No. 74

I have the honor of transmitting herewith, for Her Majesty's
approval, the Copy of a Proclamation entitled "The New Westminster
Municipal Council Act 1860."

2. This is the Act which I had the honor of reporting to
Your Grace in my Despatch marked "Separate," and dated New Westminster the 25th of May 1860.

3. It provides for the election of a Municipal Council
invested with power to raise money by assessment on all Town
Lots, and erections thereon, situated within the limits

of
New Westminster, and authorises them to expend that money in
the formation of streets, and in providing for the health,
comfort and security of the inhabitants.

4. The Municipal Council is to consist of seven members,
being British Subjects, and each being possessed of a property
qualification of Fifty pounds, and all rate

payers are entitled
to vote in the election of Councillors.

5. The Council can levy such rates only as are approved of
by a majority of the rate payers, and by the Governor for the
time being. In the same manner, all Bye-laws passed by the
Council, must be confirmed by the Governor for the time being,
before they have the

force of Law.

6. The compulsory clause, requiring Lot-Holders to cut
down the standing Trees, except such as may be reserved on any
Lot for ornament, was introduced into the Act at the request
of the people themselves, who represented that there was no
security for their property, which was in perpetual danger
of being destroyed either by the falling of trees or by their
conflagration

as long as any part of the forest, within the
inhabited portion of the Town remained.

7. The clause has also merits of another kind; it will
have the effect of inducing holders of Lots, whether resident
or not, to improve their property, and thereby benefit the Town.

8. The Act has been

prepared with much care and consideration
by the Attorney General, and will, I trust, be productive of much good.