BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1785, 10 November 1879, Page 2

BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

[By Telboeaph.] WELLINGTON, November 8. The Counties’ Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr McOaughan, gives power to the County Councils to construct tramways on roads, streets, &c., or authorise a company or persona to construct, but the Act is not to abridge public rights. Road districts included in two or more counties may merge in such counties, and County Councils may agree as to the division of property and apportion the liabilities, if no agreement is made. Actions, contracts, &c., may be enforced against either of such counties. Public pounds heretofore established may be brought under the Counties’ Act. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill contains twenty-eight clauses. It provides for the severance of wards from boroughs, the appointment and duties of Inspectors of Nuisances ; gives power to Councils to declare private streets public; to abate nuisances on private lands and recover the cost; the Council may require private lands to be levelled to the permanent level of the street, and may control the construction of cellars on private lands; the Council is to liable for forming streets according to the

levels fixed ; may amend the rate book ; may lease lands by public tender; may make by* laws regarding the sale of meat, for preventing the growth of dangerous hedges ; may recover from all adjacent local bodies for work done on contract. The Town Clerk may represent the Council in Magistrate’s Courts,