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Town Districts. —The boundaries of the Martinborough Town District were curtailed, and the Cobden Town District was declared not to form part of the County of Grey. The Lethbridge Town District was merged in the County of Rangitikei. A proposal to form the Macandrew's Bay Town District gave rise to more than the usual amount of consideration, but the proposal was not given effect to. River Districts. —Only one new district was constituted, and the boundaries of two districts were altered. The general question of river-control still engages the attention of the Department. Land-drainage Districts. —Three new districts were constituted, one district was abolished, and the boundaries of two districts altered. A number of drainage districts were subdivided and representation fixed for subdivisions. The election of a number of Drainage Boards was necessary during the year. A proposal was on foot to amalgamate several drainage districts in a portion of the Waikato district, known as the Woodlands Swamp. The Chief Drainage Engineer, Lands and Survey Department, furnished a comprehensive report on the drainage of this swamp, and in an effort to put the report into operation some of the Drainage Boards endeavoured to bring about amalgamation. Several conferences were held, at some of which this Department was represented. It was, however, merely in an advisory capacity that the Department was represented, and it did not in any way attempt to force the issue. The matter is still under consideration. Local Bodies' Finance Act. —The provisions of sections 3 (5) and 7 of this Act were availed of in a number of cases, but otherwise there were very few matters arising out of the Act that gave rise to any consideration. War Memorials. —Five local bodies were authorized to erect and maintain war memorials under the powers given by section 15 of the Finance Act, 1919. By-laws of Local Bodies. —As usual, a number of by-laws of local bodies were under consideration from various aspects. Four cases of by-laws of County Councils were approved by the GovernorGeneral under section 109, Counties Act, 1920, and eight cases were confirmed by the Minister under the By-laws Act, 1910. Public Bodies' leases Act. —The Johnsonville Town District was declared a leasing authority under this Act. Designation of Districts Act. —The name " Milson " was assigned to a locality in the Kairanga County. Legislation. The Local Elections and Polls Act, 1908, and amendments, and the Rating Act, 1908, and amendments, were consolidated. A Counties Amendment Act was passed, containing several provisions for the better working of county government. As usual, a number of local Bills were considered by the Department and reports furnished to the Local Bills Committee. The " washing-up " Bill was brought down in two Parts, the second Part containing matters affecting local bodies and public bodies. This Part was dealt with by this Department, and a considerable number of clauses for insertion in it were considered. New Standing Orders relating to local legislation were passed, and in consequence matters dealing with local bodies and public bodies will no longer be dealt with in the " washing-up " Bill. A separate Bill, to be known as the Local Legislation Bill, will be brought down each session, and will contain matters affecting local bodies and public bodies formerly dealt with by means of the " washing-up " Bill. The new Standing Orders provide for application to be made to the Minister of Internal Affairs for the inclusion of a clause in the Bill, and after the Minister has made certain inquiries he may provisionally approve the clause and cause it to be included therein. Every application shall be accompanied by a draft of the proposed clause and by a certificate from a responsible officer of the local authority or public body to the effect that the member for the district concerned has been furnished with a copy thereof, together with a notice in writing of the intention to apply for the inclusion of the clause in the Bill. Land Agents Act. During the year 1,136 licenses were issued and 13 transfers granted. Further cases of defalcation were considered. Animals Protection and Game Act. As usual, open seasons for game-shooting and deer-stalking were provided in a number of acclimatization districts. The Government continued to assist, by way of bonus for each deer-tail submitted, in the thinning-out of deer in the South Island, bonuses having been paid in respect of 11,445 deer killed. Although no figures are available reports show that there has also been a considerable number of deer killed in other parts of the Dominion. An open season was again fixed for opossums in a number of districts, and the season proved a record one, 145,778 skins being taken. Questions affecting opossums still receive very close attention by the Department. Motok-vehicles Act. The following report has been received from the Secretary of the General Post Office, as Registrar of Motor-vehicles :—- " As provided by Act, the registration of motor-vehicles is carried out by the Post and Telegraph Department. Owing to the widely spread activities of the Department it is possible to arrange for

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