H.—22.

Land Drainage Districts. —Four drainage districts were abolished. The boundaries of four drainage districts were altered, two by the inclusion of lands and two by the exclusion of lands. The cost of maintenance of certain drainage works in the Sluggish River Drainage District was apportioned between the Sluggish River and Oroua Drainage Boards. Special orders were made by two Drainage Boards altering the boundaries of subdivisions of their respective districts. Several Drainage Board elections were held on the sth November, 1934, and the results thereof gazetted in accordance with lav. Extensions of time were granted for holding the elections of three Drainage Boards, and trustees were appointed for three other Drainage Boards. By-laws of Local Bodies. —The by-laws of the Waitemata County Council were approved in terms of section 109 of the Counties Act, 1920, and the by-laws of the Eyre County Council were confirmed under the By-laws Act, 1910. Public Bodies' Leases Act. —The Akaroa County Council was declared a leasing authority under the Public Bodies' Leases Act, 1908. Local Elections and Polls. —The time for closing polls was extended in two cases. Rating Act. —A proposal to adopt the system of rating on the unimproved value in Dunedin City was rejected. Urban Farm-land Rating. —Several further farm-land rolls were prepared. Assessment Courts were set up for three boroughs and five town districts. Judges of Assessment Courts were appointed for three boroughs and two town districts. Legislation. Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment Act, 1934.—The purpose of this Act is to confer express authority on trustees to insure property with a Mutual Fire Insurance Association under the Mutual Fire Insurance Act, 1908. Counties Amendment Act, 1934. —This Act restores retrospectively to county councils the full maximum rating-powers over drainage districts which require to be classified for rating purposes, such powers having been affected by the decision of the Supreme Court in Kaipara River Board v. Narbey ([1934] Gr.L.R. 155). River Boards Amendment Act, 1934. —This Act altered the date for holding River Board elections from the second Tuesday in January triennially to the second Wednesday in May triennially, commencing with the year 1935. The Act also restored retrospectively to River Boards the full maximum rating-powers over their districts subject to classification for rating purposes, such powers having been affected by the decision of the Supreme Court in Kaipara River Board v. Narbey ([1934] (4.L.R. 155). Local Authorities (Members' Contracts) Act, 1934. —The purpose of this Act was to unify the provisions in the various Local Government Acts restraining members of local authorities from contracting with such authorities or restricting their doing so beyond certain limits. The Act applies to all local authorities previously governed by disqualification provisions of any kind whatsoever, and to certain additional classes of local authorities ; whilst power is given to apply the Act by Order in Council to such other local authorities as may be deemed necessary. Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1934-35.—This Act restored temporarily to certain defaulting ratepayers the right to vote at rural local-body elections notwithstanding the fact that they were in arrears with certain rates ; fixed the same day—viz., the second Wednesday in May triennially— for practically all local-body elections not then already fixed for such day ; authorized the Dunedin City Council to adopt the cross system of voting at elections and polls in Dunedin ; and made certain provisions, referred to elsewhere in this report, respecting the Thames Harbour Board. Finance Act, 1934-35. —Section 8 authorized local authorities to grant, for the financial year ended on 31st March, 1935, similar concessions to those authorized in former years in regard to the 10-per-cent. penalty on unpaid rates. Section 11 extended from the Ist May, 1935, till the Bth May, 1935, the time for holding the general election of members of the Auckland Transport Board. Local Legislation Act, 1934.—The usual Local Legislation Act contained forty-two clauses affecting the activities of numerous local authorities and public bodies. Local Acts. —Nineteen Local Bills were submitted to the Department by the Local Bills Committee for examination and report. Representatives of the Department appeared before the Committee and gave evidence on several of such Bills. Thirteen Local Bills became law. Town-planning. Town-planning activities were again severely restricted during the year. One meeting of the Town-planning Board was held. Mr. Malcolm Fraser, C.Y.0., 0.8. E., resigned his seat on the Board. Mr. R. B. Hammond, F.N.Z.1.A., M.T.P.1., A.M.T.P.I. (Lond.), was appointed as Town-planning Adviser to the Department, and entered upon his duties on the 18th February, 1935. The Napier Business-area Town-planning Amendment Scheme, 1933, was formally appioved by the Town-planning Board. The Committee held two meetings concerning the Timaru Borough Town-planning Scheme, 1932. Further progress was made towards finalizing that scheme. Progress was also made on the City of Christchurch Town-planning Scheme, 1933.

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