Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1886. The Counties Act, 1886.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1900, 10 November 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1886. The Counties Act, 1886.

On the Ist January next, the above Act will some into force. It contains 326 clauses, besides sub sections and schedules, but we have only extracted the most important features. Clause 2 states that “ The Public Health Act, 1876,” “The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876," “ The Rating Act, 1882,” " The Public Works Act, 1882,” and all Acts amending the same or passed in substitution thereof respectively and for the time being in force, are incorporated and shall be read as part thereof. No new county can be constituted except under a special Act of the General Assembly. Counties cannot be united unless a majority of the ratepayers petition the Governor to do so, nor can alterations be effected in boun. daries of counties unless by special Act; boundaries of ridings, however, may be altered by the Governor if Councils desire such to be done. Clause 46 says ;—“ The Con..oil shall, on some day in March prectdiug the expiration of the term of office oi the councillors, bold a meeting for the parpoe of considering whether the representation of the different ridings require readjustment, and it it be found that, taking into consideration nnmberof ratepayers and rateable value, the representation of any riding or ridings is insufficient, shall alter the representation in each way that the representation of the separate ridings may, as far as possible, be proportioned to the rateable value and number of ratepayers of each riding respectively.” New road districts cannot be constituted unless a petition in that behalf is confirmed by resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Council. The Council may dissolve any town or road board within the county on the petition of ratepayers within the respective districts representing half the rateable value, such district to be merged in the county ; and where a town district contains less than 100 householders the Council shall, on petition of the householders, dissolve the town board of snob district. Every ratepayer whose property (in one or more tenements) is valued at not more than LIOOO, shall be entitled to one vote ; overLlOOO, bnt not more than L2OOO, two votes ; over L2OOO bnt not more than L3OOO, three votes; over L3OOO, but not more than L 7500, four votes ; L 7500 or upwards, five votes. At every meeting for the election of a county chairman the clerk shall preside, and if the voting be even, the election shall be determined by lot in snob manner as the Council shall direct. In the disqualification clauses appears the following “ Any person being concerned or participating (other than as a shareholder in an incorporated company, or in an assooia* tion or partnership consisting of more than twenty persons) in any contract with or work to be done for the Council, if the payment of such contract or such work exceeds £5 for any one contract or work ; or £lO altogether in any year if more than one contract or work. Provided that the leasing of land to or from the Corporation of the county, or the lending of money to such county by the purchase of their debentures for any duly authorised special loan, shall not constitute a disqualification.” The made of conducting elections appears to be the same as hitherto. The Council may from time to time vote such reasonable sums as it shall deem sufficient to defray the actual travelling expenses only of Councillors coming from a distance exceeding three miles to attend the meetings of the Council, bnt not committee meetings ; the chairman not to receive more than LIOO in any one year. Payment of clerks of licensing committees is also provided for. Clause 151 empowers the Council to levy a special works rate over the whole county, not to exceed Jd in the £. No alteration has been made in the manner of apportioning the income, bnt separate accounts for each riding are still to be kept. The County, Road or Town Board may collect each others rates. Glauses 157 provides that the Council may delegate to a road or town board within its jurisdiction the power possessed by the Council to make and levy rates within such town or road district. The roads declared main roads under tbe Roads and Bridges Construction Act ate to be deemed county roads. Clauses 248 provides that in case the Council neglects or refuses to maintain or repair any main road the Government may have the same done, and charge the cost to tbe Council. Tbe Conceit may contribute to charitable institutions and public libraries, and vote money for tbe establishment of agricultural schools, and rifle ranges, and for the eradication of noxious weeds. The Council is also constituted a Board of Health for ail portions of the county not situated within a town district. Clause 817 provides that the Council Shall seed to tbe Colonial Treasurer on or before June 30th in each year a statement of the receipts and expenditure, and shall also obtain from tbe Town and Road Boards like accounts, and forward them therewith.