8.—13.

1908. NEW ZEALAND.

GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLERS OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1908.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. This year has again proved a record greatly in excess of any previous year for the amount of business transacted, the applications numbering 3,183, amounting to £1,668,135, as against 2,420 applications, amounting to £999,461, for the previous year, an increase of 763 applications, for £668,674. The advances actually granted during the year numbered 2,371, for £1,197,416 9s. lid., which exceeds those of the previous year by 442, for £429,686 ss. 4d. The Board had up to the 31st March, 1908, authorised 22,456 advances, amounting to £8,003,930. Applicants to the number of 2,573 declined the grants offered them, amounting to £1,065,980, so that the net advances authorised to the 31st March, 1908, numbered 19,883, and amounted to £6,937,950. Classified according to provincial districts, the total advances authorised to date are: — Number of Amount of Advances Provincial District. Applications. authorised. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 5,482 1,707,283 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... 3,301 1,450,549 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... 1,113 320,275 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 5,659 2,085,678 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... 676 279,860 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 284 90,415 Westland ... ... ... ... ... 468 115,280 Canterbury ... ... ... ... ... 1,911 603,115 Otago and Southland ... .. ... ... 3,562 1,351,435 Total ... ... ... ... 22,456 £8,003,930 Classified according to provincial districts, the advances authorised during the year ended 31st March, 1908, are :— „ , » Amount of Advances Provincial District. Applications. authorised. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 883 321,510 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... 381 221,930 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... 62 24,960 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... 826 424,600 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... 87 53,255 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... 42 19,215 Westland ... ... ... ... ... 122 35,705 Canterbury- ... ... ... ... ... 303 135,770 Otago and Southland ... ... ... ... 249 118,505 Total ... ... ... ... 2.955 £1.355.450

I—B. 13.