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Sir,— Waitahuna, 26th May, 1891. I have the honour to inform you that your circular of the 11th April, requesting the opinion of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club re the yearly licensing of stallions, was duly received and laid before the club at its meeting on the 25th May. I am instructed by the club to state in reply that they are not in favour of taxing stallions, as they are of opinion that it would be an indirect tax upon the farming community, from which they would derive little or no benefit. It would be the means of excluding many useful animals now in use, and place the trade in the hands of a few, who would alone reap any benefit to be derived from the proposed measure. I have, &c, James Moggath, Secretary, Waitahuna Farmers' Club. John D. Eitchie, Chief Inspector of Stock, Welllington.

Sib,— Waitati, 30th May, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 11th April, 1891, and in reply I am instructed to forward you the following copy of a resolution adopted at a committee meeting of the Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society held this evening. Besolved, That this association does not consider it desirable to legislate in the direction indicated, being of opinion that the breeders of horses are quite competent to select the most suitable stallions for their mares, and are also of opinion that the suggested license fee would be very injurious to residents in sparsely settled districts. I have, &c, Alexandeb Watson, Secretary, Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society. The Chief Inspector of Stock, Wellington.

Sib,— Naseby, 11th May, 1891. Your circular, dated the 11th April, re tax on stallions, duly to hand. There has been no meeting of my committee since receipt thereof, nor will there be any for some weeks. However, the matter has already been considered by our association, and the following resolution unanimously agreed to: — Besolved, That this association join with the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association in urging the Government to introduce a Bill to enable the Government to impose an annual fee of £10 on all entire horses of three years and upwards after the Ist November in each year, the ago of such horses to date from the Ist August. All fees so collected to be given as annual prizes to sire horses standing in the district in which the fee is levied. Trusting the above conveys all the information you desire. I am &c, E. E. Indee, Secretary, Maniatoto Agricultural and Pastoral Association. J. D. Eitchie, Esq., Stock Department, Wellington.

Dbae Sir,— Stirling, 6th June, 1891. Your circular of the 11th April, re yearly licensing of stallions, was laid before the Clutha and Matau Agricultural and Pastoral Association at the committee meeting held yesterday. After considerable discussion the following resolution was agreed to : — Besolved, That this society is in favour of licensing fees being imposed on stallions, provided such fees be paid to the various local agricultural societies, to be offered by them as premiums for the best entire horses travelling in the respective districts. Yours, &c, H. Cameron, Secretary, Clutha and Matau Agricultural and Pastoral Association. J. D. Eitchie, Esq., Chief Inspector of Stock, Wellington.

Sib, — Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, Milton, 2nd June, 1891. Yours to hand, re licensing stallions, was laid before a meeting of committee on the 2nd June, 1891. It was resolved that the time has not arrived for licensing stallions, as it would be at present detrimental to the interest of farmers to do so. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, Wellington. James Inglis, Secretary.

Sib, — Waihemo Mains, Palmerston, 7th July, 1891. In reply to your circular, with reference to yearly licensing of stallions, I have to inform you that the Palmerston and Waihemo County Agricultural and Pastoral Association declared themselves to be in favour of a tax on stallions, such tax not to exceed £20, and the amount of tax so raised to go to the funds of the agricultural and pastoral association in the district in which the horse travels. Yours, &c, J. D. Eitchie, Esq. Thomas Muir, Honorary Secretary.