11

A.—loa,

adopting the property-tax valuation. Taieri — Seaside —The Board suggests no alteration.

Question 14— continued. Taieri —No answer. Bruce — Kaitangata —No answer.

Clutha— Clutha—We approve of the Bating Bill as sketched in the circular.

15. Please state whether the provisions of the Roads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Eating Bills would suit your district, and, if not, what alterations would you suggest which would make these measures more useful ?

Mongonui — Whangaroa North —No answer. Oruaiti —No answer. Mongonui—No answer. Say of Islands —This county has already sent resolutions to the Government on these points. It is manifestly unfair that the burden of making and maintaining roads should fall on ratepayers, while two-thirds of the heavy traffic is done by Natives, who pay no taxes. Whangarei — Kaurihohori —No answer. Mangapai—The Crown and Native lands should be rated. I think this would suit all poor districts. There is generally a great quantity of land unsold belonging to the Government, and the Natives own the best land and pay no rateß or taxes, which keeps a settlement back. Maungakaramea—No answer. Euatangata—Apparently a very good Bill. Suggested that the Board consist of the Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, and Minister for Public Works. Waipu North—lt would suit counties, but small road districts are too poor to avail themselves of its provisions. Whangarei—No answer. Bobson —The provisions of these Bills are sufficient and suitable, and much needed; and, if not carried into effect, some provision must be made for main roads connecting other centres of population. Rodney — Albertland North — Cannot suggest improvement. Will suit. Komokoriki —So far as you have sketched out in your circular, I think it will be of great use. Matakana East —The Eoads Construction and Native Lands Bill as sketched in the circular would answer well in this district. Waiiemata — Devonport —No interest in Native lands. Devonport (W. H. Fenton)' —We have no Native lands in our district, so cannot offer any suggestions. Pukeatua —No answer. Waitakerei East —No answer. Eden —We generally approve of the provisions mentioned in the circular regarding Eoads Construction Bill and the Crown and Native Lands Bating Bill. Manukau — Awhitu —No answer. Pokeno —No answer. Waipipi (A. Muir, jun.) —We have neither Crown nor Native lands in our district which would be worth making any alteration for. Waikato — Cambridge—We think they are generally suitable;1 but the intention to place a fixed value, probably a low one, on Crown and Native lands might be improved on. Waipa —Yes; so far as Eoads Construction Bill goes. Mangapiko —No answer. Ngaruawahia|Town —Yes.

Pukekura—So far as they apply to Bettled districts they would suit us. Raglan — Newcastle —Yes. Wliakatane — Opotiki—No answer. Tauranga —The proposals in last year's Bill, introduced by Major Atkinson, . put too low a valuation on Government and Native lands. Taranaki — Waivvakaiho —I think it would. Oakura —No answer. Mangarei (J. T. Upjohn)—l think the plan proposed is a good one. There is a Native reserve in this district that ten years ago the Native Commissioner told me was fit to have Crown grants issued to the Natives that they might pay rates, and nothing has been done yet in that direction. Patea — Wairoa—'No answer. Manawatu — Manchester —They will suit our district very well. Rangitikei — Sandon and Carnarvon —Yes ; but we think that- district roads are hardly treated with as compared with main roads. We would suggest that Road Boards be allowed the same advantages in respect of main district roads as County Councils. Wairarapa Hast —Believe that the Eoads Construction measure would prove satisfactory. Crown and Native lands should pay rates on a fair and equitable valuation. Castlepoint — Yes ; and that a failrate should be paid on both Crown and Native lands. Wairarapa West — Masterton —The principle of placing fund at disposal of local bodies repayable within a term of years meets with general approval, but great doubts exist as to equitable distribution by central Board. The provision for free grant of 75 per cent, on cost of construction in case of a main road, as against absolute repayment in the case of district roads, will make the definition of such roads a very difficult task. Many roads connecting centres of population have ceased to be of large importance owing to the opening of railways. Waimea — Suburban North —No suggestion. Amuri —Not applicable. Marlborough — Havelock —No answer. Kaikoura —Would not suit this district. In districts like Kaikoura, where no benefit has been derived from expenditure of loans in roads or railways, am of opinion that main trunk line of road should be made out of public loan. Kaikoura —Not adapted for district. Selwyn — Avon —No.

Malvern —No answer. Eakaia —We suggest that power be given to the local bodies to make alterations in the rolls when they have been completed where a change has occurred in owner or occupier, notice of such change to be immediately sent by party interested to local body. Spreydon—Not necessary in this district. Springs—Does not apply to this district. Upper Waimakariri—Likely to suit this district as its resources become developed ; and, intelligently and energetically applied, it would become a great power in developing the resources of bush country, where the bulk of the laud is still in the hands of the Crown, and where roads must either precede or closely follow settlement, such as the west coast of this Island. Ellesmere—No. As far as this district is concerned it is unadvisable that any moneys be lent by Government for the purpose of road or bridge construction or river conservation. AJcaroa —No answer. Ashburlon — South Eakaia—No answer. Longbeach—No ; would be unfair in its operation in this district. Upper Ashburton — Yes ; excepting that no local body get a grant from the Board only on the amount of rates raised by such local body. G-eraldine — Levels —Not applicable to our district. Levels (Chairman) — Know nothing of the subject. Waimate —Would not suit County of Waimate. Waitalci — Otepopo—The provisions of the Eoads Construction and Crown and Native Lands Eating Bills, generally, are not wanted here, and the Board disapproves of the Bills. Vincent —No answer. LaTce — The Eoads Construction Bill, though a fair proposal for settled districts, is one that would act unfavourably in this county, as half of its area comprises a comparatively unknown though auriferous and mineral country, known as the West Coast. This area may be deemed one of colonial value. The county could not settle it. Peninsula — Portobello —No answer. Taieri — Seaside —Not suitable for this district. Taieri—No answer. Bruce — Kaitangata—The provisions of the Eoads Construction Bill "would suit our district. Clutha — Clutha —We approve of these Bills generally if the money were divided fairly.