TAKING STOCK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 71, 13 March 1876, Page 4

TAKING STOCK.

{New Zealand Times.') It is not by any means a bad idea of the provincial authorities of Wellington to visit the various districts of the province and "take stock," so to speak, before handing over the conduct of its a^airs to the Colonial Government, i^erpppal inspection by tho Exeoutive 'is At ftU time? ge^rable when extensive

f I - - - :; ■■■ i ■ works aie being carried out, or are, projected by a Government, for, bowever competent and. sealous public officers may be, they are apt to take a strictly profgs?ionarview of such matters. In the present instance, however, there is a peculjaj'fltnessin a <6ur of inspection by tlie Superintendent and Provincial Secretary, accompanied by a member of the Colonial Government," who is charged .feflpTecraUy withi.the. control of the li^migrafipn department, and who is alao'mdirectiy responsible j for the settlement of people upon the j waste lands of the colony., The policy. I of the Provincial Government will be clearly understood, and the nature aad extent of the works in progress will be seen by him. In this way the administration of the province .may bd transferred to the Colonial Executive without the slightest jar or hitch, because there need be no break in the system, such as might otherwise happen. Nowp it so happens that the Provincial Government of Wellington, during Mr, Fitzherbert's superintendency*, has done a great deal towards opening tbe interior to settlement by the formation of roads and building of bridges over dangerous rivers. Other works of a like character.are projected, and will: do doubt be completed within a reasonable time, as' the money for the purpose "Ts" now forthcoming; but it is quits; clear,; that as tbe progress of ibe country depends upon the, continuity kof this pojfcy of development, 'it ir essential tbat the Ministry should understand; tho plans and method of provincial administrators who are shortly to be superseded. This remark applies to all the provinces c quite as much as to Wellington, although Wellington appears to be the only, ond whicbthas thought of it;, and' we would suggest, in the interest of the public, a general stock-taking by the provincial and the colonial authorities ' before the Abolition Act comas into operation.