E.—l

102

During the year sales of leases were held at Wanganui, Marton, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, and Carterton, and 9,916 acres 3 roods 4 perches were let to forty-six tenants at an annual rental of £281 os. 3d. A large portion of this is rabbit-infested country, and the Commissioners are therefore relieved of an annual expenditure in poisoning. Several of the sections now let have been lying open for selection for a considerable time at a merely nominal rental, the land being of little value except to adjoining holders, and this chiefly to save fencing. The Commissioners have much pleasure in drawing your attention to the smallness of the amount of rents in arrear, and trust that it may be an indication of the prosperity of the district and the welfare of their tenants. I have, &c, J. E. Blair, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister for Education, Wellington.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st December, 1899.

Expenditure.

Assets.

Liabilities.

Nat. J. Tone, Secretary. Examined and found correct.— 3. K. Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General,

Primary. Secondary. Total. Receipts. 'o Balances ... Receipts on account of previous years ... Receipts on account of year 1899 Receipts on account of year 1900 Interest and sinking fund on improvements Preparation and registration of leases ... Deposit received from H. G. Leach £ s. d. 74 5 11 70 7 7 3,123 14 6 130 10 5 37 11 7 85 10 6 9 12 6 £ s. 105 10 0 0 745 16 0 0 d. 5 3 6 5 £ s. d. 179 16 4 70 7 10 3,869 11 0 130 10 10 37 11 7 85 10 6 9 12 6 Total receipts ... 3,531 13 0 851 7 7 4,383 0 7

By Payments to Boards — Wellington Education Board Wanganui Education Board £ 1,813 987 s. 0 0 d. 0 0 £ a. d. £ s. d. Wellington College Wellington Girls' High School Wanganui Girls' High School Napier High School 226 5 9 226 5 9 246 8 0 10 6 2,800 0 0 Salaries of officers ... Printing, stationery, and office contingencies Allowances to Commissioners Commissions on sales of leases Advertising... Fencing Law (including renewals and transfers of leases) Preparation and registration of leases ... Crown-grant fees Travelling-expenses of Secretary Masterton Town Lands Trust Rabbit-poisoning Refund of deposit Valuation and arbitration Balance 246 14 79 5 9 13 14 9 84 0 6 0 7 3 85 10 21 4 27 19 2 0 25 0 9 12 10 9 102 10 0 8 4 6 9 0 6 6 3 7 0 0 6 0 5 53 6 17 2 2 2 0 0 0 700 0 0 300 0 0 96 7 8 11 15 4 14 9 6 84 0 9 6 0 0 7 3 6 85 10 6 21 4 3 27 19 7 2 0 0 25 0 0 9 12 6 10 9 0 181 8 0 78 17 7 Total expenditure 3,531 13 0 851 7 7 4,383 0 7

lalances .rrears of rents Total... £ s. 102 10 59 7 161 17 d. 5 4 9 £ s. 78 17 0 2 d. 7 9 £ s. 181 8 59 10 d. 0 1 79 0 4 240 18 1

£ s. d. 70 18 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. 70 18 6 iand Purchase Account