THE ENDOWMENT OF ROAD BOARDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 425, 10 December 1868, Page 2

THE ENDOWMENT OF ROAD BOARDS.

The following are the principal clauses of the Act which was passed in the last General Assembly for the endowment of Road Districts in the Province of Otago : —■

Within the Province of Otago there shall be a branch of the Provincial Account called the " Roads Endowment Fund." The Superintendent and Provincial Treasurer shall at the expiration of every month commench g from the thirtieth of April one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine pay into the Roads Endowment Fund a sum equal to forty per cent, of all revenue received during the month as Her Majesty's laud revenue within the meaning of section six of " The Public Revenues Act ISG7" (save and except revenue arising from " The Gold Duties Act 185S" and from " The Gold Fields Act 1S60" excluding assessment on stock and rents for agricultural leases collected under the said Act) aud the amount so paid into the said Fund shall be appropriated in manner following—1. One fourth part shall from time to time be paid to a branch of the Provincial Account to be called the " Road Districts Special Fund" and shall be distributed among the Road Boards to bo expended upon public works within their districts in such proportions and subject to such regulations as the Superintendent and Provincial Council shall from time to time by Ordinance direct in that behalf provided that when a General Road Board shall be constituted the R ad Districts Special Fund shall be appropriated by that Board.

_ 2. One fourth part shall be from time to time paid to a branch of the Provincial Account to be called the "Road Boards Subsidy Fund" and shall be distributed among the Road Districts which are subject to the provisions of this Act in proportion to the rates raised by them on a rate not exceeding in the whole one shilling in the pound provided that the subsidy shall in no case exceed fifty per cent, of the Lnn 1 Fund within such district. And such distribution shall be made under such regulations as to the dates and mode of payment as the Superintendent and Provincial Council by Ordinance shall appoint in that behalf. 3. The residue of the Eoad Endowment Fund shall be subject to appropriation by the Provincial Council of the said Province for the construction and maintenance of main roads and bridges within the Province whether within or without a Eoad District. The Road Districts and Boards at present in existence in the Province of Otago and any other that may hereafter be constituted by ordinance of the Superintendent and Provincial Council thereof shall be deemed to be the Districts and Boards subject to the provisions of this Act.