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immigration, of which I am also the Under-Secretary. I consider Mr. O'Neill one of the most efficient Chief Clerks in the Service. He has with him some most able assistants, and of these I may mention Mr. Danby, who acts as Immigration Officer in Wellington, and boards all the Home steamers on arrival, and generally undertakes immigration-work ; Mr. Hawthorne, upon whom devolves not only the general supervision of all reserves, but the compilation of all the statistics used for the annual returns ; Mr. Jourdain, in addition to his ordinary and spoc/ -,1 work, is also Secretary to the Scenery Preservation Board, and the duties are performed in a most satisfactory manner; Mr. Hardy (under the Chief Clerk) has the supervision of all domains and cemeteries, and his work is carried out in no perfunctory manner. The other officers of the clerical staff have also been most assiduous in attention to their duties. Accounts of the Depaetment. This all-important branch is under the charge of the Accountant (Mr. Paterson), who with only two assistants (Miss Woodhouse and a cadet) carry out all the details required for an expenditure amounting to £752,750. A schedule showing the various headings under which the accounts are kept is herewith appended for general information : — Summaey of Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1907. Gtross. Vote £ a. (1. 66 Lands and Survey .. .. . . .. . . 154,224 5 7 67 Lands and Survey. Miscellaneous .. _ .. .. .. 35,245 15 11 - 116 State Forests Account .. .. .. . . .. 25,020 7 1 118 Scenery-preservation .. .. .. .. 9,411 9 8 119 Land-for-settlements expenses . . .. .. 2,470 18 6 120 Workers' dwellings expenses . . .. .. .. 603 10 5 121 Maori-land settlement expenses .. .. . . . . 1,604 7 5 Miori Land Settlement Act Account and "Unauthorised" ... 105,621 12 9 Land for Settlements Account and '• Unauthorised " .. 380,817 15 6 Cheviot Estate Account .. .. .. .. 34 2 1 103 Immigration .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,319 7 7 113 Improved-farm settlements . . . . . . 3,415 13 10 114 Lands, Miscellaneous .. . . . . .. . . 1,912 1 I 115 Irrigation and water-supply .. .. . . .. 762 1 4 Unauthorised Account (ordinary) .. .. .. .. 31192 Miscellaneous accounts, pensions, refunds, Native townships, thermal springs, &c. .. .. .. .. 12,975 3 0 £752,750 0 11 I think it is most creditable to Mr. Paterson (and in this I am borne out by the Secretary to the Treasury, Colonel Collins) that he is able to carry on so efficiently the entry and checking of such numerous accounts. REPORT BY THE CHIEF CLERK. The year has been an exceptionally busy one, but the officers have carried out their duties with assiduity and promptitude. Correspondence. The correspondence which has been recorded and despatched during the year amounted to a total of 35,403 letters and telegrams. Land-sales. The procedure for notifying and opening Crown lands for sale and selection required by the provisions of the Land Act necessitated the issue and gazettal of 142 Warrants under sections 113, 121, and 136 of the Act 7 Proclamations under section 172, 3 Proclamations under section 23, 2 Proclamations under section 162. 9 Proclamations under section 168 and 11 Orders in Council under sec-

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