A very interesting report from the Registrar-General of Land, Mr G. B. Davy, puts us in possession of all the statistics connected with this branch of the public service to date. Those who remember the exceedingly gloomy pro phecies which were freely hazarded when this measure was first introduced will be staggered at the flat contradiction afforded by figures. In so far as New Zealand is concerned, it has become apparent that there need be no more difficulty in trans ferring land from one to another with rapidity and economy than any other goods. We have done now with the complex and cumbrous machinery that annoyed our forefathers ; and despite the forecasts of evil which legally- minded men are apt to make about the complica tions that will arise in the next genera tion, the public, it seems, are not to be prevented from xising the means pro vided by the Land Transfer Act for transferring proper fey. Mr Davy notes the fact that such anticipations have been hazarded thus : " When it is considered that registration under the Land Transfer Act involves absolute responsibility for tifclp, it will be seen that a vigilant regard for accuracy is the only principle on which such a system can be conducted." Of course, it is quite possible to misuse such means, and we shall not be surprised if the know-nothings contrive a few law suits, because they will take their own advice, and that of no-one else. "It is not claimed for the land transfer system that it renders possible the abandonment of the ordinary safeguards of business, or the evasion of resections imposed by law on dealings with real property. Its merit as a system of conveyancing consists chiefly in this : That it divests the sub ject of complications and technicalities, and brings it within the range of ordin ary business capacity." Jn Table D, ap pended to the report, we aro presented with a comparative statement of the work done under this Act in the various Aus tralasian Colonies. Tn New South Wales. Queensland, and Tasmania it is still worked to a Joss — i.e., the receipts do not cover the expense, though, of course, the indirect advantages are all to the good. 