The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 132, 11 June 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1870.

The Municipal Corporation Bill has seen the light, but it is a monstrous and untimely birth. Its own parent half disowns it, and names it "cum- " brous," and the City Commissioners walk around it with eyes askance, and seem afraid to touch the huge, misshapen thing.. The mountain in labour cannot b,e, said to have pro* duced a ridiculous mouse, nor yet an elephant, but a leviathan ; and after having ev6ked. the wonder of our local authorities, the prodigy will be in due course transmitted to Wellington, for Parliament to k lick it iito shape," as the bear does * 'her ' cubs; The Bill has,,, been unkindly treated by the Citr^ Board; seemingly there is something' repellent in ita aspect. It has done many things that it ought not to have done, and left undone many things that it ought' to have done, and there is no health in it. Nor is it presumed that one-half of its imperfections have yet caught the eye ; only its prominent vices have been noted with a cursory glance, and under the searching scrutiny proposed, in presence of the legal adviser of the Board, we may fairly anticipate that a strong bill of indictment will be found. It is not our intention at present to deal with. . the defects of the Bill ; that: is best done after the investigation ordered by the Board. *It proposes td' include Parnell, Newton and Dedwopd in a kind of a limited liability partnership which aeems simply Utopian; it does

not deal with publicans' licenses, paving and other rates; in fact it ignores the rather important item of revenue. On every side it seems condemned for its cumbrous character and glaring defects, and in something of a similar shape is it proposed that it should be formed into an Act of Parliament bylegislators in Wellington; >; If ever there was a case inwhicha Bill required to^.be. legislated on the spot affected by it, it is. "tliis.- Are we to suppose that the; slightest interest in its. details or in:its fate will be felt by 'the representatives of Invercargill or 'Wellington, Waikouaiti or Manu-; -herikia ? Nay more, from the feelings which we find manifested occasionally down South, might we not even fear the impress of Southern hostility on an Act affecting the well being of the city of Auckland ? But, irrespective of this, whom could we expect to give so careful consideration to a Bill dealing with the interests of the city as our own Provincial legislators, debating under the eyes of our citizens ? Viewing the matter as we may, we cannot help strongly commending the suggestion of his Honor the Superintendent to the City Board, that instead of forwarding the bill to the colonial legislature, " A short Act should be :< passed in the General Assembly " giving the Provincial Council power "to legislate in the matter." The proposal is characterised by that downright common sense for which Mr. GHllies, in his administration, has been hitherto distinguished. It is true that the Provincial Council might not concede so much to civic dignity as would. the General Assembly ; but, notwithstanding the fear expressed by a commissioner that the " members " from the country," in the Council, would give little consideration to an Auckland City Bill, we think there are few who would not confide our city interests to their hands sooner than to the hands of the " members from the " country," to wit Southland, Otago, &c, in the Parliament of Wellington. Beyond disputing, local knowledge and local wants, aye, local criticism and pressure are required in dealing with an Auckland. City Bill ; and City Commissioners will consult their own dignity, and the well-being of the city, if, instead of trying to lick the cumbrous thing into presentable shape, they stuff it into the civic fireplace, and cheerfully, acquiesce in the very sensible view of his Honor the Superintendent.