H.—ls.

1881. NEW ZEALAND

LAND TRANSFER AND DEEDS REGISTRATION. (ANNUAL REPORT OF DEPARTMENTS FOR 1880-81.)

Presented to hotli Souses of ilie General Assembly hy Command of His Excellency.

The Secketaey for Stamps to the Hon. the Commissioned of Stamps. Head Office, Stamp Department, Sib,— "Welllington, 7th June, 1881. I have the honor to submit the usual report on the working of the Land Transfer and. Deeds Eegistration Departments for the financial year 1880-81. The transactions of this period have increased upon those of the previous year to a much larger extent than I was justified in thinking they would, and the revenue collected is in excess of the estimate by £6,617 16s. Id. The fees received under the Land Transfer Acts for the twelve months ended the 31st March last, exclusive of the Assurance Eund, amounted to £20,686 os. 7d., whilst the receipts under the Deeds Eegistration Act were £17,931 15s. Gd., making a total of £38,617 16s. Id, The fees received for Crown grants issued under the Land Transfer system amounted to £1,762 Is., whilst the receipts for the same under the Deeds Eegistration system were £906 3s. lOd. This latter amount is for nine months only, since the custody of the grants was transferred from the Commissioners of Crown Lands to the Eegistrars of Deeds. The balance to credit of the Assurance Fund in the books of the Public Trustee on the 31st March last was £28,348 os. sd. Pees amounting to £5,166 Is. 2d. were received during the twelve months. The expenditure during the same period was £17,059 lls. lid., showing a saving upon the estimates of £540 Bs. Id. The returns appended show —(A) the business transacted under the Land Transfer Acts; (B) the fees received thereunder; (C) the mortgages and discharges of mortgages, and the amount remaining secured on mortgage under the said Acts on the 31st March last; (D) the arrears existing in the various offices at the close of business on the same date; (E) the number of deeds received for registration and those remaining unregistered on the 31st March, and also the receipts from this branch of the department; and (F) comparative statement of the working of the Land Transfer system in the Australasian Colonies, from which it will be seen that New Zealand occupies the second position tis regards the number of transactions, whilst on the basis of population its position is second only to South Australia. In connection with this it must be borne in mind that the New Zealand returns have been made up to a date later than has been found possible as regards the other colonies. I have, &c, The Hon. the Commissioner of Stamps, E. C. Hamekton, "Wellington. Secretary for Stamps.