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Following advertisement of the proposed alteration of boundaries and inclusion of the outer areas, no objections to the proposal were received, and the Commission referred the matter to the State Hydro-electric Department for action in terms of the Electric-power Boards Act, 1925. (4) Kairanga : Pahiatua Counties The Valuer-General raised the question of the desirability of effecting an alteration of the boundaries of these counties, the purpose being to overcome a difficulty which had arisen in regard to valuation. The difficulty centred in the fact that, through a misdescription, portions of some of the areas were included in both counties. As the adjustment was one of a machinery nature, and both County Councils were in accord with the proposal, the Commission approved of the adjustment in terms of section 24 of its Act, and referred the matter to the Department of Internal Affairs for action in accordance with the Counties Act, 1920. (5) Hawkes Bay - Central Hawkes Bay Electric-power Districts This adjustmentinvolved the incorporation in the Central Hawkes Bay and Hawkes Bay Power Districts respectively of small areas of the Hawkes Bay and Waipawa Counties. The purpose of the transfer, in the first place, was to regularize a local difficulty which had arisen through the Central Hawkes Bay Board having lines in this area of the Hawkes Bay County. As the Hawkes Bay Board could not conveniently take over this supply from the Central Hawkes Bay Board, this was the only satisfactory solution. In the second place, there was a small area between a road and a river, the latter being the county boundary, and as the Hawkes Bay Board's lines followed the road as far as possible it was considered preferable for a continuous length of road to be one supply authority's territory rather than have a break for the short length of road in another authority's territory. The necessary procedure provided by section 6 (1) of the Electric-power Boards Act, 1925, was followed by both Boards, and the Commission, in view of the circumstances, approved of action being taken by the State Hydro-electric Department in terms of the Electric-power Boards Act, 1925. IV. CONSTITUTION OF NEW DISTRICTS (1) Wellington Catchment District Reference was made to the constitution of a catchment district for Wellington, at page 19 of the annual report of the Commission for the year ended 31st March, 1948. The district proposed included the geographic County of Makara and a major portion of the Hutt County. The Commission's provisional scheme was promulgated on the 24th April, 1948, but was the subject of objections on various grounds from the Borough Councils of Petone, Upper Hutt, and Eastbourne, the County Councils of Hutt and Makar%, the Cities of Wellington and Lower Hutt, and the Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc.). Subsequently, the Lower Hutt City and Petone Borough withdrew their objections, and a public hearing was held on the 30th August, 1948, to consider those remaining. The Commission reserved its decision pending investigation of certain aspects of the position, and a final scheme has not yet been promulgated. (2) Waikato Catchment District An inquiry into the proposed constitution of a Waikato catchment district was held at Hamilton on the 9th June, 1948. The territorial local authorities concerned were the whole of the Counties of Waipa, Kawhia, Raglan, Otorohanga, and parts of the

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