of 1886. Lord Knutsford points out that Sir James Russell observes that the licensing system adopted in 1883 might, if it had been kept up for some years, have proved the best system for the Colony. I have some reason to believe that Sir James Russell had contracted the obligation towards China that I have mentioned, and the altered conditions which have been introduced by the agreement of 1886 render a reversion to the issue of licenses entirely out of the question. He no longer maintains that opinion, but in any case the point is immaterial, for Sir James Russell himself observes, the last issue of licenses took place before he had done so. From what I have said it is, I submit, plain that the abolition of the farm must result not only in a vast increase in the local...