THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, JULY. 11, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 389, 11 July 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, JULY. 11, 1868.

A few days ugo we explained the prin^ cipal featured of tie Municipal Corporations Act, under which the town is likely to be placed on an early day. We return to the subject principally for the purpose of referring to a matter, which beaia strongly upon the value of tho change of local government, for which tbe inhabitants of Greymouth have petitioned — we mean the obtaining of a Municipal Estate for the endowment of the young Municipality. On the establishment of theso bodies in the midat of young communities it has been the almost universal custom elsewhere, as well as throughout New Zealand, to grant to the Municipality an Estate, consisting of rural and town sections, the rents of which are appropriated to the making of roads and footpaths, aud for the general improvement of the city. We know that a rich estate has been thus nut apart in Dunedin, Clnistckurch, and other principal towns in the colony, aud we remember well that when this form of government was extended to tbe upcountry districts of Otago, not only did the Provincial Government encourage their establishment by grants of valuable town and rural sections, but a grant-in-aid was given for so many years, at the rate of either £1 or £'2 for every £1 raised as rates for all Municipal purposes. Under this system the young Municipalities flourished and spread rapidly throughout the whole Province. But that was under a Proviuciid Ordinance, which hud been assented to by tbe Governor for that Province alone. Since then a general Act for the establishment ut'"Municipalities throughout the whole colony has been passed by the General Assembly, aud under it we now seek to live. The near approach of the time when the Ace is most likely to be brought iuto operation in this town renders it necessary thiit some action should be taken with regard to the matter of endowment. We would not advocate the system of grants-ii-aid, because the town has a large local revenue of its own, from which it will receive back from the Government a considerable proportion for the carrying on of the protective works until they are completed, but for no other town purpose — the remaining proportion going for the making of roads and tracks in the country. The moment tho Municipal Council is elected the Distdct Road Board will cease to have any control over the town, or the expenditure of tho two-twelfths on the wharf, but will confine their attention solely to the expenditure of the twotwelfths granted to the country district. None of these sums will be available fox* the making of any of the streets or tho general improvement of the town, all of which works will have to be executed entirely out of the rates levied on lands and tenements within tho town bouudavy. And it is in order to lessen the burden which will ih'is be imposed upon the inhabitants that wo throw out the suggestion for some endeavor to be made to obtain for the town a Municipal Estate, the value of which will go on in an increasing ratio as the town advances and improves. There are plenty of unsold town sections which could be made over to the Municipality, aud valuable sections of suburban lauds in abundance in the immediate vicinity of the town, which, under proper care, could be made to bring in a large auuual rental, and thua enable the Municipality immediately to carry on works, of public utility which it could not otherwise accomplish for many years to come. The matter is worthy of consideration, and we may recur to it at greater length on an early day.