G.—B

1911. NEW ZEALAND.

EAST COAST NATIVE TRUST LANDS (REPORT, BALANCE-SHEET, AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS IN RESPECT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 13 of the East Coast Native Trust Lands Act, 1902.

Sir,— Gisborne, New Zealand, 11 th October, 1911. I have the honour to hand you herewith my report on the East Coast Native Trust lands, together with relative accounts and statements. I have, &c, T. A. Coleman, Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister of Native Affairs, Wellington. Sir, — Gisborne, 11th October, 1911. I have the honour to submit the following report of the transactions of the Trust, together with the balance-sheet, statement of receipts and expenditure, and statement of accounts of the several blocks as at the 31st March, 1911 :— Rents. —During the past year the sum of £5,017 Bs. Id. has been received, and £4,104 6s. has been paid over to the beneficiaries on account of rents. Purchase-moneys. —This year purchase-moneys, the proceeds of lands sold some time since, amounting to £1,895 9s. 6d. have been paid to beneficiaries. Unclaimed rents and purchase-moneys amounting to £1,700 10s. 3d. were outstanding on the termination of the year, chiefly on account of the delay on the part of the successors to deceased beneficiaries in applying for succession orders. In most instances succession orders have since been granted and the moneys paid over to the successors appointed. Lands for Sale or Lease. —The subdivisional survey of the Mangatu Nos. 5 and 6 Blocks, which was contracted for last year, was not completed by contract date, owing chiefly to adverse weatherconditions —heavy rains having set in, which compelled the survey parties to withdraw from the blocks earlier than was anticipated. The survey parties are again on the ground, and there is every prospect of the survey being completed in time to permit of the land being offered this year. Farms. —Sales of wool, live-stock, and frozen meat amount to £5,799 12s. 5d., as against £4,417 10s. for the previous year, the wool-clip (included in the foregoing amounts) amounting to £2,182 195., as against £1,330 17s. 7d. for the previous season. Purchases of sheep and cattle amounted to £1,517 lis. lid., as against £7,258 18s. 6d. for the previous year. The net profits on the farming for the year are £1,620 3s. Bd. The stock depastured at 31st March last as compared with that at 31st March, 1910, was, — 31st March, 1911. 31st March, 1910. Number. „ Value ' . Number. „ Volue - . £ s. v. £ s. a. Sheep .. .. 10,992 6,210 17 0 11,131 6,178 12 9 Cattle .. .. 675 3,408 0 0 575 2,439 10 0 Horses .. .. 52 120 0 0 52 115 0 0 £9,738 17 0 £8,733 2 9 Freehold lands are valued at £283,565, as compared with £280,400 last year. The increase is for farm-improvements for the year. I have, &c, T. A. Coleman, Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister of Native Affairs, Wellington. l—a 8.