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last half year; and the Treasurer is empowered to pay the Council out of the Consolidated Revenue " by way of endowment for corporate purposes," for the first five years after the incorporation of the municipality, a sum equal to the " whole amount " actually raised by rates or assessments and subscriptions" "for general pur- " poses, " in each of the next succeeding five years "a sum equal to one moiety " of the amount so paid up," and in each of the next succeeding five years "a " sum equal to one-fourth of the amount so paid up;" "and thenceforth all contri- " bution from public funds by way of endowment shall absolutely cease." The Council "may borrow by debentures, mortgage, or otherwise," on the credit of its property or annual revenues, for the purpose of permanent improvements, " any moneys not exceeding in the whole the estimated revenues thereof " for five years," but all loans must be sanctioned by the Governor, and may be lent by the Government, and fourteen days' public notice must be given of the intention to borrow, of the object of the loan, and of the rate to be raised. If the loan is to be raised on the general rates, the maximum of one shilling in the pound must be levied yearly, and if on a special rate, the proposed rate must not be reduced till the loan is paid off. The roads in New South Wales are partly managed by Boards of Trustees appointed by the Governor, under the provisions of various Acts passed for special districts of the colony. These Boards have the power to erect toll-gates and levy tolls, but not to make rates, and votes of Parliament are taken from time to time in aid of their expenditure. By the Main Roads Act of 1858 the three principal main roads northward, westward, and southward from Sydney were taken out of the hands of the Trustees of the districts through which they passed and placed under the management of the Government, the Governor being empowered to appoint a Commissioner or Commissioners for the purpose. They were authorized to levy tolls on roads and bridges, which, however, were all to be paid into the Treasury, and the roads were to be maintained solely out of moneys voted for the purpose. The Governor can exempt from the operation of the Act any part of a main road within the limits of any municipal town and hand it over to the local authorities. The roads not provided for by the above enactments are managed by the boroughs and municipal districts, under the Municipalities Act of 1867, which excepts from its operation main roads and roads not constructed or maintained by the Council, or which by Proclamation of the Governor may be excepted from its jurisdiction; and also all roads "for which separate provision shall have been " made or shall be made by any Act." Two important Acts were passed in the year 1880, the Metropolitan "Water and Sewerage Act of 1880, and the Country Towns Water and Sewerage Act of 1880. By the first of these Acts a Board of Water Supply and Sewerage was constituted, consisting of seven members; —three " official members " appointed by the Governor, of whom one is President of the Board; two " city members" elected by the Municipal Council of Sydney; and two " suhurban members" elected by the Mayors and Aldermen of the boroughs and municipal districts within the County of Cumberland. The Board elects a Vice-President. The members hold office for four years, and one official, one city, and one suburban member retire every two years, when a fresh appointment or election, as the case may be, takes place. The " catchment area" and the " sewerage district " for Sydney, and for any of the boroughs or municipal districts in the County of Cumberland, are to be defined by Proclamation. Pull powers are given to the Board to do everything necessary to constructing and maintaining a supply of water and a complete system of sewerage. The Board is a Public Board, and all its revenues are paid into the Public Account, to the credit of two separate accounts —the Metropolitan Water Rates, and the Metropolitan Sewerage Rates Accounts. No borrowing powers are conferred by the Act, whence it may be inferred that special legislative sanction is necessary for obtaining the means with which to carry out the purposes of the Act,

JBoads.

Water Supply and Sewerage.