NEW BILLS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, December 8.

Otago Witness, Issue 2285, 16 December 1897, Page 41

NEW BILLS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, December 8.

IKB GOVERNMENT VIRK INSOTt.VNCE BILI, Was brought down by Governor's niossage today. Part I of the bill provides for the establishment of an offioe and a board, and states the nature of fcfce business to be undertaken. The Government may raise £250,000 through agents, or the Governor may delegate his powers to the "Agent-general ; supplementary* capital may be raised in certain circumstances ; the surplus profits are to be uved for a resurve fund and the payment of bonuses. Fart II relates to the statutory iusurance of buildings. It ii provided that provisions of this part of this act relating to the statutory insurance of buildings shall apply only in districts wherein this part of the act has been adopted pursuant either to a special order in that behalf, duly made by the council of the distriot, or to a 'poll of the ratepayers therecf, duly taken nnder the provisions in that behalf hereinafter contained. If the special order is not superseded, then this part of tho aob shall bo deemed to be adopted in the district at the expiration of ono month after the date on which the special order is duly made. Clause 55' contains directions for tho poll. If tbe proposal to adopt the sob is oarried, then a fire iosurauoe roll is to be made np. CHuse 60 stabe-3 that upon the ooming into force of the roll every building shown on such roll as nob then iasnrcd elsewhere than under this pact of this act shall be deemed to be insured in the Government fire insurance office in the name of the owner in a sum cqaal to the actual insurabie value thereof at the rata and amount of the premium appearing on the roll. Buildings already insured come under the act at the expiration of the current policy. Thi Governor may discontinue statutory insurance in any .district. Fart 111 relates to the equipment and maintenance of fire brigades. The funds at first are to bo obtained from the oounty or borough fund. Contributions are afterwards to bo obtained from insurance companies in proportion to their business. The Governor is empowered to make regulations on a large number of tuVjecbs. When this afternoon the message from the Governor was read transmitting tbe bill there was loud laughter all round tho House. There seemed a disposition to resist the bill at once. The Premier, however, got in his briaf statement that it was nob proposed to proceed with the bill, and that the present measure was considerably different from that of Ust year. THE LOAN BILL. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act Amendment Bill gives power to raise an additional £250,000 to be paid into the public works fund. The proviso to Bab-aecbien 1 of section 2 of the principal act limiting to 25 years the time within which debenture*, scrip, or stock shall be repaid is repealed. The amount to be raised there is to be expended — On additional rolling stock, repairs of damages to lines by flood 'or otherwise, £200,000 ; for the eracHoo, extension, and repairs of school buildiags in Native, newly-settled, ani other districts, £25,000; for the erection, establishment, and extension of school buildings, and tbe equipment^ of technical icbools, £25,0Q0i

LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. The Government Emergency Loans to Local Bodies Bill enacts that in any oaee where the Colonial Treasurer w satisfied that by reason of fire, flood, or other casualty tke nmximuM anaouat which he is lawfully empowered to lend undw the principal aofc in any one year is insufficient, euch maximum may be iDcr«*flod to such esteufc as the Governor-in-Council may authorise, provided that tlio fcoUl aum the Colonial Treasurer is empowered to lend shall nob exceed three times such maximum. In order to: facilitate tho raising of a loan the rerolution in favour of the proposal to raise the loan shall bo deemed to be carried at 'the poll lf_the number .of votes recorded in favour thejeof is a majority of all the votes recorded. SINKING FUNDS. The Consolidated Sicck Act Amendment Bill ensefcs that no einkieg fund t>t any time created nnder the Government Loans to Local Bodies Acb Khali be deemed to be »efc free by-reasen of the conveition of any loan railed under that act. Fresh debentures maj be created to pay off matured debentures. LAND BOARD. An adjrturnod meeting of the Land Board wsu hel* on 'I hureday morning, and was attended bj Messrs J. P. MaitU»d (cUiet commi«i«ner) Clark. Dallas, and Kirkpatrick. Kaka.nui.-Au Application by Johm Porter t surrender his traaU eraziwj run lease over section 2. block HI, »octioa 1, block VI, and soction 2, bleck VII, Kakanui district, was considered, and it was decided to recommend the surrender for i acxvptaiic*. [ NENruoßN.— Application by G. A. Sutherland to surrender small grazing ruu lease over sections in Hummock and Ncnthorn districts.— Surrender recommended for acceptance. Expiraiion of Licenses.— ln connection with the expiry of Hocuses over Ruas 171 a and 171b, which occurs' ou tho 28th February aexfc, the board decide t to recommend them to be •pencd an small gtezinz runs with Valuation!— ltua 171 a. £M 19s ; Run 171b, £10. Taehas — Vlie board reconsidered the application by W»a J. Miwters for a/a occup*tien lease over io<) auwss in block XV, Tarra« aietrict, but did n«>t ».*e any renson to alter their previoiu ■decJsion. Glknouaru. — William Green was granted .•» yearly license to occupy wclion 31, block VII, Glenom»ru district, at a rentnl ef 10s per aunimi ; lioense fee £1 If. Makrewiiknua.— lt was'decid«d to nffer «ectfo« 4, Wock XV r, Maerewhenua district, under pastotal lictnee for 14 years at an npset rental of yd v*v acre, with Valuation for ianwavemeista .-£»J4 B*. The small crazing run- lease h-l«l bytA. G Sutherland over .section 2, |>lock3tVl, Istaoru- ' wbeaua district,. was declared forfeited for n«npayment ef rent. It, w« resolved to ofFer th« forgoing (section, together with s.cliau" lof th« " same block, under pastoral license for- 14 ye»rs»t ' an unset rental of 7Jd per acre, with valuation for improvements £263 Mb.