YEAR-BOOK OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 38

YEAR-BOOK OF NEW ZEALAND.

SPECIAL ARTICLES IN PREPARATION. The next issue of the Official Year-Book of New Zealand, which is to be published about September noxt, will contain a very interesting series of articles by the heads of departments, descriptive chiefly of recent legislation in this Colony. Tho first of these articles will bo an exhaustive one on " Our Laud Laws," by tho Survey or- General* (Mr S. Percy Smith), in which he will show that tho trend of our agrarian legislation of late years, and mainly in tho last Parliament, proceeded upon the principle of settling the lands in such a way as to secure to tho State a rental in perpetuity. Under this general heading Mr J. E. March (Superintendent of Villago Settlements) will contribute an article in relation to that branch of land settlement, while Mr S. P. Smith will also deal with the subject of recent Native land legislation. The second article wiU bo do voted to "Our Labour Laws," which, in tho capable hands of Mr Edward Tregear (Secretary of the Department of Labour), will, assuredly receive masterly exposition. The subject of "Tho Co-operative System of Public Works " has been confided to Mr H. J. H. Blow (Under-Socretary for Public Works), who will describe the system and the method of applying it, and the Registrar - General will discourse upon "Our Electoral Laws," taking caro to give duo prominence to tho recent extension of the franchise. There will bo an article on " The Principles of our Direct Taxation," in which it will be shown without doubt that tho predominant principle is that of graduation so as to adjust the burthen of taxation with due regard to the individual capabilities of the taxpayers. Mr C. J. A. Haselden (UnderSecretary for Justice) will deal with " Our Licensing Laws," and in this connection will siun up the general results of the late licensing elections. "Our Education System " will form the subject of a dissertation by the Rev. W. J. Habens, M.A. (InspectorGeneral of Schools), and the direct influence which tho education system has had in shaping the course of our legislation ia likely to receive fitting treatment at his hands. Mr J. Ashcroft, Official Assignee of Wellington, will furnish an article on •' Our Bankruptcy Laws," andMrG.B. Davy will write on "Tho Land Transfer System." Amongst revised matter on other subjects there will be a new article on "Meat Freezing" by Mr Sladden, one by Professor Kirk on " The Timber Industry," another on " The Dairy Industry " by Mr C. R. Valentine, chief dairy expert, a fourth by Mr A. J. Rutherfurd on " Acclimatisation Societies," and an interesting article on " The Maoris " by Mr C. J. A. Haselden, besides articles on the Wellington and Manawatu Railway (Mr J. Wallace) and the Midland Railway (Mr Dalston). There will also be articles on " The Government Life Insurance Department" and "The Public Trust Office," which Mr J. 11. Richardson and Mr J. K. Warburton respectively have re-written and brought fully up to date. The Year-Book will likewise contain, as before, articles and statistics relating to tho resources, industries, population, and so forth of the Colony. In fine, a most interesting volume may be expected in September next from the Registrar-General, who has entered with his characteristic thoroughness into the work of its compilation.