C—l.

The comparative statement below shows to some extent how the yearly increase of work in the department affects this branch: —

Audit. Mr. W. G. Euncie, Auditor of Land Eevenue, reports as follows :— I beg to state that the gross receipts for the year have been as follows :— £ s. 6. Territorial revenue ... ... ... ... ... 273,799 7 4 Government loans to local bodies (interest and principal) ... 13,255 17 2 Land for Settlements ... ... ... ... ... 38,804 10 2 Cheviot Estate ... ... ... ... ... ... 17,043 8 1 State forests ... ... .. ... ... ... 5,844 6 6 Endowments ... ... ... ... ... ... 15,117 18 4 North Island Main Trunk Eailway... ... ... ... 11,282 19 8 Thermal springs... ... ... ... ... ... 1,35113 6 Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth ... ... ... ... 1,740 8 11 Lands and Survey vote ... ... ... ... ... 1,853 15 4 Crown-grant fees .... ... ... ... ... 1,228 12 0 Hanmer Sanatorium ... ... ... ... ... 796 5 5 Hanmer baths ... ... ... ... ... ... 376 6 2 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ~. ... ... 2,649 12 2 £385,145 0 9 It is satisfactory to know that the territorial revenue exceeds last year's revenue by £10,503 ss. Id. In the comparative statement (Table 1) you will observe that there has been an increase in territorial revenue in Canterbury, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Otago, Nelson and Westland, and a falling-off in Marlborough, Wellington, and Southland in the order named, leaving an increase of £10,503 ss. Id. Besides the increase above mentioned, there has been a substantial swelling of receipts all round, notably under the heading of "Land for Settlements," seven new estates having been added during the year to the number already rent-producing. Table No. 2 is a comparative statement of the gross revenue for the years 1897-98 and 1898-99. There has been included in this year's gross revenue the receipts from the Hanmer Plains Sanatorium and baths, the increase in favour of this year's transactions being £26,058 7s.

Table No. 1.—Comparative Statement of Territorial Revenue for Years 1897-98 and 1898-99.

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Year. Number of Vouchers. Gross Amount authorised for Payment, Credit, <&o. Number of Appropriations. Number of Agreements with Local Bodies prepared. Amount granted to Local Bodies. Payments to Local Bodies under Agreements. 1890-91 1891-92 (9 months) 1892-93... 1893-94... 1894-95... 1895-96... 1896-97... 1897-98 1898-99 9,810 8,355 10,676 13,071 14,367 15,422 15,689 17,719 18,620 £ 152,775 177,903 260,498 353,772 420,531 578,778 711,660 587,422 990,063 210 219 252 440 592 682 932 1,112 1,-198 80 87 108 181 215 203 248 228 382 £ 17,782 23,391 21,568 42,847 52,892 33,761 59,712 53,950 74,799 £ Not compiled. 13,448 20,388 22,704 45,302 42,813 32,419 55,586 47,977

Land District. 1897-98. 1898-99. Increase. Decrease. mckland 'aranaki lawke's Bay Vellington ... larlborough Jelson Vestland Janterbury ... )tago Southland £ s. a. 30,889 19 2 21,407 12 5 14,512 16 1 49,284 8 4 13,689 16 7 15,134 11 4 1,159 18 1 47,503 4 6 55,286 13 10 14,427 1 11 £ s. d. 29,182 2 0 26,066 14 10 17,765 18 2 48,751 3 10 9,903 18 11 15,553 16 2 1,313 4 10 54,518 13 4 56,525. 6 3 14,218 9 0 s, s. a. £ a. d. 1,707 17 2 4,659 2 5 3,253 2 1 533* 4 6 3,785 17 8 419 4 10 153 6 9 7,015 8 10 1,238 12 5 208 12 11 263,296 2 3 273,799 263,296 7 2 4 3 16,738 17 4 6,235 12 3 6,235 12 3 Increase for 1898-99 10,503 5 1 10,503 5 1