103

E.-l

Assets.

Liabilities. Nil. Jas. A. Bonar, Chairman. A. J. Morton, Secretary. Examined and found correct.— J. K. Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General.

CANTERBURY. Sir, — Government Buildings, Christchurch, 6th January, 1897. 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 the 31st December, 1896, together with a copy of its accounts duly audited. The total area of the primary educational estate under lease on the 31st December, 1896, was 68,018-J- acres, producing an annual rental of £16,026 Is. Bd.; of this area 24,200 acres is contained in pastoral run No. 5, which was obtained from the Crown early in 1892 in exchange for agricultural land in the Waimate district. The fixed deposit of £163 3s. 5d., which matured on the 21st December, 1896 (and is only available for the purchase of land), has been renewed for one year. During the year three reserves, containing in all 869 acres, were relet by tender for periods of fourteen years or thereabouts as separate farms ; and of these, two, containing 740 acres, were only suitable for pastoral purposes. The Board granted the lessee of Pastoral Run No. 5, in consequence of the loss of sheep sustained by him during the winter of 1895, a reduction of rent of £70 per annum from the Ist March, 1896, to the expiry of his lease, which reduction was sanctioned by His Excellency the Governor in Council ; and a reduction of rent of £23 Bs. 6d. per annum was granted for two years to the lessee of a subdivision of an agricultural reserve. These two reductions, added to those for £592 18s. previously granted by the Board in respect of thirty-six reserves or subdivisions of same, makes a total annual reduction of £686 6s. 6d. In the balance-sheet the sum of £29 16s. 4d. is shown in the receipts as an amount recovered through the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court from the lessee of Lot lof Reserve 1209. This tenant had been warned more than once as to over-cropping the land, and neglect of his conditions of lease generally, and it was considered advisable to make an example of him, and an action was brought in the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, Timaru, and £40 damages obtained against him, but of that sum £10 3s. Bd. went in costs. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. H. R. Webb, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts.

Primary. Secondary. Total. ialance in Bank of New Zealand, 31st December, 1896 lent in arrears £ a. a. £ s. a. £ 142 10 s. a. 8 2 1 6 Total assets 152 9 8

Primary Education Estate. Total. £ s. a. £ s. 310 14 2,198 0 d. 3 7 'o Balance brought down from 31st December, 1895 ... ... Arrears of 1895, from last account ... ... ... :;. Moneys payable within the year 1896, and collected — On account of half-year's rent payable in advance on the 1st j May, 1896 ' ! 7,931 16 2 On account of half-year's rent payable in advance on the 1st November, 1896 ... ... ... ... ... I 6,294 0 10 14,225 17 0 I Other receipts — Bank of New Zealand — Interest on £163 3s. 5d. placed on deposit for one year (see statement of 31st December, 1895) ... ... ... ■■• ... ... ! Amount recovered through, Stipendiary Magistrate's Court from lessee of Lot 1 of Reserve 1209, as damages for breach of covenant ... ... ... ... 5 14 1 29 16 4 ■ Total receipts 16,770 2 3