a.—4

1915. NEW ZEALAND.

EAST COAST NATIVE TRUST LANDS (REPORT, BALANCE-SHEET, AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS IN RESPECT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 13 of the East Coast Native Trust Lands Act, 1902.

REPORT BY THE EAST COAST COMMISSIONER. Sir, — Gisborne, 21st September, 1915. I have the honour to forward herewith the balance-sheet and statement of receipts and payments of the Trust estate as at the 31st March last, together with statement of the accounts of the several blocks in the Trust as at that date. The net surplus now stands at £259,939 2s. 9d., as against £260,106 15s. 9d. last year, and the value of the freeholds at £308,788, as against £306,183. No further sales of the freehold of the Mangatu lands have been effected during the year. I have not yet been able to provide suitable road access to these blocks, and in its absence satisfactory realization of the property is difficult. Further areas aggregating 9,408 acres have been leased—viz., 4,754 acres in Mangapoike No. 2a 3 and 4,654 acres in Tahora No. 2f. The total annual rental of the whole of the lands leased is now £6,273 10s. Id. The legal proceedings in connection with the Maraetaha No. 2a, Sections 2 and 3 Blocks, which have been pending for several years, having at last been disposed of, the balance at credit of the blocks —viz., £426 6s. 2d. —is now being paid over to the beneficiaries. Farm improvements effected during the year consist of fencing, some necessary buildings, and the installation at Waimaha Farm of shearing-machines. Some small areas of scrub have been cleared, but no bushfelling has been undertaken. The net profits on farming operations for the year amount to £6,213 Bs. 10d., of which £489 12s. has been paid over to the beneficiaries in the Paremata Farm, the balance being applied towards the before-mentioned improvements and in reduction of old liabilities on the blocks. A payment out of profits would be made to beneficiaries in the Maraetaha No. Id (Te Kopua) Block but for the fact that an appeal has been lodged against the list of owners as ascertained by the Native Land Court. Sales of frozen meat are less than those of last year owing to the difficulty of securing freezing-space. Purchases of sheep are also less than formerly, the ewe flocks, which are of good quality, being sufficiently large to admit of the requirements of the newer farms needing ewes being supplied from other farms that have been longer established. I have, &c, T. A. Coleman, The Hon. the Minister of Native Affairs, Wellington. East Coast Commissioner,

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