EXTRACT FROM THE COUNTIES ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 29, 10 December 1880, Page 2

EXTRACT FROM THE COUNTIES ACT.

♦ As the ratepayers are rather in the dark regarding the mode of procedure for securing a merger of the Foxton highways district into the county, we publish the following clauses bearing on the matter from " The Counties Act, 1870," for general information : — 37. The Council may, if it thinks fit, by special order declare the Road Board of any roai district 10 be dissolved, and such road district to be merged in the county ; subject, however, to the following conditions : — (I ) That a petition is presented to the Council signed by not less than onethird oi the ratepayers of 6iicli road district whose property in respect of which they are rated is situated within the county, possessing in the aggregate not less than half the rateable properly therein, praying the Council to abolish such district ; (2.) That such petition is published in the district not less than one month before presentation ; (3.) That no counter petition is presented to the Council within two months thereafter, signed by an equal or greater number of ratepayers, possessing in the aggregate not less than one-third of the rateable property in the district, praying the . Council not to accede to the prayer I of the first petition. And on and after a day named in such speci»\ order the said Road Board shall be dissolved, and the said district mei^ed iv the county. 3S. * The provisions of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth, sections shall apply to any petition mentioned in the thirty-seventh section ; but in such case the enquiry to be made und the Commissioners to be appointed, as provided by the said sections, shall be made and appointed by the Council instead of by the Governor. 39. When any road district is merged in a county i — (I.) All property, real or personal, belonging to the Eoad Board shall become vested in the Corporation of the county. (2.) AH functions, powers, rights and duties theretofore vested in or imposed upon the Road board shall become t vested in and imposed upon the , County Council. (3.) All rates or other moneys payable t to the Road Board shall become due pnd payable to the County Council. , (4.) All actions, suits and proceedings pending by or against the Road Board may bo carried on and prose- > cution by or against the Corporation , of the County. (3.) The duties, powers and functions uf the Chairman and Clerk of the Road Board (if any) Bhall be exeroised bj the Chairman and Clerk of the county respectively. ( > ) All the liabilities, contracts and engagements of the Road Board existing shall become liabilities, con. tracts and engagements of the County Council. * These sections simply refer to tbe checking of siguature.s, schedules, Ac