The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 163, 15 July 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 15, 1867.

Amongst the various topics which figure in the speech delivered on Tuesday last, at the opening of the General Assembly, there is probably none which •will create more general curiosity and discussion than that which alludes to the proposed measure for the establishment of local sell-government generalty throughout the colony. As this experiment has beeu already tried in some of the Australian colonies it may be no unprofitable task to inquire what success has attended the introduction of similar measures there. In the year 1542 the Imperial Parliament passed an Act for the better government of the Australian colonies, which, among other matters, contained a power to the various legislatures to establish local selfgovernment by district councils. These institutions were accordingly attempted in New South Wales, both in the middle and Port Philip districts; but from a defect in their organisation, chiefly the want of sufficient powers, they did not work well and fell into disuse, the form of municipal government being confined to the principal townships only. At Adelaide however the Government were more liberal. They there placed the wort ing of the district councils entirely in the hands of the people, Power was given to levy assessments for making roads, and to raise loans for other improvements, to license public-houses, to grant timber and grazing licenses, and to regulate the depasturing of Crown lands within the district, according to the quantity of purchased lands occupied by the settlers. They had authority over pounds and pouudkeepers, the slaughtering and branding of cattle, the inspection of weights and measures; and they were likewise invested with the powers and authorities exercised by a bench of magistrates. The wisdom of the Government in South Australia was speedily demonstrated. Not only was the municipal system adopted by the towns; it spread rapidly throughout the country, and we understand that there are now, independently of the urban councillors, upwards of sixty rural councils, forming a network of municipalities over all the settled districts. A strong feeling was manifested in Victoria,shortly after its separation from New South Wales, in favor of the establishment of an efficient municipal system in that ! colony. In 1853 an Act was passed which established a tolerably good imitation of ! municipalities, in the shape of road boards, and soon afterwards Captain Clarke introduced a bill embodying the South Australian system of urban municipalities. This Act however provided that no municipality should comprehend a greater area than nine square miles, and thus the operation of the Act was restricted to urban localities, and the system of councils in agricultural districts, with full powers, which in South Australia had proved as successful as the urban municipalities in Victoria, was not tried in the latter colony until the year 1860. In that year however a measure was passed to establish district councils for the better management and governing of local affairs, which has proved signally successful and beneficial in the highest degree to the localities in which the Act was brought into operation. The powers conferred on these muuici-

palities were very extensive. All public roads, bridges, wharves, jetties, piers, and all main roads, after construction, were placed under their control aud management; and in order to provide funds they were empowered not only to impose assessments, but to raise loans. To provide for interest and repayment, they were also empowered to levy a special rate, if sanctioned by the ratepayers; to establish tollgates and ferries, and they were invested with ample authority for taking land for roads, and for impressing the various means of communication. In addition to these they possessed the various powers, as before mentioned, passed by the South Australian councils — the power of a beuch of magistrates for licensing public-houses, of granting depasturing licenses, timber and quarrying licenses, the management and control of pounds and slaughterhouses. The whole powers aud authorities hi reference to the above vested by various Acts in any bench of magistrates were transferred to the district councils, who were also empowered to make by-laws for regulating the various matters coufi led as above to their care. Of course, at the present moment we arc entirely ignorant of the precise character of the measure which the Government had had under its consideration during the recess, but from the various indications of its nature which crop out in the Viceregal speech, we may reasonably anticipate that it will, in its main features at least, resemble the kindred measures which have proved so highly beneficial to South Australia and Victoria. In those colonies, one great benefit has beeu the execution of public improvements exactly where they were most wanted, and at a minimum cost. To the General Government, as his Excellency hints, such councils would afford immense relief, and, judging from the experience of the two colonies to which we have alluded, would ere long enable the Government to reduce the staff of the public establishments at least one half. We may consider too the training in political life, and the education in all respects that the country gentlemen will receive, fitting them to act well their part when elevated to the dignity of colonial legislators. It can hardly be expected that this important measure will be passed without considerable opposition and discussion, though, fortunately, it is not at all connected with party politics. We trust however that the Assembly will, to employ the language of his Excellency, give the measure "their earnest and careful consideration," and that we shall see the measure become law at no very distant period.