99

E.-i

WELLINGTON. Sib,— Wellington, 6th February, 1899. I have the honour to forward herewith the twentieth annual report and balance-sheet of the School Commissioners for the Wellington Provincial District, for the year ended the 31st December, 1898. There has been no change in the personnel of the Commissioners during the year, and they therefore still consist of Messrs. J. B. Blair (Chairman), A. W. Hogg, M.H.8., F. Pirani, M.H.8., John Duthie, M.H.8., and J. W. A. Marchant, Commissioner of Lands. During the year sales of leases have been held at Palmerston North, Marton, Wanganui, and Pahiatua, with the result that reserves containing 4,871 acres and 8 perches were leased to twentythree tenants at a rental of £213 ss. 2d., and, in addition, 2,305 acres and 30 perches have been since taken up by twelve tenants at a rental of £91 2s. 3d.; or a total of 7,176 acres and 38 perches to thirty-five tenants, at £304 7s. 5d., or an average of 205 acres to each tenant at lOd. an acre. The total number of tenants on the rent-roll is 349. These sections are for the most part hilly bush country, and the leases are for twenty-one years. As pointed out in last year's report, no compensation is given for bushfelling or grassing at the end of the term. Under the heading of printing, stationery, and office contingencies are included such items as expenses in connection with printing and circulating notices of sales, office rent, stamps, insurance premium, &c. You will note that the arrears of rents due at the end of the year only amounted to £103 12s. 7d. As £30 16s. of this amount was paid into Court before the end of the year, although not received by the Commissioners until after the 31st, it practically reduces the arrears to £72 16s. 7d. As rentals are payable in advance, and some of these only fell due in December, the smallness of the amount must be considered satisfactory. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. J. B. Blaib, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st December, 1898.

Nature of Eeoeipts. Primary. Secondary. Total. Receipts. To Balances on 1st January, 1898 Receipts on account of previous years ... Receipts on account of year 1898 Receipts on account of year 1899 Interest on improvements Preparation and registration of leases ... Receipts on account of improvements Receipts on account of stamp duty £ s. d. 326 19 0 77 11 4 2,718 18 10 205 17 8 32 1 4 92 10 0 37 16 10 0 5 6 £ s. d. 86 5 8 250 15 7 0 2 0 £ s. d. 413-4 8 77 11 4 2,969 14 5 205 19 8 32 1 4 92 10 0 37 16 10 0 5 6 Total receipts ... 3,492 0 6 337 3 3 3,829 3 9 Expenditure By Payments to Boards — Wellington Education Board Wanganui Education Board... £ s. d. 1,673 13 8 926 6 4 £ s. d. £ s. a. Wellington College Wellington Girls' High School Wanganui Girls' High School Auckland Girls' High School Napier High School 64 13 1 64 13 1. 70 8 0 0 0 4 0 5 6 2,600 0 0 Salaries of officers Printing, stationery, and office contingencies Allowances to Commissioners Commissions on sales of leases Advertising ... Fencing Law (including transfers, renewals, &c.) Preparation and registration of leases ... District Land Registrar Travelling-expenses of Secretary Masterton Town Lands Trust... Surveys Destruction of rabbits . Land and Survey Department... "Valuation and arbitration Balance 261 12 5 113 9 11 5 18 10 26 6 0 50 3 9 85 13 0 10 18 6 • 92 10 0 73 14 1 49 4 10 2 0 0 4 10 0 24 0 0 0 15 0 16 18 3 74 5 11 21 14 3 9 8 9 0 9 10 200 0 0 283 6 8 122 18 8 6 8 8 26 6 0 50 3 9 85 13 0 10 18 6 92 10 0 73 14 1 49 4 10 2 0 0 4 10 0 24 0 0 .0 15 0 16 18 3 179 16" 4 105 10 5 Total expenditure 3,492 0 6 337 3 3 3,829 3 9