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1903. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE (REPORT RELATING TO THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Public Trustee to the Eight Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Sir,— Public Trust Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1903. I have the honour to submit the annual report relating to the working of the Public Trust Office. The net profits for the year amounted to £4,325 12s. 9d. The reduced scale of charges was in operation for nine months of the year. An experiment on a small scale in receiving documents, &c, for safe deposit will be tried in Wellington. If found successful, the system will be extended to Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. There is an extraordinary amount of ignorance still prevailing as to the functions of the office, notwithstanding its thirty years' existence To overcome this, in a measure, a considerable sum was spent last year in advertising, and a pamphlet was printed and widely circulated showing the advantages of dealing with the institution. From the numerous inquiries received it is evident that this expenditure will in future result in largely-increased business. The expense will not be a recurring one. . It is pleasing to report that several of the office cadets are studying diligently. Pour of the successful Wellington candidates at the last Senior Civil Service Examination were junior members of the head office staff. One won the Macmillan Brown Prize of the New Zealand University. Five members of the staff are preparing for the solicitors' examinations. An examination of the returns will show that the business of the Department is steadily increasing. I have, &c., J. W. Poynton, The Eight Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Public Trustee.