TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 808, 21 August 1877, Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1877.

The District Kjiilways Bill, to give permission to others than the Government to construct railways in New Zealand is before the House, and permission is all that it seemi n gty g ive s ; for though a company undertaking the work is to receive a guarantee from the consolidated fund of 7 per cent, per annum, the said 7 per cent is fust to be paid in from a special rate levied in the several boroughs and Counties interested. The company undertaking the construction of the railway must, on application to do so, classify the lands to be benefitted by such work, under the four following heads :~ Ist. Lands receiving or supposed to receive immediate and direct benefit from the construction of the railway. 2nd. Lands receiving or supposed to receive less direct benefit. 3rd. Lands receiving only the benefit incidental to or derived generally from the construction of such railway. 4th. All other lands (if any) affected. Then, within thirty days, the company must transmit to the Council of each County wholly or partly comprised in the proposed district an application containing or accompanied by the following particulars : — (1) A copy of the plan and book of reference, and an estimate of the cost of the proposed railway and of the equipment thereof. (2) A statement of the maximum rate of tolls and charges for the carriage of animals, goods, merchandise, and passengers proposed to be charged on such railway. (3) A statement of the maximum rent or charge to be made for the storage of goods, produce, or merchandise. 4 (4) A statement of the minimum number of trains to be run daily. (5) A specification of the rate it is proposed to levy in respect of the various classes of land hereinbefore mentioned. The next step is to be taken by the Counties comprised in the districts interested in the proposed railway. Each such Council shall, not later than H days after the receipt of such application, hold a special meeting to take into congideration the proposals of the company, and may thereupon pass a resolution consenting to such proposals, or a modification thereof, as may be thought fit. If it shall be Found that the majority of such Councils agree to the proposals of the company or any modification thereof, or if sueh Councils shall be equally divided in opinion thereon, proceedings shall nevertheless be taken to ascertain the votes of the ratepayers as hereinafter provided out if such majority shall decline to* sonsent to such proposals, or a Modification thereof, no further pro-

ceedings shall be taken by the company thereon. A copy of the resolution of each 'Council, sealed with the seal of the Council, shall be evidence that such consent hps been given or withheld, as ,niay be tfierein expressed. Within 60 days from the deposit of the plan and tfook of reference the .Voles of the 'ratepayers resident within the proposed district at the time of the voting shall be taken as hereinafter provided, and if one half of the whole body of such ratepayers shall object to the construction of the proposed railway then the Governor shall declare his disapproval oi the^construction of such rail way. The votes of the ratepayers shall be ascertained in accordance with the provisions ol this Act, and such v.»fces shall be calculated on the scale provided by any Act or ordinance for the time being in force in the dis'tricb regulating the manner in which votes mav be given by the ratepayers in the election of. the^ local governing bodies, wholly or' partly inclnded in such district. For the purposes oJ this Act, the whole of the rate .•payers resident in the proposed district at the time the votes art taken shall be deemed to be one body, so that the question tc be decided under this Act shal be decided by the majority oi the votes of such ratepayers The Act then goes on to provide for the efficient working and main tenance of such railways, the taking of land, and compensation for same the right of the Government tc p&rchase at any time, &c., and then comes to the guarantee of interesi of cost. Every company constructing a railway is to be guaranteed 7 p« cent, on its cost, to be charged oc the Consolidated Revenue, and which shall be raised by each Borough or Council by means of i special rate, not exceeding 1 5 pei cent. The rate is to be based upor the classification of, lands in the district. All the rates ievied oi received by the Borough or County to be paid to a separate occount, anc shall be payed therout to the company. The Colonial Treasurer shal pay to the company the charge oc the Consolidated Revenue. If the profits of the company amount to 1 per cent., then no rate shall b< levied, but after the expiration o: five years from the opening of th( railway for traffic not less than 2( per cent, of the gross receipts de rived from the railway shall be deemed, to be profits derived fron the working thereof. The meaning of this provision being that noi more than 80 per cent, of suet receipts shall be expended in the working and maintenance of the railway. Waste lands open foi sale may be rated, but no rate is tc be levied lintil the line is open foi traffic. The expression "cost oi railway " shall include the original cost of acquiring the land and the erection of the railway works. Anj dispute as to the cost of the railway shall be settled by commissioners appointed by the Governor, who can receive evidence upon oath. In plain words, the Railway District Act, if it becomes law, will enable districts, less fortunate than others adjacent to main trunk lines, tc guarantee, from their own rates private capitalists in the construe tion of branch railways. The neglected out-districts ask the Government for bread, and it gives tnem — a stone..