HIGHWAYS BILL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 965, 26 April 1872, Page 2

HIGHWAYS BILL.

The following are the chief clauses of the " Highway Bill," intended to be introduced this session in the Nelson Provincial Council: The Bill is entitled—" A Bill to consolidate and amend the Law reiat. iuir to Highways in the Province of Nelson." The preamble recites the various j Provincial Acts and Amendment Acts, unler which Road Boards are at present operative. Repeals alt the Acts recited in the preamble, reserving t;ie of collecting, suing for, and recovering, all road rates levied under these Acts and still due and unpaid ; it also retains the existence of present B lards, until the first Monday in July, 1872. The Superintendent to proclaim districts in which the Act shall come into operation, and to limit and alter j each district from time to time as re. quired, and to revoke such proclamations when necessary. The election shall consist of every person whose name is on the Electoral R ill as enttled to vote in tl e election ot members of the Provincial Council, and if there be no Electoral Roll for any district to be constituted as aforesaid, a list shall be formed from the Electoral li'oli, and all persons whcfe names are on this list shall be entitled to take part in any general meetings and elections of members of the Board, provided that such persons shall have paid all rates levied by the Board. The iSoard shall consist of five members until the Ist day of July, 1872, and afterwards six members, three to form a quorum; provided that the Superintendent may, by proclamation, increase the number to ei-rht.

One-half of the members shall go out of office on the first Mouday in the month of July, after the election of the Board, and the remaining half in the mouth of July in the following year, and in every subsequent year those who shall have been two years in office shall go out of office on the first Monday iu the month of July. Members going out of office may be re-elected if they are qualified. On the first Monday iu the month of July next, after the constitution of any district, uider this Act, six persons shall be elected to be a Board for the District.

The election shall be made by a show of hands. r Poll taken if demanded. The polling to be by ballot. The Superintendent may, for the purpose ot electing members, divide district into sub-distiicts. Expenses of election to be paid by the Board. If electors fail to appoint or fill up vacancies in the Board, the Superh> tendent may do so. Members of Board to be disqualified on refusing to act, being absent from tho meetings for three successive months, becoming bankrupt or insolvent, or being convicted of felony, or any infamous crime. The assessments of the Board shall be male u;ion the estimated value to sell, of the lands and tenements within the district. Notices to be given of the place where the assessment maybe inspected. The Board shall levy a rate not less than one half-peony and not exceeding one penny in the pound, for the maintenance ot roads, &c. The rate shall be paid by the occupier, and if no occupier, by the owne! of the land or tenements on which it shall be assessed. The rate shall be paid to such person and in such manner as directed bj the Board. All monies levied or received under this Act shall be paid by the collectoM to the Treasurer of the district! The Superintendent may pay money appropriated by the Provincial Council to the construction and maintenance of roads, to the 8.-ard. The Board .shall have power to make contracts and appoint surveyors, &c. Every collector, treasurer, or other person appointed to levy or receive the said rates, shall give security, and, in case of default, not accounting ot failing to pay moneys into the hank, shall, for every such default, sum not exceeding £SO. The Board may impose duos upon all persons making use of auy public

Lork established in the district, under the authority of this Act. No member of the Board shall bo a contractor vvitb, or hold any paid office in the gift of, such Board. The Board to have the power to s erec t; toll-bars. | fhe tolls imposed by the Board shall lot exceed tho scale set forth in the ! schedule. \ Table of tolls shall be erected at leach gate, and tickets to be provided. ! No toll-collector shall take improper toll or obstruct passengers, &c, under a penalty of £5. jfo person shall evade payment of :tolls. &?■•, under a penalty of £2. , 'fhe Board may let tolls for any period not exceeding two years. All tolls shall be expended in making B nd maintaining trunk roads. Act not to extend to certain lands. _Jiotuing in this Act shall expend to an y lands belongiug to the Crown, unless such lands shall be leased, or held under license, nor to lauds reserved or set apart for public purposes, nor to places set apart for public worahip, or vested in trust for any public object.