A committee of persons organized under authority of law in order to exercise certain authorities, have oversight or control of certain matters, or discharge certain functions of a magisterial, representative, or fiduciary character. Thus, “board of aldermen,” “board of health,” “board of directors,” “board of works.” Also lodging, food, entertainment, furnished to a guest at an Inn or boarding house. Board of aldermen. The governing body of a municipal corporation. Oliver v. Jersey City, 63 N. J. Law, 96, 42 Atl. 782. See Al debmen. Board of audit. A tribunal provided by statute in some states, to adjust and settle the accounts of municipal corporations. Osterhoudt v. Rigney, 98 N. Y. 222. Board of civil authority. In Vermont, in the case of a city this term includes the mayor and aldermen and justices residing therein; in the case of a town, the selectmen and town clerk and the justices residing therein; in the case of a village, the trustees or bailiffs and the justices residing therein. Vt. St. 1894, 19, 59. Board of directors. The governing body of a private corporation, generally selected from among the stockholders and constituting in effect a committee of their number or board of trustees for their interests. Board of equalization. See Equalization. Board of fire underwriters. As these exist in many cities, they are unincorporated voluntary associations composed, exclusively of persons engaged in the business of fire insurance, having for their object consolidation and co operation in matters affecting the business, such as the writing of uniform policies and the maintenance, of uniform rates. Childs v. Insurance Co., 66 Minn. 393, 69 N. W. 141. 35 L. R. A. 99. Board of health. A board or commission created by the sovereign authority or by municipalities, invested with certain powers and charged with certain duties in relation to the preservation and improvement of the public health. General boards of health are usually charged with general and advisory duties, with the collection of vital statistics, the investigation of sanitary conditions, and the methods of dealing with epidemic and other diseases, the quarantine laws, etc. Such are the national board of health, created by act of congress of March 3, 1879, (20 St. at Large, 484,) and the state boards of health created by the legislatures of most of the states. Local boards of health are charged with more direct and immediate means of securing the public health, and exercise inquisitorial and executive powers in relation to sanitary regulations, offensive nuisances, markets, adulteration of food, slaughterhouses, drains and sewers, and similar subjects. Such boards are constituted in most American cities either by general law, by their charters, or by municipal ordinance, and in England by the statutes, 11 & 12 Vict. c. 63, and 21 & 22 Vict, c 98, and other acts amending the same. See Gaines v. Waters, 64 Ark. 609, 44 S. W. 353. Board of pardons. A board created by law in some states, whose function is to investigate all applications for executive clemency and to make reports and recommendations thereon to the governor. Board of supervisors. Under the system obtaining in some of the northern states, this name is given to an organized committee, or body of officials, composed of delegates from the several townships in a county, constituting part of the county government, and having special charge of the revenues of the county. Board of trade. An organization of the principal merchants, manufacturers, tradesmen, etc., of a city, for the purpose of furthering its commercial interests, encouraging the establishment of manufactures, promoting trade, securing or improving shipping facilities, and generally advancing the prosperity of the place as an industrial and commercial community. In England, one of the administrative departments of government, being a committee of the privy council which is appointed for the consideration of matters relating to trade and foreign plantations. Board of works. The name of a board of officers appointed for the better local management of the English metropolis. They have the care and management of all grounds and gardens dedicated to the use of the inhabitants in the metropolis; also the superintendence of the drainage; also the regulation of the street traffic, and, generally, of the buildings of the metropolis. Brown.