LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 298, 14 August 1875, Page 2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL.

(From the Southern Cross.) The Bill provides the date upon which it will come into operation, and treats of the different descriptions of districts under the following heads, viz. (а) Road or Highway Districts already constituted under former Acts of the General Assembly, or Provincial ordinances called *• original districts.” (б) Original districts converted into districts under the provisions of the Bill by proclamation called “ Proclaimed Districts.” (c) Districts created under the Bill out of parts of the colony not previously comprised within original districts called “New districts.” Part I relates to the constitution of road districts. Original districts are brought under the operation of the Act by proclamation on petition to the Government, of the inhabitants possessing, rateable property to at least half the value of the ratable property in the district. The petition to set forth the boundaries accurately and the Aet, &e., under which the district is already constituted. The petitions may be refused'on a counter petition being presented by an equal or greater number of inhabitants. Members of road board trustees, board of wardens, &c., —throughout the bill spoken of as “ the governing body”— remaining in office, and compose road board for the new district. Such persons go out of office on the first Thursday in June, happening after the constitution of the district under the Aet; and members in the ensuing year are elected under the of the Act. Until tbc completion of voters’ roll under the Act, persons on the ratepayers’ rolls to be entitled to vote for the election of members of the board ; and rates levied under the old Act to remain in force. The rights, liabilities, &c., of boards, incurred, are preserved, and the property of the old board vested into the new. Any questions arising under the foregoing provisions to be referred to the Governor. “ New districts ” comprise an area of not less than 15. square miles, also incorporated under similar petitions to the Governor which may be refused on a counter petition. Districts may be united and boundaries altered, alsoon petition, and after consideration of petition for this purpose, and counter petition, if any due notice of which is to be advertised, the Governor, by Order in Council, is to amalgamate, the districts. In such Order in Council the Governor to adjust the property, rights, &c. ; the Governor is to decide on the question of each district board under the Act,' which is to consist of six members, the qualification to be the possession of ratable property to the value of £25 at least, and enrolled either on the ratepayers’ or electors’ rolls. Members of these Boards to retire annually in rotation. “ Qualification of voters,” possession of ratable property. The number of votes to be proportionate to the value of the property, not exceeding in any case six. The elections of the members of the Board are to be conducted by ballot. The chairman is elected by the members of the Board, and the chairman continues a member of the Board for a year after his election, and the Governor is empowered to appoint him a Justice of the Peace for the Colony, having jurisdiction within the district. The salaries of officers 6f the boards is to be paid out of the district fund. The revenue of the board consists of rates, grants from the Goverment, donations, &c. All property within the district is ratable property, except unoccupied Government lands, lands used by the Government for public purposes, hospital, schools, church, and other such land, which are excepted from rates. The Government lands leased or occupied under license are not exempt. The board makes an annual valuation and levies the rates for the construction of works, where special works are required, a separate rate is levied after notice is given. The roads, ferries, bridges, &c., are to be under the control of the board. Part 11. relates to the construction of voter’s rolls and the manner of conducting an election. Elections are to be conducted by ballot. Part 111. relates to the proceedings of the board. The board appoints its own times and places of meeting. The powers vested in the board may be exercised by three members. The accounts are to be annually balanced and audited. The ratepayers may be presents at the annual meeting. _ Part IV. provides for the constitution of shires. Two or more on adjoining road districts may petition the Governor to be amalgamated, and formed; and, upon petition being granted, the road districts become “ ridings ” of such shire. The districts thus constituted a shire is to have a shire council, composed of members elected from each riding, and presided

over by a chairman elected by the council. The powers and duties of the various road boards amalgamated into the shire thereupon cease, and become vested in the shire council. The shirecouncil will have power to take land for permanent works, such as roads, bridges, &c., and for public institutions, hospitals, asylutnns, library, &c., and may borrow money for such works on the security of special rates. The council is to have control over all roads, tolls, bridges, ferries,Wd public works within the shire. Part IV. contains miscellaneous provisions relating to the reducing of penalties, making regulations, settling 1 disputes, notifications in Gazette, &c. •