A.—4,

147

meeting. No direct limit is imposed on the amount of the loans, but the special rate must be sufficient to pay the interest and capital within twenty-five years; and as the total rates are limited to one shilling and sixpence in the pound, the sums which may be borrowed are practically limited by the above condition. The loans are raised by mortgage of the special rate. The provisions as to accounts and audit are the same as in the Hobart Town Act, except that moneys must be paid by collectors to the Treasurer within fifteen instead of within seven days, but the clauses as to audit are repealed, and the accounts are now audited by the Auditor-General. The Municipal Fund may be appropriated by the Council " generally in the " improvement of the municipality and in carrying out and effectuating all or any " of the objects or purposes of this Act, and any other Act relating to municipali- " ties." But whilst the supply of water, prevention of fires, prevention of nuisances, and all other matters which are usually intrusted to municipal bodies, are amongst the subjects enumerated on which by-laws may be made, including " the " erection, preservation, and repairing of new or existing bridges and public " buildings," nothing is said in the Act as to the care or maintenance of roads and highways in the district. The main roads in Tasmania are managed under the Main Roads Act of 1880* by which "main road districts " are created, as distinguished from road districts, which deal only with cross and by-roads. The Minister of Land and Works is the " Commissioner for Main Roads." Where a main road runs through a rural municipality, the Municipal Council is constituted the " Main Road District " Board," and the Warden of the Municipality is Chairman of the Board, and where the main road runs through a road district not contained in a municipality, the Trustees of the road district become the Main Road District Board, and the Chairman of the Trustees the Chairman of the Board. The main roads are specified in a Schedule to the Act, and they are to be maintained in each district by the Board, " at an annual average cost per mile not exceeding the amount per mile to "be provided by Parliament." Main roads not in any main road district, and the road from Hobart to Launceston, and certain bridges specified, are vested in the Commissioner, and are to be maintained under his direction, out of funds to be provided by Parliament for the purpose. The Main Road Boards are required to furnish the Commissioner, on or before the 30th November in each year, with an estimate of the cost of the works required to maintain the main roads in each district. When a main road ceases to be a main road, it becomes a cross road, and has to be maintained by the Trustees of the road district. The Governor may appoint inspectors to inspect and report on the condition of the main roads, and if any Board is found to be neglecting its duties, the Governor may suspend it, and its powers thereupon become vested in the Commissioner, and in case of its refusal or neglect to resume its functions when required, the Governor may abolish the Board altogether The Board has power to open new main roads, or alter or stop up old ones, and to take lands for the purpose. All tolls are abolished on main roads after December, 1880, and all sums charged upon such tolls on main roads are made charges on the Consolidated Fund. This Act appears to be based in some measure on the Main Roads Act of South Australia; but in the latter the Main Road Board is partly elected and partly nominated, and is a distinct body from that for the management of country roads. In Tasmania, on the other hand, the Main Road Board is identical with the Municipal Council in the rural municipality, and with the Board of Trustees in the road district, which have thus to act in two capacities, maintaining the main roads out of moneys supplied by Parliament, and the cross roads out of rates and local funds, whilst all main roads not within the boundaries of any road district, or any municipal district possessing a Municipal Corporation, are maintained by the Commissioner, that is, by the Government. No main road districts appear to have been created except the municipal districts and rural districts, and it is not clear what is gained by the Act which could not have been more simply effected by voting money to the Municipal Councils

Main Boids,