Sec. 7. Whenever any complaint is filed in any court for the reinstatement of any record, bond, execution, order of sale or other writ, or the returns thereon, or any other paper or part thereof, as above provided, the court may, on its own motion, or upon application of either party, refer to a master commissioner for examination and hearing all the evidence, written and oral, in such case; and such master commissioner shall hear such evidence as in other cases, and shall make a full and complete report thereof to the court, and shall also report to the court, in form, such record, bond, execution, order of sale or other writ, or the returns thereon, or any other paper or part thereof sought to be reinstated, and the court, if it finds the forms so reported to be substantially correct, as shown by the evidence reported, shall order the same reinstated accordingly; and when so entered of record by the court, it shall have the same force and effect as the original would have had if the same had not been lost or destroyed; or such court may, from the report of such master commissioner, find, determine and say what such original or part thereof was before its loss or destruction, and shall order the same reinstated; and when so reinstated, it shall have the same force and effect as the original would have had if the same had not been lost or destroyed. Which report of master commissioner, and the finding and judgment of the court thereon, shall be governed by the same practice as in other civil cases. Before such master commissioner shall proceed to hear and examine the evidence in any case referred to him, he shall give the parties thereto reasonable notice of the time and place of hearing the same. Said master commissioner shall have power to issue writs of subpoena, which writs and other notices shall be served by the sheriff, administer oaths, require the production of all writings, records, or parts of records, papers, memoranda or exhibits in any case referred to him; and he shall report to the court, for punishment for contempt, any person for failure to appear before him, on due and sufficient notice, to give testimony or to furnish any writing, record or part of record, paper, memorandum or exhibit that may be required in evidence in any case so referred. Such master commissioner shall be allowed by the court for his services, reasonable compensation, to be taxed and paid as the court may direct.

Formerly: Acts 1881, c.30, s.7.