A.— 4>.

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sixteen questions as to miners' rights, and the hearing of two Court cases. We think these duties should be incorporated with his duties as Resident Magistrate at Kelson without special remuneration. Provision for the Gaol expenditure has been retained on its present footing: but we would observe that the accommodation for prisoners is beyond present local requirements. The number of prisoners now confined is sixteen, while there is accommodation for fifteen additional. The gaoler is of opinion that he should be relieved from the registration of brands, and we recommend that this duty be transferred to the Police. Police. —The force at Nelson city and port consists only of the Chief Inspector, one sergeant, and three constables. The Chief Inspector strongly represented the necessity for at least one additional policeman. On the abolition of the provinces, the police duties at Cobden can be performed by the police of Greymouth, and the man now stationed at Cobden transferred to Nelson. We find the police duties in most of the country districts are performed by district constables, who are resident settlers following trades or callings, receiving for police duties salaries varying from £35 to £125 per annum. We think this arrangement should be terminated as soon as possible, and the duties performed by a less number of regular members of the force visiting the various districts from time to time. The total cost need not thereby be increased. Education. —The amount for the current year has been set down at double the amount of the estimate made by the provincial authorities for six months ending 30th September next. Charitable Aid. —The vote is expended in the maintenance of men and women past work who are lodged in the buildings formerly erected for the Taranaki refugees, and in providing for destitute children in a private establishment at Motueka. There are at present thirty children in that establishment, for whom a weekly rate of 7s. each is paid by the Provincial Government. The Gaoler is the Relieving Officer by whom casual applications are inquired into. During the last year upwards of £600 was spent in relief. From his long residence in Nelson, and having been for many years head of the Police, he is well qualified for this special duty. He informs us that the whole amount estimated will be required during the present year, Lunatic Asylum. —There are fifty patients in the lunatic asylum. The buildings were not erected for the purpose, and are old and crowded. A new building is nearly ready for occupation. It has accommodation for sixty patients ; but the Surgeon-Superintendent informed us that an absolute necessity exists for a refractory ward, the cost of which he estimated at £1,000. Hospitals. —The hospital at Nelson is managed under a Provincial Act by a committee of five —two appointed by the Superintendent, and the remaining three by the Provincial Council. The committee have power to appoint and remove the medical and other offiqers, and to control the expenditure. The accounts are audited by the Provincial Auditor and paid by the Provincial Government. The medical officer resides in the building, and is not permitted to undertake private practice. The hospital was built when the Nelson Gold Melds were in full operation, and is capable of accommodating eighty patients. It is larger than now required, the average number of patients being thirty. Out patients are attended to on the recommendation of the committee. The hospitals at Westport, Reefton, and Charleston are managed by local committees elected by subscribers, but the Warden of the district is in each case an ex officio member with a veto on any proceeding he considers objectionable. The Provincial Government contribute £2 for each £1 raised by private subscription. We have already explained, under the head " Westland," how the Nelson contribution to the hospital at Greymouth is apportioned. Survey. —The officer acting in the absence on sick leave of the Chief Surveyor informed us that the additional staff now estimated for by the Pro-