9

G.—3

Statement of Live-stock depastured on Farms, 31st March, 1921.

Summary. „ , £ s. d. 21,742 sheep, valued at .. .. .. .. 20,053 19 0 1,254 cattle, valued at .. .. .. .. 6,379 12 0 38 horses, valued at .. .. .. 494 0 0 £26,927 11 0

Auditor's Certificate. Sir,— Wellington, 31st October, 1921. I have the honour to report that I have completed the audit of the East Coast Native Trust lands for the year ended 31st March, 1921, and have the following comments to make thereon : — Farm Accounts. —Pakowhai : In the accounts of previous years a statement of the Pakowhai Farm operations has not been shown, but this year I have included one. Stock. —As mentioned in my report of 9th November, 1920, in connection with the accounts for the period ended 31st Maroh, ] 920, I endeavoured to rectify as far as possible the numbers of livestock on the various farms as at the 31st March, 1920. It now appears that the numbers of live-stock supplied to us as at 31st Maroh, 1920, and. 31st March, 1921, have in some instances been incorrect. The following are cases in point: — Paremata Farm : At the 31st March, 1920, the stock of horses numbered four, but although the account for the current year shows no purchases or sales of horses the closing stock appears as nil. On going into the question I have been advised that the four horses are still on the farm, and were inadvertently omitted from the stock at the 31st March, 1921. Te Huia : On comparing this account for the year under review with that for the year ended 31st March, 1920, it will be noticed that at the 31st March, 1920, there were no horses on hand, but although no purchases have been made since the horses in stock at the end of March, 1921, number four. We are, however, advised that there are four, horses on the farm, and that these horses actually wore on hand at the 31st March, 1920. Papuni Farm : Here again there is a discrepancy in the stock of horses. It appears that a portion of this discrepancy also dates back to the 31st March, 1920. The number of horses at that date was given to me as twenty-two, but I am now advised that the number should actually have been thirty-seven. The account for the year ended 31st March, 1921, shows horses on hand as one draught stallion, but from further inquiry made by me it now appears that there; should also be included a further forty-eight horses, which would bring the stock up to forty-nine as the correct number at the end of the year. From information recently received from the agent of the East Coast Commissioner at Gisborne it appears that a number of other discrepancies in the stock, &c, have since some to light. In particular it appears that the number of cattle on Mahurangi Farm is overstated, while, on the other hand, a considerable quantity of mutton in the Wairoa Freezing-works has not been brought into account. The adjustment of these items has been left over until the preparation of the current vear's accounts. The present East Coast Commissioner has appointed a General Farms-manager to supervise the working of the whole of the farms, and he will doubtless be in a position to supply accurate records of stock in the future. With regard to the stock at the 31st March, 1921, I would point out that sheep and cattle on the various farms have been valued on a lower basis than last year, though not necessarily as low as actual market price. Tahora 2c 3, Section 2. —During the course of the year ended 31st March, 1921, Lots 3, 4, and 5, having an area of 6,711 acres, were sold to Mr. W. A. Chappell for the sum of £27,730. The original area was 11,577 acres, so that a balance of 4,866 acres still remains in this block. The book value of the original area of 11,577 acres was £22,772, and the effect of the sale is to throw Tahora 2c3, Sec-

2-G. 3.

Farm where depastured. Sheep. Cattle. Hor j Number. Horses. rsos. Value. - Numtior. Total Value. Number. Value. Number. Value. Waimaha Te Huia Papuni Mahurangi Paremata Te Kopua Stock track Patemaru Pakowhai 3,110 1,600 3,638 4,580 1,475 3,052 1,300 2,502 485 £ s. d. 2,585 0 0 1,337 10 0 3,588 0 0 4,485 0 0 1,298 15 0 2,884 12 0 1,500 0 Q 1,890 2 0 485 0 0 70 122 402 380 48 215 £ s. d. 388 10 0 492 10 0 1,595 2 0 2,487 10 0 430 0 0 863 0 0 4 4 1 8 £ ■ s. d. 48 0 0 48 0 0 42 0 0 186 0 0 3,184 1,726 4,041 4,908 1,621 3.275 1,300 2,534 485 £ s. d. 3,021 10 0 1,878 0 0 5,225 2 0 7,158 10 0 1,728 15 0 3,841 12 0 1,500 0 0 2,089 2 0 485 I) 0 8 94 0 0 19 123 0 0 is 7ii"o 0 21,742 20,053 19 0 1,254 6,379 12 0 38 494 0 0 23,034 26,927 11 0