Any party to any cause pending in any court of this state, or to any proceeding in this state, may give, to any opposite party or his attorney at least 10 days before the time appointed for the trial or hearing of such cause or proceeding, notice in writing that such opposite party will be required to produce, at such trial or hearing, the original instead of the record or transcript of the record of any instrument or of any copy of any instrument recorded or registered in any public office of this state pursuant to law, which he may think proper to offer or introduce in evidence at such trial or hearing. After the giving of such notice, no record or transcript of the record of any such instrument or of any such copy of any instrument shall be received in evidence, until proof shall be made, satisfactory to the court or officer before whom such record or transcript is offered, that the original instrument has been lost or unintentionally destroyed, or that after diligent search and inquiry made, such party has been unable to find the original or that such original is without the control of such party and that the production thereof cannot be compelled by due process.

L.1951 (1st SS), c.344