User:Will (Wiki Ed)/california climate change sandbox

starting notes about a lead

History

Local government

Local government in the province of Upper Canada was based on districts. In 1788, four districts were created:

• Lunenburgh District, later "Eastern"
• Mecklenburg District, later "Midland"
• Nassau District, later "Home"
• Hesse District, later "Western"

The name changes all took place in 1792.

Justices of the Peace were appointed by the Lt. Governor. Any two justices meeting together could form the lowest level of the justice system, the Courts of Request. A Court of Quarter Sessions was held four times a year in each district composed of all the resident justices. The Quarter Sessions met to oversee the administration of the district and deal with legal cases. They formed, in effect, the municipal government until an area was incorporated as either a Police Board or a City after 1834.

Additional districts were created from the existing districts as the population grew until 1849, when local government mainly based on counties came into effect. At that time, there were 20 districts; legislation to create a new Kent District was never completed. Up until 1841, the district officials were appointed by the lieutenant-governor, although usually with local input.