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the time being. Subsequently a further petition purporting to be signed by a further 21 ratepayers in the area was forwarded to the Commission, but as it appeared doubtful whether there was a majority of the ratepayers of the proposed district, either in number or area, in favour of the proposal, and in any event it was clear that there was substantial opposition to it, the Commission decided to adopt the procedure of issuing a provisional scheme in pursuance of the Local Government Commission Act, 1946, instead of recommending the constitution of the district in pursuance of the Rabbit Nuisance Act. This enabled any objections to the proposal to be considered by the Commission before a final determination was made. The provisional scheme was promulgated on the 27th March, 1950, and the time for lodging objections expires on the Ist May, 1950. XY. CHANGE OF STATUS : NOT INVOLVING A PUBLIC INQUIRY Runanga Urban Fire District Reference has been made to this district under the heading of " Miscellaneous : (1) Fire Districts " (page 48). XVI. OTHER PUBLIC INQUIRIES HELD (1) Local Government : North Shore Area, Auckland The Select Committee which reported to Parliament in 1945 on all phases of the local-government system in the Dominion made special reference to the urgency of the problems of local government in Auckland and the environs. Since it was constituted the Commission has given serious consideration to the approach which should be made to the problems in this particular area. Following the receipt of a request from the central committee of the seven Progressive and Ratepayers' Associations in the East Coast Bays area of the North Shore forming portion of the Takapuna Riding of the Waitemata County for an inquiry embracing the East Coast Bays, the Commission decided that in reviewing the question of the desirability or otherwise of reorganization of local government in Auckland and the environs it should first investigate the position in the North Shore area. An inquiry was accordingly commenced on the sth July, 1949. The scope of the inquiry included the boroughs of Devonport, Takapuna, Birkenhead, and Northcote, and also areas in the Waitemata County, including the East Coast Bays, extending from Castor Bay to Long Bay, as well as Rangitoto Island and Herald Island, generally known as Pine Island, neither of which islands are within the district of a local authority. The inquiry continued until 22nd July, when it was adjourned until 2nd August. It concluded on the Bth August, 1949. As certain aspects of the problem are related to the Auckland metropolitan question, the Commission decided to withhold its report and findings pending an inquiry relating to the latter which was commenced on 7th November, 1949, and adjourned on 14th November. When this inquiry was resumed on the 13th February, 1950, an application was made by counsel for the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board for an adjournment, on the grounds that the Board's officers were fully engaged in the preparation of technical and other data relating to legislation of major consequence to the future activities of the Board. The future drainage scheme for Auckland was stated to be one of the utmost importance and urgency. Counsel for the majority of the local authorities represented at the inquiry supported the application. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., who had prepared proposals for the reorganization of local government in Auckland and the environs, strenuously opposed the application. Although the Commission desired to proceed with the inquiry as soon as possible, upon consideration of the application, it decided to adjourn the inquiry sine die, and indicated that the progress of the legislation would be watched with a view to resuming the inquiry.