H.—6

1879. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND TRANSFER AND DEEDS REGISTRATION. (ANNUAL REPORT OF DEPARTMENTS.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency. The Seceetabt for Stamps to the Commissioner of Stamps. Sic, — Head Office, Stamp Department, "Wellington, 21th July, 1879. In conformity with established practice, pursuant to which the Eegistrar-General of Land has hitherto reported annually to the Hon. the Minister of Justice upon the working of the Land Transfer and Deeds Eegistration Departments, I have the honor herewith to transmit statement and returns showing results of such working for the year ending 30th June, 1879. It is necessary, however, to explain that in January last the Government deemed it desirable to transfer the administration of these departments from the Minister of Justice to the Commissioner of Stamps, and, upon such transfer, Eegistrars were notified that thereafter all returns, correspondence, &c. (excepting only such as pertained to points of practice, or involved technical questions of law, which were still to be addressed to the Eegistrar-General of Land), should be forwarded to the Commissioner of Stamps. Thus the information upon which this report is based has come into my hands, and hence the duty of reporting devolves upon me. Since January, numerous changes have taken place in the staff of Eegistrars and Examiners, occasioned hy the decision of the Government to extend the principle already introduced with success in Hawke's Bay, "Westland, and Marlborough —viz., the amalgamation of the offices of District Land Eegistrar and Examiner of Titles. In pursuance of this decision, these offices have been amalgamated in the Districts of Taranaki, Nelson, and Southland, thus effecting a considerable saving. The second examinership at Wellington has been abolished, and the second examinership at Otago will shortly also be abolished. Notwithstanding the reduction of five officers as here pointed out, it is confidently anticipated that even greater efficiency will be secured. The four principal stations —Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago —alone now retain the assistance of Examiners. Tho remaining six aro supervised by Eegistrars only, who, in addition to their duties as such, fill the offices of Deputy Commissioner of Stamps and Eegistrar of Joint-Stock Companies in their respective districts. The Examiner at Auckland is also charged with similar duties. The transactions of the past year have largely exceeded those of 1877-78, as will be'seen by reference to the returns hereto appended ; and the year's receipts have exceeded the estimate of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer by no less than £6,860, and the actual receipts of 1877-78 by £5,480. With such an unexpected influx of business, it will not be matter of surprise that the expenditure has also exceeded the appropriation. When all the liabilities of the past year have been met, it will probably be found that the vote has been exceeded by nearly £900. The receipts under the Land Transfer Act, exclusive of Assurance Fund, for the year, have been £20,538 13s. 2d.; under the Deeds Eegistration Act, £18,822 65.: total, £39,360 19s. 2d. The expenditure for the same period will be somewhat under £20,500. The amount standing to the credit of the Assurance Fund on the 30th June last was £19,961 16s. 9d., as against £14,645 on the 30th June, 1878. The returns appended show—(A) the business transacted under the Land Transfer Act during the year 1878-79; (B) the fees received uuder the said Act during the same period; (C) the mortgages and discharges of mortgages during the same period, and the total amount remaining secured on mortgage under the said Act on the 30th June last; (D) the arrears existing in the various offices at the close of business on the same date ; (E) number of deeds received for registration during the year, and those remaining unregistered on the 30th June last; as also the receipts from this branch of the department during the financial year. In connection with Eeturn A it may be of interest to note that, from the official returns of Victoria for the year 1877, the number of applications received there was 1.275 ; transfers registered, 8,184 ; mortgages, 3,615 ; fees received, £25,784. The receipts of the Deeds Eegistry branch show an increase over the year 1877-78 of £1,751, having reached the sum of £18,822 6s. The number of deeds unregistered on the 30th June last (840) amount only to one-half the number of those unregistered on the 30th June, 1878. I have, &c, The Hon. the Commissioner of Stamps, E. C. Hamerton, Wellington. Secretary for Stamps.