NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1555, 26 September 1912, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

imprest bill. APPROPRIATIONS TOT AT, .CSU.SOO. The Imprest Bill, which was the subject of discussion in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, makes appropriations totalling <£8U,860.. Following are details:— FIRST SCHEDULE. £ The Consolidated Fund 550,000 The Public Works Fund 200,000 Opening up Crown Lands for Settlement Account C 000 The National Endowment Account 2,000 Tlio Land for Settlements Account 2,(.00 Tho State Forests Account 2,500 The State Coal-mines Account 25,080 The Scenery Preservation Account 2,500 The Wellington-Hutt Railway and Road 'Improvement Account... 500 The Railways Improvement Account :... 3,400 The Native Land Settlement Account 100 The Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Account 5,000 .£790,000 SECOND SCHEDULE. £ The Government Insurance Account 7,000 The Government Accident Insurance Account 1.0.10 The State Fire Insurance Account 1,500 Tho Public Trust Office Account 4,0C0 The New Zealand State-guaranteed ' Advauces AccountAdvances to Settlers Branch Account 2,030 Advances to Workers Branch Account 200 Advances to 'Local Authorities Branch 100 -£15,500 COUNTY LAW. COUNCIL CHAIRJIEN TO BE J.P.'S. Various amendments in tho Counties Act are proposed by a Bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. A 'novel provision is that the "chairman of a county council, while he remains in tile position, shall be a Justice of the Peace if he is not-the holder of'a publican's or an accommodation license. A special Act is necessary to alter the boundaries of counties, but this is now to bo done by the Governor by proclamation, under protective previsions similar to those in tho principal Act. The rate to be levied for drainage works may, under the. present law, be as high as six farthings in the pound on the capital value, and it is now to make the maximuin one penny in the pound. The provisions regarding rating on a graduated scale arc to lie repealed, and more explicit clauses substituted. DEPUTY-PUBLIC TRUSTEES. Legislation providing for. the appointment of not more than four local DeputyPublic Trustees was introduced by the Hon. Jlr. Herdman yesterday afternoon. These deputies are to be stationed in Auckland. City, Christchurch, Dunedin, and some town in Wellington Province, and while subject to the direction and control of ths tPjiblic Trustee will exercise the same powers as the Public Trustee in discharging those duties delegated to them. To avoid the necessity for maintaining funds to meet immediate needs the Trustee is to be given power to obtain advances from tho State Guaranteed Advances Office or tho Trustee's Bank by hypothecating ..securities held by him. There are new- previsions regarding the administration of estates by the Public Trustee. .