A.—lo,

6

Hamilton —I think County Chairman should be elected by the Council, who are naturally the best judges of a man's fitness and public spirit. Kihikihi—No. Rangiaohia—lf the Counties Act is to be retained, elect them as heretofore. Tuhikaramea—No. Present system best. Eaglan —No. As they are at present. Pirongia—No. Raglan Town—No answer. Whakatane —No. Cook— No. Ormond—No. Patutahi—No. Te Arai—No; but as now. Poverty Bay—No. Tauranga —No answer. Katikati—Council should elect Chairman. Te Puna—Yes. Wairoa —No. Leave as at present. Hawlce's Bay —No. Should be elected as heretofore. Heretaunga—No. Kereru and Aorangi—No. Maraekakaho—No. Okawa —No. As heretofore. Papakura—No. As at present. Petane —No. As heretofore. Te Mata—No. As at present. Waipdwa—No. ' Should be elected as heretofore. Norsewood—No. Oero—No. Ormondville—No. Should be elected as heretofore. Ruataniwha North—No. As at present. Tamurnu—No. As heretofore. Woodville—No. Taranaki— No. Manganui—No. Mangarei—Yes. Carrington—No. Waitara West—That the Chairman be elected by the county. Egmont—No; elected by Councillors as before. Moa—No. All local bodies to elect their own Chairman. Okato—County Councillors should elect the Chairman. Clifton—No. Waitara East—lf elected, to be members of County Council. Inglewood—No. fatea —No. Haioera —No answer. Hawera—No. Waimate —Yes. Ngaire—No. Wanganui —No. Waitotara—No. Rangitikei —No. Rangitikei—No. Lethbridge—No. Manawatu —No.

Question I— continued.

Manawatu—No. Otaki—No. Halcombe —No. Hutt— No. Kilbirnie —No. Should be chosen by County Councils, aa at present. Kaiwara—No. Wairarapa JVest —No. •Featherston —No. Carterton —No answer. Waimea— No. The existing method is preferable. Motueka—No. The existing method is preferable, being carried out without expending the county's funds. Upper Motueka—No; the present system preferable. Waimea—Yes; if a paid Chairman. Not otherwise. Richmond —Not necessary, as it would add to the expenditure of county funds. Pangatotara —No ; by the Council themselves. Riwaka—No; they should be elected by their own body. Lower Moutere—No. Collingtoood —Should remain as at present. Collingwood—No ; as at present. Buller —Yes; and the term of office two years. Inangahua —No. The present mode of election preferable for many reasons, especially for economy's sake. Grey —Yes ; the ratepayers to elect, and the Chairman to retain office for three years; the election to take place at same time and places as county election for councillors. Marlborough —No answer. Awatere —No ; they should be elected by the Boards over which they preside. Omaka—No; present mode preferable. Pelorus—No; the cost of electing one reason, and present system the best, as Councillors are the best judges of those elected fitting for the position of Chairman. Picton—No ; as at present. Spring Creek—No ; present mode preferable. Wairau—No; present mode preferable. Lower Wairau—No; as at present. Pukaka River Board—No; they ought to be elected by the bodies over which they preside. Kaikoura —No answer. Kaikoura River Board —No, but by a majority of the members of the Council. Ashley —No answer. Byre ton —No. Mandeville—Elected as now. Oxford—No. Waipara —No. Present system the best. West Eyreton—No.

Selieyn —No. Consider the present mode of election the most suitable for this provincial district. Courtenay—No. Heathcote—No. Lincoln—No. Eiccarton —No. Templeton—Yes. South Waimakariri—No. AJcaroa —No answer. Little River—No. Present mode preferable. Pigeon Bay —No. Port Victoria—By vote of its members. Ashhurton —No. Wakanui—No. Mount Somers—No. G-eraldine —No ; but elected as at present. G-eraldino—No. Mount CookI—Members1 —Members of any local corporate body should elect their Chairman from among themselves, and he should be Chief Magistrate of the district. Mount Peel—No. Temuka —No. Westland —No. Waitaki— No. Kakanui —No ; present system preferable. Waiareka —No ; we consider the present system is more satisfactory. Waitaki—No; present system of electing County Chairmen satisfactory. Waikonaiti —No. Palmerston South—Yes. Waikouaiti —No. Maniototo —No ; the Council has no fault to find with the present method. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula—County Chairman should not be elected as Mayors are. Taieri —No ; we are satisfied with the present mode. Waipori—County Chairmen should be elected by County Councils. Bruce —The present mode of electing Chairman preferable. Crichton —No. G-lenledi —County Chairmen should not be elected as Mayors are. Matau —No answer. Mount Stuart — County Chairmen should not be elected as Mayors are. Tokomairiro--County Chairmen should not be elected as Mayors are. Clutha —The present system works very well. Pomahaka —County Chairmen should not be elected as Mayors are. Molyneux South —No. Tuapelca —No. Clydevale—No. Southland —No. Knapdale—No. Toitois—No. Tuturau—No.

2. Should counties be enabled to split up or amalgamate, or otherwise alter their boundaries, without the consent of Parliament, as is now required ?

Mangonui —No. Kaeo—No. Oruru —No. Totara—No. Hokianga —Yes. Whangarei —No. Maunu—Yes j by mutual agreement. Parua —No. Waikiekie—No. Waipu Middle—Counties should be enabled to amalgamate, &c. Waipu South—Majority of ratepayers should. Stibton-*Ko answer.

Okahu—Yes ; and that all counties should not contain more than 20,000 acres. Paparoa—Yes. Wairau —If counties were divided, as they should be, then no change without the consent of Parliament. Wairau (by ex-Chairman) —Yes, most certainly, in accordance with the request of the ratepayers interested. The present mode is prohibitive of any improvement. Whakahara School Committee—No. Rodney^- No.

Albertland South —No answer. Arai—Do not possess sufficient information on the subject. Upper Mahurangi—-No. Mangawai —Counties should be enabled to Bplit up or amalgamate only by a vote of a majority of ratepayers. Omaha —No. MatakanaWest—Should be enabled to split up or amalgamate without the consent of Parliament. Puhoi—Under condition that the majority[of ratepayers (ballot) agree.