£.—1

90

The Commissioners desire to draw attention to the state of their finances for 1889, as compared with that of previous years. For some two or three years past the balance at the close of the year has been small, and the arrears of rent out of proportion to the receipts. The Commissioners have now the satisfaction of reporting an improvement in these respects, for, whereas on the 31st December, 1888, the cash balance was £371 9s. 2d., and arrears £487 Is. 8(1., the balance on the 31st December, 1889, was £841 Bs. Bd., and arrears only £209 19s. lOd. While the Commissioners recognise that this satisfactory position is partly owing to the reduced cost of administration, they recognise also the greater regularity of payment of rents by the lessees, and, as a result of these combined influences, they are enabled to pay the sum of £1,200 to the Education Boards, apportioned under the 21st section of "The Education Eeserves Act, 1877," being by far the largest sum available for this purpose at any time during the administration of the School Commissioners. A copy of the general statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ended the 31st December, 1889, is appended hereto. I have, &c, J. E. Blair, Chairman of Commissioners. The Hon. the Minister of Education.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1889.

.ece-ip ,s. Primary Education Reserves. Secondary Education Reserves. Total. £ s. d. 371 9 2 52 18 3 389 7 6 1,043 7 5 47 18 11 0 10 7 53 17 7 £ s. d. £ s. d. 371 9 2 52 18 3 396 10 9 1,097 5 5 47 18 11 0 11 7 53 17 7 'o Balance on 1st January, 1889 ... Bents written off Bents of previous years Bents of current year Bents of 1890 paid hi advance Bank exchange Advances repaid 7 3 53 18 3 0 0 1 0 Total receipts ... 1,959 9 5 61 2 3 2,020 11 l 8 Expenditure >y Payments to Boards— Wellington Education Board Wanganui Education Board... Salaries of officers Bates Fencing, bushfelling, &c. Auction sales expenses Law-costs ... Advertising, printing, stationery, &c. Postage, telegrams, Ac. Maps and plans Land-transfer fees ... ... .... Office furniture and requisites ... ... Fees under " The Babbit Nuisance Act, 1882 " ... Masterton Town Lands Trustees Bank exchange on remittances Rents written off Advances repaid Balance, 31st December, 1889... £816 6 5 Beceived after bank hours, in hand 25 2 3 £ s. d. 455 2 0 244 18 0 143 16 4 13 14 1 28 12 6 24 12 4 4 5 0 67 14 11 16 7 0 4 18 6 28 4 3 3 9 7 22 10 0 4 0 0 2 18 0 52 18 3 £ s. d. 6 3 8 0 14 0 £ s. d. 455 2 0 244 18 0 150 0 0 13 14 1 28 12 6 24 12 4 4 5 0 67 14 11 17 1 0 4 18 6 28 4 3 3 12 7 22 10 0 4 0 0 3 2 0 52 18 3 53 17 7 0 3 0 0 4 0 53 17 7 841 8 8 841 8 8 Total expenditure 1,959 9 5 61 2 3 2,020 11 8 Assets. Cash balance, 31st December, 1889 Arrears of previous years Arrears of current year ... i Land Purchase Account ... Advances outstanding £ s. 841 8 57 0 145 16 12 0 . 107 0 d. 8 0 7 0 8 I £ a. a. 7 3 3 £ s. a. 841 8 8 57 0 0 152 19 10 12 0 0 107 0 8 Total assets 1,163 5 11 7 3 3 1,170 9 2