H—22

Loans were authorized under section 7 of the Local Bodies' Finance Act, 1921-22, for the Boroughs of Masterton, Timaru, and Whangarei for purposes of flood-damage restoration. The Councils of the Boroughs of Masterton and Patea were also authorized to raise loans under that section to meet other extraordinary expenditure. The Shannon, Pukekohe, and Papatoetoe Borough Councils were authorized to purchase certain areas of land on the instalment system. The Hastings, Ashburton, and Mount Roskill Borough Councils obtained approval to publish booklets containing information regarding their respective districts. The Gore Borough Council was authorized to fix water charges according to the quantity used. Notification of the abolition of the ward system in the Borough of Riverton was gazetted in accordance with law. Owing to a destructive fire in the Greymouth Town Hall, the Greymouth Borough Council was granted an extension of time for the preparation of a district electors' list, and action was taken to validate the district electors' roll for the district. Members were appointed to Assessment Courts under the Urban Farm Land Rating Act, 1932, for the City of Wanganui and the Boroughs of South Invercargill and Alexandra. A Judge was appointed to the Assessment Court for the Borough of Northcote. A Judge was appointed to the Assessment Courts for the City of Dunedin and the Borough of Green Island under the provisions of the Rating Act, 1925. A by-law of the Gore Borough Council was confirmed under the By-laws Act, 1910. A Board of Appeal to consider an appeal against the refusal of the Petone Borough Council to approve a subdivisional plan for an area in the Borough of Petone was set up in terms of section 332 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933. An Order in Council was issued under section 329 of that Act prescribing tables of repayment of principal and interest at specified rates of interest for varying terms in respect of advances for the erection of workers' dwellings. (2) Counties The annual Conference of the New Zealand Counties Association was held in Christchurch on 16th and 17th July, 1947. This is the first time the Conference has been held outside Wellington, and resulted in a highly successful Conference. Remits before the Conference covered a wide range of matters of interest to County Councils. The Department was represented throughout the Conference. Arising out of this Conference, arrangements were made for the remits of the Conference to be submitted to the Government through the Department, which will in future act as the channel of communication for dealing with county remits. The annual Conference of the New Zealand Institute of County Clerks was also held at this time, and this Conference was also attended by an officer of the Department. The boundaries of the Counties of Waipukurau and Patangata were altered by the exchange of land, and the boundaries of a number of other counties were redefined consequent on the exclusion therefrom of areas placed under Borough and City Council control. The Hutt, Kairanga, Raglan, and Rodney County Councils passed special orders altering riding boundaries and in some instances altering riding representation. The special orders were duly gazetted. The Springs, Rangitikei, and Ellesmere County Councils were authorized to levy rates on a uniform scale over internal drainage districts. The Ashburton County Council obtained approval to the publication of a booklet containing information regarding its district. The Wairarapa Counties' Joint Health By-laws Amendment By-law 1947 was confirmed. The Masterton County Council was authorized to raise a loan under section 7 of the Local Bodies' Finance Act, 1921-22, for the purpose of flood-damage restoration. The usual close contact was maintained with the Matakaoa County Commissioner, and discussions were held with him regarding problems arising in the county. Apart from the usual maintenance work, it was possible to carry out the remetalling of a large

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