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can be performed more advantageously in this office, The amount of rates received since the Ist October was —Hauraki, £1,575 ; Rangitaiki, £2,797. The total amount collected during the whole of the year was—Hauraki, £4,429 ; Rangitaiki, 6,398. A considerable number of engineering, road, and other plans were made and tracings and blueprints prepared by the draughting staff.

APPENDIX IV.—WAIMARINO BUSH-FIRE RELIEF FUND. A sum of £75,000 was authorized to be, borrowed for the purpose of affording relief by way of loans to settlers who were burnt out by bush fires in the early part of 1918. The loans made totalled approximately £70,000 while repayments amount to £19,500, leaving approximately £50,EC0 still outstanding. This amount is partly secured by mortgages and partly by promissory notes. The settlers thoroughly appreciate what the Government has done for them and, where possible, have reduced their capital liabilities to the Department. The interest accrued at 31st March was £2,1 19 15s. Bd., but a large portion of this did not become actually payable until April and May this year. The fund is in a very satisfactory position, and it is not anticipated that any material losses will be, sustained on realization of the securities. Statement of accounts and balance-sheet are appended. Receipts and Payments Account for Year ended 31st March, 1920. Dr. £ s. (1. Or. £ s. d. £ s. dTo cash in hand, Ist April, 1919 .. 23,050 2 0 By AdvancesRepayment of Advances—• £ s. d. Promissory notes .. 707 6 6 Promissory notes 12,001 10 6 Mortgages.. .. 17,.'171 5 4 Mortgages .. .. 7,493 7 6 18,078 II 10 19,494 18 0 Reinvestment of surplus funds .. .. 17,700 0 0 Interest on advances and surplus funds .. 2,139 1 7 Interest on loan .. .. .. 3,008 4 4 Sundry expenses .. .. .. 418 3 Cash in hand, 31st March, 1920. . .. 5,892 7 2 £44,684 1 7 £44,684 1' 7 Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1920. Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. £ s. d. Loan Account: Debentures issued .. 75.000 0 0 Investments— Consolidated Fund : Management expenses 500 0 0 Secured by promissory £ s. d. Investmont Reserve Account .. .. 702 2 0 note .. ".'. 19,351 811 Suspense Account .. .. .. 0 10 6 Secured by mortgage 31,199 0 9 ■ 50,550 9 8 Interest accrued, but not paid, as at 31st March, 1920 .. .. ..2,119 15 8 Surplus funds reinvested .. .. 17,700 0 0 Cash in hand, 31st March, 1920 .. 5,892 7 2 £76,262 12 6 £76,262 12 6 J. H. O'DONNT-LL, Chief Aoeountant, Department of Lands.

APPENDIX V.—ROLL OF HONOUR, It is fitting that a permanent record should be kept of those officers of the Department who answered to the call of duty and joined the Expeditionary Forces of the Empire in its fight for the defence of freedom. At the outbreak of war the Department's roll contained the names of 572 officers. The following list gives particulars of 182 officers who joined the, Forces and who were then in the Department or who have joined its staff since. Of these, thirty-three made the great sacrifice. It is only fair to state that several other officers also joined, but did not leave- the country, some being discharged as medically unfit and others being in camp at the date of the armistice. The rest of the, staff comprised men too old or too young for service, rejected as medically unfit, or else were women. It is gratifying to note that in the majority of cases the officers volunteered, and that those who waited until their names duly appeared in the notices calling them to serve had ample reason for doing so through domestic and other claims. Whilst the Department produced no soldiers of outstanding fame, its members composed a part of that great body of men who served their country valiantly and well, and by their unobtrusive, loyal, and steadfast devotion to duty helped to save civilization in its great defence of liberty. Some of the Department's officers have not returned to us, having given up their lives on the battlefield and elsewhere, but