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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3056, 12 April 1881, Page 2

The state of confusion in which the abolition of provincial government left matters of local and general importance wae fully recognised when the Counties Act was passed on the understanding that when time disclosed errors and omissions the law would be amended, and administration of local affairs would be put on a proper basis. Nearly five years have elapsed, yet the General Assembly has done nothing to extricate the country from the jumble into which everything

was thrown by hasty legislation. A good example of the confusion of which we speak i„. .'_._,;_?-..-' in the retention of provincial boundaries and provincial administiation of Crown land. Thus, within six bouts' journey from Napier, the imaginary line, 36rh parallel, is crossed, and tbe traveller is, without '% in the provincial district of Auckland. If le should know the exact situation of the line, he may, by stretching his legs, have one foot on Crown land of the upset value of 5a per acre in the province of Auckland, and the other foot on Crown land of the upset price of £l per acre in the province of Hawke's Bay. Should he fancy to buy the 53 land he must go all the way to Auckland to obtain information at the Land Office there ; a two days' sea voyage by steamer to do what he should be able to do at Napiei, where he can get in six hours. It has been contemplated, we believe, by successive Governments to equalise the value of Crown lands, and so do away with the anomaly thtt we refer to. But it has not been attempted to do more than think over the matter, and thinking being troublesome, as likely to attract attention from passing events of an amusj ing character. Ministers have allowed things to continue as they found them.