354 Timehri. 
Drainage is closely watched by the Executive officers of the Gentral 
Authority and every opportunity which presents itself for improving it, 
is taken advantage of. 
The Combined Court votes annually a sum of $4,000 for the pur- 
pose of assisting in the shape of Grants, Village and Country Districts in 
carrying out important works, more especially i in connection with sanita- 
tion and drainage, which cannot be provided for out of current revenue. 
These grants are authorised by the Governor on the recommendation of 
the Board. 
In sanitary matters, progress is, unfortunately, slow. The Central 
Authority and the V illage C ouncils meet with little co- operation from the 
villagers and what is accomplished i is only the outcome of constant effort, 
threats, notices and prosecutions. With the greater interest now taken 
by everyone in the colony in Health and Sanitary matters ; the publicity 
and prominence given to the subjects by the Press: and the gradual 
education of villagers to the necessity for a strict observance of sanitary 
measures in their daily life, the future should be one productive of greater 
sanitary results in all the Villages and Country Districts of the colony. 
Within recent years a feature has been the development of the 
Country Districts administered under the Board’s Ordinance. These have 
rapidly increased in number and importance and yearly continue to make 
real progress and take rank in economic importance. This is a class of 
District that twenty years ago was practically unheard of and was abso- 
lutely neglected. 
With the creation of the Local Government Board, with the compre- 
hensive Ordinance under which it works a further impetus was given to 
all classes of villages. 
To-day the condition of the Village and Country Districts of the 
Colony is distinctly hopeful and their futures give promise of prosperity. 
The days of irresponsible debt contracting and the happy-go-lucky 
disregard of contracted obligations are past. The Board insists on the 
regard of strict business principles by all the Village Councils and 
Country Districts, and on the different districts being run on business 
lines. This policy is having its effect and must in future bring good 
results. 
A review of the administration of the villages would not be 
complete without the mention of the work of the Village Councils, Any 
unbiased judge is forced to admit that the nieasure of self-government 
given to villagers in 1892 has, judged by the results, been fully justified. 
The Councils have done, unostentatiously, an amount of real solid good 
work, to which is due a measure of praise, and I have no hesitation in say- 
ing that Iam convinced that with the experience already gained the 
Councils will in future play a more prominent part in the successful 
epvelopment of the villages of the colony. 
