D.—No. 7.

TABULAR STATEMENT OF PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF ROAD BOARDS THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND.

PEOTINCE. Act or Ordinance establishing Highway or Road Districts. Number and Average Area of Districts (in Acres). Mode of Bating (acreage or otherwise) and Average Amount of Rate. Amount raised by Eate during year ending 31st December, 1367, in each Province (excluding principal Municipalities.) Amount of Endowments or Contributions (if any) to Eoad Districts. Amount raised from Toll Bars, &e. (if any). Cost of Management in each Province, for year ending 31st December, 1867. Mode of Election of Board, Wardens, or Trustees. Number of Board, Wardens, &c, as fixed by Ordinance. Powers of Boards, and if they include construction and repairs of Main Eoads. If any original Districts nave amalgamated. EEMAEKS. Auckland 1 Highways Act, 1867," (repealing former Acts) validated by Act of General Assembly, (Session of 1867) Average of 18 districts returned is above 17,000 acres. They vary in size from 700 to 55,000 acres. There are no less than 106 legally constituted districts, but of this number in only 37 apparently has any action ensued on the part of the settlers Number of districts, 21. Total area, 86,838 On acreage. Must not exceed Is. an acre. With consent of majority of ratepayers rate may be on the value to sell. By the Act of 1862 not to exceed 3d. in the pound, but now, by the Act of 1867, reduced to lid. The rates actually levied during the year, in 17 districts returned, have varied from Id. to (in one instance) 9d. per' acre; they were 3d. generally. Amount raised in 17 districts, £3,092 2s. 2d. No Municipalities in Province, unless it be the Town Board of City of Auckland For the 18 districts returned, the sum stated as received from the Government during the year ending December, 1867, 1* but £64 —from other sources, £368. Total receipts, £2,843- Total expenditure, £2,590. A sum equal to rates levied may be and has, until lately, generally been contributed from provincial funds. Lands may be appropriated for the purpose where money cannot be given ]STet Amount raised from 3 toll bar3 (on main roads) applied to repair and maintenance of same by Provincial (government Management expenses in some cases amount to J of the rates. In Mangere, the model district of the Province, no outlay of this nature is incurred (it is believed). For the year 1867, and the 18 districts which have sent in Eeturns, the outlay on salaries, &c, is stated to have been £312 By votes of owners and occupiers, in proportion to property rated, who fix rates and prepare assessment lists, (6 votes the maximum) Five Highway Trustees Highway trustees may have charge given them by Superintendent of other works and expenditure in district, and receive contributions for same, and they may berequired by Superintendent, who has power to declare roads to be main thoroughfares, to clear, open, and form such roads No. The tendency of things is the other way— that is, to split up By " The Weeds and Watercourses Act, 1866," the District Highway trustees are to enforce the provisions of that Act, as regards roads, &c, under their charge, and by clause 42 of " The Highways Act, 1867," the powers of the Superintendent, under " The Thistle Act, 1858," may be delegated to them. They may also, by "The Education Act, 1868," impose rates for purposes of Education. In the last session of the Provincial Council, upon the report of a Select Committee, it was resolved (without a division) that any new Bill to amend "The Highways Act, 1867," should provide for levying a rate upon the principle of valuation only. ' Eoads and Bridges Act, 1858," (validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) On acreage. Eates vary from 3d. to 9d £325. From other sources, £32 5s. 2id. £14 19s. lOd. Expenses of management restricted by Ordinance to 5 per cent, on the total revenue received, and in most cases that limit is not reached By occupiers and owners, (3 votes the maximum) Three (termed Eoad Commissioners) Main roads included The total revenue of the Taranaki Boards, from all sources, was £2,259 6s. 5}d., of which there was expended on main roads £343 12s., upon district roads £1,481 15s. 10id., and upon salaries and other expenses of management £14 19s. lOd. • The Town of New Plymouth has raised, by rates at 2d. in the pound during the year, and expended, £700. £1,897 Is. 3d. including Town of New Plymouth Nil Taeanaki WELLINGTON... " An Act to amend and consolidate the laws relating to District Highways, 1867," (validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) 42 (excluding the Towns of Wellington and Wanganui, which are each working under special Act) having an average area of about 16,000 acres. On acreage, bvit not necessarily a uniform rate. Must not exceed Is. for construction, and 9d. for maintenance and repairs ; and Board of Wardens may exonerate, either wholly or in part, any land from such rate. (Section 16, "District Highways Act, 1867.") £5,098 3s. 6d. (for year ending 31 March, 1867) £8,698 18s. 7d. (for year ending 31 March, 18C8) One toll bar: proceeds from it, £1,851; expenses, — £170; balance, £1681, paid into Provincial Treasury Total outlay for salaries, supervision of works, collection of rates, and clerical assistance, does not exceed £300 per annum, in addition to the salary of one Provincial Engineer, whose time is devoted to the work of District Boards. The Town Boards of Wellington and Wanganui expend together £500, in addition to above £300 By votes of ratepayers in proportion to number of acres assessed, (7 votes, the maximum) Not more than six nor less than four District roads only ... No. The tendency is to divide " The Public Boards Act, 1856," authorizing the Superintendent to establish in any district, boards for the execution of local public works, is still on the Provincial Statute Book, but has not, apparently, been acted upon, except for a short time in the Town of Wanganui. The expenditure on repairs of main roads in the Province during year ending 31st March, 1808, appears to have amounted to £4,534 14s. 4d. The total cost, to same date, of District Eoads, was £82,927—of which was raised by rates, £26,647; and contributed from Eevenue, £56,280. The average cost per mile of Eoad made, was £356, exclusive of salary of Provincial Engineer. Nelson "Country Eoads Act, 1856," "Country Eoads Amendment Acts, 1858 and 1863," (validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) Number of districts, 9: area from 19,200 to 640,000 On value to sell. Eates vary from |d. to lid. per pound of valuation. Special rates vary from id. to 3d. £2,750 5s. 5d. Endowed with proceeds of dog tax, amounting last year to £257 14s. Eates always supplemented by votes from Provincial Council. (See Eemarks) One toll bar ; proceeds, — £77412s. 5d., applied to maintenance of Trunk Waimea Eoad £524 4s. By the ratepayers, who have none more than a single vote Five To levy rates not exceeding 2d. per £ 1 for making and maintaining roads proclaimedas Trunk Eoads, and other roads; also special rates for repairs of bye-roads; to abate nuisances, &c. The 4 old Waimea districts have been combined into one, and now comprise an area of about 40,000 acres The value of property in the Province of Nelson, (as rated for road purposes,) has been recently returned as amounting to £884,409 5s. 6d. The various road boards appear to have received from Provincial Government £4,333 12s. 10d., and from other sources £301 18s. OJd., during the year ending December 31, 1867, besides the rates. acres MaelbobOTOH "Act to provide for the making and maintaining of Eoads, 1867" (validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) Number of districts constituted, 21: area of each, 141,857 Eates authorized from Id. to 4s. 2d. per acre, according to classification of land rated No rates as yet levied No fixed subsidy, but any appropriations made by Provincial Council to be handed over for expenditure by the Boards Nil By ratepayers (after first election) in proportion to assessment. Maximum of votes, 3 By votes of holders of pro: perty on revised Batepayers Eoll, in proportion to property assessed. Maximum of votes by one person —5 Fire Wo district boards formed as yet The Act of 1867 can hardly be said to be in practical operation. No reports, as yet, nave been received from the commissioners appointed by Superintendent to classify the lands. Cantebbtjry ... On annual value of property to let, if leased for not exceeding 7 years. Sheep are rated on a certain net annual value per 1000 (£70). I £3,676 lls.lOd. from 11 districts, rating from 6d. to 9d. in the £1 £34,973 12s. Id. during year ending 31 December, 1867 Nil £4,194 4s. 9d. The Provincial Government does not furnish any professional assistance to the District Boards, and, gonerally, each has its own Surveyor or Engineer, and Clerk Five May levy special rates for special purposes, or for portions of District, up to 2s. in the £1 on the property included ; but ordinary general rates must not exceed Is. in the £1. Main roads not excluded. (See Bemarks.) Board can prohibit straying of horses, cattle, &c, on roads, and require watercourses to bo cleared, and gorse hedges along highways to be cut, by owners and occupiers of land contiguous thereto. Eesolutions of Provincial Council in 1864, provided for a contribution to each district in something like a definite proportion to the land fund realized from it; but the payments heretofore made have, from various causes, not corresponded to that intention. . "EoadsOrdinance, 1864." "Eoads Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1866." " Sheep-Eating Ordinance, 1866." "Sheep-Eat-ing Ordinance, 1866, Amendment Ordinance, 1867." (Validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) Number of districts defined: 30. Average area, 310,424 acres. 28 returned comprise— 8,691,857 acres Annual value of rateable property in the 28 districts (exclusive of Waipara) stated at £371,795 £8,922 12b. 9d. (for year ending 31 March, 1868) The expenditure on Main Roads during the year 1867 was apparently, on Main Eoads, £16,552 16s., and on District Eoads, £13,30612s. 3d., besides cost of management Ota&o " Otago Eoads Ordinance, 1865." " Otago Eoads Ordinance, 1865, Extension and Amendment Ordinance, 1866." (Validated by Act of General Assembly, Session of 1867) Number of districts : 107. Average area, 2,500 acres. Number of districts which have rated: 64. Area of ditto, 339,215 Acreage. Eates have varied from 3d. to Is. per acre; but either general or special rates may be increased (with consent of twothirds of ratepayers) beyond Is. Eates on the annual value however, may be, and have been, adopted (with consent of General Eoad Board), and then no maximum is laid, down. They £17,84'?) (which includes certain small Municipalities), being in the proportion of two to one of rates. Of the above amount, £11,596 18s. 3d. only is the sum actually paid within the year; but the balance would, it is understood, be available on application to Provincial 13, en main roads Estimated revenue for year ending 31 March, 1869, £12,000; cost of cclleetion, £1,100. Proceeds of tolls paid into Provincial Treasury Districts have no Engineer or other professional officer beyond those of the Provincial Government or General Eoad Board, whose Inspector supervises, generally, the work of the District Boards. In the 64 Districts which rated themselves in year 1867-8, the total amount expended in salaries and management was £486. In 40 of these Districts the work was all done gratuitously, and the average in the other 24 was only about £8 each, the highest being £60 By ratepayers, having votes, according to net annual property rated, from one vote to five Five May levy yearly rate, and also special rates for particular portions of District. May borrow (with consent of G-eneral Eoad Board) on security of rates, for making or maintain - ing, or improving No. The tendency is the other way A General Eoad Board exists in Otago, under whose supervision are all public roads, and the expenditure on them, as well as management. This Board classifies roads into Main, Main District, and District Eoads, and may re-class them. At the last Session of the Provincial Council, it was proposed to apply to the Assembly to grant greater powers and larger areas to the Districts, and to endow others with Waste 2d. in the £1 to Is. 6d. The majority were Is. IP" juanos oi tnc tjrown, m certain proportions, and under certain conditions. Eegulations for Supplementing Local Eoad Boards, &o., appeared in the Otago Government Gazette, of 6th February, 1867. On acreage. Eate not to exceed 2d. per acre, unless with consent of ratepayers holding twothirds of the whole assessed area of district | No fixed endowment, but the expenditure of any money roted Sy the Provincial Council is provided for by the Ordinance Nil Five Southland ... " Southland Eoads Ordinance, 1862," "Tolls Ordinance, 1866," "Eoads Ordinance 1862 Amendment Ordinance, 1867," (validated by Act of the Genera] Assembly, Session of 1867) 10,900 (Oturewa, the only existing district apparently) By ratepayers. (Number of votes not prescribed) Includes all roads, &c. Trustees (for the single district) elected 21st March, 1864, but no return of their proceedings (if any) seems obtainable. The practice hitherto in Southland with regard to roads and road improvements, has been for the inhabitants concerned in any particular work or improvement to agree to subscribe amongst themselves for its execution, and after inspection of the ground and valuation of the cost by the Provincial Engineer, to receive from the Provincial Treasury a contribution towards it of about one-half the amount. Westland ... " County of WeBtland Act, 1867," and Orders in Council under the same 5 Eoad Districts, viz., — Grey, Arahura, Totara, Okarita, Kaneri; tlie 5 districts comprising together the whole area of the County, or about 2,500,000 acres Eegulations for the levying and collection of rates on assessed value by four of the five Eoad Boards, made by Order in Council in New Zealand Gazette of June 8th, 1868. —No general or special rate in any one year to exceed Is. on the assessed value No rates as yet levied by Eoad Boards Eecoive surplus revenue of the County, which is divided between the several Eoad Boards and Municipalities, not in fixed sums but in certain fixed proportions regulated according to the apparent wants of the locality. They also receive a fixed proportion (at present 75 per cent.) of the land sales ; but in future, as the Council intends itself to undertake the care of main roads, the proportion given will probably be reduced to 40 or 50 per cent, of the sales Elected by persons qualified to vote for Members of the County Council, and holders of Miners' Eights and Business LiFive Boards have power to levy rates for general purposes, and special rates for special purposes Orders in Council of the 8th January and the 4th July established the several Westland Eoad Boards. The two Municipalities of Hokitika and Greymouth are under " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1867." ■ censes le Province of ! iwke's Bay having no Eoad Districts or Eoad Bates has been omitted from the ibove Statement.