Appendix I.
REPORT OF THE LAND OFFICER AND REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES FOR THE YEAR 1939.
PART I.-LAND OFFICE.
REGISTRATION.
1. During the year 3,839 instruments were registered under the provisions of Ordinance No. 1 of 1844,-an increase of 87 compared with the preceding year.
2. The total number of instruments registered under the provisions of the above mentioned ordinance (since 1844) to the end of the year 1939 was 163,957.
3. The number of instruments registered each year during the last ten years is shown in Table I.
4. The total consideration on sales, mortgages, surrenders and miscellaneous land transactions registered in the Land Office amounted to $49,929,581.05, particulars of which are shown in Table II.
5. 497 Crown cases were issued during the year, as against 520 in the previous year—a decrease of 23.
CROWN LEASES.
Particulars are set out in Table III.
6. The number of leases issued each year during the last ten years is shown in Table I.
FEES.
7. The total amount of fees collected (exclusive of the New Territories) amounted to $94,832.00, being an increase of $2,881.25 on the preceding year. Table IV shows the monthly revenue.
8. Land Registration Fees in the New Territories amounted to $11,470.90, and Crown Lease Fees to $240.00.
9. The total fees collected during the past ten years is shown in Table V.
GRANTS OF LAND.
10. The total area of land leased during the year under review was 686 acres 0 rood and 20.6 poles, of which 632 acres, 1 rood and 30.4 poles were dealt with by the District Officers.
11. Particulars of grants, surrenders and resumptions during the year are shown on pages U 2 and 3 of the Blue Book for 1939.
SURRENDERS.
64 surrenders of land required for public purposes (including surrenders under contracts of exchange) were prepared and registered in the Land Office.
12.