(t. —9.

Payments to beneficiaries during the year amounted to £56,818, whilst the payments to mortgagors in connection with their farming and other operations totalled £11,887. Total receipts— £ For year ended 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. 95,690 For year ended 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. .. 89,679 Increase for year ended 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. £6,011 Total payments — £ For year ended 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. 97,858 For year ended 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. .. 94,932 Increase for year ended 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. £2,926 Board Finance. —The funds held or invested by the Board as at the 31st March, 1937, are as follows £ Government securities .. .. .. .. .. .. 51,923 On deposit with the Native Trustee .. .. .. .. .. 3,945 Advances on mortgages, charges, &c. .. .. .. .. 61,082 Anaura Station loan .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,602 Advances on overdraft to blocks .. .. .. .. .. 1,321 Lending Operations.—Eight applications to the Board for loans amounting to £5,150 were granted and four applications for loans amounting to £2,290 have been recommended for approval. Anaura Station. —For particulars of operations see report of Board of Native Affairs. Aotea District. Native Land Court. —During the past year seventeen sittings of the Court were held at Wanganui, New Plymouth, Hawera, Taumarunui, and Tokaanu, from which centres adjournments to other locations were arranged for special sittings according to requirements. The volume of the business of the Court continues to show an increase and during the year under review some 1,500 matters were dealt with. These included the making of 504 succession orders, while 37 partitions involving an area of 25,720 acres were made. A large number of charging-orders in respect of rates on Native land were made, and numerous miscellaneous matters were dealt with. Fees totalling £1,009 Bs. 6d. were collected. No sitting of the Native Appellate Court was found to be necessary in this district during the past year, there being a complete absence of appeals against the decisions of the Court. Several matters referred to the Court for inquiry under section 38 of the Native Land Act, 1931 (and amendments thereof), were dealt with during the year, and reports and recommendations were submitted to the Chief Judge. Matters connected with Native housing occupied considerable time of the Court during the year. The number of confirmations of alienations of Native land showed a further increase during the year, and it is notable that leases continue to predominate. The Court considers that leases are to the advantage of the Native owners and does not encourage the sale of their lands except in special circumstances. Where sales have taken place the Court, in cases where the purchase-money is substantial, directs that it be paid to the Maori Land Board in terms of section 281 of the Native Land Act, 1931. Maori Land Board. —Very large areas in this district are vested in the Board for leasing, and a large amount of work is involved in placing vacant sections on the market and in attending to the issues of new leases and renewals of old. Applications under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act are gradually being disposed of, and the position of outstanding rent is rapidly being improved. The number of lessees paying rent to the Board was considerably increased during the year. Assignments under the Housing Act account for a large number. Board's Finances.—During the year the Board, under the provisions of section 16 of the Native Land Amendment Act, 1932, was appointed the agent of the Native Trustee for the collection and disbursement of rents payable under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892. In this section there are 468 leases, with an annual rent roll of approximately £28,000. This addition to the already large number of lessees paying rent to the Board made the year a very busy one. Excluding withdrawals from the Board's Deposit Account with the Native Trustee, the receipts for the year totalled £88,960, while payments totalled £97,197. The corresponding figures for the year 1936-37 were £75,486 and £66,911, and for 1935-36 £61,804 and £49,455 respectively. The assets of the Board are as follows :— £ Cash balances .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,061 Deposits with Native Trustee .. .. .. .. .. 54,119 Mortgages and charges .. .. .. .. .. .. 86,682 Office premises, furniture, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 14,692 Sundry debtors (excluding trust) .. .. .. .. .. 1,181 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £157,735 Reserves. —Specific reserves and Reserve Fund total £57,599, while the total liability to Native beneficiaries is £93,264,

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