A.—lo.

19

Poverty Bay—Same as now—ordinary. Special powers for rivers and forests. Tauranga —No answer. Katikati —Where Road Boards exist, as in our case, we are not in favour of the County Council striking any rate; but should the new Act give them the power to do so, then we say Cd. in the pound should be the maximum, unless with the consent of the majority of ratepayers in the district. Te Puna —All rating power. Wairoa —No road districts in county. Council have no suggestions to offer. Haioke's Bay —Counties should have the power to levy rates not exceeding 2s. in the pound on annual value for county and Road Board purposes combined, the counties to have power to levy a special rate of, say, Is. in the pound on any district for special works required for the benefit of that district only ; also to have power to strike a rate for several years in advance as security for any loan. Heretaunga—Same as under Counties Act of 1876 Kereru and Aorangi—They should have power to levy special rates in the district the work is executed in, or any district it may benefit, for any special and costly works such as bridges, the* special rate not to exceed 6d. in the pound. Maraekakaho —Power to levy rates up to Is. in the pound and power to levy,special rate for any large works, such as bridges; such rate to be levied within such districts only as are especially benefited by such works. Okawa —Counties should have power to levy Is. in the pound for general purposes, and Is. in the pound for special purposes. Papakura —Road Boards. Petane —No powers. One valuation should be sufficient. Te Mata —As at present; and also to have power to levy a special rate on any district for works required for the benefit of that district only. Waiipaiea —As at present. Norsewood—As at present. Oero—The same as under the existing Counties Act. Ormondville —As at present. Ruataniwha North—None. Road Boards ought to have the power of rating, not counties. Tamumu— One shilling in the pound where there are. no outlying districts ; 2s. in the pound in outlying districts. Woodville —None; to receive through Road Board. TaranaJci —One shilling. Manganui —Two shillings in the pound. Mangarei—One shilling in the pound. Carrington—One shilling. Waitara West —The ratepayers should strike the rate both for Road Boards and county. Egmont—Not exceeding Is. in the pound. Moa —None. Okato —No answer. Clifton —Not to exceed Is. in the pound. Waitara East —None. We get no benefit, they keep no road for us in order out of rates collected. Inglewood —A power to levy a rate of Is. 6d. in the pound, besides special rat es. Patea —That county rating powers be as now, but, where Road Boards are merged, the County Council should have power to levy a separate rate of not exceeding is. in the pound without receiving a

Question B—-continued.8 — -continued.

petition from the ratepayers, as required by section 109, "Counties Act, 1876." Haivera —No answer. Hawera — Where no Road Boards exist a double rating-power should he granted. Waimate —Aa at present. Ngaire—Where no Road Boards exist, a double rating power should be granted. Wangamd —As at present. Waitotara —No answer. Eangitikei —The same as Highway Boards. Rangitikei—-The same as Highway Boards. Lethbridge — Powers already given sufficient. Manawatu —One shilling in the pound, as at present, except where Road Boards are abolished, when it should be 2s. Manawatu —Where both counties and highways exist together, a maximum rate of Is. in the pound each, as at present; where only one body, 2s. Special rates, extra. Otaki—Where counties only exist, the power of levying a rate of Is. Halcombe—Same as Road Boards. Suit —The same as at present. IGlbirnie — None. Under the new system, let the counties have sufficient for repairs by way of fees, fines, and tolls. The Road Boards cannot bear more than their own burthens ; and, as all subsidies are to be stopped to Road Boards, whereas the counties are to have a subsidy of £3 for £1, surely it could not be expected that the Road Boards can support both. Kaiwara —No more than at present. Wairarapa West —Same as now. Peatherston —One shilling maximum. Cartorton —No answer. Waimea —Sufficient general rating powers exist; but power to specially rate localities specially benefited by outlay on protecting river banks or on other works should be conferred on counties and on Highway Boards. Motueka —No more than they at present possess. Upper Motueka — Sufficient general rating powers are already in force. Waimea —None, when Road Boards are in existence. Richmond — Counties should have power to levy special rates, and Road Boards general rates, as at present. Pangatotara—No answer. Riwaka—None. Lower Moutere—For maintaining trunk line, and for special works, after putting it to all the Road Boards within the county, and obtaining majority of votes frornsame. Collingwood — Sufficient rating powers exist. Collingwood—Sufficient rating power exists. Bailer —Not to exceed Is. in the pound. Inangahua —The same as at present. Grey —That counties should have no power granted to them to exceed Is. in the pound of ordinary rate upon the annual value. Marlborough —No answer. Awatere —As at present. Omaka—As at present. Pelorus —I think the rating power of counties at present quite sufficient. Picton —Equivalent to the present. Spring Creek—As at present. Wairau —As at present. Lower Wairau —As at present. Pukaka River Board—Equal to the present. Kailconra —No answer. Kaikoura River Board —Hie same as at present. Ashley —No answer.

Eyreton—No answer. Mandeville—Remain as at present. Oxford—As at present. Waipara—No answer. West Eyreton—As at present. Sehoyn —No answer. Courfcenay—Power to make special rates for special works only. Heathcote—Do not suggest any alteration in Act. Lincoln —No increased powers at present. Eiccarton—None, unless ratepayers approve. Templeton—None. South. Waimakariri—Remain as at present. Aharoa— No answer. Little River —Only one rating body should be allowed in each district, and the Road Boards, being most conversant with the requirements of their particular districts, should be allowed to levy and collect within their particular district. Pigeon Bay—None. Port Victoria—None at all. Aslibnrton —As at present. Wakanui—Same as at present existing. Mount Somers—As at present. Geraldine —Present powers. Gteraldine—Limited to Is. in the pound. Mount Cook —Limits defined by each. Mount Peel —No more than at present Temuka —The same as at present. Westland — Same as at present, with power to rate Crown and Native lands. Waitalci —Up to 2s. in the pound, and have power to rate any riding according to its requirements; say one riding would require 4d. in the pound, another Bd., &c. Kakanui—Same as at present. Waiareka—One shilling in the pound. Waitaki —One shilling in the pound. Wailcomiti —Same as at present. Palmerston South —To have no power to levy rates where a road district ■ exists. Waikouaiti —■ Counties should have power to levy rates in any riding of Is. in the pound without having to do so over the whole county ; also, to levy special rate in any riding, or portion of riding, when requested by majority of ratepayers interested. Maniototo —This Council is content with the powers at present possessed. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula —Counties should have the same rating powers as at present. Taieri —County Councils should have power to levy a rate in outlying districts without being required to levy a rate within road districts. Waipori—Counties should have the optional power of levying a rate either in outlying districts or road districts. Bruce —Counties to have power to levy a rate on outlying districts without being required to levy a rate within road districts ; also, power to levy a special rate in any riding for a special work up to Is. in the pound. Orichton —Their present powers. G-lenledi — County Councils should the power to levy a rate in outlying districts without being required to lo\y a rate within road districts, which may rate themselves; also power to levy a special rate in any riding, for special works, up to Is. in the pound. Matuu—One shilling in the pound. Mount Stuart — County Councils should have power to levy rates in outlying districts only. lokomairiro—County Councils should.