ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION BILL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 638, 25 August 1882, Page 2

ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION BILL.

The Roads and Bridges construction Bill is just out. Part one states how the funds provided for main roads, viz-, £100.000 of the pubiio works fund, are to bo transferred to the main roads account • £100,000 of the land fund, after certain deductions, is to bo tranpferrod to the main roads account. The Treasurer may make progress transfers to the main roads account based on his estimate of the land fund. If the surplus land fund does not reach the amount transferred under the last section the deficiency t ■ be charged on next year's grant. County Councils are to have like powers to open main roads as over the comity roads. When the Council desires aid, estimates and plans are to be prepared, and the estimates, &c. are to be submitted to the Minister. A poll of the ratepayers is to be taken, aid "il th* result be favourable a Special rate is to be levied after the poll. If the proposal bo carried, the Minister is to certify to the Treasurer that the amount of the grant should be paid over. The Council is to deliver debentures for one fourth of the advance, and upon the delivery of the debentures the Treasurer is to pay over the money, subject to the condition that the Council may take up the debentures before they are due. If tha whole amount be not required, the debentures may be reduced by tho Controller or AuditorGeneral. If the Council will find onefourth the Treasurer may pay over threefourths without poll, &c. If the Council will find a portion of one-fourth, the amount of the debentures are to be proportionately reduced. Part 11 shows how the funds provided for district roads and river works—£l3o 000 of the Public Works fund—ire to be transferred to district roads and rivers works account. The Treasurer may be empowered by the Governor in Council to borrow £100.000 for district roads, &<:., from the Postmaster-General or the Government Insurance Commissioner, or any Board now or hereafter established in their place, or from the Public Trustee or the Commissioner of tho Pui.lic Debts Sinking Fund, out of any funds under their control. The Treasurer to give debentures for the sums borrowed. The Treasurer may pay the princip tl and interest on the debentures ; if the funds are insufficient payments may be made out of the consolidated fund. The Treasurer mi»y repay the debentures at any time. Waen any local body wishes to obtain an advance for or towards tbe constructions of any district roads or river works within its jurisdiction, it shall make an application. All the provisions mutatis mutandis apply to such application, with the following exceptions—(l) The whole of this advance shall be repayable. (2) A special rate in each case shall be sufficient to pay fifteen equal yearly instalments, each equal to * 9 per cent, on the whole amount applied for. (3) The debentutes to be given by the local bod} to the Treasurer shall each be for one such instalment. The repairing of extraordinary damage caused by flood, tempest, or accident, to be deemed construction or rebuilding. The repai ing of bridges on a main roa I to be deemed const ruction, if the necessity has ari.-en through fair wear and tear. Applications m <de pr or to the Ist of January, 1885. to be deemed to be made simultaneously on that d„y. In future years apiili ations must be made prior to tiie 30t:i June, and aI! so in id.* W.I I t.e di-eme.l to be in ide siii*u!taneous!v on that day, but all app'jeutions caused by extraordinary damage may be granted at any time. A poll may be taken prior to the sending in of the application ; provided that if the whole amount applied for be not granted, a new poll is "to be t*dceu. Application to be deemed to have lapsed if not carried out within three months. Certificates to be granted pro rata and conditionally. If there is not sufficient funds available, the applications is cases oi extraordinary damage to have priority. Rat-s to be made in special portions of districts. Th-j Minister, if the terms of the Act bo not tfonipiied with, or if the money bo not avuil.U>.«, mtiy refke« a certificate. The refusal on one occasion is not to preclu le h further application. Two or more local bodies may make a joint application A local body may make an application for works outside its district. One application may be made for several woiks. An application may be made for further advance for the same work. Members of a local body to be personally liable for improper dealings with money. The Minisuu* nnd Treasurer to report yearly to the Geuer-d Assembly. There are the usual provisions as to a poll of ratepayers and the making of a special rate. No special rate is capable of being quashed. The Rati**g Act, 1882, to apply. If the local body pay debentures out of ordinary revenue they need not collet a special rate. Twenty per cent of the proceeds of land sold in the preceding year to be applied to making roads next year on unsold land*. The Minister may contract for the construction, or authorise local bodies to contract, and the Treasurer shall pay 20 per cent, on direction of the Minister of Lands.— Press.