8.—20

4

Among so many assessors there must be some who are not well qualified. On the other hand, I can say that very many are excellent judges of land, and that they exhibited in the performance of their duties good business capacity, very considerable tact, and much energy and industry. To be a good assessor requires many qualifications, and I am free to admit that in numerous instances we obtained services for which the price paid was no adequate remuneration. The satisfactory completion of a triennial assessment of land would not be a possibility without the assistance of a clerical staff the members of which took a keen interest in their duties, and were willing to work long hours at high pressure, and I have pleasure in acknowledging the successful efforts of both permanent and temporary staffs to get through exceedingly heavy work that frequently had to be done by a given day. I am indebted for most valuable co-operation in conducting the assessment to Mr. J. McGowan, Deputy-Commissioner of Taxes, and Mr. G. Campbell, Chief Clerk. This is the fifth general assessment in which we have worked together, four having been under the direction of the first Commissioner, the late Mr. Sperrey, to whose earnestness in his duties, energy, and ability, well known as they were, I take leave to bear my testimony. I have, &c, Chas. M. Ceombib, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Commissioner of Taxes.

RESULTS OF ASSESSMENT UNDER LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT ACT, 1891, MADE AS AT 1st NOVEMBER, 1891. Statement showing Value of Land including Improvements, Value of Improvements, and the Unimproved Value of Land in the Districts of Local Bodies. Summary.

Counties.

Actual Value, including Improvements. Value of Improvements. Unimproved Value. lounties ioroughs £ 85,818,167 36,406,862 £ 27,922,735 18,442,562 £ 57,880,233 17,907,662 Total 122,225,029 46,365,297 75,787,895*

District. Actual Value, including Improvements. Value of Improvements. Unimproved Value. District. Actual Value, including Improvements. Value of Improvements. Unimproved Value. Mongonui County — Kaitaia Riding Oruru Road District Orouaiti Road District Mongonui Riding, outlying .. £ 113,411 44,593 17,180 20,974 £ 22,830 9,312 2,221 9,644 £ 90,581 35,281 14,959 11,330 Hokianga County — Whangape Riding Kohukohu Riding Waihou Riding Taheke Riding Rawene Riding Omapere Riding £ 72,067 51,561 71,155 108,423 39,591 79,568 £ 5,933 13,326 4,600 7,971 11,398 13,180 £ 66,134 38,235 66,555 100,452 28,193 66,388 Total of county 196,158 44,007 152,151 Whangaroa County —■ Whangaroa Riding Totara Riding Kaeo Riding Total of county 422,365 j 56,408 365,957 Total of county Bay of Islands County — Waimate Riding Russell Riding Kawakawa Riding Pakaraka Riding 24,018 18,261 21,546 63,825 22,446 8,222 5,396 8,828 15,796 12,865 12,718 41,379 Wliangarei County — Otonga Road District Otonga East Road District .. Ngunguru Riding, outlying .. Hikurangi Road District Kaunhohore Road District .. Kamo Town District Hikurangi Riding, outlying.. Kensington Road District .. Whangarei Town District .. Maunu Road District Maunu Riding, outlying Whareora Road District 12,190 17,838 39,251 13,807 16,121 17,732 90,630 20,980 49,881 48,356 12,598 8,677 0,644 5,334 7,531 4,801 9,820 10,940 26,411 13,299 28,862 21,455 5,282 3,819 5,546 12,504 31,720 9,006 6,301 6,792 64,219 7,681 21,019 26,901 7,316 4,858 96,718 63,302 78,026 127,023 37,032 11,333 32,574 36,518 59,686 51,969 45,452 90,505 Total of county 365,069 117,457 247,612 * In several instances the ur "hi3 is owing chiefly to alteratio: [improved is made b' 'alue, togf Boards o: ither with the value of improvements, does not equal the impro' [ Review. ■ed value.