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CANTEEBUEY. Sir, — Government Buildings, Christchurch, 4th January, 1893. In accordance with Order in Council of date 17th September, 1878, I have the honour to forward the report of the School Commissioners for. the Canterbury Provincial District for the year ending 31st December, 1892, together with a copy of its accounts, duly audited. The total area of the primary-education estate under lease on the 31st December, 1892, was acres, producing an annual rental of £15,590 6s. 6d. Of this area, 24,200 acres is contained in Pastoral Bun No. 5, which was obtained from the Government in the early part of the year under the provisions of "The Educational Endowments and Eeserves Exchange Act, 1891," in exchange for the Board's Eeserves Nos. 1126-28 and 1178, containing 1,308 acres of good agricultural land in the Waimate district, which was acquired for " village settlements." The fixed deposit of £189 lis. sd. which matured on the 21st December, 1892, has been renewed for one year. In the accounts, from the arrears due Ist November, 1891, the sum of £122 19s. 7d. has been written off as irrecoverable. This amount was the half-year's rent in advance of Lot lof Eeserve 1129, and proceedings were instituted in the Supreme Court against the lessee (who was practi cally bankrupt) for recovery of the land, and when this was obtained the land was relet by tender and a good tenant procured. During the year, seven reserves, containing in all 1,759-| acres, were relet by tender, for 14 years or thereabouts, at satisfactory rentals; one of these reserves, containing 375-J- acres, being subdivided and let in three lots to different tenants. I have, &c, H. E. Webb, Chairman of the School Commissioners. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1892. Receipts.

Primary Education Estate. Total. 'o Balance brought down from 31st December, 1891 Arrears due 1st May, 1891, from last account Arrears due 1st November, 1891, from last account ... ... Less written off as irrecoverable £ s. a. £ s. a. 272 1 11 206 3 9 689 12 122 19 7 7 Moneys payable within the year 1892, and collected— On account of half-year's rent payable in advance on the 1st May, 1892 On account of half-year's rent payable in advance on the 1st November, 1892 566 13 0 7,410 15 0 14,444 15 11 7,034 0 11 Other receipts— Bank of New Zealand—Interest on £189 lis. 5d. placed on deposit for one year (see statement of 31st December, 1891) 9 9 6 Total receipts 15,499 4 1 Expenditure. >y Office expenses and management— Salary of steward (inclusive of all travelling expenses) Stationery and postage ... School Commissioners' railage and expenses £ s. 540 0 9 15 3 0 a. o 9 0 £ s. a. Expenses of leasing— Advertising and printing Law-costs Subdivisional survey of Beserve 1551 552 15 9 18 17 13 15 18 16 4 6 0 51 8 10 Payments to Education Boards— North Canterbury South Canterbury 11,818 4 2,781 15 3 9 14,600 0 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand, 31st December, 1892— At credit of Current Account On fixed deposit 105 8 189 11 1 5 294 19 6 Total expenditure 15,499 4 1