H.—lA

90

Arrears.

Arrears due on 31st December, 1879 — £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. (1.) Arrears at 31st Dec, 1878, still unpaid ... 51 10 0 0 10 0 52 0 0 (2.) Arrears of payments due within year 1879 ... 47112 6 84 17 6 556 10 0 Arrears of rent of unapportioned lands ... ... ... ... 513177 Total Arrears ... £ 523 2 6 85 7 6 1,122 7 7 Liabilities or Engagements. £ s. d. Expenses of leasing and advertising ... ... ... ... ... ... 706 Rates ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 6 Total liabilities ... ... ... ... £8 3 0 Memorandum : 1. Arrears of rents at 31st December, 1879, £11,22 7s. 7d. —Under the leases granted by the Commissioners rents are charged in advance. The above sum contains £468 thus charged. Up to date over £200 have been received of these arrears. 2. Legal Expenses, £79 6s.—This sum includes (A), charges arising in 1878 (nothing having been paid under that head during that year). (B). a retaining fee of £20 per annum is therein paid up to September 1880. I hereby certify that I have examined the books and vouchers of the School Commissioners of the Provincial District of Auckland, for the year ended 31st December, 1879, and that I find the same to be correct. L. A. Durrieu, 19th February, 1880. Auditor.

TARANAKI. Sib, — School Commissioner's Office, New Plymouth, April 17th, 1880. I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, the following transactions of the School Commissioners of the Taranaki Provincial District, during the year ended on 31st December, 1879. Lands Let. —The following lands were let, namely, 142 acres of rural land, at an average annual rental of 3s. per acre; 8 acres of rough, town-belt land, at an average annual rental of ss. 3d. per acre; and 4 acres of town land at an average annual rental of £6 2s. per acre. Early in the year, a block of land of about 14 acres in extent, situated outside the reduced boundary line of the town of New Plymouth was cleared with a view to its re-survey, and to its being let on building leases, but owing to the great depression of trade which has existed, the Commissioners were reluctantly compelled to defer their project, and to let the block temporarily as a cattle run at a yearly rental of £18. Owing to several lessees becoming defaulters, some allotments were re-entered and re-let. School Sites Granted. —Under the 15th section of the Education Reserves Act, 1877, several school sites were granted to the Education Board for primary and secondary educational purposes. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. Benjamin Wells, Chairman. General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st December, 1879. Receipts.

Primary Eduoa- Secondary Edution Eeserves. cation Eeserves. m , , lotal. £ s. d. £ a. d. £ a. d. To Balance on Ist January, 1879 ... ... ... 179 14 5 124 1 3 303 15 8 Arrears due Ist Jan., 1879, collected in year 1878— Rents, profits, or receipts of reserves ... ... | 286 8 3 122 14 4 409 2 7 Moneys payable and collected within year 1879 — (1.) Rents, &c, of reserves ... ... ... 237 16 93 5 7 330 7 1 (2.) Other receipts—viz., Transfer fee ... ... ... ... 10 0 ... 1 0 0 Moneys payable in 1880, collected in 1879 — Rents and reserves ... ... t ... 10 0 ... 1 0 0 Total receipts ... ... ... ... £705 4 2 £340 1 2 £1,045 5 4