any action unless the 

 claim for damage is £100 or less. 



The expression " agricultural land " includes arable and meadow land and ground 

 used for pastoral purposes or for market or nursery gardens, and plantations, woods 

 and orchards, and also includes any fences on such land, but does not include any 

 moorland or buildings ; and the expression "agricultural crops" includes any crops 

 on agricultural land, whether growing or severed, which are not led or stacked. 



Section 2 provides that a railway company may enter on any land and do all 

 things reasonably necessary for the purpose of extinguishing or arresting the spread 

 of any fire caused by sparks or cinders emitted from any locomotive engine. 



It also provides that a railway company may, for the, purpose of preventing or 

 diminishing the risk of fire in a plantation, wood or orchard, enter upon any part of 

 the plantation, wood or orchard, or on any land adjoining thereto, and cut down 

 and clear away any undergrowth, and take any other precautions reasonably necessary 

 for the purpose ; but they must not, without the consent of the owner, cut down or 

 injure any trees, bushes or shrubs. 



A railway company exercising powers under this section must pay full compensation 

 to any person injuriously affected by the exercise of those powers, including compensa- 

 tion in respect of loss of amenity. 



The Act does not apply in the case of any action for damage by fire brought 

 against any railway company unless notice of claim and particulars of damage, in 

 writing, shall have been sent to the railway company within seven days of the occur- 

 rence of the damage as regards the notice of claim, and within fourteen days as 

 regards the particulars of damage. 



Light railways and tramways worked by steam power are within the scope of the 

 Act. 



