NEW BILLS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3121, 29 June 1881, Page 3

NEW BILLS.

Fire Prevention and the Tire Brigades

Act, 1881 (Mr Stevens.) This bill is, with the exception of some slight verbal alterations, identical with the bill introduced last session, to provide for the establishment of firo brigades and to make provision for the further and better protection of life and property from loss and damage by fire in the several municipal corporations. The amendations are these : —For the word ' Council' is substituted ' City of Municipal Councils. , In the clause referring to the enrolment of fire police and members of the fire brigade the words ' sball be sworn in before a Justice of the Peace' are omitted ; and in the clause referring to payments by Insurance Companies of onethird of the cost incurred for fire prevention purposes, there are added these words—

1 and provided further that such flro brir"?'l?s. engines, material and appliances shull be provided and kept in a thoroughly efficient and serviceable condition.' The Drainage Act, 1881 (Mr Murray). This bill is similar to that brought in ! during previous sessions by the member for Bruce, to make better provision for the drainage lands by private owners. The Harbors Act, 1878, Amendment Act, 1881 (Hon. Mr Richardson). This bill provides for an amendment in section 234 of the existing Harbors Act, striking out the words, ' At a meeting of the Board by the presiding Chairman ' and inserting instead 'by the chairman.' It also excepts the application of the seventy-fourth section of the Act to any port where a Harbor Board has been, or may be constituted subsequently to the passing of the Act. It also repeals section 169, and provides that when, under section 138, any lease of lands offered by public auction or terider has not been sold, the same, may be sold by private contract, at any price not less than the upset price mentioned at such auction or in calling for tenders. Provision is also made for Harbor Boards contributing to Sailors' Homes and public libraries open to seafaring men of all descriptions, and who shall be permitted access to such libraries free of charge. Sections 8 to 13 of the Lyttelton Harbor Board Act, 1877, are repealed, and a certain building referred to in the eleventh section is vested in the Lyttelton Harbor Board.