13.—9

District Offices. —The following are the district Offices in Hawke's Bay under the control of the Napier Branch : — (a.) Waipukurau. —Considerable progress has been made by this branch ; a good site has been purchased in the centre of Waipukurau, and a suitable building in reinforced concrete, costing £3,969, is now almost completed. The staff at Waipukurau Office has been increased to cope with the business in that district. Waipawa Part-time Office. —-This is under the control of the District Manager, Waipukurau. Takapau Agency. —This Agency has recently been established, and is under the control of the Waipukurau Branch. (6.) Hastings. —This branch is making satisfactory progress. (c.) Wairoa. —Making progress on proper lines. Frasertown Part-time Office. —This is under the control of the District Manager at Wairoa. Nuhaka Part-time Office. —Proposals are on foot to establish a part-time office at Nuhaka, which will also be controlled by Wairoa Branch. (d.) Taradale Part-time Office. —This is now being established, and will be controlled by the District Public Trustee, Napier. The figures showing the volume of business in Napier district include those for the branch offices, which are shown separately below. Hastings Branch Office. The following are details of business at this branch for the year : (a) Receipts, £46,407 ; (b) payments, £21,645 ; (c) wills for deposit, 97, with total approximate assets of £336,190 ; (d) estates under administration, 65. Administration. —At the 31st March, 1924, the number of estates totalled sixty-five, an increase of five as compared with the 31st March, 1923. Twenty-four new estates were accepted, and one was transferred here, during the year, an increase of five over the previous year. Twenty-one estates were closed or transferred during the year, an increase of six over the previous year. Wills for Deposit. —ln the year ending the 31st March, 1923, fifty-four wills were executed, with approximate assets of £128,770. You are referred to the satisfactory for the current year. Complaints. —I have pleasure in advising no complaints were received during the j year, and that several beneficiaries have expressed appreciation of the Office administration. General. —The prices obtained for last season's wool-clip will materially help this district, as meat and wool are the main products here. Work seems fairly plentiful, and the financial position has not been so good for years. WAiruKURAu Branch Office. I submit herewith my third annual report on the working of this branch, the period covered being the twelve months ending 31st March, 1924. The figures for the "preceding year are shown in parentheses. Statistics re Estates. —Under administration as at the Ist April, 1923, 56, valued at £104,000 (50, £67,868); accepted and delegated during the year, 14, valued at £33,300 (16, £39,073); closed during year, 10 (10); under administration as at the Ist April, 1924, 60, valued at £127,000 (56, £104,000). Statistics re New Wills. —68 new wills deposited, representing assets valued at £295,789 (52, £195,548). General. —The past year's operations have resulted in the Office business being further increased in the district, and the year has been easily the best since the branch was opened'in November, 1920. The branch during the period has been concerned with the management of eight farming properties, six of which are still being controlled. The high prices realized for wool, &c, has resulted in good returns being obtained for each farm. New Wills. —Sixty-eight wills, representing assets valued at £295,789, constitutes a 25-per-cent. increase in numbers and a 50-per-cent. increase in values over the previous year. Since the branch was opened 154 new wills have been lodged, representing assets valued at £625,985 approximately, an average value of £4,064. This gives some indication of the class of testator attracted to the Office in these parts. New Building. —The erection of new offices in Waipukurau was proceeded with during the year, and these will be ready for occupation in a few weeks. The Office has never had suitable accommodation in Waipukurau, and the new offices have been much needed. The new office has been well designed, and is far ahead of anything else in Waipukurau. The building alone will be a good advertisement for the Office, and it has already been very favourably commented on by residents of the'district. Takapau Agency. —This has been opened during the year under the control of the Waipukurau Branch, and good results are expected when the Agent gets into his stride. Special efforts are being made to bring the Office under the notice of the public in this district. Waipawa Part-time Office. —Weekly visits have been made to Waipawa during the year, and the business obtained was fair. The business is gradually increasing"in T this district, and the small expense incurred in the opening of the office is warranted. 13. NELSON. During the past year the steady advance in new business has been maintained. One of the special this branch is the large number of wills deposited by living persons. On the 3lst March, 1924, there were no less than 1,645. The large number of 242 wills was executed at this

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