THE SHIRES BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 2874, 6 May 1872, Page 3

THE SHIRES BILL.

The Bill to he intituled the “ Shires Ordinance, 1872,” now before the Provincial Council, proposes to deal with certain constitutional changes of considerable importance, and consequently is exciting much interest in various parts of the -Province. We, therefore, place before our readers a brief abstract of its provisions. The title is to be “An Ordinance to provide for the establishment of shires, and for the constitution and regulation of shire councils within the Province of Otago. And the preamble sets forth that “ whereas it is expedient to provide for the better management of local affairs within the rural districts of the Province of Otago, &c. ; but why the “ rural ” districts are specially selected to the exclusion of others, we are at a loss to divine, except that to the minds of the present Executive the local affairs ot the other districts of the Province are sufficiently well managed already. The Bill itself is divided into six parts, and contains 126 clauses.

Part I. is devoted to the “constitution of shires •” Fait 11. deals with “ councils and councillors of shires Part HI. provides for the construction of “ roads and bridges and the like;” Part IV relates to “tolls, letting tolls, and application;” Part V. gives the necessary powers for the establishment of “markets,” &c. And under the heading “ Part VI.” is placed the solitary word “miscellaneous” Reverting to Part 1., it is provided by— . Clause 2, That the Superintendent may, upon the petition of two or more road districts adjoining each other (and having together not less than an area of twenty-five square miles, nor levying general rates of leg than L 2.000) declare such districts a “shire." Each road district, upon its becoming part of the shire, is to be designated a “ riding ” of such shire. 3. Under certain specified conditions and* restrictions, a district or districts not petitioning may also be included and made part of a “shire.” ~ . 4. Places a “borough” (whateve- that may mean) in the same position with respect to the several provisions of the Bill as a read district. . , , 5. That all rates, rights, liabilities, contracts, &c., of the several districts shall continue and be in force for tbe time being, notwithstanding said districts having become parts of a shire. 6. Constitutes the inhabitants of every shire a corporate body. 7. Empowers the Superintendent to add to any riding, or to two or more ridings, any portion of the Province actually adjoining, with certain exceptions. 8. Contains mere formal provisions as to publication of proclamations, &c. PART II. —COUNCILS AND COUNCILLORS, 9. That the chairman of each of the several road boards of which a shire shall be composed, shall be ex officio a member of the shire council, and that two members shall be returned for each of the ridings comprising part of a shhe. 10. That a person to be qualified to servo as a councillor in any shire, must have rateable property within the district of not less than LSO. . . , 11. Enumerates the several incapacities of persons aspiring to be councillors, and commences “ No female,” &c. 12. That no contractor or other person holding any office of profit under the council (except as one of a company of not less than twenty) shall be a member of the Ba T 3 6 ; That one-half of the whole number of councillors of each Council shall retire annually on the third Thursday m June in 14. Reserves to the chairman of each of the Road Beards becoming part of a shire, the right to remain a member of the Council for so long a period as he would have been chairman of the Board, the provision of clause 13 notwithstanding. 15. Enumerates the circumstances, &c., under which the office of councillor may be declared vacant; and gives power to the council itself to fill up such vacancies until the next annual election. 16. Provides that retiring Councillors he capable of being re-elected, either immediately or at any other period, so long as they retain the required qualifications, 17 18, & 19 relate to electors aud elections’ ; the former to embrace all persons whose names are on tho voter s roll of any road district becoming part of auy shire, and the latter to be conducted in manner as provided by sections 98 to 123 of the “Otago Roads Ordinance 1871 and these sections for all election purposes are to be considered as parts of the Bill. . 20 and 21 Empower every Shire Council at its fiist meeting to elect by a majority of votes one of their number to be “ president,” and from time to time to fill up any vacancy that may occur in the office of President. 22, 23, aud 24 Regulate the proceedings of the Councils, and provide that the first meeting of each shall be held on the fourth Tuesday after the first election of Councillors ; also that each Council shall hold an annual meeting on the first Wednesday in the month of September in each year, and ordinary meetings on such day and hour m each week, month, or other stated space of time asthe Council may see fit; and also that sections 126 to 143 of the Otago Hoads Ordinance, 1871 shall apply to all meetings of the Shire Councils, reading the words “District Board” as implying “Shire Council ” for all the purposes of this Bill. [To be continued.)