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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4777, 14 July 1876, Page 2

Fkom all we can learn, it is not likely that the Counties Bill can be circulated before this afternoon; and in the meantime curiosity as to its nature and scope has very naturally been largely aroused. However, the Premier, in his speech at Wanganui, and in his correspondence with Mr. Macanduew subsequently, has been so explicit as to the views of the Government on the form of local selfgovernment which should be consequent upon abolition, that it is almost possible for anyone who has carefully noted public matters for the past six months to be able to give a very good idea of what the Counties Bill should be like. In the first place, then, it may be presumed that the proposed counties will be sufficient in number to thoroughly localise the administration of local affairs, and prevent the interests of their outer portions being sacrificed to those of some central or favored spot, thus doing away with what has been raised by the chief opponents of provincialism as their main objection to that system. For the present, from thirty to forty counties should suffice, but it is to be presumed that provision will be found in the Bill for increasing their numbers as population becomes more dense. In too many instances the boundaries of the provinces have been drawn witha beautiful disregardforgeographical features or natural divisions, and we trust therefore that in, laying out the counties natural boundaries will bo adopted wherever practicable. The suffrage for county government should be wide, and no ratepayer should be excluded from a voice in it, while the desirability of giving votes in a small numerical proportion to property might be worthy of considcra : tion. Miners’ rights and business licenses under the Goldfields Acts should qualify for votes, and a very simple form of registratioh should bo adopted. Care should be taken to provide for the willing division of counties into ridings, add the counties should be fairly subsidised from the public revenues. So far as loans are concerned, wo have already been told the Government idea On that point. Certain loans, within a limited extent, should be permissible at the will of the County Council, while for special loans a popular consent, after due and proper notice, should be taken. The place of sitting of the County Council it might be well to leave to the discretion of the Council, so as to avoid the settlement by the Legislature of a question surrounded by difficulties arising from local jealousies. The ordinary details for the constitution of County Councils, for regulating their proceedings, and for providing the mechanism of their administration, are not of a nature to create much discussion, and will of course so follow the ordinary routine in these matters,, that all that need be expected of the Bill in regard to them is proper carefulness.