Sessional_Paper_1885-1886 — Page 223

220

On reference to the Land Office Returns it will be seen that the total of the

Rent Roll of the Colony on the 25th December, 1884, was.....

Same date 1885 it was..

$153,923.62 .$155,490.86

Increase

$ 1,567.23

The increase is really larger, as some lots have been re-entered by Government, the rent of which does not appear in our Roll of the 25th December.

The new Leases in these cases are not yet ready, the arrears of Rent will be recovered from the tenants who are still in possession, as soon as the leases are ready for issue.

In 1885, 27 Leases were surrendered to Government or re-entry took place. The rent on property resumed for Government purposes amounted to.... The rent on land leased for the first time amounted to

In 1884, 34 New Leases were granted.

In 1885, 159.

....$ 513.14 .$2,670.31

The increase is chiefly accounted for by the issue of a large number of Leases at Hunghòm and Kaulung for Inland Lots.

The fees in 1884 were.

In 1885 they were

The decrease is due to the fact that in 1884 there were registered

Sales...... Mortgages

In 1885, Sales

Mortgages

$4,321,50 $3.059.00

.243

.129

.176

..119

The decrease occurred wholly during the months of May, June, and July, and is due to the absence of forced sales by Mortgagees, which I consider to be a favourable sign, for though this decrease in forced sales diminishes in one respect the Revenue of the Colony, yet it shows an amount of prosperity in that important class, namely the Lease holders of the Colony.

The premia on Lands sold in 1885 were.. In 1884

$66,658.50 ..$19,695.00

From the Revenue Returns it will be seen that for the Supreme Court proper there was in the year 1885 an increase of $2,179.94 as compared with 1884, but for the whole establishment, including the Land Office, the increase was only $917.44 as there was in the Land Office fees a decrease of $1,262.50. The principal increase is in Court fees, fees received by the Official Trustee, Official Assignee and Registrar of Companies. The increase in Court fees occurred in the fees received in Summary Jurisdiction. The increase on the sum received by the Official Trustee arose from a new Estate being handed over to the Court on which the fee was $820. $52.88 were received under Ordinance No. 5 of 1885.

6 Companies were registered in 1885, the fees on which were

..$1,037.72

$688.248.49 $1,496,222.00

In 1885, Probates or Letters of Administration were granted in 99 Estates,

value sworn under

In 1884, the number was.

In 1885, the number of Original suits entered was In 1884, the number of suits entered was

104, and value......

77, the amount claimed was $ 712,257.05 74,

In 1885, in Summary Jurisdiction, the number 1,476,

of suits entered was

In 1884, the figures were..

....1,407, and

1

$1,140,789.71

:)

$ 183,079.01

$ 169,051.16

The Bankruptcy and Admiralty Returns do not call for any special remark. From the Return of Intestate Estates paid into the Treasury it will be seen that the unclaimed balances in 36 Estates amounting in all to $374.67 were paid in, against 12 balances in 1884 amounting to $115.56.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

To the Honourable

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c..

Sr.

EDW. J. ACKROYD,

Registrar.