Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1807.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 856, 6 July 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1807.

Local taxation, which for some time back has been vaguely talked about, is now about to become a reality. The Provincial revenue is no longer adequate to the maintenance of roads and other public works ; and a Highway's Act, a Town Boards Act, and' a Toll Grate Act, are among the measures announced to be brought forward iv the Council. The two first are indispensable j the last will be matter of discussion. However necessary it m&y appear to be, a toll-gate outside the town boundary will act very oppressively upou the residents of Wapier, who will be debarred the opportunity of breathing fresh air without having to pay for the privilege. An Educational Kate Bill will probably follow. Iv general business, very little has been done by the Council during the week. The sittings, indeed, have been mere shams — two hours on Thursday,, and one hour yesterday, having been the time devoted to public business. The fault, however, does not lie with the Council. The government — no doubt unavoidably — is singularly behind in its preparations. Although now sitting for a fortnight, neither estimates

nor any other government measure (except a Sheep aud Scab Amendment Act) has been placed before the Council. Of the Bills brought forward, by private members, the Thistle Bill was withdrawn, but uotice has' been given for another, in a simpler form, aud to apply to certain districts only ; — the Cattle Trespass Bill has been passed j —the Fencing Bill been referred to a select committee j aud the Cemeteries Bill been read a first time. A good deal of business is on the paper for Tuesday next \ and the estimates, in all probability, will also be laid ou the table. *