97

E.—l

H. H. Pitman, Steward of Education Beserves. Examined and found correct.—James Edwaed FitzGeeald, Controller and Auditor-General.

OTAGO. Sic — Dunedin, 10th May, 1889. In accordance with Order in Council of date 17th December, 1878, and in terms of circular from the Education Department dated the 6th December last, I have the honour to forward report of the School Commissioners of the Otago Brovincial District for the year ended 31st December, 1888. During the year the Commissioners leased fifty agricultural sections, containing 2,145 acres, at £471 7s. Bd. per annum; sixty-two suburban sections, containing 428 acres 2 roods 32 perches, at £103 125.; thirteen town sections, containing 3 acres 1 rood, at £41 10s.; and thirty-five pastoral sections, containing 10,847 acres, at £237 15s. per annum. The agricultural sections had been previously occupied under leases expiring during the year 1888, and in most cases the new rents show a satisfactory increase. In addition to the pastoral leases before mentioned, Bun 194, Wendonside, containing 17,000 acres, was leased by auction at £250 per annum, or 4d. per acre, for a term of five years. This run formerly contained about 22,700 acres, but on the expiry of the lease in March, 1888,

Expenditure. >y Office expenses and management— Salary of steward Stationery and postage ... £ s. d. £ s. a. 540 0 8 10 0 3 548 10 3 Expenses of leasing— Advertising, printing, and lithograph plans Christchurch Survey Department—subdivisional survey of Reserves Nos. 930, 931, and 1191 Cost of chaining boundary of Lot 3 of Reserve No. 1199 Arbitrator's fee, and half of umpire's fee, in assessing rental of Lot 47, Reserve No. 1199 Cost of registering transfer and cost of two certificates of title 33 16 60 1 1 1 2 1 0 7 17 2 10 6 0 Law-costs School Commissioners' railage and expenses ... Special expenditure— Temuka Road Board—contribution towards one-fourth of cost of deepening canal-drain next Reserve No. 1400 ... Temuka Road Board—contribution towards cost of formation of road between Reserve No. 1400 and Native Reserve No. 905 105 6 18 5 1 0 9 2 0 15 0 0 20 0 0 35 0 0 Payments to Education Boards— North Canterbury South Canterbury 11,553 11 10 2,646 8 2 712 17 2 14,200 0 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand on 31st December, 1888— At credit of current account On fixed deposit 44 100 6 10 0 0 14,912 17 2 144 6 10 Total expenditure 15,057 4 0 Assets. * £ s. d. £ s. d. 144 6 10 34 6 10 651 17 3 Cash in bank, as above Rents payable in advance, 1st May, 1888—proportion uncollected ... Rents payable in advance, 1st November, 1888—proportion uncollected Total assets 830 10 11 Liabilities. £ s. d. £ s. d. Steward's salary, December, 1888 I I 45 0 0 Total liabilities I 45 45 0 0 0 0