11

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Invercargill respectively ; Messrs. A. Morrow, W. C. Spencer, G. A. Beere, E. W. Laseron, E. H. Featon, W. Tole, and H. T. Wadie, Draughtsmen ; E. C. Douglas, Explorer ; and Messrs. W. B. Harlow, D. M. McGoun, J. Rodger, and H. J. Taylor, clerks. All these have served the Dominion very faithfully, and, in the cases of most of the senior officers, with marked ability. The promotions which necessarily follow on these retirements will more properly be dealt with in next year's report. A statement of the expenditure of the Department, which is under the charge of Mr. R. A. Paterson, is appended. The Chief Clerk of the Head Office, Mr. F. T. O'Neill, has shown a full appreciation of the responsibilities of his position, and I am indebted to him and Mr. Paterson for the successful carryingon of the Immigration Branch of this Department. Mr. Jourdain also merits special notice from the fact that he was selected as Secretary to the Timber Commission, and is now engaged on its duties. Expenditure op the Department. The following is a summary of the expenditure of the Department for the Year ended 31st March, 1909:—

Conclusion. May I, in conclusion, express the honour conferred upon and the pleasure given to the Department by having the Prime Minister as its Ministerial head. I think lam right in saying that it is the first time that any Prime Minister has taken the portfolio of Lands with his other duties. It also enables me to bring under your immediate notice the faithful and loyal service rendered by all the Commissioners of Crown Lands and their seconds in command, together with the whole of the staff of surveyors, draughtsmen, and clerks, and, last, but not least in rank or service, the good work done by the Receivers of Land Revenue and the Crown Lands Rangers. The discipline of the whole Department is admirable, and personally I am more than grateful for the help I obtain from all ranks and grades in the service.

V °' e Name of Vote or Account. ; t"S 0 /5?« No. ; voted (Net). Expenditure (Gross). Recoveries. Expenditure (Net). £ 71 j Lands and Survey ... ... 165,678 72 | Lands and Survey, Miscellaneous 96,252 109 j Immigration ... ... 10,000 120 | Improved-farm Settlements ... 4,950 121 ! Lands, Miscellaneous ... 12,200 122 [ Irrigation and Water-supplv ... 5,000 123 | State Forests ..." ... 30,496 125 ■ Scenery Preservation... ... 17,275 £ 165,678 96,252 10,000 4,950 12,200 5,000 30,496 17,275 £ s. 174,754 19 80,9.25 9 35,020 19 2,721 14 15,639 10 1,968 4 27,003 1 5,872 12 rl. 4 7 8 9 2 6 9 8 £ s. d. 19,207 8 5 4,305 15 7 19,944 9 3 778 4 8 7 10 6 1 15 8 41 1 9 107 7-6 £ s. d. 155,547 10 .11 76,619 14 0 15,076 10 5 1,943 10 1 15,631 19 8 1,966 8 10 26,962 0 0 5,765 5 2 Totals ... ... 341,851 341,851 343,906 12 5 44,393 13 4 299,512 19 1 Consolidated Fund, Unauthorised Account Special Acts Deposit Accounts, &c. Land for Settlements Account (including votes 126 and 127) Cheviot Estate Account Maori Land Settlement Account (including vote 128) Hauraki Plains Settlement Account 935 19 58,595 16 598,253 16 8,881 2 4,802 17 7 7 3 8 4 359 11 8,583 10 8 5 576 7 11 58,595 16 7 589,670 5 10 8,881 2 8 3,013 2 11 1,789 14 5 11,672 5 6J 11,672 5 6 Totals 683,141 17 11 10,732 16 6 672,409 1 5 Grand totals ... ' ... ; 1,027,048 10 4 55,126 9 10 971,922 0 6