THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1625, 20 October 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1873.

Explanation for the non-receipt in Westland of copies of two Acts interesting to the district— the Province and Loan Acts — may be found in the fact that one of the Wellington mails for the West Coast is the victim of circumstances by performing a voyage to its destination via Newcastle and Melbourne ; the captain of the steamer Omeo having considered it necessary to comply with the dictates of the Clerk of the Weather, rather than with the desires of the Postmaster-General of New Zealand. Or it may be that, having passed late in the session, the Government printer has not found his animated and mechanical appliances for the printed production of legislative enactments equal to the supply of written njaterial. Meantime, however, we are, by the return and courtesy of the Hon. Mr Lahman, placed in possession of copies of the two measures — copies which, if they do not represent the Bills as finally passed, at least indicate their character sufficiently to warrant us in quoting their contents. i

To summarily describe the Province of Westland Act — or the edition of it which we have in hand — it may be said that the Act is to come into operation on a day to be proclaimed by the Governor. I'rom that day the County of Westland shail become the Province of Westland. All laws and ordinances in the schedule of the County Act, and all others in force in the County, shall, "so far as applicable, and except so far as they are altered or repealed by this Act," continue in force, subject to alteration by the Assembly or new Provincial Council. The Council will, in the first instance, consist of [v/e believe it is] fifteen members; exclusive of the Superintendent ; the Governor appointing electoral districts and issuing writs, for their election. The Superintendent shall, "by virtue of his office as Superintendent, and as long as he holds such office be a member of the Provincial Council, and be entitled to sit and vote and take part in the debates ayid other proceedings therein, in like manner and as fully as any elected member thereof ;" the same not to apply to Ms Deputy— an excellent arrangement to. keep Superintendents at home during the sessions of the General Assembly, should the session of the Council be simultaneous. All current contracts with the theJCounty will, of course, be inherited by the Superintendent, as will all debts of the Connty by the Province, and all property vested in the Council will vest in the Superintendent. Then follows a long list of sections of the County Act which are repealed, and of others relating to Road Boards which are to continue until repealed by the Provincial Council, the Superintendent sustaining the position of the County Council until these are. repealed. In . the matter of accounts there is naturally to be simply a change of nomenclature, and with regard to reserves it is. enacted that all public reserves of land- made before or after this Act, for any public purpose other than for the use of the General Government may-bft granted by the Governor, under "The Public Reserves Act, 1854," to the Superintendent, to be held, managed, and dealt with as provided by that Act. From the copy of the Bill before us it , is impossible to recognise the clause which was sought to be inserted by Mr Harrison, and to which the Legislative Council objected—the clause relating to the Grey Coal Reserve ; but we presume it may be taken for granted, from what was telegraphed, that it did not form a portion of the Act as passed. fWe have since ibeen informed by Mr Lahman that the [ copy of the Bill which we have received represents the Act as passed.] The copy of the Westland Loan Bill which we have received, is that which was transmitted from the Lower House to the Upper, for the concurrence of the latter — which concurrence was obtained. It is entitled "An Act to authorise a loan of L 50,000 in aid of the County of Westland," it being provided that the word " County " should be altered to " Province," provided the Proyince Bill passed. One. clause empowers the Governor to appoint two or more persons as. agents to raise. and manage such authorised loans — such agency, no doubt, resolving itself into the Colonial Treasurer. In that case he is empowered to raise L 50,000 by the issue of debentures in I Saw Zealand, Australia, or Tasmania, and to prescribe the mode and terms of repayment} the annual charge not to exceed six per cent., including sinking fund, if any ; the debentures not to be fl old at a price to give interest at a higher

rate than six per cent. ; and the money to h e borrowed and the interest chargeable on the Consolidated Fund. The purposes to which the loan may be applied are the payment and discharge of such of the debts and liabilities incurred before the passing of this Act as the Governor shall direct. The succeeding clause 3 stete that the Act is not to affect existing securities, that the interest for the 6rst ten years shall be borne absolutely by the Colony, that waste lands within the Province, to the extent of not more than 250,000 acres, be selected as special secuiity and sold according to ordinary waste land law, that all proceed of the sale of such land shall go to a special fund, and if ; the proceeds of the land are insufficient to pay sinking fund, interest, and principal, the Province shall be debited as the Public Reserves Act provides, or as the Governor may direct.