E.-l
92
Note. —The arrears of rent on the present date amount to £275 ss. 9d., having become reduced since 31st December by £211 15s. 9d. J. B. Blaie, Chairman. Wellington, 12th February, 1889. W. H. Waeeen, Secretary. Auditor-General's Beport on the Accounts of the School Commissioners for the Wellington Provincial District for the Tear ended 31st December, 1888. I am unable to certify this account to be correct, the Commissioners having no power to transfer funds from one purpose to another, the funds belonging to the primary and secondary reserves being separate trusts under the Act. James Edwaed FitzGeeald, Controller and Auditor-General. The School Commissioners, in reply to the above remarks of the Auditor-General, refer to their annual reports for 1887 and 1888, which will fully explain the transaction and elucidate the position in which the Commissioners were placed. Their report for 1887 (page 95 of the eleventh annual report of the Minister of Education) clearly shows that the Commissioners recognised their responsibilities. Being compelled to act, they did so in the manner shown in the accounts and referred to in their report for 1888 ; but the payments from Primary to meet expenditure on Secondary Beserves Account, to which the Auditor-General has taken exception, were made with the sanction of the Minister of Education. Wellington, 10th May, 1889. J. E. Blaie, Chairman.
HAWKE'S BAY. Sic, — Office of the School Commissioners, Napier, 20th May, 1889. In compliance with your circular of 6th December last, I have the honour to report as follows for the past year : — In the early part of the year the Commissioners became subject to the provisions of sections 5 to 8, inclusive, of " The Bublic Bodies' Bowers Act, 1887," and in July the whole of the provisions
Expeiiditicn iy Payments to Boards— Wellington Education Board Wanganui Education Board... Salaries of officers Rates Fencing, bushfalling, &c. Advertising, printing, &c. Auction sales expenses Law-costs ... Postage, stationery, &c. Telegrams, &c. Construction of footways Land-transfer fees Exchange on remittances Bents written off Advances to Secondary Account Advances repaid Balance, 31st December, 1888... £ s. d. 227 11 0 122 9 0 84 4 0 50 12 11 86 15 0 29 3 6 22 16 9 7 7 4 17 2 9 2 3 9 2 15 0 14 11 4 0 15 6 66 10 0 197 0 4 £ s. d. 3 6 0 155 19 7 35 5 0 42 15 0 0 13 5 £ s. 227 11 122 9 87 10 206 12 86 15 29 3 58 1 50 2 17 16 2 3 2 15 14 11 0 17 66 10 197 0 36 2 371 9 d. 0 0 0 6 0 6 9 4 2 9 0 4 6 0 4 1 2 o"*2 0 36' "2 1 371 9 2 Total expenditure 1,303 7 4 274 3 1 1,577 10 5 Assets. Cash balance, 31st December, 1888 Arrears of previous years Arrears of current year ... Land Purchase Account... Advances outstanding £ s. 371 9 128 18 351 0 12 0 160 18 d. 2 3 0 0 3 £ s. d. 7 's 3 £ s. d. 371 9 2 128 18 3 358 3 3 12 0 0 160 18 3 Total assets 1,024 5 8 7 3 3 1,031 8 11 Liabilities Advances from Primary Account ... Land Purchase Account ... £ s. d. 12 "0 0 £ s. 160 18 d. 3 i £ s. d. 160 18 3 12 0 0 Total liabilities 12 0 0 160 18 3 ! 172 18 3 I