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placed upon his feet again, and should make good. On the other hand, the dairy-farmer has not been so fortunate. The season commenced well, but as it advanced it was evident from market conditions at Home that a change was imminent. After the New Year the change came, and some factories paid out less per pound for butterfat than is the basis of calculation adopted by the cautious farmer when considering purchase of farming properties. The season has not been what could be called a dry one, and many farmers who desired to obtain a burn to clear fern and other pests were successful to a degree, but rain generally intervened and so hindered the good work. The following statistics show that the Office is making progress in the district— 1924. 1925. Number. Value. Number. Value. £ £ New wills obtained .. .. ..43 125,400 55 122,530 New estates accepted .. .. ..18 25,000 15 12,765 Estates under administration .. .. 42 50,250 44 40,433 Estates closed and distributed during the year numbered thirteen, valued at £13,099. Of this number, six estates were closed within the twelve months in which they were reported. 9. HAWERA. Estates and funds under administration — Value. On 31st Match, 1924— Number. £ Hawera.. .. .. .. .. .. ..229 439,887 Stratford 112 181,884 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 341 621,771 On 3.lst March, 1925 — Hawera.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 262 730,481 Stratford ..131 221,654 Totals .. .. .. .. .. ..393 952,135 New estates accepted during the year— Hawera —• Wills .. .. .. .. .. .. ..14 112,602 Trusts .. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 153,473 Intestate .. .. .. •. . .. 6 6,909 Mental Patients .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 1,442 Sinking funds .. .. .. . . . 11 Common Fund Investment Agencies .. .. .. 7 8,275 Special Investment Agencies .. .. .. .. 5 6,300 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 624 57 289,625 Stratford — Wills .. .. .. .. .. .. ..14 51,922 Trusts 5 16,262 Intestate .. .. .. .. •. .. 7 5,257 Mental Patients ... .. .. .. .. .. 1 100 Sinking funds .. .. .. .. .. .... Common Fund Investment Agencies .. .. ..10 18,847 Special Investment Agencies .. .. .. .. 3 8,400 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. ■ .. .. 2 933 Totals .. .. 42 101,721 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 99 391,346 Estates closed and distributed during the year — Hawera .. .. .. .. •• .. ..23 17,736 Stratford .. .. .. .. •. •. 21 10,893 Totals .. .. .. .. .. ..44 28,629 Estates both accepted and closed during the year — Hawera and Stratford .. .. .. .. .. 11 8,157

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