The Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4231, 18 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1876.

By the change of Ministry the Counties* Bill has been placed in a somewhat different position to that which it formerly occupied. The late Government, in compliance with the evident wish of the House, had agreed to make the Bill permissive in its operation; in other words, it was not to come into force except in those parts of the country which desired to avail themselves of its provisions. It was also understood that it would be left to the members from the different Provinces, if they were able to agree upon the subject, to decide upon the numbor and boundaries of the counties that might be constituted within each Province. Major Atkinson, on the contrary, has announced that his Ministry will take upon itself the task of defining the boundaiies of the various Counties, while the permissive principle will only be introduced into the Bill to this extent: the ratepayers of each County will be required, not ns volen*, to elect a Council; and it will be the first duty of that body to determine whether or not it will undertake the ordinary functions of a County Council, or whether it will leave the Road Boards to do their work undisturbed, in which case the Council would continue to exist merely for the purpose of distributing amongst the various Koad Boards the funds accruing to it from the Government subsidy, from fees and fines, tolls, and any surplus that might be left out of the Land Fund after the various charges imposed upon that fund by the Abolition of Provinces Act had been defrayed. A Council in full working order would possessother sources of income than are here indicated. Its revenues are thus enumerated in the Bill: county rates; tolls levied on county roads; grants from the General Assembly ; license fees ; the residue of _ the land revenue available for distribution among counties; rents and profits from property vested in the body corporate; fines and penalties imposed for breaches of bye-laws, &c.; loans ; voluntary subscriptions and donations ; and all other moneys whatsoever which may become the property of the body corporate. The Government subsidy will be given in a rather peculiar manner. For the purpose of computing its amount, the County and Road iSoard rates will be taken together, and £2 will be given for every £1 raised by way ©f rates, up to one shilling in the pound. That is to say, supposing the Road Boards levied a shilling rate, and the County Council also levied a shilling rate, the subsidy would not be paid upon both of these rates, but only upon one-half of their joint proceeds. It would not be necessary, in order to get the subsidy, that the County Council should impose a rate at all; as long as rates were levied within the County either by the Road Boards or by the Council, or by both together, the subsidy would be payable. The utility of amalgamating the County and Eoad Board rates for the purpose of computation is that it prevents the imposition of unnecessary taxes ; because if the payment of the subsidy depended wholly or partially upon the levying of a County rate, it would have to be imposed, even if the funds of the County were sufficient without it. The subsidy of L2 to LI having been paid over to the County Council, the Road Boards will become entitled to receive one-half of it, while the other half will remain at the disposal of the Council for general purposes. The ordinary rates leviable by the Council are fixed at the moderate figure of one shilling in the pound ; and separate rates, to an equivalent amount, may be levied upon particular districts for the construction of special works, provided one-third of the ratepayers and voters in any district to be so rated shall petition the Council on that behalf. The Council is also empowered to levy special rates for paying the fntereitand sinking fund upon loans raised by the Council. A rate of this kind will be an annually recurring rate, imposed once for all, the amount being limited only by tbe extent of the loan charges and measured by them.

The loan clauses form a prominent feature of the Bill, and provide for a generous expenditure of borrowed morfey within the County. Looking at the development of the borrowing propensity amongst the local bodies of the Colony, it might be wise to curtail the powers p oposed to be conferred upon lite County Councils in this direction, bee'uig, moicever, that there is nothing in the Bill to prevent the General Assembly assisting the Councils as much as it pleases, whenever exceptionally heavy works are undertaken by those bodies. The ordinary loans are limited to three times the amount'of the year's receipts of the County Fund, exclusive of grants from the General Government, moneys borrowed, and the receipts from separate or special rates. In other words a Council may borrow, of its own motion, to the extent of three times its ordinary income, the Government subsidy being reckoned, for this purpose, as extraordinary revenue. It may, however, borrow as much more as it pleases for special works, with the consent of the ratepayers. Suitable machinery is provided to enable the Council to get this consent. It must, in the first place, publish a notice setting forth th« particular work proposed to bo undertaken, the sum to be borrowed, and the nature of the security wbusk it is intended to offer to tin? creditor. The next proceeding will be to call a meeting of ratepayai'J? to consider the proposal, and after it has been publicly discussed, a poll will be taken, the result of which will be conclusive, a majority of one-fifth being required to carry the resolution in favor of the loan. The money raised either by way of ordinary or of special loan is to be borrowed on debenture* with a currency of

not more than fifty years, and bearing seven per cent interest; and for the purpose o enabling loans to be negotiated on the more favorable terms usually obtained for large loans as compared with small where the security is, proportionately good, two or more Councils may unite in order to raise a joint special loan as security for the repayment of which the funds of the Counties will be jointly and severally liable. Finally, the Councils are empowered to anticipate their current revenue by getting overdrafts from the bank to the extent of the amount of the general rates authorised to be levied for the year. The latter indulgence is unobjectionable, and a loan of three times the amount of the ordinary revenue of a County could hardly embarrass the County funds or impose an intolerable burthen upon the ratepayers; but it would be running too great a risk to permit a small majority of the ratepayers (or rather of such of them as took the trouble to record their votes) to borrow without restriction. Creditors are certainly accustomed to look after their own interests pretty sharply; but if a County loan were floated in London, the persons who took it up would probably depend more upon tKe good name of the Colony than anything else as ft guide for the investment of their money, and the failure of the County to pay its interest regularly would infallibly damage the credit of the whole of the Counties m the Colony. While, as is done in this Bill, the Colony can divest itself of legal liability for lecal loans, it is unable to control that mysterious influence which regulates the public credit and will not bear to be trifled with.

The railway employes have formed themselves into an athletic clnb.

The Invercargill cricketers have accepted Mr Bennett's terms for a three days' match there with the All England Eleven. A private letter by the inward mail states that the Hon. W. Fox was to leave England this month or next, and expects to come out by the San Francisco route. Four caseß of drunkenness constituted the business at the Port Chalmers Police Court this morning. John Keir and James M*L*od were each fined 10s or forty-eight hours' imprisonment ; Robert Henry and Thomas Francis ss, or twenty-four hours. Mr Mansford, R.M., presided.

Four charges of drunkenness constituted the business at the City Police Court to-day. William Conway was discharged; Robert M'Kea was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment; Millicent Russell, 40s, or fourteen days'; William Clasper, 40s, or seven days. Messrs Reeves and Patterson, J.P.'s presided.

The quickest 1,000-up match at billiards ever played in the world was witnessed by a large audience at the Temperance Hall on Saturday evening, when Mr J. Roberts, jun., gave Mr W. Weston 550 points out of 1,000 and beat him by 346 points. Mr Roberts scored 1,000 in lhr. 2min., which beats the best time on record by 12min. His principal breaks were 376, 69, 225, and 176.

Last week a deputation of the Walton Park School Committee waited on the Secretary of the Education Board in reference to the resignation of Mr. Blab, the teacher, caused in consequence ot some disparaging remarks in Mr Petrie's report. The Secretary promised to effect a reconciliation, and, at the earnest solicitation of friends and with the cordial concurrence of the Secretary, Mr Blair withdrew his resignation, and the matter is now amicably settled.

We have been requested by the promoters of the memorial to the City members of the Assembly, the text of which we published in our last issue, te give an emphatic contradiction to the statement that has been made that " instructions have been sent to Auckland and Dunedin to get up these secret protests." The memorial is the spontaneous act of some of the gentlemen whose names head the lists of signatures, which already number over 400. These lists will be despatched to the City members to-morrew, and further lists at the end of the week. There is at least one pastoral gentleman (it might almost be said king) who apparently sets small store by the rabbit scare. This enterprising person is Mr P. K. M'Caughan, who, at the last sitting of the Southland land Board, applied for no fewer than five parcels of land en run 112 in the Hokonui district, representing a total area of 5,631 acres, or, in money, over LII,OOO. There was no opposition. The 'News' informs us that a block of some 12,000 acres in the immediate neighborhood of this purchase has been reserved for sale on deferred payment.

To-morrow evening at 8 p.m. Captain Hutton is to give an address upon the "Inductive method in relation to the theory of descent," with numerous illustration. The meeting is one of the popular evenings of the Otago Institute, and is held in the University. It is open to the general public as well as members, and ladies are invited. We hope to see a large meeting, as we understand Captain Hutton intends to make his address specially interesting and quite within the comprehension of everyone. The discussion by members after the address adds considerably to the interest of the proceedings, and if conducted in the lively and intelligent way in which it was at the former popular meeting, we have no doubt it will be appreciated by everyone present.

In our notice of the Choral Society's concert in Saturday's paper, we omitted to pay a well-merited meed of praise to the band and conductor. The instrumental music was as well rendered on Friday night as at any previous performance of the Society. No doubt the influence of the Orchestral Society, of which nearly all the performers are members, contributed to this very satisfactory result. One or.two slight hitches were obviously caused by a want of more careful rehearsal. The pianist of the Society discharged her arduous duties with her wonted ability, while the careful and able conducting of Mr Towsey contributed much to the success of the concert.

TUp West Taifiri Rifle Company's anniversary ball wad held in the drill-shed, Outram, on Friday evening, when there was a large attendance, which would have been considerably augmented had the weather been line. About forty couples were present. The music was supplied by Mr Cook, of Outram, and the refreshments by Mr W. Yeomans, Outram. The abed was very tastefully deeorated with ferns and evergreens. Dancing was spiritedly kept up until an early hour. The company's band, assisted by the quadrille band, played selections during the evening. Mr P. M. Grant waa M.C.

At this morning's sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, before Mr J. Bathgate, K,M„ there were but few cases heard. Judgment went for plaintiffs by default in the following cases:—Andrew Anderson v. Hugh M'Dei-mid, claim LU 4s, for rent; Margaret Rollo v. John Bourhill, L 4, for boird and lodging; A. J. Larking v. Thomas Beadle, Lfllls Id, for goods supplied. In Marshall v. Pottsr, hoard some weeks ago, his Worship deli vercd judgment. He saidMrConnc'll, the surveyor chosen, had measured the ground in question and found it to be almost ua Mr Duncan had made it. Under the cir-

cumstances the damages would be assessed at 1.10, and costs would be allowed; the costs of Mr Connell to be divided between the partjes to the action.

On Saturday evening "The Fire Waif" waß played for the last time at the Princess's before a large and appreciative audience. S?J* ght .", ,he News with Miss Williams in her favorite dual character, will be played.

On Saturday evening two haystacks belonging to Mr Goodison of St. Kildm were destroyed by fire. About fifty tonß of hay, valued at L2OO, were burnt; and Mr Goodison is insured to the extent of LIOO in the Standard office.

The conveyance of gold and treasure from the mining towns to Dunedin is now performed by the police. The escort started from Naseby on Thursday last with a contribution from the district of 1,1760z5. The route is through Blacks, Clyde, Alexandra, Teviot, and Lawrence, catching the railway at Tokomairiro. The escort reaches town to-morrow.

At the annual meeting of the Jewish congregation held at Synagogue Chambers* Mr M. Joel was elected president, Mr G. Harris treasurer, and Messrs L. Metz, L. Solomon, M. Marks, Priedlisch, and Nashelski com mitteemen all without opposition. A vacancy in the committee is to be filled up at an adjourned meeting. It is intended, we are informed, to take steps to recognise the services rendered to the community and congregation by the retiring president, Mr J. Hyman.

The half-j early meeting of members of the Working Men's Club will be held at Watson's Hotel on Friday evening, at 8 o'clock. On Saturday evening the'Caversham Teetotal Society held their fir«t social meeting in the Caversham Hall, Mr Boyes in the chair.

A copy of the memorial addressed to the Cityrepresentatives lies for signature at Mr Mendershausen's, tobacconist, Princes street Members of tbe Hope of Dunedin Tent, LO.R, are requested to meet at the Jdd Fellowß Hall, George street, tins evening at

The Grand Master of the 1.0.0. F. has appointed next Monday week, ''-etcher 2. for the institution of the Mosgiel Lodge; and the following Thursday, October 5, as the opening night of the Green Island Lodge.