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Finances. —At the April meeting of the Board the Mayor of Auckland intimated that the Auckland City Council offered the sum of £1,000 on condition that the Wellington City Council also contributed £1,000, and that the Government should subsidize these amounts. Mr. J. H. Gunson (now Sir James Gunson), Mayor of Auckland, a member of the Board, with Mr. J. B. Thompson, Chairman, attended a special meeting of the Wellington City Council on the 31st May, and made an appeal for co-operation and support in connection with the development of the Tongariro National Park on the broad grounds of national citizenship. After a full discussion on the matter the Wellington City Council agreed to contribute £1,000 in two annual sums of £500 each, provided that the Government subsidized these contributions. The matter was duly placed before the Government, but its decision on the matter has not yet been received. It is hoped that this opportunity of securing funds will not be lost, and that the appropriations of the current year will contain a Government subsidy to the sums contributed from Wellington and Auckland. Under the provisions of the Board's Act local bodies are empowered to contribute to the funds of the Board. It is therefore hoped by the Board that the example set by the City Councils of Auckland and Wellington will inspire many other local authorities to contribute to the funds of the Board, and thereby facilitate the early development of the park. Attached are statements setting out the financial position of the Board, comprising—Statement of Receipts and Payments ; Income and Expenditure Account; Capital Account; Balance-sheet. Departmental Assistance. —In conclusion, the Board desires to express its appreciation of the willing and able manner in which the officers of the Lands and Survey, Prisons, and other Departments of the Public Service have co-operated with tin; Board, and enabled it to carry out its functions in the best manner. Statement of Receipts and Payments for Period Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £s. d. To Balance, Ist April, 1923 .. ... .1,010 9 0 By Park equipment ..." .. .. 54 13 1 Park fees.. .. .. .. 235 19 0 Park buildings •.. .. .. 204 6 6 Contribution by Ohakune residents for Ohakune track improvement .. 68 15 0 improvement of Ohakune track .. 100 0 0 Park photographs .. .. .. 16 18 6 Government subsidy .. .. 250 0 0 Advertising .. .. .. 32 15 0 Donation by R. C. Bruce Estate Trustees 150 0 0 Maintenance of park tracks, drains, &c. 4 3 3 Timber royalties .. .. .. 378 13 8 Maintenance of park buildings .. 5 10 3 Interest on Post Office Savings-bank Horse-feed, shoeing.. .. .. 18 14 8 deposit 19 5 0 Travelling-expenses .. .. 49 0 10 Printing and stationery .. .. 12 3 9 Postages, telegrams, &c. .. .. 4 7 0 Refund of caretaker's salary to Consolidated Fund .. .. .. 243 5 7 Commission on hut foos collected during caretaker's absence .. .. 7 17 9 Balance— £ s. d. Bank of Now Zealand . . 506 17 3 Less unpresented cheques 15 12 9 491 4 6 Post Office Savings-bank.. 919 5 0 Cash in transit at 31st March, 1924 .. 11 5 6 1,421 15 0 £2,144 6 8 £2,144 6 8 Income and Expenditure Account, Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Advertising .. .. .. 32 15 0 By Park fees.. .. .. .. 209 18 9 Caretaker's salary .. .. .. 180 15 7 Government subsidy .. . . 250 0 0 Depreciation—Park equipment, £10; Donation by R. C. Bruce Estate Trustees 150 0 O horse, £3 .. .. .. 13 0 0 Contribution by Ohakune residents .. 100 0 0 Horso-fced, shoeing .. .. 10 12 2 Interest on Savings-bank deposit .. 19 5 0 Maintenance or park tracks .. .. 4 3 3 Maintenance of park buildings .. 510 3 Ohakune track improvement . . 148 3 6 Printing and stationery .. . . I I 1 3 9 Postages, &c. .. .. •. 4 7 6 Travelling-expenses .. .. 34 10 10 Park photographs .. .. .. 16 18 6 Balance (transferred to Capital Account) 260 13 5 £729 3 9 £729 3 9 Capital Account. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s . d. To Balance, 31st March, 1924 .. .. 7,734 18 I By Balance, Ist April, 1923 .. .. 1,030 12 0 Erua milling-timber .. .. 6,437 12 8 Income and Expenditure Account .. 266 13 5 £7,734 18 1 £7,734 18 1 By Balance, Ist April, 1924 .. .. £7,734 18 1