AUCKLAND BILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 249, 18 October 1904, Page 3

AUCKLAND BILLS.

CITY ; GOUNCIL WATER BILL IMPORT-AXT AMENDMENTS. (By TeAegraun.—Parlhuneatary , Beporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Auckland Waterworks Extension BiH (Mr Kidd), providing for the permanent water-supply scheme for Auefcland, was read a second time in the j House yesterday afternoon without discussionl, and" was subsequently passed through its final« stages with some amendment. The bill- enables the Auckland City Council to,borrow £150,000 for the purpose of extending the waterworks. The Premier said that he had been advised by the Crown Law officers that some extraordinary alterations were made in the existing law by the bill in regard to the . definition of riparian rights. Ordinary riparian rights had been takeD away by the bill. The bill defined riparian" rights as simply the taking of water, while ordinary riparian i rights meant much more than that. Mr Allen raised a point of order whe- j ther the bill, ar. it dealt with the rights ; of private citizens, was not a. private bill. The chairman said that he did not feel called upon to rule that it was, since the bill.had been dealt with by a committee and referred by it to the House. The bill did not appear to deal with private rights. . ; Mr Allen said that the bill the people and their land. Mr Geo. Fowlds; speaking to the point of order, said that there were practically no local bills which did not in some way deal with private rights. The Premier said that th« difficulty was that if they took away the rights of private holders they would have these people . petitioning to Parliament for redress. The holders of riparian rights were sufficiently defined < under the Public Works Act, and he moved to delete from the bill the , clause defining riparian rights. After some discussion this was agreedto. Sir Wm. Russell pointed out that no compensation was provided for farmers :on the banks of the stream whose properties might be injured by the Act, and clause 3, giving the corporation power to take water, was passed after an amendment had been added, providing that coEap!iii63.tion shall be payable in full in respect of land and watter to all persons whose rights are prejudicially affected, as provided under the Public Works Act. Amendments to similar effect, extending the power from holders of riparian rights to all prejudicially affected were made throughout the bill. An important amendment was made to clause S. This clause provided that the corporation should have power within two years to acquire the fee simple of any lands within the catchment area. The Premier. thought this was too j long to keep people waiting, since the | value of their lands would be depreciated by the effect'of the bill; and the time was reduced on his motion to six months. The bill was then reported as amended, and was read a third time. . SHOAL BAY. When the second reading of the Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr Alison) was called on yesterday afternoon the Premier asked for some explanation. ' '.: The bill provides for the vesting of 19. acres of Shoal Bay, now owned by tne Auckland Harbour Board, subject to the extinction of (riparian rights ani right of access by water. The Premier asked whether the Harbour Board's consent to the transfer had boon obtained. The land belonged to the Harbour Board, and as such was private land. Then the House should know whether the owners who had riparian rights and rights of access by water had given their consent. Mr Fisher said that the. proper parties to object were the Auckland Harbour Board, and' there had been no protest from them, so that it was to bt implied that their consent had been given. The Premier said that the House should also be informed whether the consent of the private persons interested had been given. Mr Alison said that the land concerned was the property of the Auckland Harbour Board, which had agreed by resolution to its being transferred toDevonport as a reserve for the people. Everyone was agreed, and there was no objection from the owners of adjoining property, who had individually given consent to the extinction of riparian rights. The land was ol no use to the Harbour Board, and never would be, but would be of much benefit to the people of Devonport as a public domain and recreation ground. Mr Alison's explanation resulted in j the motion that the bill be' read a second time being carried unanimously. ' : Subsequently the bill passed its'final stages. AUCKLAND SAVINGS BANK. Last night in the House was devoted to -priv-ate members'bills, and when shortly after midnight the Premier said that he wished the House to adjourn at 12.30, Mr. Baume moved thai the Savings Bauk3 Profits Bill, which was introduced with the object of allowing the Auckland Savings Bank to devote a portion of its profits to the Auckland University. Coufleil and other Auckland educational institutions, be discharged from, the Order Paper, this was: agreed to cv the voices, and the bill: will accordingly proceed no further. REMUERA ROAD DISTRICT. The Remuera Road District Borrowing Bill was finally passed. The bill enables the Eemuera Road Board to borrow £4000 at 4* per cent., with a one per cent, sinking fund, for the kerbing, channelling, and re-forming of Remueraroad, and of Market-road at it 3 junction therewith. ■ Some little discussion arose while the bill was in Committee. Mr. Allen wanted to know why a poll of the ratepayers had not been taken before the work had besn commenced. It seemed to him that in this precedent, all that a local body would have to do would be to commence a.work ar.d then come to Parliament for the money, thus defeating the principles of the Municipal Act. .■ ■; > '- .;. -; Mr. La wry explained that the roads had been cut up in eonneeticu with the tramway works, and that as a matter of urgency the work had to be undertaken by the corporation. •" . . • Mr. Tanner said that in all civilised countries, wheiaa tramway construction company cut up, a roadway, it always put it in-repair again. Mr. Allen .thought that some more adequate explanation of the position should be gfretu - : '■" ~ '- : Mr. Lawry .countered by saying that" the bill was rendered necessdry by. tb» jbl-cßSer of one ySo n?.-d iki Mr. /i!te&. \fXi<i. had taught" hka- tii politics; il»

Hon. Ed. Mitchelaon, chairman of the Remuara Koad, '.'Board. He went on to say that the bill- was designed to simplify a tangle which had .occurred. Unless the r ratepayers E&nctioaed it,' the loan could not be obtained. The responsibility ley entirely -with the ratepayers. After further discussion the bill was read a second time and finally passed. CITY LOAN ACT. The Auckland City Borrowing Act was passed through, all its stages in the J House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, on the motion of Mr. Alf. Kidd, who briefly explained its provisions. The bill enables the City Council to raise the remainder of its loan on £100,000 at 4A per cent., instead of the four per cent, contained' in tha original Act.