FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998

                                       OR

o TRANSITION  REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________ to ___________

Commission file number: 0-23908


                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.

State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization                                Identification No.)

CALIFORNIA                                                   33-0531301

WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
3158 REDHILL AVENUE, SUITE 120, COSTA MESA, CA  92626

(714) 662-5565


         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____



<PAGE>




                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                               INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

                    FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         Item 1. Financial Statements

         Balance Sheets, September 30, 1998 and
                  December 31, 1997...........................................3

         Statement of Operations
                  For the three months and nine months ended 
                    September 30, 1998 and 1997...............................4

         Statement of Partners' Equity
                  For the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997.......5

         Statement of Cash Flows
                  For the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997.......6

         Notes to Financial Statements........................................8

         Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                  Condition and Results of Operations........................11

         Item 3:  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures 
                    Above Market Risks.......................................12

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

         Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................13

         Signatures .........................................................14



<PAGE>



                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                    September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997

                                           1998                     1997
                                           ----                     ----
ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents          $        555,837         $      1,451,071
 Investment in limited
  partnerships                            9,613,934               10,400,720
 Other assets                                    -                     2,242
                                         ----------               ----------

                                   $     10,169,771         $     11,854,033
                                        ===========               ==========


LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY


Liabilities:
Payable to limited partnerships    $         16,836         $         16,836
                                                
Payable to limited partners                                          900,000
 Accrued fees and expenses due to
   general partner and affiliates           509,160                  370,223
                                           --------                ---------
                                            525,996                1,287,059
                                           --------                ---------
Partners' equity (deficit):
 General partner                            (73,693)                 (64,461)
 Limited partners (30,000 units
  authorized, 18,000 units issued
  and outstanding)                        9,717,468               10,631,435
                                         ----------               ----------

Total partners' equity                    9,643,775               10,566,974
                                         ----------               ----------

                                   $     10,169,771         $     11,854,033
                                        ===========               ==========


                                    UNAUDITED
                 See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

                                        3


<PAGE>



                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                             STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

         For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997


                                      1998                        1997
                             -------------------------   ----------------------
                               Three         Nine          Three         Nine
                               Months        Months        Months        Months
                               ------        ------        ------        ------
        
Interest income            $    5,261     $   20,062     $  10,997    $  35,549
                                                            
Miscellaneous income           (2,300)             -             -            -
                                -----       --------        ------       ------ 
                                2,961         20,062        10,997       35,549
                               -------      --------        ------       ------

Operating expenses:
Amortization                   15,116         45,348        14,649       43,947
                                                                      
Asset management fees 
  (Note 4)                     46,542        139,625        46,544      139,627
                                                                      
Legal and accounting               -           5,750             -        6,588
                                                                      
Other                           2,724         18,138         1,168       10,545
                               ------         ------       -------       ------
                                                                           
Total operating expenses        64,382       208,861        62,361      200,707
                                ------       -------      --------      -------
                                                                           

Loss from operations           (61,421)     (188,799)      (51,364)    (165,158)

Equity in loss from
 limited partnerships         (244,400)     (734,400)     (265,000)    (819,000)
                              --------      ---------     --------     --------

Net loss                   $  (305,821)   $ (923,199)    $(316,364)  $ (984,158)
                              ========     =========      =========    ========
Net loss allocated to:
  General partner          $    (3,058)   $   (9,232)    $  (3,164)  $   (9,842)
                              ========     =========      =========    ========

  Limited partners         $  (302,763)   $ (913,967)    $(313,200)  $ (974,316)
                              ========     =========      =========    ========

Net loss per 18,000  
weighted limited partner
interest outstanding       $       (17)   $      (51)    $     (17)  $      (54)
                              ========     =========      =========    ========

                                    UNAUDITED
                 See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

                                        4


<PAGE>



                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                          STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY

              For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997



For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998
--------------------------------------------

                                General             Limited
                                Partner             Partner            Total
                                -------             -------            -----

Equity (deficit), 
   December 31, 1997          $  (64,461)     $  10,631,435       $  10,566,974

Net loss for the nine months
  ended September 30, 1998        (9,232)          (913,967)           (923,199)
                                  ------          ---------          ----------

Equity (deficit), 
  September 30, 1998         $   (73,693)     $   9,717,468       $   9,643,775
                                  ======          =========         ===========




For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997
--------------------------------------------

                                General             Limited
                                Partner             Partner            Total
                                -------             -------            -----

Equity (deficit), 
  December 31, 1996          $   (52,119)     $   12,753,286      $  12,701,167

Net loss for the nine months 
  ended September 30, 1997        (9,842)           (974,316)          (984,158)
                                  ------            --------           --------

Equity (deficit), 
  September 30, 1997         $   (61,961)     $    11,778,970     $  11,717,009
                                 =======          ===========        ==========



                                    UNAUDITED
                 See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

                                        5


<PAGE>



                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                      STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
             For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997

                                                          1998            1997
                                                          ----            ----
Cash flows used in operating activities:
  Net loss                                            $  (923,199)  $  (984,158)
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net 
      cash used in operating activities:
        Equity in loss of limited partnerships            734,400       819,000
        Amortization of acquisition costs and fees         45,348        43,947
        Decrease (increase) in other assets                 2,242         3,807
        Increase (decrease) in asset management fee       139,625        89,628
        Increase (decrease accrued fees and expense
          due to general partner and affiliates              (688)          362
                                                         --------       -------
             Net cash used in operating activities         (2,272)      (27,414)
                                                        ---------     ---------

Cash flows provided (used) by investing activities:
    Investment in limited partnerships                                  (55,994)
    Distribution from limited partnerships                  7,038         8,589
                                                        ---------     ---------
             Net cash provided (used)
                by investing activities                     7,038       (47,405)
                                                        ---------     ----------

Cash flows used in financing activities:
    Return of investor capital                           (900,000)
                                                        --------- 
             Net cash used in financing activities       (900,000)
                                                        ---------- 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                (895,234)      (74,819)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period          1,451,071     1,498,036
                                                        ---------     ---------

Cash and cash equivalent, end of period               $   555,837   $ 1,423,217
                                                        =========     =========


                                    UNAUDITED
                 See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

                                        6


<PAGE>


                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               September 30, 1998


NOTE 1 - GENERAL AND ORGANIZATION
---------------------------------

General
-------

The information  contained in the following notes to the financial statements is
condensed  from that  which  would  appear in the annual  financial  statements;
accordingly,  the  financial  statements  included  herein should be reviewed in
conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto contained in
the Partnership's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1997.

In  the  opinion  of  the  Partnership,  the  accompanying  unaudited  financial
statements  contain  all  adjustments   (consisting  of  only  normal  recurring
accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30,
1998 and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the nine months
then ended.  Accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater
reliance  on  estimates  than at year end.  The  results of  operations  for the
interim period  presented are not necessarily  indicative of the results for the
entire year.

Organization
------------

WNC  California  Housing Tax Credits III,  L.P. (the  "Partnership")  was formed
under the  California  Revised  Limited  Partnership  Act on October 5, 1992 and
commenced  operations  on July 20, 1993.  The  Partnership  was formed to invest
primarily in other limited  partnerships which will own and operate multi-family
housing complexes that will qualify for low income housing credits.

The  general  partner is WNC  California  Tax Credit  Partners  III,  L.P.  (the
"General Partner"), a California limited partnership.  WNC & Associates, Inc. is
the general partner of the General Partner.  The Cooper Revocable Trust owns 70%
of the outstanding  stock of WNC & Associates,  Inc. John B. Lester,  Jr. is the
original  limited  partner of the  Partnership  and,  through the Lester  Family
Trust, owns 30% of the outstanding stock of WNC & Associates, Inc.

The General Partner has a 1% interest in operating  profits and losses,  taxable
income and loss and in cash available for distribution from the Partnership. The
limited  partners  will  be  allocated  the  remaining  99% of  these  items  in
proportion to their respective investments.


                                        7


<PAGE>


                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               September 30, 1998

NOTE 1 - GENERAL AND ORGANIZATION (CONTINUED)
---------------------------------------------

Method of Accounting For Investment in Limited Partnerships
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Partnership  accounts for its investments in limited  partnerships using the
equity method of  accounting,  whereby the  Partnership  adjusts its  investment
balance for its share of each limited  partnership's  results of operations  and
for any distributions  received.  Costs incurred by the Partnership in acquiring
the  investments  in  limited  partnerships  are  capitalized  as  part  of  the
investment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
-------------------------

The  Partnership  considers all bank  certificates of deposit with a maturity of
less than three months to be cash equivalents.

NOTE 2 - INVESTMENT IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
-------------------------------------------

At  September  30,  1998,  the  Partnership  had  acquired  limited  partnership
interests  in  eighteen  limited  partnerships  which own and  operate  eighteen
apartment  complexes.  All eighteen of these have completed  construction  as of
September 30, 1998.

The Partnership,  as a limited partner, is a 99% owner and is entitled to 99% of
the  operating  profits and losses of the limited  partnerships.  Following is a
summary  of  the   components  of  the   Partnership's   investment  in  limited
partnerships as of September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997:

                                            1998               1997
                                            ----               ----
  Investment balance,
    beginning of period                  $ 10,400,720       $  11,447,928
  Equity in loss of limited
    partnership                              (734,400)         (1,028,617)
  Distributions                                (7,038)            (15,989)
  Capitalized acquisition cost & fees                              55,994
  Amortization of capitalized
    acquisition costs                         (45,348)            (58,596)
                                            ---------          ----------
  Investment balance,
    end of period                        $  9,613,934       $  10,400,720
                                           ==========          ==========


                                        8


<PAGE>


                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               September 30, 1998


NOTE 2 - INVESTMENT IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------

Selected  operating  information  from the financial  statements of the eighteen
limited  partnerships  for the  period  ended  September  30,  1998  and 1997 is
presented below:

                                                    1998              1997
                                                    ----              ----
  Total revenue                              $     2,174000     $   2,089,000
                                                  ---------         ---------
  Interest expense                                  761,000           708,000
  Depreciation                                      895,000           955,000
  Operating expenses                              1,289,000         1,266,000
                                                  ---------         ---------
  Total expenses                                  2,945,000         2,929,000
                                                  ---------         ---------
  Net loss                                   $     (771,000)    $    (840,000)
                                                  =========         =========
  Net loss allocable to the Partnership      $     (764,000)    $    (832,000)
                                                  =========         =========
  Net loss recognizable by the Partnership   $     (734,400)    $    (819,000)
                                                  =========         =========

NOTE 3 - PAYABLE TO LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
----------------------------------------

Payable to limited  partnerships at September 30, 1998 represents  amounts which
are due at various times based on conditions  specified in the respective  local
limited partnership agreements. These contributions are payable in installments,
generally due upon the local limited  partnership  achieving  certain  operating
benchmarks,  and are  generally  expected  to be paid  within  two  years of the
Partnership's initial investment.

NOTE 4 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
-----------------------------------

Under the terms of its  Agreement of Limited  Partnership,  the  Partnership  is
obligated to the General Partner or its affiliates for an annual  management fee
equal  to .5% of the  invested  assets  (defined  as the  Partnership's  capital
contributions plus its allocable  percentage of the permanent  financing) of the
limited partnerships.  Fees of $139,627 were incurred for each nine months ended
September 30, 1998 and 1997.

The "accrued fees and expenses due to general partner and affiliates"  presented
on the balance sheets consists of the following:

                                     September 30, 1998      December 31, 1997
                                     ------------------      -----------------

  Asset management fee payable           $    509,160          $    369,535
  Working capital advances due
  to an affiliate                                   -                   688
                                             --------              --------
                                         $    509,160          $    370,223
                                             ========              ========

NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES
---------------------

The  Partnership  will not make a provision  for income taxes since all items of
taxable income and loss will be allocated to the partners for inclusion in their
respective income tax returns.

                                        9

<PAGE>



Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operation

The Partnership raised funds from investors through its public offering of units
of limited  partnership  interest  ("Units")  and  intends to apply such  funds,
including the installment  payments of the limited partners' promissory notes as
received,  to the acquisition of investments in partnerships,  acquisition fees,
the establishment of reserves, the payment of operating expenses and the payment
of expenses of this offering.

As of September 30, 1998, the Partnership has received  subscriptions for 18,000
Units  consisting of cash of $18,000,000 and discounts of $400,950 for purchases
of 100 units or more.  The  offering  terminated  on July 22, 1995 at which time
subscriptions for 18,000 units were accepted.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
-------------------------------

The Partnership's primary source of capital is the proceeds from its offering.

Overall,  as reflected in its Statement of Cash Flows, the Partnership had a net
decrease in cash and cash equivalents of approximately  $895,000 and $75,000 for
the nine months ended  September  30, 1998 and 1997.  In 1998,  this decrease in
cash  consisted  of cash  used by the  Partnership's  operating  activities  and
financing  activities  offset by cash  provided by the  Partnership's  investing
activities.  Financing  activities used $900,000 consisting entirely of a return
of investors' capital.  Cash provided by the Partnership's  investing activities
consisted  entirely of  approximately  $7,000 from  distributions  from  limited
partnerships.  Cash  provided  by the  Partnership's  operating  activities  was
minimal compared to the Partnership's other activities and consisting  primarily
of payments for  operating  fees and expenses.  Cash  provided  from  operations
consisted primarily of interest.

In 1997,  this  decrease  in cash  consisted  of cash used by the  Partnership's
operating activities, and investing activities.  Investing activities used a net
of approximately  $47,000  consisting of cash used for purchases of interests in
limited  partnerships  of  approximately  $56,000  offset  by cash  provided  of
approximately  $9,000 from  distributions from limited  partnerships.  Operating
activities used cash of approximately  $27,000 consisting  primarily of payments
for  operating  fees and  expenses.  Cash  provided  from  operations  consisted
primarily  of  interest.  The  major  components  of all  these  activities  are
discussed in greater detail below.

As of September 30, 1998 the Partnership  had received  $18,000,000 in cash from
the sale of Units.  Approximately $12,592,000 has been committed to the purchase
price of eighteen limited partnership  interests.  As of September 30, 1998, the
Partnership had made capital  contributions  to its limited  partnerships in the
amount of approximately $12,576,000.

It is not  expected  that any of the  local  limited  partnerships  in which the
Partnership will invest will generate cash from operations sufficient to provide
distributions to the limited partners in any significant  amount. Such cash from
operations,  if any,  would  first  be used to meet  operating  expenses  of the
Partnership,  including the payment of the asset  management  fee to the General
Partner.

The Partnership's investments will not be readily marketable and may be affected
by adverse  general  economic  conditions  which, in turn,  could  substantially
increase the risk of operating  losses for the  apartment  complexes,  the local
limited  partnerships  and the  Partnership.  These  problems  may result from a
number of factors,  many of which cannot be controlled  by the General  Partner.
Nevertheless,  the General Partner anticipates that capital raised from the sale
of the Units will be  sufficient  to fund the  Partnership's  future  investment
commitments and proposed operations.

                                       10

                                       
<PAGE>

The  Partnership  has  established  working  capital  reserves of at least 3% of
capital  contributions,  an amount  which is  anticipated  to be  sufficient  to
satisfy general working capital and administrative  expense  requirements of the
Partnership  including  payment of the asset  management fee as well as expenses
attendant to the preparation of tax returns and reports to the limited  partners
and other investor  servicing  obligations of the Partnership.  Liquidity would,
however,  be adversely  affected by  unanticipated  or greater than  anticipated
operating costs. The Partnership's  liquidity could also be affected by defaults
or delays in  payment  of the  promissory  notes,  from  which a portion  of the
working  capital  reserves is expected to be funded.  To the extent that working
capital  reserves  are  insufficient  to satisfy  the cash  requirements  of the
Partnership,  it is anticipated  that  additional  funds would be sought through
bank loans or other institutional  financing. The General Partner may also apply
any cash  distributions  received from the local limited  partnerships  for such
purposes or to replenish or increase working capital reserves.

Under its  partnership  agreement the  Partnership  does not have the ability to
assess its partners for additional  capital  contributions to provide capital if
needed  by the  Partnership  or  local  limited  partnerships.  Accordingly,  if
circumstances arise that cause the local limited partnerships to require capital
in addition to that  contributed by the  Partnership and any equity of the local
general partners, the only sources from which such capital needs will be able to
be  satisfied  (other than the limited  reserves  available  at the  Partnership
level) will be (i) third-party debt financing  (which may not be available,  if,
as expected, the apartment complexes owned by the local limited partnerships are
already  substantially  leveraged),  (ii)  additional  equity  contributions  or
advances of the local general partners,  (iii) other equity sources (which could
adversely  affect the  Partnership's  interest in tax credits,  cash flow and/or
proceeds of sale or refinancing of the apartment complexes and result in adverse
tax  consequences to the limited  partners),  or (iv) the sale or disposition of
the apartment  complexes (which could have the same adverse effects as discussed
in (iii) above).

There can be no assurance  that funds from any of such sources  would be readily
available in sufficient  amounts to fund the capital  requirements  of the local
limited  partnerships  in question.  If such funds are not available,  the local
limited partnerships would risk foreclosure on their apartment complexes if they
were unable to  re-negotiate  the terms of their first  mortgages  and any other
debt secured by the apartment  complexes to the extent the capital  requirements
of the local limited partnerships relate to such debt.

The  Partnership's  capital  needs and  resources  are expected to undergo major
changes during the first several years of its term as a result of the completion
of its offering of Units and its  acquisition of  investments.  Thereafter,  the
Partnership's  capital needs and resources are expected to be relatively  stable
over the holding periods of the investments.

Results of Operations
---------------------

As of September 30, 1998 the  Partnership  has identified and acquired  eighteen
limited partnership interests. Each of the eighteen apartment complexes owned by
such limited  partnerships  received government  assistance and each of them has
received a reservation for federal low income housing  credits.  All eighteen of
these have completed  construction of its apartment  complex as of September 30,
1998 and had operations for the period.

Consistent  with  the   Partnership's   investment   objectives,   each  limited
partnership is generating or is expected to generate  federal low income housing
credits for a period of approximately  ten years,  commencing with completion of
construction or rehabilitation of its apartment  complex(es),  and (as discussed
below) is  generating  or is  expected  to  generate  losses  until  sale of the
apartment complex(es).

As reflected on its  Statements of  Operations,  the  Partnership  has losses of
approximately $923,000 and $984,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1998
and 1997, respectively. The component items of revenue and expense are discussed
below.

                                       11

                                       
<PAGE>

Revenue  -  Partnership  revenues  consisted  of  interest  earned  on  investor
promissory  note and on cash  deposits  held in  financial  institutions  (i) as
reserves,  or (ii) pending investment in local limited partnerships and increase
in investment in local limited  partnerships.  Interest  revenue in future years
will be a function of prevailing interest rates and the amount of cash balances.
It is anticipated  that the Partnership will maintain cash reserves in an amount
not  materially  in excess of the minimum  amount  required  by its  partnership
agreement, which is 3% of capital contributions.

Expenses - The most  significant  component  of  operating  expenses  is, and is
expected to be, the asset management fee (called "Partnership management fee" in
the  Statements of  Operations).  The asset  management  fee is equal to 0.5% of
invested  assets in local limited  partnerships;  accordingly,  the amount to be
incurred in the future is a function of the level of such invested assets (i.e.,
the  sum  of the  Partnership's  capital  contributions  to  the  local  limited
partnerships plus the Partnership's  share of the debts related to the apartment
complexes owned by such local limited partnerships).

Amortization  expense consists of the amortization  over a period of 30 years of
the 9% selection fee and other expenses attributable to the acquisition of local
limited partnership interests.

Office  expenses  and  legal  and  accounting   consists  of  the  Partnership's
administrative  expenses,  such as accounting  and legal fees,  bank charges and
investor reporting expenses.

The Partnership's  equity in losses from limited partnerships is equal to 99% of
the aggregate net loss of the limited  partnerships.  After rent-up, the limited
partnerships  are expected to generate  losses  during each year of  operations;
this is so because,  although rental income is expected to exceed cash operating
expenses,  depreciation  and  amortization  deductions  claimed  by the  limited
partnerships are expected to exceed net rental income.




Item 3:  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures Above Market Risks

NONE










                                       12


<PAGE>



Part II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         None.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

1.  None..


         No  reports  on Form 8-K were  filed  during  the third  quarter  ended
September 30, 1998.









                                       13


<PAGE>


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.

By:    WNC California Tax Credit Partners III        General Partner


By:   WNC & Associates, Inc.        General Partner



By:   /s/ John B. Lester, Jr.
-----------------------------------------------------
John B. Lester, Jr.        President

Date: November 12, 1998

By:  /s/ Theodore M. Paul
-----------------------------------------------------
Theodore M. Paul  Vice President-Finance

Date: November 12, 1998









                                       14