The Short Title of this Act is “The Local Bodies’ Finance and Powers Act, 1885.”

There shall be paid to the Council or Board of each county, road district, town district, and borough, with respect to rates collectable and collected, for the year ending the thirty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, half the amounts to which they would be entitled under the plan of distribution described in the Schedule hereto: Provided that collections may extend up to the thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, and the amounts voted herein shall be payable up to the end of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six: Provided also that there may, previous to the collection of the rates, be paid a sum not exceeding seventy-five per centum of the subsidies to the local bodies on the rates levied and to be collected, but should the rates not be collected before the thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, the local bodies shall repay to the public fund the subsidy overpaid.

In case any doubt arises as to the several payments to be made under this clause and the Schedule, or as to payments to be made in respect of newly formed districts wherein the Board has not had sufficient time to levy and collect rates, the Governor in Council may authoritatively decide the amounts of such payments.

Half of the aforesaid payments shall be issued and paid by the Colonial Treasurer out of the Public Works Fund, and half shall be paid and issued by the Colonial Treasurer out of the Consolidated Fund.

From and after the passing of this Act, all the revenues collected within any mining district constituted under any Act relating to mining for gold, or within part of any such district within the limits of any county, and accruing under the provisions of any such Act, except revenues derived from the sales of land, or the leasing of land for agricultural purposes, shall, subject to and after cost of collecting the same, or other lawful charge connected therewith, in accordance with any regulation in that behalf by Order in Council, shall have been defrayed, form part of the county fund, and the Governor in Council may delegate to any local body all or any of the powers be possesses for collecting such revenues, subject to any conditions and according to any regulations he may from time to time impose by Order in Council.

The Governor may, by Order in Council, delegate to any local body, or to any number of local bodies to be united for the purpose, the expenditure of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly for expenditure in encouraging and assisting the prospecting for gold or gold-mining operations in any mining district or part of any mining district within the district or districts under the jurisdiction of any local body or local bodies united for the purpose; but such local body or local bodies shall, in the expenditure of the same, conform to all such conditions and regulations as shall be prescribed in that behalf by the General Assembly or by the Governor in such delegation; and, when any such delegation shall have been made, the Treasurer may pay over to the delegated local body or local bodies the amount payable in pursuance thereof.

It shall be lawful for any local body in a mining or gold-mining district as defined by “The Mines Act, 1877,” or “The Gold-Milling Districts Act, 1873,” to expend a portion of the revenues received by it from duty on gold or goldfields revenue in prospecting for diamonds or gold, silver, tin, or other metals.

The Governor may, by Order in Council, dispose of by public tender any water-races or sludge-channels now vested in the Crown, or may vest in any local body, or in any number of local bodies united for that purpose, any water-race or sludge-channel vested in the Crown, with all the revenues and other rights and benefits accruing from or annexed to the same; but so that every such water-race or sludge-channel shall continue to be liable to all conditions as to uses and otherwise howsoever as shall be declared and directed in that behalf by such Order.

The Governor may by Order in Council agree with any local body, or with any number of local bodies united for the purpose, for the execution by such local body or by such united local bodies of any public work within the district or districts under the jurisdiction of such local body or united local bodies, and about to be undertaken for opening up and developing lands of the Crown recently sold or about to be sold within such district or districts; but so, nevertheless, that the total amount which the Governor may agree to expend in respect of any such public work shall not exceed one-fourth of the revenue derived or to be derived from the Crown lands so sold as aforesaid: and after any such agreement shall have been made the Treasurer may pay over to such local body or local bodies (if more than one) the amount so agreed to be paid.

The Governor may, by Order in Council, from time to time delegate to any local body or to any number of local bodies united for the purpose, and may from time to time resume, any powers or authorities vested in him in relation to the construction or control of any public works within the district or districts under the jurisdiction of such local body or united local bodies, upon such terms and conditions as shall be expressed in such order.

“The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882,” and any Acts amending the same, are hereby repealed, but shall notwithstanding remain in full force so far as relates to any thing done, appointment or instrument made, right or privilege accrued, work authorized, offence committed, forfeiture penalty or liability incurred, action prosecution or proceeding commenced, under the authority of or against the provisions of the said Acts before the passing of this Act.