c—i

Specifications and forms of contract for the supply of grass-seed for roads and improved-farm settlements were prepared, and tenders called for several districts in the colony as usual. The promissory notes that fell due during the year for grass-seed supplied to settlers on the occasion of the severe bush-fires of 1898 numbered 175, and amounted to £1,498 ; of these, 103 were dishonoured on presentation, amounting to £891; but thirty-one of them, representing £179 75., were shortly afterwards paid, and efforts have been made to collect the remainder. The balance of these notes will fall due in 1901. Steps were taken to bring " The Eotorua Town Council Act, 1900," into operation as required therein. Several Bills were drafted during the year, among which were the Land Bill and Eeserves Disposal and Enabling Bill; and clauses were drawn also for the Public Works, Bgmont National Park, Eotorua Town Council, Crown Tenants' Rebate, and other Bills. The following is a summary of the returns of co-operative labourers received weekly from the various districts, showing the average per week and month for each district for the year ended 31st March, 1901 :—

Accounts, Mr. H. J. Knowles, Chief Accountant, reports as follows : — The number of vouchers authorised for payment, credit, or refund during the year was— & s. d. 5,625 charged to Lands and Survey vote, covering gross expenditure of ... 144,017 2 6 725 charged to Lands and Survey Miscellaneous vote, covering gross expenditure of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,190 8 8 469 charged to New Zealand State Forests Account, covering gross expenditure of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6,857 9 2 6 charged to Consolidated Fund, Unauthorised Account, covering gross expenditure of ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 272 19 0 8 charged to Immigration vote, covering gross expenditure of ... ... 614 0 9 9,252 charged to Settlement Eoads, Bridges, and other Public Works vote, covering gross expenditure of ... ... ... ... ... 268,633 18 7 1,194 charged to Government Loans to Local Bodies Account, covering gross expenditure of ... ... ... ... ... ... ' ... 37,503 15 4 13 charged to Cheviot Estate Account, covering gross expenditure of ... 8,937 11 10 1,171 charged to Land for Settlements Account, including Land for Settlements Expenses vote, covering gross expenditure of .. ... ... 201,305 10 8 64 charged to Civil Service Act, and General, covering gross expenditure of 2,367 18 4 100 charged to Eefunds of Eevenue, &c, covering gross refund of ... ... 9,242 5 11 29 charged to Eefunds of Contractors' Deposits, covering gross refund of ... 574 3 5 18,656 £691,547 4 2 Details of the net expenditure will be found in the various tables on other pages. In addition, 220 credit vouchers for work done by the department, 562 applications for imprest advances, and about 2,000 outward letters, memoranda, returns, &c, have been dealt with or prepared. The very large amount of correspondence relative to the appropriations and other matters has been considered, and the necessary action taken. A system of accounting for stores has been kept up as regards the seventeen storekeepers. The number of entries in the stores ledgers was 1,536. Six hundred and thirteen agreements (prepared in triplicate) have been issued, representing grants to local bodies of £121,616 17s. Id.; and the payments under agreements amounted to £76,813 Is. 5d., including payments under agreements of previous years. The following statement shows the liabilities for roads, bridges, &c, at 31st March, 1901, in respect of "Thirds" and "Fourths," and the votes for roads and other works, i.c, Votes 97 and 119 and Land for Settlements Account —

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District. April. : May. July. Aug. I Oct. Nov. *5 June. Sept. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. I Auckland Hawke's Bay .. Caranaki Wellington tfarlborough .. kelson Westland j^nberbuvy )fcago Southland 534 179 141 361 79 31 34 10 81 110 497 170 160 398 82 32 33 9 77 71 488 160 208 428 84 35 53 10 61 68 513 156 218 i 470 104 31 40 11 58 58 ! 531 164 I 223 I 466 108 64 37 10 111 51 529 186 221 428 91 71 22 10 143 60 544 170 225 436 94 52 22 10 105 54 577 162 219 454 118 52 40 22 86 54 589 176 223 456 90 36 37 24 100 105 ! 588 180 197 497 84 36 74 34 89 100 775 192 182 603 115 47 88 33 119 112 966 221 185 692 127 40 95 15 145 100 594 176 200 474 98 44 48 17 98 79 ; 1,560 1,529 1,595 1,659 1,765 1,761 1,712 1,784 1,836 1,879 2,226 2,586 1,828