A.—4,

144

The water-rate is imposed on the following scale "On all tenements assessed " at or below ten pounds a year, twenty-five shillings , on all tenements assessed " above ten pounds, and not above forty pounds a year, twelve and a half per " centum; five per centum additional on the assessed annual value above forty " pounds and not above one hundred pounds, two and a half per centum addi- " tional on the assesssed value above one hundred pounds, and on unoccupied " land or vacant land, three per centum on the assessed annual value. Such water- " rates shall be taken as payment for water supplied by the Commissioners from " the waterworks for domestic purposes only " An additional charge is made of five shillings for every head of great cattle, and for every five head of small cattle, and two shillings and sixpence for every two-wheeled carriage, and five shillings for every four-wheeled carriage, the numbers of which are required to be returned to the Commissioner by the owner every year The Commissioner has power to reduce the rates upon the whole or any part of the water-area in any year. The usual public buildings aud schools are exempted from rates. Water-rates are only payable when the Commissioner has notified in the Gazette that a main pipe has been laid down in any street, and that he is prepared to supply water to the houses or lands therein. Water is supplied free of charge to Government or municipal lands or buildings, and for the purpose of watering the streets and extinguishing fires. The Commissioner is further empowered to fix the quantity of water which will be supplied for domestic purposes, and to supply water for other than domestic purposes, by special agreement, at a price in proportion to the quantity used. Water for cleansing the sewers and supplying public baths, wash-houses, and fountains is to be supplied at a price agreed on by the Commissioner and Municipality, and is paid for out of rates. The revenue from the waterworks is paid to the Commissioner Out of it he pays all expenses for maintaining the works and supplying water, and the balance at the end of each year he is required to pay over to the Colonial Treasurer, who is "to pay thereout such amount of capital and interest in respect of the moneys " raised for the purposes of the undertaking as may from time to time fall due."

The Acts providing for local government in Tasmania are the ITobart Town Corporation Act of 1857, amended by a short Act in 1872, the Launceston Corporation Act of 1858, the Rural Municipalities Act of 1865, Avith some brief amending Acts , the Cross and. Bye Roads Act of 1870, the Main Roads Act of 1880, and the Audit Act No. 2 of 1875. Under the Hobart Town Corporation Act every male of twenty-one years of age named in the assessment roll as the occupier of any land or building of the annual value of ten pounds or upwards, is a citizen. Nine Aldermen, one of whom is the Mayor, constitute the Municipal Council. Three Aldermen go out of office on the first of January every year, and their successors are elected on the last Friday in the December previous. All citizens on the assessment roll in force, and who have paid all rates due up to the day of election, can vote on the following scale Assessed at a value of from £10 to £50, one vote , from £50 to £100, two votes , from £100 to £150, three votes ; from £150 to £200, four votes , from £200 to £250, five votes ; from £250 to £300, six votes ; and above £300, seven votes. The election is held by the Mayor, who has to prepare polling lists and provide all other requirements for the election. The election is by ballot, and the Mayor has to "provide such " number of ballot papers, marked with each particular number of votes, as there " are citizens on the assessment roll on the twentieth day before the day of holding " the election." Every voter is required to sign a declaration as to his identity, and that his rates are paid, before receiving his ballot paper, and any one making a false declaration is guilty of perjury. The Mayor is elected by the Aldermen out of their own number on the day after the annual election of Aldermen, and two Auditors are elected by the citizens

Tasmania

Municipal Corporations,