That reached a climax when the Assembly, in an excess of provincial enthu siasm, agreed to the provinces being allowed to borrow. There were some members of the Assembly who were determined to put a spoke in that wheel, believing that a time would soon come when it would be hard enough to keep the colonial finance right. The Legislature now gained the respect of the whole colony by putting an end to that proposal. He argued that if the provinces could not exist by their own efforts without borrowing or obtaining aid from the General Government, they could serve no good pur pose by continuing to exist at all. Of course Otago and Canterbury always were able to hold their own. and formed an ex ception in this state of affairs. Last year large payments were made out of the con solidated revenue to the impecunious pro vinces, which really meant that the money was taken from the surplus revenue of these two rich provinces. Many members of the Assembly s fid, “ We will give these Northern Provinces assistance in carrying on their educational institutions, &c, but we will not give them money which they may make ducks and drakes of. We must know what the money is devoted to.” There was nothing to prevent Otago and Canterbury retaining the Provincial Governments, and any part of the colony retaining them where the people would pay for ihat Government, but those who had studied the financial position could not but turn a deaf ear to the request to continue the present state of affairs. The great question now was, what shall be done in the future. That is the responsibility the electors have, and that is the responsibility that will rest with their representatives. As he had said on a previous occasion in reply to the question, What will you re place the provinces with ? he now answered —Nothing. But, on the other hand, just as strongly experienced politicians, and especially those from Otago and Canterbury, were fully determined not to be governed and administered from Wel lington. They did not mean to be governed by chief clerks and Under Secretaries at Wellington, and the Ministers did not mean it. He did not believe the Local Govern ment Bill would be accepted by the Assembly. It was not sufficient. 