A.—4

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except in large purchases, say of 10,000 acres, the cost of survey is charged to the purchaser. There is no trigonometrical survey. The Chief Surveyor does not go into the field, nor has he anything to do with public works. Gaol. —The Gaol will hold twenty-eight prisoners, but at present there are only eight male prisoners, one of whom is a debtor, and two await trial. This number of prisoners is about the average for the last three years. There is no provision for keeping those awaiting trial from mixing with those convicted, nor is there proper accommodation for female prisoners. Police. —The Inspector of Police acts as Inspector of Weights and Measures. Hospital. —The Hospital is maintained by the Provincial Government. The Surgeon does not reside in the Hospital, and is allowed private practice. The patients are only admitted on the order of the Superintendent, Provincial Secretary, or Resident Magistrates at Picton and Havelock, except in cases of urgency. There are scarcely any out-patients at Picton, and only a few at Blenheim : the latter are attended by a local Surgeon, to whom and to the Surgeon of the hospital a small gratuity is annually voted for this service. The area of the site is 10 acres, but there are no reserves or endowments. It will accommodate twenty-six patients, but has never been full, sixteen being the highest number. There are now only nine, four of whom are old men past work and destitute. Charitable Aid. —Destitute persons are relieved by the Superintendent, and a nominal list of persons receiving relief is annually laid before the Provincial Council. Lunatics. —The lunatics were originally sent to the asylums at Christchurch and Kelson, but are now sent to the asylum at Wellington. The amount on the Estimates is to pay for their maintenance. In case of need the lunatics are temporarily lodged in the gaol. Harbour Department. —The salaries of the Harbour Department at Picton are on an exceptionally low scale, owing to the Harbour Master and the Light Keeper being allowed to work at their trades. The arrangement has been found to work satisfactorily, in the present limited state of the trade of the port. Education. —There are seven counties in Marlborough. The County Boards are also Education Boards, the members being elected by the ratepayers. The amounts received for publicans' licenses in each county are paid into the general revenue, and devoted to education. Where such amounts are inadequate, they are supplemented by special grants in aid. The education rate of threepence in the pound is levied on property. The schools are annually inspected by the Inspector of Schools for Wellington, which arrangement we are informed by the Superintendent has hitherto been found economical and satisfactory. Public Works. —On this head we would remark, that in this province public works are undertaken to be paid for either in cash or land. A niuch larger area of land is disposed of for public works than for cash. The last return shows that from May, 1874, to April, 1875, £2,640 was paid for contracts in land, against £1,902 paid in cash. This expenditure for land does not appear in the accounts of the province; but a return of the land so disposed of is furnished to the Secretary for Crown Lands by the Commissioner for Crown Lands in his quarterly statement. Miscellaneous. —The item " Law Expenses " is the cost of preparing and registering conveyances, &c, for road exchanges. The amount due to the National Bank is the balance of an overdraft redeemable by arrangement in annual instalments. The last payment has to be made on the Ist of July.