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Departments, and thenceforward I was enabled to devote the whole of my time to the duties of the Public Trust Office. It is desirable to note that on the Bth July, 1880, the date of my assumption of the office of Public Trustee, the entire staff consisted of the Chief Clerk and a cadet, my predecessor himself conducting for the most part his own correspondence and entering up his cashbook. The cash receipts for the year ended the 30th June, 1880, were £41,813. The General Investment Account stood at £70,864, and the Special Investment Account at £2,655. On the Ist October, 1880, Mr. Moginie, from the Treasury, was appointed Accountant with a salary of £300, and to him was assigned the financial branch—the cash-book, ledgers, and preparation of disburse-ment-requisitions, &c.; Mr. De Castro, the Chief Clerk, having allotted to him the correspondence and other matters not dealt with by the Accountant. The cash receipts for the year ended the 30th June, 1881, were £68,262. The General Investment Account had increased to £90,864, and the Special Investment Account to £10,074. It was not until the sth June, 1882, that the next appointment was made—viz., Mr. J. J. M. Hamilton as Ledger-keeper, on the sth June, 1882. The cash receipts for the year ended the 30th June, 1882, were £71,319. The General Investment Account stood at £98,428, whilst the Special Investment Account had more than doubled itself, being £21,780. It was about this time that the West Coast Settlement Eeserves administration devolved by statute upon the Public Trustee, Mr. Thomas Mackay being appointed West Coast Settlement Eeserves Trustee, on a salary of £500 per annum. This officer was the local administrator of the reserves, and arranged with the Natives as far as possible the blocks to be leased and the area to be set apart for occupation by the different hapus. Further assistance now became necessary, and on the 17th August, 1882, Mr. J. C. Small was appointed as Eequisition Clerk ; but it was not until the Ist April, 1883, that an officer was specially appointed to the charge of this new branch—a Mr. Vincent, who died on the 17th December, 1888, and was succeeded by the Mr. Small just mentioned, who still continues in charge of this branch and of the Native reserves branch, and also of the business under "The Eating Act, 1882," which, however, consequent on the passing of the amending Act of 1885, is now little more than nominal. The Native reserves were transferred to this office by "The Native Eeserves Act, 1882," and administration was assumed on the Ist January, 1883, Mr. Alexander Mackay, the then Commissioner, being transferred to this office on a salary of which £250 was payable out of Native reserves. The financial year of the office was altered by section 15 of " The Public Eevenues Act, 1882," and it was made to terminate on the 31st December, in lieu of the 30th June as theretofore. The cash receipts for the half-year ended 31st December, 1882, were £45,018. The general securities had reached £100,965, and the special £25,070. Of the present staff Mr. Warren was the next appointed —viz., on the Ist April, 1883, on a salary of £200. He, in turn, was put to the cash-book and ledgers, Mr. Hamilton taking the position of Sub-accountant. Mr. Warren is now Examiner, at £240. Mr. Arthur de Castro was entered on the same day as cadet, at £40. He now performs the duty of Journal-keeper and assistant to the Wills and Trusts Ledgers, at £120. Mr. Eonaldson was next appointed, on the 12th November, 1883, at a salary of £150. He is now Senior Ledger-keeper, at £210. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1883, were £90,119. The General Investment Account had now reached £122,871, and the Special £39,152. Mr. Pyke entered the office on the 15th December, 1884, at £180 per annum, but the salary was reduced to £150 from the Ist April, 1885, at which amount it now remains. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1884, were £116,136. The General Investment Account stood at £132,320, and the Special £57,430. Mr. Stephens was next appointed, on the 14th March, 1885, on a salary of £170, and acted for some time as corresponding clerk, and was afterwards appointed to the ledgers. He now draws £200. Mr. Oswin was next entered—as a cadet at £40 per annum—on the 14-th July, 1885. He is now assistant to the ledgers, and draws £80 per annum. Mr. Cross was appointed messenger at £36 per annum, some time after the office was removed from the Government Buildings to premises in Brandon and Featherston Streets, on the 27th July, 1885: he now draws £100. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1885, were £196,094. The General Investment Account had now reached £156,002, and the Special £70,472. Mr. Alexander joined the office on the Bth March, 1886, and has had charge of a ledger since the Ist January, 1887. His salary on entry was £170; it is now £200. Mr. Wilson was appointed Solicitor in the Public Trust Office from his practice at Clyde on the Ist October, 1886, on a salary of £500, which remains still the same. On the same day the office entered into occupation of its present premises on a three years' lease at £300 per annum, which was extended for two years at the same rent. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1886, were £125,984. The General Investment Account had increased to £183,272, and the Special to £84,909. During the year 1886, all the available land under the West Coast Settlement Eeserves Acts having been leased, it was deemed desirable to lessen the expenditure of administration. To this end the services of Mr. T. Mackay were dispensed with, and Mr. Wilfred Eennell, the officer in charge of Native affairs in Taranaki, was appointed to the trusteeship upon a salary of £225, to which £100 was added when that officer ceased to become an officer of the Native Department, and to draw salary £100 from that source. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1887, were £109,030. The General Investment Account showed £194,923 to credit, and the Special £106,957. The appointments in 1887 were Messrs. Booth and Kendall, who were both appointed in July, 1887, as cadets. The former resigned on the 31st December, 1890 ; the latter is assistant to the Wills and Trusts Ledgers, and draws £90 per annum. There were no appointments in 1888. The cash receipts for the year ended 31st December, 1888, were £146,715. The General Investment Account had increased to £204,418, and the Special to £162,021. Mr. tlewson was appointed a cadet in February, 1889, and resigned on the 31st March, 1891. Mr.'Buckland, who had been continuously employed as a temporary clerk since the sth September, 1885, was appointed on the 7th March, 1889. Since 1887 he has had charge of the " Miscellaneous " Ledger. Thg- cash receipts for the year 1889 were £183,336. The General Investment Account stood at £216,068, and the Special at £245,815. Mr. Purdie 2—H. 3.