The Selwyn County Council has Jurisdiction over the country bounded on the north by the Walmnkariri and on the south by the Rakaia rivers, on the east by the ocean. Including Lytteton and Lake Ellesmere, and on the west by the boundary line of the provincial districts of Canterbury and Westland. The city of Christchurch, boroughs, and local governing towns are not under county control. The council was constituted at the time of the coming into operation of the Counties Act of 1876, which was adopted by resolution in 1878. The ratable value of property within the county is £7.002,341. on which a sum of 1/8d. in the £ Is levied for Hospital and Charitable Aid purposes. The county loans amount to £18,612. The Council has control over a few of the large bridges and the whole of the water-races, and plantations. and drainage works, within its boundaries. The revenue is derived from water-races, rent of reserves, license fees, dog-tax, and Government subsidies. The county is divided into six water-race districts—namelv, Malvern, Waimakariri, Greendale, Waireka, Hororata, and Ellesmere. The first four are under the charge of Mr. C. L. Davies, and the last two of Mr. H. Templer. The Malvern water-race is supplied from the Kowai and Waimakarirl rivers, the Waimakariri from the river of that name, the Greendale from the Hawkins river, and the Waireka from the Selwyn. There are about 800 miles of races in these four districts, the total area of which is about 250,000 acres. The members of the council for 1901 were; Messrs. R. Westenra (chairman), W. Dunlop, J. Gough, J. Rennie, J. G. Murray, G. Witty, G. H. MeHaffie, G. Rutherford, and J. Wolfe. Mr. W. Jameson is county clerk and treasurer.