Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 1900. The New Municipal Corporations Act 1900.

Manawatu Herald, 27 December 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 1900. The New Municipal Corporations Act 1900.

With the dawn of the New Year we have coming into power a new Act for the conduct of Municipal Corporations in which increased powers are given to the Council and a new character to the representation of the ratepayers. The Act presumes that the present Councillors are only holding their seats as the means of introducing the machinery for the general election which is to take place, both for Mayor and Councillors on the last Wednesday in April, and the latter hold office for two years when they all go out. This is different to the present manner under which half of the Councillors who had been longest in office, retired annually. As usual, the Mayor has to deposit £10 which is to be forfeited if a candidate fails to poll one-eighth of the votes polled by the successful candidate, and Councillors will have to deposit £3 which will be forfeited if they fail to poll one-eighth, of the votes polled by the successful candidate polling the fewest votes. This may be a bar to contested elections, and with over six candidates up the risk may be hard to guage as to whether the deposit money may not be lost. The Act is very clear that there shall be nothing done after the passing of the Act, under its authority in til it comes into force on the Ist January. Section 85 provides that all officers and servants, appointed 'nfar tho power of the present old A "t. shall b° deemed appointed under this Act, but in all other matters we look upon the Act as to be treated upon aa a wholly new one, and that new by-laws and regulations for conduct of meetings, &c, will have to be made. This being so we are certain that the Town Clerk will have a very great deal to do, and what was a reasonable salary in the past cannot be so locked upon for the coming year. This, no doubt, the new Council, to be elected in April, will be able to appveciate when finding their own occupation pretty lively, and wiil take the question of a bonus into their very careful consideration.

There is a provision which will not be altogether acceptable to the ratepayers of this town, and will cause them to take a more lively interest in the doings and election of their Counci lors for the future, which is, that the maximum general rate in any one year can be two shillings on the annual value, or six farthings on the capital value. We find also that the Council will in future be permitted to expond money aot authorised by law, and if, as in the case of our own borough, one per centum of the general rate is not sufficient for these side shows, this new Act permits an expenditure up to £50 ! Another innovation is that the Council may by special order establish toll-gates and take tolls at any bridge within the borough. This would work in with the Wirokino bridge, but we trust the luck in getting a free bridge will not be upset by indifference by ratepayers to the action of future Councillors. No one will be able to call his house, his castle, as the Council is to appoint an Inspector of Buildings to decide whether the buildings are provided with proper fire-escapes, and each householder must get an annual certificate ! The section 354 is satisfactory, both for the eye of the public and the peace of mind of owners of boarded fence 3 ;it reads thus — " No person shall post, paint, alhx, carve, inscribe, or exhibit any placard, bill,

inscription, advertiaemant, ov notice upon any telegraph or telephone pole, or on any street, private street, building, structure, or place within the borough, save only on hoardings or places licensed by the CouncU for such purpose ; provided that this ssction shall not prevent any person from exhibiting notices in any building, or structure, or place owned or occupied by him." The new Act consists of 436 clauses and we doubt if anyone, except the framer, can pretend to be fully acquainted with its contents, though surprise has been expressed by one of our Councillors that this should be so, and it will be gathered that only the merest outline has been given to show why greater care and interest must be taken in the selection of Touncillors and of their action whilst Councillors. If we succeed in doing this we shall have not written in vain.

Just fancy how they ran ! Two men who were out fishinff near Condobolin N. S. Wales, had a thrilling experience." They put a charge of dynamite in a bottle and passed a fuse through the cork, but forgot to weight the bottle. They threw it into a water-hole, but their dog jumped in and secured it, and then chased his owners. Th' men managed to keep ahead tiU th charge exploded. The dog was blow; to atoms.

Some three thousand two hundred and eighty-six persons have been arrested in Paris for " Hooliganism."

Cabinet has given the vacant position of Government Analyst to Mr MacLaurin, of Auckland. The new Government Analyst is a son of the Rev Mr MacLaurin, of Auckland, anr* a brother of Professor MncLaurin, of the Victoria Collegs staff, Wellington/

Not quite what was expected I It is understood that the N. S. Wales Government will provide for Ministers as official guests, and will endeavour to secure rooms for legislators but the accommodation will be at the letter's expense. Will this mean another bonus next session ?

It is stated that Pope Leo XIII. has decided to personally celebrate at midnight, on December 31st, and with the utmost solemnity, the last mass of the century. All the pilgrims then in Rome will attend, and to it will be invited, the great personages then in the Imperial city, the Roman aristocracy and the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

An application was made to Mr Justice Edwards in the Bankruptcy Court yesterday by the Official Asignee (Mr James Ashcroft) that a debtor's petition in bankruptcy might be accepted by the Registrar of the Supreme Court in Wellington. Mr Ashcroft said that in this case the principal creditors resided in Wellington, except one or two in Auckland and Christ church. As the holidays were coming on, it was desirable to take immediate action in regard to the estate. He hope his Honor would see his way to authorise the Registrar to accept the petition. His Honor said he did not think that either the Registrar or himself had anything to do with the matter. Mr Ashcroft ; I think the responsibility rests with us. His Honor ; I think it does. The Registrar (Mr D. G. A. Cooper) ; What I said was that I thought I ought not to take it, knowing that this was the wrong district, Ii ought to go to the District Court at Palmerston North. The man resides at Foxton. His Honor ; I don't see that I have anything to do with it, and I don't think the Registrar has. Mr Ashcroft persisted in the application, and his Honor remarked that he did not think the Registrar would do any harm by accepting the petition.— Thursday's N.Z Times.

At the meeting ot oreditors in the estate of W. B. Rhodes, Foxton, stoiv keeper, whose unsecured liability amount to £1529, secured claims £ja and whose assets are estimated

£1826, the Assignee said he though: the estate would pay g< or 10s in the £. It was resolved that tenders should be called for the stock up to the 4th proximo, the business to be kept going in the meantime; 'stock purchased since bankruptcy to be a claim upon the estate ; that the Assignee arrange with Mr A. E. C. Rhodes terms for sale of the mortgaged propf>r*y ; ac ceptance of tenders to l>e 1 ;ft 1. th • discretion of Mr TnrnhuH and tut Assignee, and that certain allowances should be made to the bankrupt for assisting to wind up the business.

The "Standard" states that the loyal chiefs operating against the rebel forces in Ashanti have captured the Queen mother, Yassantiwah, who headed the rebellion, and King Kokofu. The chiefs have also captured a stool next in importance to the famous golden stool over which the trouble occurred.

The American Consul at Capetown considers the war practically over. He praised the handsome treatment oi the Boer prisoners.

From the Nelson section of the Government Railways we have received a very neat card wishing us the Season's greetings. To the sender and his colleagues we desire that the good wishes dealt to us may be their lot also.

The staff of onr contemporary, the Feilding Star, are good enough to send greetings to our staff which are appreciated, and we trust that the New Year may prove one of the most successful to them.

We draw attention to the result of a law case, the Acetylene Gas Company of Australasia, Limited, v. Henry Markwald, which is advertised elsewhere.

Sir W. J. Lyne having failed to form a new Federal Ministry, Lord Hopetoun sent for Mr Barton, who has undertaken the task.

Messrs P. Hennessy & Co. have in stock some of Shaddock's ranges which are recognised as the besj. range in the market-

All the houses at the Sanatorium are now full, and will remain so for som« tim».

At the Feildiog sports yesterday Mr Leonard Furrie won the Sheffield Handicap (£10), and ran third in the 440 yards. Mr Ball won the sack race. Yesterday was cold with a high wind, but it did not interfere with the usual holiday-making. Numbers went to the beach, others picknicked up the river, and a great many went to the Feilding sports and Palmerston races. All Saints' Church was very prettily decorated with flowers and evergreens on Christmas Day, and services were I held by the Rev. H. Leach at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. In the evening Mr Leach held a service at Rongotea. Our business people report the trade ou Christmas five as having been very good, though not so good as that of the preceding one. Early on Christmas morning a quiet wedding was celebrated at All Saint's Church, by the Rev. Hugh Leach, the contracting parties being the children of old residents in this town. The brfde was the fourth daughter, Hannah, of Mr Theophilus Easton, and was. escorted to the church by her father. She looked very nice in a cream serge .dress trimmed with lace, and she wore a white veil and the usual wreath, she also carried a very pretty bouquet. The bridegroom was Carl, the eldest son r>f Mr Carl Peteraen, now a resident at Pohangnia, and he was escorted by v*r Wilson as best man. At the con'••l'lsion of the service, Mr England 1-yed the Wedding March. The voting couple will reside at Buckley and will work the farm Mr T. Easton own's there. We tender to them our best wishes for thtir future welfare.