THE COUNTIES BILL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 650, 22 July 1876, Page 2

THE COUNTIES BILL.

Tns Counties Bill, like most measures of the kind proposed, is ao exceedingly bulky, containing 203 clauses, that it is impossible to giro any comprehensive idea of its provision! in the columni of any but full-siaed journals. Wo shall endeavour, however, by condensing the more important, and passing over thoie clauses referring to mere matter of detail, to give our readers what they, many of them, would not otherwise obtain, a general ide* of the character of the proposed measure. Tho Act ii to comt mto operation on the anrac day as the Abolition Aot. The colony is divided into 39 connties, the boundaries of wh>.h are along the centre of roads and rivers ; certain provi»ions are uiade /or the after alteration of boundaries, and in such case adjusting liabilities, 4c. The county conned for each county to -consist of members and chairman. Members of council not to be members for c-ounty at large, but for ridings. 15. First council not to exceed botmi members, exclusive of chairman. 16. For the lirat election, the Governor may declare the number of memben each riding ihall return to <he council. After the first election, the council may alter the boundarie» of ridings, and assign number of i..emben for each io that the whole ! number of the council does not exceed nine, excluding chairman ; no council to exercise tuch powers within ninety days before the day for ormnary election. Members of ridings so altered to continue to hold seats. 18 Qualifications as members of council must be enrolled on voters* roll. 19. Until the formation of votera' roll, persons qualified wh )f e names are on the io lof road district within the oouuty, or if no board in existence if enrolled under Registration of Elictors Act, 1866, or any amendment of the same, and whoao qualification* in respect to lands and tenement! ii in men riding. The holders of miners rights and business licenset are qualified for lint election. 20. No bankrupt net hating obtained his final order of discharge, a person attained of treason, or convicttd of felony, perjury, or infamous orime, of unsound mind is qualified. 21. Holders of office in the gift of oounoil, contractor! to council, are disqualified, but not to affect an association of 20 perrons and upward! for sale, lease, or purchase of land, agreement for lease, sale, or purchase, for loan, money, 4c. Penalty for acting as member of councd when disqualified, £50; but all ncis done previously to be valid. .23. First county council to hold offire till 2nd November after day of election. 24. Subsequent council! to extend for three years. 25. Deufch, resignation, or ousting from office, absence from four consecutive nieetltiga, to constitute an extraordinary vanincy. 26 Councillors, if qualified, may be re elected. Qualification of voters :— Person! of 2L years of aye whoso names appear on the roll according to the following scale :— Lesa than L5O valuation, one vote ; LIOU, but under Ll3O, three votes ; not less than L 330, fjur Totes ; L 350 and upward*, 6to rotes. 28. Voters' roll, how formed j On or before the 31st March, each year, persons not, having paid rate to iho 31st Deoomoer preu>tw to l)e written m the defaulter! 1 list, remainder to bo enrolled, The roll may be inspected without fee during the month of April. Persons may object to the roll on tht following grounds ; non entery of name, incorrect valuation, wrong numbe- of vote* set down, that persons enrolled who hare not paid rates. Objections must be in writing. The clerk to make a list of objections, which are to be open to inspection for six days prior to the 10th of May. 10. Council to sit between the 10th and 20th of May to hear claims and objection!. The Chairman or Council to be elected. Candidate for office of chairman to deposit £10. 38. It any oandidnte does not poll on* eighth of the number polled by the auceessful candidate, such iuin to be forfeited. No person of any qualification is entitled to give mors than on* vote for the office of chxirman, who holdi office until i he third Wednesday in November following. 40. Subsequent election of chairman on last Wednetday in October every third year. 41. Ths clerk is annually to prepare a roll lor the •lection of chairman. 42. Elections to b» conducted under regulations of Local Elections Acr, J876. 43.. The chairman tx officio to be member of Counoil. 41. Vacancy provided for filling. 45 The Council may allow salary to chairman. 46 The Governor may appoint the cbainutn a Justice of t.ie Peaoe. 47 The appointment to cea*e on leaving office. 48 The chairman to bo ineligible na member otthe House of -Representatives or Legislative Council. Fir»t, election of councillors. Perions whoie names are enrolled aa voters of a road di»triot are entitled to vots. The Governor m»j declart scale of votes if no voters' roll is Provided. Persons qualified according to the .Registration of Kleoton Aot, 18IJ6, where the riding is oompos»d of several rond districts or parts, such as pa-ts ot county where road boards are not in existence fit) In everr riding, on the second oay of November, after the first election ot councillors, and on the same day of each luceesdmg third year, inembeis for each ruling to be elected. 51 Councillor elected for more than one riding to elect for which ha will serve. 56. Place of meeting of council to be fixed hf the Govornor on the third Wednesday after election. 57- Council of every county to hold annual meeting on the third Wednesday in November; any three members may require a special meeting to be hel.i. 58. Council may appoint the place of meeting, nnd if necessary outside the limits of the county. 59. Questions to be decided by open voting, and by the majority ; chairman to preiide, and hare the casting vote. Crt. Four member*, including tho chairman, to bo a quorum. 61. A member not to vote on a question in which he may have a I ecuniary interest under a penalty not exceeding £ 0. 62. Members may adjourn the meeting from time to tune. (33. Where "special orders" are re'erred to in this Act, the business must be done at a special meeting, of which notice has been given and confirmed at a subsequent meeting, not sooner than iour weeks from the preceding meeting ; »uch subsequent meeting to have been four timei notified. 64 The council may make, repeal, or alter by-laws. 65 The by-laws muit be made special orders, and published* seven clear dayi before being considered. They J must have a corporate seal, and not come into •peration until approved by the Colonial Seorettrj. 66 The Governor may disallow any by-law within six months after receipt, and it ceases after being gazetted, but does not invalidate previous thing! done thereunder. The bj-lawi must be publisher! seven clear dayi before coming into foroe. 67 Penalties shall not relieve the offender from liability under other remedies. 69 Printed copies of the by-laws to be kept by the council. 70 The council may make by-lawi to repeal others, to regulate meetings, proceedings, debutes, 4c, to regulate services and remuneration of officers, and for the purposes mentioned in Clauses 135, 138, 139, 14 L, and 144 of this Aot 85 County funds to consist of rates made and levied, tolls on county roads, and rents of tolls, moneys received under any grant or Act of the General Aisembly, license fees from liquors, 4c, dog taxes, hawkers, pedlars, brewers' licenses, or feesdeiived under Provincial Act er Ordinance payable to any body corporate of county or council, may be empowered to receive residue of any land revenue available for distribution ; rents and profits from property vested in the body corporate, fines aud penalties recovered under this Act, or by-law thereunder ; moneys by way of loan, subscriptions or donations, and all othsr moneys which may become the property of the body corporate. 86 Such moneys to be paid into an account called the county fund. 87. Fmea to be ditto. 88 Council to appoint the bank. 89 Acoount to be operated upon by the signature of the treasurer of the council, counterrignsd by two appointed members. 30 The council is empowered to lnvy rates, estimates to be previously prepared, showing amount so availab'o and required*. The total rateable value of property on roll rate thereon necessary, and the estimate being approved by tho counoil, to bo publicly notified 14 days before date. 91 The council may make a separate rate for works in any particular district, f 2 Such a rate only to bo made on » petmon signe I by one-third of the latepayers. 93 The council may apply auch specul vote to worku, specified, or to recoup jirenoiu outlay thereon. 94 Proceeds of separate

rates mar be apportioned by agreement of different councils where special rate for worki U jamtly beneficial. 95 A •pecial rate may bi levied for the paymont of interest and linking fund iit IV *r Th ? COUDC 'l "»7 «"nend the •pecial rule. 97 Wo special rate shall b» quashed by any proceedings in any Court whaUver. S3 No general or separate rate in any year to exceed li QQ n^ I vv P ° n 7* lue of rat « sble Property. 99 Rates be made and lerted in accordance 7nn ,tT? proTlllons of thB R»ting Act, 1873luu ttateti may be remitted in eaies of •xtreme porerty upon petition. {To be concluded in onrnext.)