ROAD COMMISSIONERS.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 193, 14 February 1877, Page 2

ROAD COMMISSIONERS.

Tins following letter, wbieii appeared in the Taranaki Herald of the 7th instant, will be of interest to a number of our readers ;—“ Sh. — Several Commissioners of Road Boards having desired de finite information with respect to their tenure of office under the existing state of transition of local government, I have considered it desirable for general information to publish the following; The ‘Bating Act, 1870, ’ declares that it shall not be lawful for any local body alter the 61st March, 1877, to make any rate except under the provision of the Act—that is, that the usual rate levied under the local Ordinance may he levied up to the 81st of March, hut no longer. After licit date a fresh sate will require to be levied on the annual value of the properly rateable within the respective road districts. The existing ' commissioners’ duties terminate when they have performed the finictions they were elected to perform—viz., apportion the expenditure of the rates tor the period ending the 81st March ; appoint valuers lor ascertaining the rateable value of die property within their respective districts: and expending the. rates as per appropriation as far as possible. The term ot ollicc would under ordinary circumstances expire on the 31st of March, but failing the election of new commissioners they hold office until new commissioners arc elected or appointed under the Roads and Bridges Ordinance. The. commissioners now in ollicc will therefore continue to perform their duties until the ratepayers elect new commissioners. But the present commissioners cannot levy a rate on the annual value of the rateable property ; that is a duty which will devolve on the new commissioners, and as the new commissioners will have the power of fixing the rate without any maximum fixed by law, the ratepayers will have to exercise some discretion in the election. The election of new commissioners will probably take place in March or April next. —I am, &c., “ T. Kblly.”