Mr Rowe fully endorsed every statement made regarding the Bill by the Superintendent of Nelson. He considered that the position of the Thames was analogous to that of Nelson, as depicted by her Superintendent. A good deal had been said about the country districts working out their own destinies under the Bill; but it was not right to expect districts that had no land fund to -work out their own destinies. When 'there were a great many districts that had magnificent land funds, it was no trouble for the totter to work out their destinies. In common justice, all the out-districts should fare alike. As for the Bill itself, he approved of its principle, but thought it would require to be made very elastic, so as to meet the requirements of many parts of the country (his own amongst them) that the Bill in its present shape did not suit. He believed that if the 39 counties were called into opera tion, the machinery would be found much more expensive than Provincialism. The requirements of the out-districts of the Colony should be considered in mapping out counties, and there should be no arbitrary proceedings. Very large counties, he was afraid, would be but a modification of Provincialism, and no more acceptable than what it was intended to re place. Mr Macandrew thought every hour spent 'on this discussion was so much time wasted. It was more probable that the Bill would go into Committee ; and, if so, it would be many hours before it came out again. When it did come out, it would be like Dean Swift's stock ing — the original would not be known for the darning. If the Bill were to be permissive, no district in the Colony would take advantage of its provisions. As regarded that section of the Colony with which he was best acquainted, he was persuaded the Act would remain a dead letter on the Statute Book. As an instance of this, he read a resolution recently passed by the Soulh Clutha Road Board. Even the Wakatipu District, whose representative was so enamoured with the idea of the Counties, would light shy of tho Bill when it came to be practically put before them. 