H.—lB

The number of pensions on the books at the close of the financial year was 11,926, being 555 less than in the previous year, and 850 less than in 1902. Eight hundred and fifty pensioners off the rolls at £16 17s. per pension represent an annual saving of £14,322. There has been in consequence a large drop in the annual liability, ami in addition, there has been an appreciable decrease in the average amount of pension granted. This latter has been brought about by the readjustment of all pensions. The liability at the end of each of the last three years is represented by the following figures: — 1902 ... ... £217,192, or an average of £17 per pension for 12,776 pensions. 1903 ... ... £211,594, „ „ £16 19s. „ 12,481 1904 ... ... £200,915, „ „ £16 17s. „ 11,926 A decrease of 3s. per pension on the number now on the books represents a decreased liability under this head alone of £1,788 per annum. The net decrease of pensions in the chief centres of the colony is as follows: — Death and New „ Cancellations. Grants. decrease. Auckland ... ... ... 143 73 70 Dunedin... ... ... ... 139 104 35 Wellington ... ... ... 63 50 13 Christchurch ... ... ... 153 147 6 Invercargill ... ... ... 60 59 1 The total number of Maori pensioners is 729.

7

District. Deputy Registrar. Total For Financial Year ending claims Number of I 31st March, 1904. awa i t i ng Claims I Investigareceived tion on since Act clajms Claims C|aims 31st Mar„ came into . d es a- rejeoted 1904 . Force. bushed. J Grey town Masterton Otaki Pahiatua Palmerston North Nelson Motueka Blenheim Havelock Christchurch ... Akaroa Amberley Ashburton Culverden Kaiapoi Kaikoura Timaru Fairlie Temuka Waimate H. D. Armour E. Bawson ... T. O'Bourke W. J. Beeve... W. Matravers C. H, Webb-Bowen ... L. Bead J. Terry H. McArdle... L. C. Williams E. P. Bird ... M. Boche ... T. W. Tayler A. S. Bird ... A. G. Ashby... J. P. Clarkson T. Howley ... S. Kidd ' ... J. Gillespie ... W. Y. Purchase B. Harper ... A. Askenbeck J. C. Malfrov E. C. Kelling B.P.Ward... B. Hill W.A.Matthews F. T. D. Jeffrey A. M. Eyes ... D. McBae ... F.W.Hart... W. Hilliard... B. H. Paterson J. B. Colyer... A. A. Mair ... A. F. Bent ... B. W. Bavner 159 199 112 71 309 500 140 307 18 2,106 96 11 348 13 484 43 248 19 224 156 729 250 862 440 395 1,765 222 165 311 195 161 91 309 978 199 239 10 10 16 7 4 33 21 3 9 1 171 7 7 8 4 3 18 11 3 9 1 147 2 3 1 3 9 2 1 2 2 5 2 1 4 8 6 "lO 2 '"32 2 "24 26 3 3 '"37 33 4 2 16 "l3 3 1 Greymouth ... Beef ton Hokitika Westport Oamaru Dunedin Balclutha Clyde Lawrence Milton Naseby Palmerston South Port Chalmers Invercargill Queenstown ... Biverton Chatham Islands 15 11 43 15 47 41 28 117 17 14 14 8 15 7 6 84 11 21 2 10 6 36 10 43 22 24 104 13 13 10 6 10 6 13 59 8 13 1 1 4 2 3 2 7 2 15 2 1 2 5 1 5 5 11 10 12 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 19 12 7 4 1 7 2 1 Totals... 24,013 1,544 1,063 311 419