THE CANTERBURY RIVERS BILL.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 134, 5 September 1868, Page 4

THE CANTERBURY RIVERS BILL.

By the courtesy of a correspondent, we are enabled to present our readers with the Resolutions passed by the Select Committee upon this Bill, in which this district has a peculiar interest. Any further comment on our part, would be superfluous at present. At the first meeting on Aug. 5 th, it was resolved that the Committee recommend:— “ 1. That the bill should be made applicable to the whole Colony, to be from time to time brought into operation by proclamation of the Superintendent, Within any part of a Province to be defined in the proclamation. 2. That, the carrying out of the provisions of the bill should be vested in Boards of Conservators, not less than three nor more than five in number, to be elected by the Ratepayers, for a period of not less than three years. 3. That the principle of plurality of votes in proportion to property be adopted in reference to the election of Conservators. 4. That the primary fund to be at the disposal of the Conservators, shall be levied by special general rates within the several districts.

5. That for the purpose of carrying out any special works, the Conservators should have power to borrow money on the security of the rates. 6. That the rates to be levied, whether general or special, should be levied upon the. net annual value of all property within the district.” At the following meeting on the 14th Amgust, Mr. Rolleston proposed by way of amendment to the second resolution of last meeting—- - That the board of Conservators be nominated by the Superintendent. On being put however, it was negatived. Another amendment upon the same clause was then put and carried as follows : ‘ * That the board of Conservators for any district shall consist of three, or of six persons, as may be fixed by the Superintendent in the proclamation of the district, and that two-thirds of the members of each board shall be elected by the ratepayers; the remaining members being nominated by the Superintendent.” The following resolutions were carried:— “ That the voters for the first election of members of each board of Conservators shall be the persons who at the time appointed for such election shall be upon the Electoral roll for the election of members of the Provincial Council of the Province.” “ That before any works shall be undertaken by any board, the plans and description of the same, with the estimates of costs, shall be submitted to the Superintendent and Executive Council of the Province for their examination and approval, who shall have a right to veto the execution of such works, such veto to be exercised within thirty days after the plans have been submitted.” “ That in respect to the payment of rates, the ocupier shall in the first instance be liable, but that between owner and occupier in all leases existing at the time of the passing of the Act, the latter shall be entitled to deduct any rates paid from the rent of the property where the unexpired term shall not exceed five years, except where the lease contains a power for a covenant on the part of the lessee to purchase the property, either during, or at the expiration of the term, in which case the rates shall be chargeable on the occupier only.” “That the Government be requested to prepare a general measure to be passed during the present session upon the principles laid down by the Committee, but that pending such general measure, the Canterbury Rivers Bill be passed into law, with power to the Superintendent of any other Province to bring the same into operation within such Province, and that provisions be introduced giving to the Provincial Councils of the several Provinces the power to alter or extend any of the provisions in the bill, relating to the constituting of the boards, or the rating of property for the purposes of the Act.” On the 20th August, Mr. Eyes, the Member for the Wairau, moved in the House of Representatives : “That the petition of certain owners and occupiers of property in the Wairau, in the Province of Marlborough, be referred to the Canterbury Rivers Committee, in accordance with tbo recommendations of the Petitions Committee.” The motion was agreed to. The Select Committee presented their Report on Friday evening last, and we are assured that the principles conveyed in the above resolutions, were those recommended in such Report,