PROVINCE OF WESTLAND GAZETTE.

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been powerless to do much good service. I propose, therefore, asking
your concurrence in placing all the roads in their Districts under the
control of the new Boards elected on the basis above mentioned, and,
instead of the Province undertaking their maintenance as at present,
making an allowance to the Boards in proportion to the rates they collect.
This will, if the Boards properly exercise the powers entrusted to them,
enable them to carry on the works in their Districts with more satisfaction to themselves, economy to the Province, and benefit to the general
public. Power is however given to the Government to retain in their
own hands such roads as may be thought desirable to deal with in this
way, and also to supervise the work which is done by the Boards. Provision is also made for establishing outlying Districts, as in some cases it
has been found that owing to the scattered nature of the population, and the
extent of the District it was difficult to secure the representation of each
locality, and that the expenses of working the Board and collecting the
rate, completely swallowed up the amount of the rate. Under such
circumstances it seemed a useless waste of time and money to continue
the Road Board. The subject is one of importance involving many
details which I cannot now enter upon, and will, no doubt, receive your
most careful consideration.

An Ordinance for consolidating the laws now in force relating to
Public houses, and adopting our Legislation to the Licensing Acts
passed by the General Assembly will also be submitted to you, and I
would invite your consideration to the necessity for making a marked
distinction in the Licensing Fee, between houses erected for the bona
fide accommodation of the public, and those which are erected solely for
the sale of liquors.

A consolidation of the Laws relating to Fencing has also been found
desirable and a measure for this purpose will be submitted to you.

Difficulties having been experienced by some of our Ferrymen in
remote parts of the Province through men, who have availed themselves
of the Ferry refusing to pay, although able to do so, a short Ordinance
has been prepared providing a penalty in such cases.

An amendment of the "Trespass and Impounding Ordinance," to
remedy a technical difficulty which has arisen is also required.

A Bill to amend the "Executive Council Ordinance" will be submitted to you to provide for the more satisfactory settlement of the
appointment of Provincial Solicitor, the provisions of the existing
Ordinance making it a matter of uncertainty whether such an appointment can be made outside of the Council.

These, with the "Appropriation Ordinance," will complete the legislative
measures to be laid before you so far as they can be anticipated at
the present time, and being all in readiness for your consideration I hope
you will not feel that an undue amount of work has been imposed on
you for the Session.

Having now reviewed our position financially, placed before you the
results of the Legislation of the past year, and briefly indicated the
measures to be proposed for your consideration during the present Session,
I must refer to another subject which has been in abeyance for a
considerable time, namely, the claims for compensation made against the