RECENT LEGISLATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3970, 15 November 1875, Page 3

RECENT LEGISLATION.

A very useful precis of the Bills passed into law last session, is published by the 1 Lyttelton Times,’ and from it we make the fol owing extracts : The Act to regulate the plans of towns comes into force on Jan. 1, 1876, after which time no towns are to be laid off in any Waste Lands (i e , lands of the Crown) wish streets leas than 99ft in breadth. Every such town is also to have reserves for recreation grounds not less in area than one-tenth of the whole area of the town, and in no case less in area than 12| square chains. No cemetery is to be allowed within the town, but there must always be a reserve of one acre in every town as an endowment for the municipality, and also reserves for gravel pits and quarries {if possible), and for rubbish deposits, the last to be on the si ie of the town opposite the quarter from which tho prevailing wind blows. All plans are to be first approved by tbe Governor, and streets are to be as nearly as possible in straight lines and at right angles to each other. (Note —The reserves for rubbish deposits may be outside or inside the towns, a curious provision in an Act regulating the plans of towns.) An Act to Amend the Public Health Act, 1871 By section 19 of the Public Health Act, 1872, the Governor in Council is empowered to make orders putting in force sections 20 to 45 of the Act, which relate to the removal of nuisancies, privies, pigstyes, ho., and the powers of the Local Boar.is of Health ; in IS ew Zealand such oder to continue in force for six months, or such less time as shall be expressed in the order. The amending Act provides that the order is to remain in force for the time therein mention'd, or in ease no time is mentioned, then until revocation. An Act to amend tbe Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act, 1874. By this tho .Registrar or Deputy-Registrar of the Coart may order the arrest of a defendant about to leave New Zealand in the same manner as a Judge might under the Act of 1874, An Act to amend the Bills of Sale Act, 1867. Hereafoer a bill of sale must be registered every five years by filing affidavit with the Registrar, stating date of bill of sale, the names of parties, and that the security is atili in force. Unless this is done the bill of sale will be utterly void, if any period of five years expires before April 1, 1870, the deed is to remain in force, as if properly renewed. An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Registration of Births and Deaths in Xew Zealand. After providing for tbe re-ciiviaion of the Colony into districts, and the appointment of a RegistrarGeneral and Registrar under him, the Act provides that parents, or in case of their inability, the cccupl r of any house in which a birth occurs, must give information of such birth to the Registrar within sixty-two days. A birth may also be registered after the sixty-two days, and before the expiration of six months, if the person registering make a solemn declaration of the truth of the parti culars of birth furnished by him. In the case of children born out of the Colony, and who arrived in the Colony when under eighteen months old, registration may be effected within six mouths from the arrival, the person having charge of the child making a similar declaration to that before mentioned. In no case may a birth be registe'ed after toe six months. There are other provisions for the registration of birth of children ouml exposed and for the registration of name" within twelve mouths after registration of birth. Every death must be notified ■ o tbe Registrar by the occupier of tbe house in which it occurs, or by the person present at such death. The person giving such information wi.l then receive from the Registrar a ciTtilicat- that such death has been duly registered, which certificate is to be handed to the person officiating at the burial. In case there is no certificate, th- person burying must give notice of burial to the Registrar. There are various other provisions defining tbe powers and duties of Registrars, the penalties for neglect in complying with the various requirements of the Act, do.