The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1882.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 674, 29 December 1882, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1882.

'THE ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT."

The que tion of the forming of the Summit road ha?, raised a, great question of interest in the County Council regarding " The Roads and Bridges Construction Act." The measure is intended to supersede direct grants to Connties by giving them the power to apply for three-fourths of the sum required for any necessary work. In other words, it means that for nny work of urgent public importance Grovernment aiv prepared to pay at once, upon proper representations, no less an amount than ninepence out of every shilling down, and to allow the remaining threepence to be paid in ten years, in ten equal instalments, without merest. The- object of the Act is, undoubtedly, to prevent useless works being undertaken, the fact of the ratepayers having to guarantee a fourth being considered proof sufficient of the utility of the work to the district.

The Summit road, as remarked by Mr Baker, is one that the visitors to the Peninsula will be constantly using ; the magnificent views on both sides of the range, and the novel nature of the scenery, are of sufficient merit to ensure the popularitj of t'/ie road. But there is another question more important to consider, and that is, its utility for transport. The Bays on the side of the range fronting the ocean will largely benefit by the roai being constructed ; and, as a gentleman put it the other day, " What would a private firm say regarding a road they needed, if friends were to oft'er to pay three quarters at once, and allow the rest to bp paid in ten years, in equal instalments, without interest ?"

The Act is by no means a long one, only consisting of 63 clauses. The first two are simply interpretation, but the 3rd, 4th, sth, and 6th are of much greater weight, as they provide for the yearly payment of £100,000 to tho main road" account, after deducting the following ; —

" (1.) All sums appropriated and paid from time to time for the expenses of tho surveys and the adminstration of the Crown lands. (2.) All sums paid for rates on Crown lands under any Act now or hereafter to be passed imposing rates on Crown lands. (3) Any such deficiency as is referred to in the sixth section hereof. (4.) Tho one-third of the price of any block of land disposed of under Part 111. of " The Land Act, 1877," which ih handed over to the Couuty Councils or Boards under section fifty-nine of the lasi-inentionod Act. (5.) Twenvy pounds per centum of the proceeds of the sale of Crown lands sold for cash which is appropriated for the making of roads to open up unsold Crown lands under sections sixty-two and sixfy-three hereof. (G.) All other charges which by any Act heretofore passed and now in force aro charged upon the Land Fund." If the surplus land fund is not sufficient, a charge may be made on next year's grant. The next section is one of the most important parts of the Act, as it deals with the grants in aid of main roads. The section includes clauses 7 to 20. Clause 8 provides that County Councils shall have like powers over main roads as over county roads. We quote clauses 9, 10, 11, and 12 in extenso : —

"9. When a Council desires aid under this Act for the construction of a main road,or any portion thereof, it shall cause proDer estimates of the cost of the work to be prepared, together with plans and specifications where necessary, in such manner as the Minister may direct." *' 10. The Council shall submit such estimates, plans, and specifications (if any) to the Minister, and may make application to the Minister for a grant, out of the Main Roads Account, of the total cost of construction, of which one fourth shall be repayable by it as hereafter appears." "11. The Minister shall consider the application, and, if. made in accordance with this Act, and if tho Minister has satisfied hiinsell that the estimates of cost of construction so submitted to him as aforesaid are reasonable, he shall inform the Council that the application will be granted either for tho whole sum applied for or for such portion thereof as may be granted in accordance with the provisions of this Act, subject to the proposal being carried at the poll as hereinafter provided." •• 12. The Council shall then give the notices, and take a poll of the ratepayers in the county aB hereinafter provided, and, if the proposal be carried in accordance with this Act, the Couticil shall proceed to make and levy a special rare, to be made as provided by this Act, which elnll be sufficient to repay one-fourth of the amount granted as aforesaid within ten years, by ten equal yearly payments without interest, payable on the first of May in each year."

Space combels us to omit our conclusion of the review of this Act till a future issue, but we hope enough has already been said to prove that the present opportunity of making the Summit road should not be allowed to slip. It is a work of great general benefit, and supposing it costs the outside estimate of £6000, that would oniy leave £1500 to be paid in tho County, or ten yearly instalments of £150. There must be at least three hundred householders to whom the road would b3 an immense benefit. Suppose, then, that the whole burden fell on these alone, what woulu the tax mean ? Why, ten shillings a year, or the cost of keeping one dog each !

That the ratep iyors will lose no chance in aiding the County Council in procuring the three-fourths of the money for this important work from the Government is our sincere hope, and we think residents affected will be blind indeed to their own interests if they do not do so. The poll should only be taken within the area actually benefited, so that there

?honld be no chance of defeat, and ,jt is in tho definition of the boundary, •flu' that a success nvy be assured, that tho wisdom of the Council will be shown.