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Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1926, Page 2

Local Government, and should prove of great value to all interested in tho part played by local authorities in tho national life. The development of local government is reviewed in a most interesting manner, going back to the days of provincial government, for which the first elections were held in 1854. Purely local government went back to 1842, when the county of Eden, which comprised the then capital—Auckland—was proclaimed. An Ordinance passed in the same year attempted to provide for the local needs of the more concentrated localities, and three years later counties were generally recognised. Local port authorities were set up under the Marine Boards Act of 1862, and other local bodies followed. The constitution and powers of the various local authorities are dealt with fully, and then follows a mass of statistics covering every branch' of local government. The volume includes a brief statement regarding each borough, town district and port, giving the receipts, expenditure, rates, indebtedness and other particulars. Altogether .the Handbook is a valuable addition to the list of official publications.