WAIKOA : REGISTERING UNPAID RATES AGAINST LAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIX, Issue 4917, 29 May 1873, Page 3

WAIKOA : REGISTERING UNPAID RATES AGAINST LAND.

A I'unuc meeting of Wairoa settlers was hold in the otlice of the District Board, on Monday c\emng, the 20th mat., to take into consideration the opinion of F. A. Whitakar, Esq., on tho Thistle Act, I80S ; also to advise the Board as to registering unpaid rates against tho land. Mr. Jaines Bell wa3 called to the chair, and addressed the meeting aa follows . — Gentlemen, as Okairman of the Highway Boaid 1 consider it my duty to bring under your notice the ascertained fact that tho Thistle Act, 1S38, is unworkable, and a d^ad-letter. Tho Board thought it advisable to consult Mr. Whitaker, as the best authority, for information as to the powers the Board oould exeicise under the Act, as delegated by the Superintendent. Mr. Whitaker informs us that tho Board has no power to enforce any of tho provisions of the Act ; that the3id section appears to be in contravention of the Provincial Councils' Powers Act, 183G, and the Attorney General has declared the 3th section to he ultra vires and illegal. To a question put, he answered, the Thistle Act, 1838, cannot oveirule tho Constitution Act. A junior solicitor informs us it can, as tho fine may accumulate over £100, which the Constitution Act does not admit. It appears thoro is no law at present against tho grovrth and spread of noxious thistles. This is much to be regretted for the interest and welfare of new districts unpolluted. I had a conversation lately with one of tho Provincial Executive. He thought there waa no uso foi tho Thistle Act. You have also seen the Fencing Act discusied in the Provincial Council by some as being unfair, needless, and unjust. Tho only excuse for such arguments, in my opinion, is ignorance and inetpenenco of country life. I am well aware of the feelings of land speculators, mortgagees, and money-dealers ; their only desire and pleasure in country life is calculating their gains and the increased value of their estates. Koad ratos, boundary fences, and noxious thistlos to them are unimportant, and out of their Imo of business. There is not a Koad Board but will admit that the Highways Act is the best boon and gieatest pnvilego the country is endowed with ; still, it requiros amendment. The absentees' rates should he dealt with as a common debt, and in a less round-about way than registering claims against tho land. The Fencing Act is just between man and man ; yet, I am suiry to say, wire fencing — the best of any — is not legal. Neither is a double ditch with sod banks, which is a very convenient fence where timber is scarce. A good and workable Thistle Act is of the greatest importance to country districts. It is swimming against tho vtream, and double labour, for any one to keep hi» farm clean when it is annually polluted by a negligent neighbour. Government reservos are as bad, and are a disgrace in some oases ; but theie aro now few districts endowed with Government reserves. It la the duty of Highway Boards and Agiicultural Socioties to discuss and acquaint our leprescntatives and rulers with the diihculties that exist in our laws of local self-government. I endorse the opinion of Mi. J. Gordon, M P.C , that the Highways Act, Penciiif; Act, Thistle Act, and Weedy and Wateicourses Act should all be lemodolled under one Act — After some discussion on the various Acts mentioucd in the chairman's add i ens, Mr. John Dow moved. " That tho chairman of the District Board write to the lepresentatives for the district, also to the neighboming Highway Boardi», asking them to use then mflueuco in getting tho various Acts relating to Highway Boards remodellod uuder ono good workablo Act." — Mi. D Crawfoid hlcoik1> d the motion, which was agreed to — In answer to a question, the Chairman stated that tho unpaid ab»cnteea' rates woio mostly small sums, and the laud, as a Mile, was pool — Mi 'I Hydo moved, " That no steps bo taken m the meantime* to icgihtei unpaid intos against the laud." — Seconded by Mr T Mini ay, and agreed to — A vote of thanlvH to tho ehanman was passed, and tho meeting terminated. — [Coricnpondpnt. ]

The posthumous woiks of N.ipoloon III. editocl l>y the (Jomto do la Chapelle, nro announced,