99

E.—3

WELLINGTON. Sir,— Wellington, 7th February, 1898. I have the honour to forward herewith the nineteenth annual report and balance-sheet of the School Commissioners for the Wellington Provincial District, for the year ending the 31st December, 1897. The Commissioners still consist of Mr. J. E. Blair (Chairman), and Messrs. John Duthie, A. W. Hogg, M.H.E., F. Pirani, M.H.8., and J. W. A. Marchant, Commissioner of Lands. Sales of leases for periods of twenty-one years were held during the year at Wanganui, Marton, Palmerston North, Eketahuna, and Carterton, at which an area of 9,635 acres 1 rood and 7 perches was taken up, at an annual rental of £499 14s. 2d. A further area of 2,606 acres 3 roods 22 perches, at an annual rental of £95 175., has since been disposed of, making a total of 12,242 acres and 29 perches leased to seventy-two tenants, at an annual rental of £595 125., or an average of over lid. an acre. This must be considered a satisfactory return, when it is remembered that no compensation is paid at the end of the term for either bushfelling or grassing, and the lands for the most part comprise bush country in new and unroaded districts. Of the reserves unlet, the titles to a large number have not yet been received, and a considerable proportion of the remainder are of little value, several large sections having been offered unsuccessfully at rentals of from Id. to 3d. per acre. These reserves imply an actual loss to the Commissioners, owing to the expenditure necessitated in the construction and maintenance of boundary fences, and the destruction of rabbits. A number of the titles to sections gazetted in 1895, and mentioned in last year's report, have not yet been received. This has occasioned some inconvenience; but as the Eegistrar has now consented to accept leases for registration, in anticipation of the actual issue of the title, no further difficulty from this cause need be anticipated. Owing to the rooms in the Government Insurance Buildings occupied by the Commissioners being required for another department the Commissioners had to remove to other premises. One extension of lease has been granted during the year, and one surrender accepted, being respectively part of Section 1,580, Block IX., Kairanga, and Section 31, Block X., Pohangina; the latter section having been washed away by the river. Under the heading of printing, stationery, and office contingencies are included such items as insurance premium, office-cleaning, lighting, fuel, office rent, exchange, stamps, expenses in connection with printing and circulating notices of sales, and also the removal of the Commissioners' office. You will observe from the balance-sheet that the arrears of rents only amount to £83 3s. lOd. The smallness of the amount proves that the Commissioners have not acted unwisely in allowing their tenants a little latitude during the recent period of depression. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. J. B. Blair, Chairman.

General Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1897.

Nature of Reoeipts. Primary. Secondary. Total. Beceipts. I p £ s. d. I 491 3 0 215 8 9 2,500 12 8 293 7 10 2 9 8 162 10 0 1 11 6 116 31 0 6 £ s. d. 91 9 11 0 0 9 111 1 8 £ 582 : 215 2,611 : 293 2 162 ; l : l 31 'o Balances, 1st January, 1897 ... Beceipts on account of previous years ... Beceipts on account of year 1897 Beceipts on account of year 1898 Interest on improvements Preparation and registration of leases ... Law Befund of grant fees from Treasury Beceipts on account of improvements ... £ s. d. 91 9 11 0 0 9 111 1 8 £ s. d. 582 12 11 215 9 6 2,611 14 4 293 7 10 2 9 8 162 10 0 1 11 6 116 31 0 6 Total receipts ... 3,699 5 5 202 12 4 3,901 17 9 Expenditure ly Payments to Boards— Wellington Education Board Wanganui Education Board... £ s. 1,426 17 973 - 2 d. 3 9 £ s. a. £ s. a. Wellington College . Wellington Girls' High School Wanganui Girls' High School 29 14 6 29 14 6 40 11 0 2,400 0 o Salaries of officers Printing, stationery, and office contingencies 263 11 102 15 0 4 11 9 0 4 8 8 100 275 107 0 0 4 0 0 0