A.—lo.

21

such estimate, and hand it over to the Boad Board for expenditure. Heretaunga —Same as at present. Kereru and Aoranga —The same as at present. Maraekakaho —None. County Council only to levy rates; to return to the Eoad Board two-thirds of rate levied within each Eoad Board district. Okawa—To levy and expend rates according to the wants of their districts, not to exceed Is. in the pound. Papakura—As at present. Petane —Sufficient to enable them to meet requirements of Eoad Board district. To Mata —Their present powers. Waipmoa —As at present. Norsewood —As at present. Ocro —The same power as they now hold. Ormondville—As at present. Euataniwha North —As at present. Tamumu —Not to exceed Is. in the pound where the county levies a rate; 2s. in the pound where no county rate is struck. Woodville—Up to 2s. Taranalci —One shilling. Manganui—Two shillings in the pound. Mangarei—One shilling in the pound. Carrington—One shilling. Waitara West—The ratepayers should Btrike the rate both for Eoad Boards and county. Egmont —None. The ratepayers only should have power to levy a rate. Moa —If Council is dispensed with, 2s. in the pound, with power to levy special rates by consent of ratepayers. Okato —No answer. Clifton —Not to exceed Is. in the pound. Waitara East—To rate up to Is. in the pound on rental value. Inglewood—One shilling and sixpence in the pound. Patea —Not considered. Mawera —No answer. Hawera —Where no County Councils exist a double rating-power should be granted. Waimate —Not to exceed Is. Ngaire —Where no County Councils exist, a double rating power Bhould be granted. Wanganui—As at present. Waitotara —Same as at present. Rangitikei —The same as at present. Eangitikei —The same as at present. Lethbridge— Powers already given sufficient. Manaioatn —One shilling in the pound, as b_ at present, except where Eoad Boards are abolished, when it should be 2s. Manawatu —See last question. Otaki —Where Eoad Boards only exist, the power of levying a rate of Is.

Question 9— continued.

Halcombe—Same as at present. Suit —None. Kilbirnie —One shilling in the pound general rate, and a possible Is. in the pound special rate for their own purposes. Kaiwara—Same as at present. Wairarapa West —Same as now. ITeatherston —One shilling maximum. Carterton —No answer. Waimea —Highway lioards should have power to levy special rates on portions of the highway district for any by-road of special benefit to such portions. Motueka —Eoad Boards should have power to levy special rates for work of direct benefit to any locality, subject to the approval of twothirds of the ratepayers interested. Upper Motueka —They have sufficient general rating powers. Waimea —At least double existing power. Richmond — Counties should have power to levy special rates, and Road Boards general rates, as at present. Pangatotara—Unlimited. Eiwaka —Same as at present. Lower Moutere —Not more than Is. in the pound. Collingwood — Sufficient rating powers exist. Collingwood—Same as at present under the Nelson Provincial Highways Act. Bailer —-None in existence in this county. Inangahua —The same as at present. Grey —That when counties levy rates the Eoad Boards within these counties should have no power to do so. Warlborough —No answer. Awatere—As at present. Omaka —All the powers. Pelorus —We have the power at present to levy a special rate; this I think sufficient Picton —Equivalent to the present. Spring Creek —As at present. Wairau —As at present. Lower Wairau —As at present. Pukaka—Equal to the present. KaiJcoura —No answer. Kaikoura Eiver Board—The same as at present. Ashley —No answer. Eyreton—The power given under the Roads Board ordinance is considered sufficient. Mandeville —Eemain as it is. Oxford —As at present. Waipara—No answer. West Eyreton—There is no alteration required by the Eoad Boards as to rating at present. SeVmyn —Eating powers should remain as at present. Courtenay—Power to rate up to Is. in the pound for maintenance only. Heathcote —Eemain as at present, except for special purposes, for sug-

gestions on which see answer to Question 16. Lincoln—No more than already provided for. Eiccarton—Not more than at present. Templeton—Same as at present. South Waimakariri—Eemain as at present. Alcaroa —No answer. Little Eiver —No answer. Pigeon Bay—The same as at present.. Port Victoria —The same as they have now. Ashburton —As at present. Wakanui —Same as at present existing, with the addition that they should have the power to determine what rate, or part of rate, shall be struck in each separate subdivision of their district, and not necessarily to be an uniform rate throughout the district. Mount Somers—As at present. Geraldine —Present powers. G-eraldine—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 —No Eoad Boards on the coast. Waitalci —Up to Is. in the pound. Kakanui —Same as at present. Waiareka —One shilling in the pound for general purposes, with power to levy special rate as at present. Waitaki —One shilling in the pound. Waikouaiti —Same as at present. Palmerston South—A3 at present, in accordance with " The Eating Act, 1876." Waikouaiti—Same as at present. Maniototo —See answers to Nos. 6 and 7. Peninsula —No answer. Peninsula—Eoad Boards should have the same rating powers as at present. Taieri —Same as at present. Waipori—The rating powers of Eoad Boards should continue as at present. Bruce —The Act to remain the same aa at present. Criohton—As at present. Gtlenledi—Eoad Boards' rating powers should be the same as at present. Matau —One shilling in the pound. Mount Stuart —The rating powers of Boards should continue as at present. Tokomairiro—Same rating powers as at present. Clutlia —One shilling in the pound. Pomahaka — One shilling in the pound. Molyneux South —Same as at present* Tuapejca —Same as at present. Clydevale—Same as present. Southland —Same as the present. Kuapdale—Shilling rate. Toitois—The same as at present. Tuturau —No alteration.

10. If the operation of the Counties Act is suspended in any county, should Road Boards be enabled to exercise any of the powers of the county, and, if so, which ?

Mangonui —The operation of the Counties Act should not be suspended. Kaeo —No. Eoad Boards should not exercise powers of county. Oruru —In districts where the Counties Act is not in force, the Eoad Boards should have the same powers. Totara—The operation of the Act should not be suspended. SoTcianga —No answer. Whangarei —No answer. Maunu —Theoperation of the Counties Act should be made imperative. 4—A. 10.

Parua—The receipt of license fees, and the charge, under the direction of the Government, of main roads. We think, however, that Boad Boards should have as little to do with all duties outside of charge of roads as possible. Waikiekie—No answer. Waipa Middle —The whole of the powers. Waipa South —One Board, or more, should be enabled to form themselves into a River Board, and be

enabled to rate for the improvement of fiver navigation. Three or more should be enabled to form themselves into a County Board, and undertake the larger works where no Engineer is in charget Boards should have control of wharves and slaughter ■ houses, should collect license fees and dog tax, establish ferries, and be given power under the Public Health Act, vaccination, &c. Sohson —No answer.