The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 171, 29 November 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1876.

Together with nine other Acts of the same nature, passed during the last session of Parliament, wo have received a copy of the Patca Harbor Board Act, which is of such importance to this district that we would reprint it entire did space permit it. At present we can only give a pretty full abstract, by which, however, the provisions of the measure may be fully understood. It contains 41 clauses and two schedules, the latter containing a list of the land endowments. The Board is to consist of seven members, three to he nominated by the Government, the Chairman or Mayor of the governing body—in our case the Chairman of the Town Board—the Chairman of the County Council, and two members to be elected by the governing body, at present the Town Board, This is by no means a satisfactory condition, as the public, excepting through the Town Board, have no voice in the election of any members whatever, whilst in the case of nearly all other Boards, they are wholly or largely elective. It is so fixed,, however, and present remonstrance would be useless. On the second Monday in January, the governing body shall elect the two members, who will hold office for two years, audit rests with the Board to hold the election as it pleases. The usual disqualification for seats in public bodies arc provided, and power is given to the Governor to fill any vacancies that have been neglected to be filled. The Governor will appoint a day of meeting, at which the Chairman will be appointed by the Board, and a similar meeting will /bo hold every two years, that being the term of office*of each Board. An annual meeting is to bo held in Juno each year. The Board will bo incorporated under the title of 11 The Patca Harbor Board,” and has power thereby to hold property, sue and he sued, appoint officers, &c., &c. All members are prohibited from receiving any remuneration, other than his actual travelling expenses, and no member can bo an officer of the Board. Power to make by-laws on certain subjects is given, provided they bo not repugnant to any Act of the General Assembly, hut power is given to the Governor to disallow any he may think fit. The Harbor Fund will bo derived from wharfage rates, Harbor Improvement rate, rents and profits of laud vested in Board, proceeds of lands set aside as endowments, and all other moneys which may become the property of the Board. The Harbor Improvement rate is not in

any case to exceed one and sixpence per ton-on goods and merchandise discharged or shipped, and the Board may provide for the manner of collecting such rate, with penalties for breaches of regulations, not exceeding £5 for any one offence. No regulations are to have force till they have been published in the Gazette ,; and in a local newspaper. Government and mail vessels are to be exempt from such regulations. Power is given to the Board to enter into contracts, but none can bo entered into above £2O, excepting by public tender advertised iu a local newspaper. Authority to lease lands, to reclaim land from the sea, to construct any accessary harbor works, breakwaters, embankments, walls, docks, quays, wharves, piers, and jetties is conferred. Any authority formerly exercised by the Superintendent of Taranaki, under the 30th, 31st, and 32nd sections of “ The Marino Act, 1876/' is now transferred to the Harbor Board. Strict provision for keepingaccounts is made. The endowments contained in the first schedule include sections 590, 502, 594, 598, 600, 604, 608, 610, 612, 615, 617, 619,623, 625, 627, 624, 568 in the Patea district, comprising a total area of 2,999 acres. The numbers of sections arc exactly quoted from the schedule, but it is probable that 624 is an error, and should have boon 634. The lands iu this schedule arc to bo dealt with by the Waste Lands Board, in like manner to others disposed of by that body in their respective provinces, but, after expenses of survey, the Receiver of Land Revenue is to pay all proceeds and profits *o the Board. The Board may pledge or give security over the proceeds and profits of such lands. The second schedule contains the following lands, which are vested in the Board : —Carlyle town sections, 0, 6, 11, 16, 20, 21,26, 30, 34; Carlyle suburban, one of 180 acres and another of 29 acres. At Whenuakura, there arc sections 118, 119, 120, and 121, each of five acres. At Patea, sections 320 and 565, of 46 acres 1 rood and 120 acres respectively. The land contained in the latter schedule is to bo vested in the Board, on its being constituted, in fee simple without conveyance or assurance. Power is given to the Governor to take a portion of lands vested in the Board for works of public utility, but in all such cases compensation is to be made. All penalties under the Act are to be recovered in a summary way, and the Board is to bo deemed a Harbor Board under “ The Harbor Act, 1870.” The production of the Gazette containing a by-law, is to be deemed evidence of such by-law being in force. This Act is all-important to the district, as by its aid it is possible that our needed harbor works may be constructed, and we purpose, at as early a date as possible, publishing it in extenso.