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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5184, 2 November 1877, Page 2

The Wellington Loans Consolidation Act Amendment Bill, introduced into the Legislative Council by the Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson, passed through committee yesterday, after some discussion, in an amended form. The preamble states that by the Act of 1876 the Corporation of Wellington were authorised to borrow £200,000 for the purpose of paying off existing debts under various Acts, or for the purposes mentioned in schedule O. of the Act above referred to ; that the money was raised, and of it £500,00 was for the purposes of the Drainage aud Sewage Works Loan Act 1873, but through inadvertence this sum was not specified in schedule 0., and that there remains on hand au unappropriated balance of £IO,OOO ; that it is expedient to carry out the provisions of the Act, &c. The Bill as it now stands provides that the raising of the sum of £200,000 under the Act, and the issue of debentures in respeotjthereof, shall be deemed to have been valid and effectual; and that the sum of £50,000 part thereof shall bo applied for the purposes mentioned in the Wellington Drainage and Sewerage Works Loan Act, 1873, in the same maimer as if the sum had been mentioned in schedule C above referred to. The Corporation may apply the balance now remaining on hand (some £9900) for the purposes mentioned in the Wellington Drainage aud Sewerage Works Loan Act, 1873. Upon full payment by the Corporation of all principal and interest, moneys secured by the debentures issued under the provisions of section number fourteen of the Wellington Reclaimed Land Act, 1871, the trustees for the time being, acting under the provisions of the said Act, shall pay over to the Corporation all moneys in their hands by way of accrued sinking fund under the provisions of the Act, and the securities for the same, and the Corporation shall apply such moneys to the purposes mentioned in the 18th section of the City of Wellington Loans Consolidation Act, 1876.

Amongst the amendments to the Corporations Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, and agreed to by the Legislative Council, is a provision that whenever a poll is taken on the proposal to raise a special loan there shall only be one polling-place, and no burgess shall have more than five votes. Where the Council gives notice in writing for the repair or drainage of any private street, if at the expiration of the time mentioned in the notice, the roadway or footways, or the drainage of any private street, whether heretofore made or hereafter to be

made, shall not have been or be constructed or repaired to the satisfaction of the Council, they may cause the same to be constructed or repaired to their satisfaction, and the expenses are to be charged upon the owners of land abutting on such private street, in the proportion which the frontage to such street, as the case may be, of the land owned by each of them bears to the whole frontage of the land chargeable. The Council may purchase or take, under the provisions of the Public Works Act, 1876, any lands outside of as well as within the borough for any purpose connected with drainage, maintenance, and repair of the roads, streets, and public places, or the public health, protection, and safety of the inhabitants, or for any other purpose for which the Council is authorised to take land within the borough.