6.-Is.

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE), FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1906.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

TWELFTH. ANNUAL EEPOET AND BALANCE-SHEET.

The number of applications for loans received during the last twelve months is the largest since the year ended 31st March, 1897 (which was practically the first full year's operations), whilst the aggregate amount applied for by applicants—almost a million—constitutes a record for the Department since its inception in 1894. The figures are : Applications, 2,288 ; amount applied for, £949,432. The General Board of the office had, up to the 31st March, 1906, authorised 17,403 advances, amounting to £5,829,290. Applicants to the number of 2,094 declined the grants offered them, amounting to £906,660, so that the net advances authorised to the 31st March, 1906, numbered 15,309, and amounted to £4,922,630. The securities for the net authorised advances were valued at £10,817,184, and those now held by the Department are in most cases enhanced by the expenditure of the money borrowed on additional improvements, and at the same time the liability is being reduced by the instalment repayments of the principal. Classified according to provincial districts, the advances authorised are as under : Provincial District. Number of Applications. Amount ° f Advances autnoiised. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 3,899 1,153,083 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... 2,601 1,065,304 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... 992 279,015 Wellington ... ... ... ... 4,358 1,468,993 Marlborough ... ... ... ... 547 205,585 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 227 65,840 Westland ... ... ... ... ... 268 60,390 Canterbury ... ... ... ... 1,392 382,960 Otago and Southland ... ... ... 3,119 1 148 120 Total 17,403 £5,829,290 The advances now outstanding are as follows :— Number. Amount. Noo exceeding £1,000 ... ... ... 9,372 2,187,015 13 0 Exceeding £1,000, but not exceeding £2,000 504 681,411 1 2 Exceeding £2,000, but not exceeding £3,000 110 258'560 15 10 Total ... ... ... ... 9,986 £3,126,987 10 0 The average amount of the advances now outstanding is £313. Number. Amount. On freeholds ... ... ... ... 6,199 2,500,387 14 3 On leaseholds ... ... ... ... 3,636 558,372 6 11 On freeholds and leaseholds (combined) ... 151 68,227 8 10 Total _ 9,986 £3,126,987 10 0 The average freehold advance is £403 ; the average leasehold advance is £153; and the average freehold and leasehold (combined) is £45].

]—B. 13.