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Seevants' Eegistey Offices. Six licenses have been issued. No complaints have reached me. The books are properly kept, and I believe the offices are well conducted. Laboub. Tradesmen of all classes have had a fairly good year. The first nine months were very good; the last three have not been quite so good. Work for the unskilled worker has been quite as plentiful as it was last year, and would have been much better had it not been for the rough weather we have had during the last few months. Boad-making in the various Eoad Board districts and the works in connection with the new water-supply have found employment for a large number of men. These works are still progressing, and, as the season for bushfelling is also close at hand, there seems to be a fair prospect for the worker during the winter. From information gained while travelling round on my official duties I find that the district is progressing in a very satisfactory manner. I have, &c, W. J. Blake, Inspector. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.

NEW PLYMOUTH. Bib,— New Plymouth, 21st May, 1903. I have the honour to report for "the year ending the 31st March, 1903, as follows : — The total number of factories registered during the year amounts to 130. I think the year passed has been very prosperous as far as local industries are concerned. The building trade has been very busy during the year, and all the trades in connection with the same, and another large sash and door factory has been started during the past year, and is kept fully employed on an increasing staff. The borough having sanctioned a loan for drainage-works, and contracts having been let for public baths, &c, work promises to be very brisk for some time. No accidents occurred during the past year. Shops and Shop-assistants. Act. Eight prosecutions were initiated for failing to observe the proper half-holiday. Six convictions and fines were recorded, and 2 cases were withdrawn, as defendant had been dealt with in the above. Servants' Eegistey Offices Act. There are three persons registered under this Act, and apparently they give satisfaction to all concerned. I have, &c, Waltee H. Haddkell, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington. HAWEEA. g IEj Police-station, Hawera, 31st March, 1903. I have the honour to report for your information upon the workings of the Factories and Shops and Shop-assistants Act during the past year. There were 74 factories and workrooms registered, employing 265 males and 53 females ; total, 318. One servants' registry office was registered. There has been plenty of work for unskilled labour for the past twelve months. The building trade has been very brisk. The dairying industry has been in a very flourishing state, but men for milking are very scarce. Good bushmen have been in great demand. The shearing is done by persons residing in the vicinity of the shearing-sheds, who ride to and from their work. There have been no accidents or prosecutions. The various Acts are working very satisfactorily. I have, &c, J. E. Beenaed, Sergeant, Inspector of Factories. E. Tregear, Esq., Chief Inspector of Factories, Wellington.

EKETAHUNA. S IX) Labour Office, Eketahuna, 9th April, 1903. I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ending the 31st March, 1903. Factoeies. There have been 27 factories registered during the past year, consisting of 15 sawmills, 3 wheelwrights' shops, 2 flaxmills, 2 bakers' shops, 2 saddlery depots, 1 sash and door factory, 1 tailoring and 1 dressmaking establishment, being an increase of 2 factories over those registered the preceding year. The chief industry in this district is sawmilling. During the year there have been employed at them an average of 12 persons per mill, embracing inside and outside work. Two-thirds of those persons are married, with families depending on them. There was only one accident of a serious nature during the year; happily it did not terminate fatally.

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