H.—22.

Passports. The total number of passports issued was 3,412, which number is 718 less than the total for the previous year; 811 passports were renewed for varying periods, as compared with 824 last year. For the year 1929-30 the relative figures were : Issued, 4,909 ; renewed, 817. War Graves. War Graves in New Zealand.—The number of notifications of deaths of returned soldiers received by the Department was 438, of which ninety were accepted as war graves —i.e., that the cause of death in these cases was attributable to disabilities sustained on or aggravated by war service. The total number of war graves in New Zealand at the close of the year was 2,672. Temporary crosses to mark the graves until such time as the soldiers' headstones are erected were placed on 142 graves, and headstones to the number of 127 were ordered. Additional constructional work was carried out in the Soldiers' Blocks of the following cemeteries: Karori, Wellington ; Omaka, Blenheim ; Bromley, Christ-church ; and Eastern Necropolis, Dunedin. On the 25th April (Anzac Day) the Cross of Sacrifice erected by the Government in the Featherston Military Cemetery, where 182 members of the N.Z.E.F. are buried, was unveiled in the presence of a large assemblage of residents of the district, a simple and impressive memorial service having been arranged for the occasion by the Mayor and local civic authorities. The Memorial Arch in the Karori Soldiers' Cemetery, on which are inscribed the names of those members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force belonging to the Wellington District who clied and were buried at sea between New Zealand, and the overseas bases, was completed during the year. Cemetery Registers.—Arrangements have been finalized with the Imperial War Graves Commission for the publication of cemetery registers covering war graves in New Zealand. These registers will contain the names and regimental and family particulars of all those buried in New Zealand who died from war disabilities up to and including the 31st August, 1921, the official date of the termination of the war. The cost of the registers will be borne by the Imperial War Graves Commission. The cemetery registers, containing the names of those who clied subsequent to the 31st August, 1921, from the effects of their war service, will be published at a later date as at present the number of such names still continue to be added to each year. Veterans' Graves. —In addition to the usual maintenance of these graves, further work was carried out in the following cemeteries and churchyards : Te Henui Cemetery and St. Mary's Churchyard, New Plymouth ; Opepe and Taupo Cemeteries ; old military cemeteries at Opotiki and Pokeno ; Ivydale Cemetery, Hokianga, and on Maori War Graves at Huirangi near Waitara. War Graves abroad.—New Zealand's proportion of the cost of maintenance of war graves, memorials, and cemeteries overseas will, in common with that of the other dominions, now be met from the income derived from the Endowment Fund of £5,000,000 established by the Imperial War Graves Commission in 1925. To this fund the Imperial and dominion Governments agreed to contribute in proportion to the number of graves of their dead. The capital sum of £5,000,000 was decided upon, as it was estimated that this would produce an annual income sufficient to maintain in perpetuity, up to their present standard, the last resting-places of the Empire's dead. The contributions of the various dominions to this Endowment Fund were spread over a period of six years and a half from Ist April, 1925, to 30th September, 1931. The replacement of a number of the stones in the top courses of the New Zealand Battle Exploit Memorial at Chunak Bair, Gallipoli, rendered necessary through deterioration of the original stones caused by the very severe weather experienced during certain seasons of the year in the exposed position occupied by the memorial, was undertaken by the Imperial War Graves Commission. The number of sets of photographs of graves of New-Zealanders in cemeteries in the various theatres of war distributed free of charge to next-of-kin was 129. This completes the supply to next-of-kin of photographs of overseas graves, except for a few isolated graves which will be photographed as opportunity offers. Naturalization. Certificates of naturalization were issued to ninety-four persons, which total includes one issued to a minor and two to residents in the mandated territory of Western Samoa. Seven persons who had been naturalized in New Zealand under earlier statutes were granted certificates under the provisions of the 1928 Act, and thereby extended the scope of their national status to practically the whole of the British Empire. Maori Antiquities Act, 1908. Seven warrants were issued authorizing the exportation of Maori antiquities. Permission was also granted ill twenty-one cases to export articles of modern manufacture, which articles do not come within the provisions of the Act. Town-planning. The activities of the Town-planning Section have been severely restricted during the past year owing to the paramount need for economy. Three meetings of the Town-planning Board were held, and provision was made for routine matters to be dealt with by a recess committee, comprising members resident in the Wellington District.

4