Clause 7of the proposals by the Commissioners says : " That th« united Province be subjected to the same laws as at present govern the Province of Otago, with the exception of the Waste Lands Regulations, .subject to the same laws being altered by the united Provincial Council." The following* clause reads — " Laws to be assimilated by united Pro vincial Council as soon as possible, saviog all existing rights under existing laws of both provinces." Now, it might form tbe subject of legitimate enquiry by tbe curious, io ascertain how it came, to pass that tin laws regulating the waste lands form an exception to this general assimilation. If one were to judge by the time and money which bas been expended in the making and amending of these laws, he would naturally arrive at the conclusion that if there be any perfect law affecting anything within the Province, it is, or ought to be, the land laws. Not later than last session of the Assembly, an Act was passed which we have been told place - ? everything in this respect on a fair and equitable basis, and yet we are apparently to have more tinkering at these laws after the union is effected. But, according to the basis agreed to by the Commissioners, the laws are to be assimilated as soon as possible by the United Provincial Council. We fear there must be soaie mistake here, or ehe it must be in contemplation to ex tend the powers of the new Provincial Council. The last Act affecting our own land laws was passed in the Assembly in direct opposition to the resolution of our Council, and in explanation the honorable member for the Clutha informed his consti tuents that the Council has not now, and never had, anything whatever to do with the land lawSi It would therefore appear that the Commissioners had no power to make an exception in the ease ot these laws, and this view may be adopted when the master comes before the Assembly, and the exception deleted. We are told that notwithstanding the present financial position of Southland, she has a magnificent estate in her waste land*, and it is the more necessary therefore that a clear un derstanding should exist as to how they are to be made the most of. 