33

A.—lo

Albertland South—l think they are quite suitable to this district. Arai' —Would suit this part of the colony, if the fixing as to wha Bhould be main roads could be Batis factorily arranged. But we do no ccc how this could be done. Every section of road proposed to be con stituted a main road would cause a parliamentary struggle. Upper Mahurangi—This Bill woulc not suit us. I consider it a mos' unworkable measure. Ido not see the force of rating Governmen: lands. It would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Mangawai—Tho Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Bil would suit this district; that is to say, the upset price of Government land should be taken as the value of the fee-simple. Omaha —■ The provisions would be suitable. Matakana West —Yes. Puhoi — The provisions would suit, under the condition that the expenses for the construction and maintenance of main roads be entirely borne by the colony. Tauhoa —Only affects us here, and would work satisfactorily. Wharehine —Yes ; the Native Lands Rating Bill will suit this district. Wainui—Not suitable for this district. In view of the proposed increase of taxation under Government valuation, it would not be desirable, if practicable, to borrow money on our homesteads and lands. As these districts are but thinly populated, the burden would fall upon the few, while the majority of landowners would pay little or nothing. Waitemata —No answer. Kaukapakapa—Yes; these Bills would suit this district very well. Lake —Provisions of proposed Acts very suitable. North Shore—Yes. Waitakerei West—No answer. Waitakerei West (J. Cottle)—l am of opinion it would suit our district. Waitakerei West (H. Hunter) —I am of opinion it would suit our district. Whangaparoa—Very well. JUden. —No answer. Epsom —See answer to No. 16. Mount Roskill—Do not feel inclined to borrow in this district. No Native lands, and very little Crown lands. Mount Wellington —Think the roads construction provisions, as sketched in the circular received with this, might be exceedingly beneficial to this district by enabling new roads to be made. Newton —The Bill as framed would work well in our district. Panmure — The present powers answer the district. I have no suggestions to make. Ponsonby— The provisions of these Bills are good. Waikomiti —The Board considers the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Bills good. ManuTcau —No answer. Mercer. —Yes ; Eubject to the foregoing. Hunua —Would suit our district. Karaka —A limit should be named as to amounts borrowed. No Board ought to have power of borrowing over the amount of three years' rates, except for reconstruction,

Question 15 — continued.

caused by sudden destruction b; floods. Although there is Native and Government land in this dis trict, yet on the whole the countr is better without the Rating Bill. Maraetai—All Native lands shoulc be rated, especially those where they derive a direct benefit, anc their property advances in value. Opahcke—Believe my district conic take advantage of the Bills, but a great repugnance to borrowing money for making roads by the district; but a free grant-in-aid by the Board paying a quota is good A yearly rate to pay interest anc principal is not viewed with favour Otahuhu —They are not applicable to this district. It is the bounden duty of the Government to make and maintain all roads. The Roads Construction Bill is too cumbersome, i.e., in multiplying officers The money Bhould return to the taxpayer through as few filters or processes as possible. Papakura—No answer. Pollock—Yes. Pukekohe East —Generally approved Pukekohe West —The Roads ConBtruction Bill would suit us. There is no Crown or Native land in this district. Waipipi—l am in favour of both these Bills, as they appear suitable to this district. Wairoa —No answer. Thames —No answer. Parawai—l think it might. Waitoa —The word "construction" should be made to include the improvements necessary for the completion of those portions of main roads which have been formed but not thoroughly completed; otherwise the Bill will be of little use in this district, nearly the whole of our main road having been formed more or less, but very little of it made really good, as the Board has never had money enough to finish it. Crown and Native lands should be valued in the same manner as land in the occupation of Bottlers. ]?iaho —Roads Construction Bill should aIBO apply to improvements on existing roads. Crown Lands Rating Bill satisfactory. Waihato —Crown and Native lands should be valued in the same manner as private property. Kirikiriroa —We think tho provisions generally suitable, but are of opinion that Crown, and especially Native, lands should be put down at their market value, the same as private property. TVaipa —No answer. Hamilton —No answer. Kihikihi—Yes. Rangiaohia—l would recommend that all Crown and Native lands in towns and road districts be rated the same as that belonging to Europeans and private property. Tuhikaramea —Immaterial to this district. Raglan —Both Acts would suit well in this county as they are. Pirongia —They also are strongly in favour of the provisions of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill and the Roads Construction Bill. In this latter there seems to be an omission as to the funds for maintenance after construction of main roads. The same principle as enunciated in subsection 3 of the circular. Raglan Town —No answer.

WhaJcatane —Yes. CooTc —Remarkably well; but think tho sum proposed to be set apart is inadequate. Ormond—The proposed Bills would suit this district. Patutahi—Will suit our district very well. I would suggest that districts that have no main roads connecting them with other centres should have a prior right in obtaining grants-ma-id ami loans from the Board over those districts that have railways and some portion of their main roads constructed by Government. Te Arai—No answer. Poverty Bay—Yes. Tauranga —No answer. Katikati —We consider this Bill would suit our district. Te Puna—Would suit. Wairoa —The provisions of the Roads Construction Bill approved. .Re tho Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, resolved, " That all lands — Crown, Native, and European owned—be under one uniform rating law, and that such rates be recovered in the usual manner, the land to bear the burden, or else to be handed over to the Public Trustee, he to pay the rates." Hawlce's Bay —All lands, whether Government, or Native, or held by Europeans, should be rated on the same basis. No political considerations should be allowed to interfere with questions of local finance. Herotaunga—One valuation should be made every third year, to be adopted for all purposes of taxation. Kereru and Aorangi —No answer. Maraekakaho —Provisions of Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill very suitable for this district. Okawa —All lands, whether Government, Native, or European, should be rated on the same basis. Papakura—No answer. Petane —No answer. Te Mata —No answer. IVaipaiva —All lands, Native or Crown, should be fairly rated according to value. Norsewood—All land should be fairly rated, according to value. Oero—No answer. Ormondville — All lands, Native or Crown, should be fairly rated according to value. Ruataniwha North—All lands, Native or Crown, should be fairly rated according to value. Tamumu —All lands, whether Government, Native, or European, should be rated upon the same basis ; and that Native lands in the occupation of Europeans, but which have not been through the Court, should at once be brought under the operations of the Rating Act, and not allowed to escape the payment of rates as at present. Woodville —Yes, if Crown lands and Native lands be fairly valued, and on same proportion as other lands in their neighbourhood. Taranaki —We entirely agree with the proposed measures. JM anganui—Yes. Mangarei—Yes. Carrin gto n—Yes. Waitara West—No answer. Egmont—Suitable, as we have greatly felt the loss of rates not being paid on Native and Government reserves. Moa —The Bill would suit. The rateable value not to bo less than £1 per acre. Okato —No answer,