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Decentralization. —Each year confirms the wisdom of the policy adopted by the Office as regards decentralization. As the business of the Office grows, it is evident that an ever-increasing number of matters will have to be decided finally in the local offices. Advertising. —Generally speaking, the service offered by the Office is eagerly availed of by the public when they understand its functions and activities. Noth with standing the phenomenal increase in business, a largo portion of the community has not yet been reached, and misconceptions concerning the Office are still fairly prevalent. Concrete evidence of a growing confidence in the Office is, however, given by the great increase in the number of new wills deposited, and by the fact that the beneficiaries themselves, after experience of the Office, usually entrust their own affairs to the Public Trustee. The Office can and does offer a valuable and efficient service to the community, and undoubtedly it is its duty to make this fact as widely known, as possible. 2. BLENHEIM. The following is the information relating to the year's working : — (a.) Total number of estates under administration, 136. (b.) New estates accepted, 43. (c.) Total value of assets and funds, £163,722. (d.) Wills deposited, 75. (c.) Realization (realty), £1,715, (/.) Number and value of estates closed during year, 24 ; £12,688. (g.) Number of wills deposited, 464. There has been a general increase in the Office business. Practically no sales of house property or land have been made by the branch during the year. As Marlborough is a good, wool-producing district and very satisfactory prices have been obtained for the past season's clip, an improvement in realizations may be anticipated during the coming year, as the returns from the staple products must affect the sale of properties, both town and country. The business of the Office in the district is steadily increasing, and when the branch is established in the new premises this should, further tend to bring the Office more prominently before the public. 3. CHRISTCHURCH. Decentralizationr The scheme of decentralization is now fully established and has proved a great benefit both to clients and to this office. Subject to certain safeguards and control by Head offi.ee, the whole of the work is completed at the branch office, thus facilitating the work to a very great extent. In addition, there is now in full operation a system under which the administration of certain estates is completed by the District Managers, subject to control and supervision by the District Public Trustees. The decentralization has been a great advantage to the Office in that it has enabled, the work to be performed more rapidly, and the accounts to be prepared and rendered to boneficiares with greater expedition. Administration. —The administration of estates has proceeded very satisfactorily during the year. Complaints have been rare, while, on the other hand, many voluntary expressions of appreciation have been received. The system of review prevents any avoidable delays, and is the means of keeping the administration of estates up to date. This Office, in common with other financial institutions, has been affected by the adverse financial conditions existing, but it may be said that the Canterbury Province has not been so acutely affected in this respect as some other districts in the Dominion. There was some improvement in the financial position generally during the past year, and only in a very few cases has any difficulty been experienced in the collection of rents and interest from tenants and mortgagors. The demand for small properties remained firm throughout the year, but difficulty was often experienced in selling larger properties, owing to prospective purchasers finding it difficult to arrange finance. It is of interest to note that, as regards estates administration, in only one instance was it found necessary to foreclose on a mortgage security. Increase of Business. —The volume of business has shown a satisfactory increase, the commission earned for the year being £10,719, as against £10,089 for the previous year and £8,096 for the year ended 31st March, 1922, notwithstanding the reduced scale of charges which came into operation as from the Ist April, 1923. The amount of interest credited to estates shows an increase of £3,500. The cash balances held on behalf of estates and funds have increased by £97,000, the total being £950,000, including £116,000 held on account of Common Fund investment agencies and £24,000 on account of special-investment agencies. The total estates and funds under administration at the Christchurch Branch as at the 31st March, 1924, were —Number of estates, 1,268; number of funds and accounts, 340: total, 1,608. Total value, £2,601,571. During the year 460 new estates were accepted, the total value being £601,281. Estates closed. —During the year 288 estates were closed, of the value of £99,251. Of these, seventy-three estates, of the value of £38,917, were both accepted and closed during the year. Securities. —There has been a further marked increase in the securities held at this branch, the value of those held on behalf of estates amounting to £202,000, while £37,000 worth are held on behalf of testators whose wills are deposited in the office. Legal Work. —The volume of legal work at this branch has again been well maintained. Fortunately, the office has had a comparatively small amount of litigation during the past year considering the varied classes of estates with which it has had to deal. On the other hand, con-veyancing-work has been heavy. The number of wills prepared, including those for District Managers' offices under my control and for some other District Offices, reached the high total of 1,129.