43

A.—6o.

Public Works.

(8.) Such Commissioner shall report to the Governor, after such inquiry as he deems requisite and reasonable, his opinion as to the matters respecting which he was appointed to report; but it shall not be obligatory upon the Governor to act in accordance with any opinion that 5 may be expressed by such Commissioner, nor to give effect to any recommendation that may be contained in his report. (9.) All costs, charges, and expenses attending or incidental to the exercise of the powers conferred upon the Governor, or upon such Commissioner or other persons, shall be a charge upon the revenues of such 10 local authority or local authorities as the Governor directs, and may be recovered as a debt due to His Majesty in any Court of competent jurisdiction. (10.) In case any local authority or local authorities refuses or neglects to maintain, work, improve, or repair any bridge, ferry, or ford (including 15 the working of swing- or lifting-spans in bridges, where such have been provided) under its or their care, control, and management, or to reconstruct any such bridge, ferry, or ford when requisite, the Minister may undertake such maintenance, repairs, improvements, or reconstruction in the place of the local authority or local authorities so refusing 20 or neglecting as aforesaid, and may provide for the care, working, and management of such bridge, ford, or ferry, and may recover all costs, charges, and expenses attending or incidental to his so doing from such local authority or local authorities, as a debt due to His Majesty, in any Court of competent jurisdiction. 25 (11.) In the exercise of the authority conferred upon him by this section the Minister, and any and every person authorised by him, shall have all the powers and authorities which under any law are or may be vested in or could be exercised by the local authority or local authorities in the place of which the Minister is acting. 30 (12.) Any Proclamation or instrument heretofore issued or made under any of the compiled Acts or any Act thereby repealed, vesting the controHof any bridge, ferry, or ford, and apportioning the cost of maintenance thereof, may be revoked, altered, or varied by the Governor from time to time as he may deem expedient, subject to the provisions 35 of this Act. 120. Any local authority having control of a ferry may let such ferry for a period not exceeding three years. Other Provisions. 121. Where any local authority is notified that accrued "thirds" 40 or " fourths " are available for expenditure, and for a period of not less than eighteen months fails to utilise the same, the Minister may give such local authority six months' notice to put in hand works approved by the Land Board to the value thereof; and if during that period the local authority fails so to do, the expenditure of the " thirds" or 45 "fourths" as aforesaid may be undertaken by the Minister, and all rights of the local authority thereto shall be determined. 122. The Governor may authorise any local authority to sell or contract to sell and remove any timber, stone, mineral, metal, or other substance upon or under any land vested in it or placed under its control 50 for a public road or other public work :

Cost of exercising powers to be paid by local authority.

Power to Minister to maintain bridge &c, in case of refusal by local authority, and recover cost.

Proclamation may be varied, altered, or revoked.

Local authority may let ferry for three years. 1894, No. 42, sec. 115

Expenditure of thirds and fourths. 1904, No. 46, sec. 6

Local authority may sell stone, &o. 1900, No. 47, sec. 19