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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1806, 20 May 1874, Page 2

We have to acknowledge the receipt of copes from the Clerk of the Provincial Council or Westland of two Bills which it is proposed to submit to the Council during its present sitting. One is "An Ordinance to Extend the Provisions of 'The Municipal Corporations Water-' works Act 1872,' to the Municipality of Hokitika, in the Province of Westland." This is simply an empowering Ordinance, enabling the provisions of Mr Vogel's Act to be avaibd of for the purposes of water supply to the Borough of Hokitika. We would point out a flaw in the second section of the Bill ; it say 3 that the Act mentioned "is hereby brought into operation in aud for. the town of Hokitika," and then proceeds to fix an indefinite time at which it shall take effect. We do not know who is the draftsman, but he evidently does not understand his business. The Clause should read "On and after the passing of this Ordinance the Act, &c, shall apply to the town of Hokitika." As it now stands it is ambiguous. The other Bill is "The Trespass and Impounding Ordinance," and is intended to deal with the questions of the trespass and impounding of cattle, but singularly tho draftsman makes it '" An Ordinance to make, 'provision for the trespass and impounding of cattle." We were not aware that it was necessary " to make provision " for cattle trespassing — but so the heading of the Bill reads, Thiu Ordinance appears to be a consolidation of the existing laws on the subject with some amendments suited to the circumstances of the Province. It provides for. the establishment of public poundsand poundkeepers, and prescribes the mode to be pursued in impounding offending cattle. As the Ordinauce differs very little from ordinary laws on the same subject, we/ need not describe it. It is sufficient to say that it appears to be a suitable measure.