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strueted when the local bodies were in receipt of the Land Fund percentage. Theße roads were made to give access to Crown lands, in the faith that the cost of their construction would one day be repaid by the Bale of the Crown lands which they benefited, and consequent receipt of revenue by the local body. Now that this form of aid to local bodies has been abolished, the roads and bridges in question have been constructed at the sole cost of those persons who purchased freehold in parts of the district not benefited by these roads. Crown lands have been enhanced in value and made accessible by means of these works, and it is only fair that threequarters of the cost of them should be repaid to the district as if the roads were to be made under the provisions of the Roads Construction Act, and that the Crown lands should be rated asif they belonged to private individuals. Mount Peel—The Board having only just received these papers do notfeel in a position to answer this question. Temuka—The Board do not agree with the principle of the Roads Construction Bill; its provisions would not be suitable to the district. IVestland —The Bills mentioned meet with

Question 15 — continued.

the approval of this Council. For the reasons set forth in answer to Question 16, the Council consider the Government proposals would suit the whole of this coast. Waitalci —Disapprove of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill as sketched in the circular, and suggest that they be withdrawn. Kakanui — These measures are not suitable for this district, and would suggest that they be withdrawn. Waiareka — These Bills would not suit the district, and would suggest that they be withdrawn. Waitaki—No answer. Wai/couaiti —No answer. Palmerston South—Yes. Waikouaiti—Does not suit our district. Maniototo —This Council is of opinion that the provisions of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Rating Bills would not suit this district, and it cannot suggest any alterations that would make them do so. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula—No answer. Taieri —Unanswered. Waipori—No answer. Bruce —Bills would not suit our district; property-tax should be under the counties, and its proceeds given to the support of local bodies.

Crichton—Would suit our district. Glenledi —The provisions of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Bill do not suit our district. Matau —No. Mount Stuart —The provisions of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Bills do not suit our district. Tokomairiro —We approve of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill generally. Clutha —The Council approves of these Bills generally, if the Board would divide the money fairly. Pomahaka —The provisions of the Roads Construction Bill do not suit our district; and it would be advisable to have the propertytax under the control of the counties, the proceeds accruing therefrom to be devoted to the support of local bodies. Molyneux South —This Board does not approve of the Roads Construction Bill, unless district roads are placed in as favourable circumstances as main roads. Tuapelca —Not directly interested. Clydevale—Only for special works. Southland —Would suit for specific works. Knapdale—Yes. Toitois—No answer. Tuturau—No answer.

16. Have you any suggestions to make generally on the matters dealt with in the circular in which this is enclosed ?

J\£angonui —We consider that either counties or Road Boards should be abolished ; but, if both are continued, their respective duties should be clearly defined. The financial year of all local bodies should end the 31st March, and elections take place in April. The above answers were agreed to unanimously, except No. 1, at a meeting of the Council, 26th May, 1882. Kaeo—We believe either Council or Road Boards should be abolished. Failing this, there should be some clear line drawn as regards their powers. The financial year of all Road Boards should end on the 31st March, and each Road Board election should take place early in April. Oruru —We would suggest that County Councils should beabolisbed and the Road Boards have more powers granted them ; but, if both the Road Boards and County Councils be continued, that their duties and powers be more defined. That Road Boards should wind up all their accounts on the 31st March, and new Boards be elected as soon as convenient in April. Totara —We consider that either Councils or Road Boards should be abolished, but if both are continued their respective duties and powers should bo clearly defined. These answers were approved at a meeting of the Board, May 29th, 1882. BoManga —l will take this opportunity of explaining the peculiar situation of this county. The bulk of the land is either Crown or Native, and endowments, and not rateable ; there is a very small proportion of rateable land in this county. So that unless assistance is given, either as proposed by the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Rating Bills, grants-in-aid, or endowments, the county system here will soon be at a deadlock. The county has had very little help heretofore, with the exception of £6,500

out of £65,000 for roads and bridges north of Auckland, which sum has been expended on main roads, to open up the county. Tin's is the position of affairs at the present time: Money all expended, roads not completed, powerless to do anything' with the present revenue from rates and licenses. Whangarei —No answer. Maunu —In such country as Whangarei, broken, divided by forests, bad roads and other impediments, numerous annual elections are inconvenient and undesirable, and however fair in theory are not so in practice. The result is that voting is almost confined to the residents in the immediate neighbourhood of polling-places. The elections for Licensing Commissioners are awful farces. Elections should only be held for members of House of Representatives, for Trustees of highway district, and for School Committees. If a proportion only of the Trustees and Committees be elected in each year, the day of election should not be in the winter, and they should be held on the same day. The County Councils should have the control of hotel licenses, either by adjudicating themselves, or by appointing the Commissioners. Counties should not be larger than will permit of Councillors attending without very seriovis loss of time. A central place of meeting and their boundaries should be determined not so much by size as by identity of interest. Paru—No answer. Waikiekie —Giving the Road Board districts power to refuse dual government would be desirable. A Consolidated Road Board Act, bringing the whole law relating to Road Boards into one statute, is very much needed. Your remarks on the present system of rating is quite correct, and the alteration

proposed would greatly benefit the Road Boards and tend greatly to lessen llie number of appeals, by the wbole country being assessed on a uniform basis. Touching the recovery of rates, as proposed in your circular: if such a measure can be carried, it will be almost an inestimable benefit to such districts as the one I now write from. The manner in which, by your circular, it is proposed to give financial aid to County Councils and Road Boards appears to be satisfactory. Waipu Middle —It is generally admitted in this and the surrounding districts that it would be more advantageous to the public welfare that the County Councils should be abolished. Waipu South —It is generally doubted in the North that a Board of Works sitting in Wellington could understand our circumstances or be impartial enough to do us justice. We think that such a Board for every provincial district would be preferable. The wisdom of giving borrowing powers to country local governments is doubtful, and especially unsuitable in poor scattered new districts. ITohson —No answer. Okahu —The general opinion in this district is that County Councils have had too much power, and that the money they have had has been squandered in a most shameful manner; in fact, what has not been spent in log-rolling has been taken up in expenses, and we are, and it is the general feeling of thera tepayers ,quite satisfied that, had the Road Boards had one-half the money the County Councils have had, the roads in this district would not have been in the shameful state they are at present. In our County Council one of the members has to travel over fifty miles to get to the

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