Manawata Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1886. A NEW MUNICIPAL AMENDMENT ACT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1706, 12 May 1886, Page 2

Manawata Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1886. A NEW MUNICIPAL AMENDMENT ACT.

From the New Zealand Times we learn that among the earliest measures to be introduced during the approaching session will, be " a Bill tj consolidate and amend the law relating to Municipal Corporations.'' 1 It is to be called the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, and to come into force on the Ist January, 1887. A large portion of the Bill is a revised reprint of last year's Bill as it left the Legislative Council, but there are several important additions and fresh amendments. Clause 4. The Public Health Act, 1876, is incorporated with the Bill f»r the sake of bringing it into prominence, many powers being given under that Act to Borough Councils which might with advantage be exercised more often. Clause 18 is new, and is io provide for the renovation of records in case of total loss or destruction. Clause 141 is amended to enable general rates to be levied not exceeding fifteenpence in the pound instead of one shilling only as heretofore. Clause 143 is new, and provides that when separate accounts are kept for the different wards in boroughs, the general rates shall be levied in the different wards according to their requirements, and so that they may vary in the different wards, and that the rates levied in a ward are to be expended exclusively therein, subject to a contribution from each ward toward general expenditure, as provided in clause 168. Clause 1 168 is optional, and provides for keeping the accounts of different wards in boroughs separate, imposing upon each ward a uniform contribution toward general expenses and maintenance of boundary streets. Clause 180 is taken from the Counties Act, and provides for the recovery of moneys illegally spent by the Council. Clause 186 deals with the majority of votes required for sanctioning a special loan. The original enactment in 1876 required a majority of one-fifth of the votes polled, and this not being considered sufficient, a new enactment was passed in 1880, wherein an evident error exists. In this Bill three-fifths is the,. majority required for sanctioning a loan. Clauses 189 and 190 are new, and authorize the raising of special loans for works within any particular portion of the borough on the assent of the; Ratepayers, and provide for obtaining such loans. Clause 192 is extended to enable boroughs to make joint loans with any adjoining local authorities. Clause 208 is enlarged, and imposes a penalty of £200 on i every Councillor who is a party to the illegal borrowing of money by the Council over and above his liability for the repayment of such . money. Clause 303 relates to impediments in streams ; words have been added to enable Councillors ro_ check, the accumulation of watercress and other weeds in watercourses to the impediment ot the flowof water therein. Clause 346 is new, but seems worthy of acceptance. It provides for the enrolment jof Volunteers as fire-police, and the swearing them in as constables. It was ' the law in Canterbury, and proved very useful in stopping pilfering at fires. Clause 406 is new, and authorises the expenditure of borough funds for erection of public school buildings. Clause 414, as to- making by-laws, is taken from . the Counties Act, as being more workable and avoiding the expense of publishing by-laws where copies are deposited for public inspection. In clause 418, as to by-laws taking effect outside the borough, words have been added to enable by-laws in h* maAo in vaanant nf nilhlif*

health, some of the matter was originally comprised iu the by-laws relating to streets; they have here been placed under a separate heading ; two new subsections have been added, to which attention is drawn on account of their importance. The first is to prevent bacli seciioiisof land being crowded with ill-ven-tilated shanties and cabins, the second is to prevent the overcrowding of people in houses without proper space being allotted to each resident therein, to the danger- of fever or other infectious diseases arising therefrom. There are also clauses providing for the formation of small boroughs, and limits the number of wards to three, where the population is under 6000, as would be the case in Palmerston. Another clause provides for the Mayor being always e x officio a Justice of the Peace, and giving the power of lilayor to any person acting as such. Other clauses refer to contracts by Councillors, and to distribution of income among wards in proportion to rates, and to be expended on works therein. Another clause enables special rates to be levied within a portion of a borough for interest on; special loan raised for the benefit of such portion.- From the outline given it would 'seem that most of the' proposed amendments have a beneficial tendency and are of a practical character.

It will be seen that already the Vogel influence prejudicial to the colony it making itself telt. Our London nameHake denounces the Colonial Treasurer, and expresses a hope tiiat not another penny of British Bavings will be invested in N«w Zealand. A nice prospect for our future loans truly.. And not only for our colonial loans, but for borough loans, private mortgages, and other investments heretofore so ..popular, with English capitalists. We shall keep Vogel 100 long, and 'the harm he will do the country it will take : some time and Tery prudent . administration vVto eradicate. It appears dearer day by day that the sooner we restore: confi--dence by a chance in the present regime the better, both as regards the. present and the future.