A.—loa,

3

4. Would you suggest any alteration in the mode of electing the Councillors ?

Mongonui — Whangaroa North —Annually ; not as at present. Oruaiti—No. Mongonui —No answer. Bay of Islands —Have nothing to recommend. Think the present system has ■worked well. Whangarei — Kaurihohori—No answer. Mangapai—No answer. Maungakaramea*—lt would be cheaper and answer every purpose, to elecs the Councillors at an open meeting same as members of Eoad Boards. Should be elected annually. Ruatangata—No answer. Waipu North —The present mode I think is the best and cheapest, and as long as counties exist it should be carried out. Whangarei—No answer. Hobson —No; the Local Elections Act meets all cases. Clause 6of this Act, re Returning Officers, should be altered to, " There shall be a Returning Officer for each riding in the county." This can be done with little expense by the appointment of reliable local men. Rodney — Albertland North —No answer. Komokoriki—-No. Matakana Eaßt. —No. Waitemata — Devonport—No answer. Devonport (W. H. Fenton)—No ;I do not think it can be improved upon. Pukeatua —No. Waitakerei East —No answer. Eden— No. Manukau — Awhitu—No answer. Pokeno—No answer. Waipipi (A. Muir, jun.)—Not any. Waikato — Cambridge —We are of opinion that

it would be both, economical and satisfactory if members of County Councils were nominated by Boards. Waipa —No. Mangapiko—-Remain as at present. Ngaruawahia Town —-No. Pukekura —None. Raglan— ■ . Newcastle —No. Whalcatane — Opotiki—No. Tauranga —No. Taranaki — Waiwakaiho—No. Oakura—Present mode of election is too expensive, and quite unnecessary. Mangarei (J. T. Upjohn)—All local bodies should be openly elected, as by the present method persons are elected of whom nothing is known of their opinion on local matters. Pa tea —■ Wairoa —No answer. Ma nawatu —■ Manchester —Yes. Rangitikei — Sandon and Carnarvon —The present system suits very well. W^airarapa East — Consider that the present system is satisfactory. Caailepoint—No. Wairarapa West — Masterton —The present system seems to work very fairly. Waimea — Suburban North —Same as clauses 9, 30, 11, "Nelson Highways Act, 1872." dmuri —No. Marlborongh — Havelock —No. Kaikuura —No. Kaikoura —No. Sehoyn — Avon —That one-third should retire annually.

Malvern —No. Eakaia —Think that one-third of the members of the Council should retire annually, so that there might be more continuity in the body, Spreydon—Satisfied at the present arrangement. Springs—No. Upper Waimakariri—No. Ellesmere—No. Akaroa —The present system appears very suitable to this county. Ashbnrton — South Rakaia—No. Longbeach—No. Upper Ashburton —No. Geraldine — Levels —Nine to form Council; threa members to retire annually. Levels (Chairman) —No ; except to have order of retiring arranged in rotation, so as to keep continuity of local knowledge and administration. Waimate —No. Waitaki— Otepopo—The present system of electing Councillors is satisfac* tory. Vincent —No. hake —No. Peninsula — Portobello—No; present system works very well. Taieri — Seaside —No. Taieri —One-third retire annually. Bruce — Kaitanga —No alteration in the elections of Councillors is recommended. Clutha— Clutlia—The present mode is satisfactory.

5. Can you suggest any new duties which should be imposed, or new powers which should be conferred, on counties, more especially as to power of making by-laws ?

3£ongonni — Whangaroa North —All new powers or duties to be left in the hands of the : people. Oruaiti—No. Mongonui—No answer. Bay of Islands —lt is the opinion of the j Council that counties should have power to disqualify defaulting ratepayers ; and that they should have power to make i by-laws to that effect. "Whangarei — Kaurihohori —No answer. Mangapai—No answer. Maungakaramea—No answer. Kuataugata—No answer. Waipu North—The counties should have power to manage their own internal affairs, and it should be op- I tional with them in regard to dogtax licenses and other small matters. Whangaroi—No answer. Hohson —Clause 183, section 4, of Counties Act gives ample power in respect to making by-laws. Power should be given to take land for purposes of main roads or roads to wharf and landings by a less costly proeeedurc than now required, and to simplify the taking of roads. The Licensing Commission for the county should be transferred to the Council, who are the parties most interested, and who collect and disburse the fees for county purposes; and suggest that in country districts the Licensing Commissioners be the members of the County i Council, '.this will save election expen- i

ses and other charges, and the publicans will have only to deal with the Council in the matter of licenses, &c, instead of having to apply to three different parties or Courts, as at present. Rodney — Albertland North —No answer. Komokorlki —No answer. Matakana East —Power should be given to Highway Boards to compel absentee owners of property to contribute something towards the making of new roads to their property. WaUemata —■ Devonport—No answer. Devonport (W. H. Fenton) —In my opinion the whole system should be abolished. Pukeatua—No. Waitakerei Bast—No answer. Eden —No answer. Manulcau — Awhitu—No answer. Pokeno—No. Waipipi (A. Muir, jun.)—They have already too many dutio3 or powers. Waikato — Cambridge—We would suggest that all matters of local government should be intrusted to the counties (with the exception of Road Board duties), such aa licensing, police, education (with power to charge a fee, say not exceeding Gd. per head, for children attending school) hospitals, charitable aid, waste lands,

main roads and bridges (always exclusive of roads or streets within the limits of a borough or town district) dog-tax, sheep inspection, and taxing licenses to shoot or hunt game, &c. Waipa —The Councils should be the licensing authorities both for publicans' and general licenses, and should have control of expenditure on hospital and charitable aid ; the charges being made on a regular scale, according to the amount of cost each district has incurred, and should have control over the hospital and other endowments in the county. That there be no by-laws, but a definite code of procedure, by which all districts should be bound. Mangapiko —Councils should be the licensing authorities ; should have control of all endowments. Ngaruawahia Town —Would not give counties any more powers whatever. Would rather curtail those they have got of levying rates in Road Board districts Pukekura —Counties should have control of expenditure on hospitals and charitable aid, which now forms so heavy a deduction from the subsidies, without the ratepayers knowing anything of the reasons. Such charges should be based on the actual expenditure incurred by each county as far as possible. Counties Bhould in all questions conneoted with Eoad