Certified copy of document

(1) Whenever, by virtue of any statute for the time being in force, any certificate of any matter or thing whatever, or any certified copy of any official or public document, or of any document or proceeding of any corporation or joint-stock or other company, or of any by-law or entry in any register or other book, or of any other document whatever, is receivable in proof of any matter or thing in any court or otherwise, it is admissible as evidence if it purports to be authenticated in the manner prescribed by law, without proof of any stamp, seal or signature required for its authentication or of the official character of the person who appears to have signed it. (2) Whenever any book or other document is of so public a nature as to be admissible in evidence on its mere production from the proper custody, and no statute exists which renders its contents provable by means of a copy, any copy thereof or extract therefrom is admissible in proof of its contents, provided the copy or extract purports to be signed and certified as a true copy or extract by the officer to whose custody the original is entrusted. (3) That officer shall furnish the certified copy or extract to any person applying at a reasonable time for it, on payment of a reasonable sum for it, not exceeding twelve cents for every folio.