LAND SETTLEMENT,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 8

LAND SETTLEMENT,

DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAII. The annual report of the Lands Department, brought down in tlie House yesterday, states that during the year ended March 31, 1910, 2582 persons were settled on the lands of New Zealand. These, with their families, may be estimated at eight thousand souls. Tlie total area opened lor ail classes of applicants was *2,32G,03T acres, and the total area disposed of 2,-131,113. The annual report of tlie Department states that there aro at present under survey 1,354,04S acres oi : Crown land, and 156,837 acres of Native land for settlement under the Nativr Land Act, 1909.

As an answer to press criticism of the dilatory opening of Crown land, particularly in certain parts of Auckland district, a schedule is given showing that in Kawliia county BSI6 acres recently purchased from Maori owners are available for settlement. Of this area 2717 acres aro under survey by Mr. T. Carroll, who has also 12,495 acres under survey for the Maori Land Board. In Waitoino county 37,748 acres are available, and 6691 are under survey: in West Taupo 116,074 acres are available, and 24,800 acres will shortly be taken in hand; in Awakmo count}', 10,831 acres are available, and of this 4000 acres will be taken in hand in tlie spring.

The total number of surveyors employed oil salary is 86, excluding those employed at contract rates.

A table shows the land opened under various tenures for the year 1909-10 to be ,as follows Auckland, 287 573 acres; Hawke's Bay, 61,174; Taranaki, 54,08/; Wellington, 80,530; Nelson, 207,737; Marlborough, 86,953; -Westland, 442,557; Canterbury, 34,270Otago, 859,901; Southland, 160,756: total, 2,326,037.

'Ibis total was made up as follows:— Optional system, 152,483 acres; ordinary Crown land (renewable lease), 56,946; national endowments (renewable lease), 276,242; land for settlement, 92,890; improved farm special settlements, 46,792; cash, by auction, 1424lease by auction and application, 9011! village allotments, 263; small grazin" runs, 299,281; ordinary Crown lands '(pastoral runs), 973,309; national endowments (pastoral,runs), 417,396. On Marcb 31, 1910, the Department had under survey and being prepared for . opening for settle an area of 1,510,885 acres, made up as follows:— ■■ ■ ' . cj 5 ~ <y c/ 1 oj O o ui Auckland ...122,540 73,700 78 180 Hawlce's Bay .... 37,018 13,570 18,270 laranaki 101,750. 16,810 17,177 Wellington 60,000 nil i 5,500 Nelson 18,873 16,110 nil. Marlborough 7,18-1 , 27,150 nil. Westland nil. 20,000 nil Canterbury 5,395 nil. nil. Otago : 553,506 257,322 nil Southland. -19,400 ' nil. 21,700 Totals ... 923,266 42-1,782 156,837

Tho total selectors for the yoiir do notequal those of Uio previous year by 21, but tho area taken up, which includes lands selected under past-oral lease, both ordinary Crown lands and national endowment lands, totals 2,431,143 acres, or 1,514,622 acres in excess of last year. Included in the above, and under the Land for Settlements Act of 11)08 and amendment of 1909, there were 308 selectors, who have taken up amongst them 89,206 acres, against 288 selectors of 05,60S acres last year. At the closo of the year the Crown tenants totalled 20,J05, holding 18,722,770 acres, and paying an annual rental of £577,693. Tho total, area within tlio national endowment amounted to 8,202,845 acres. The selectors for the past year numbered 615, tho area selected being 1,024,537 acres, and the amount of revenue for the year £78,408.

Considerable areas of Crown lands in the Auckland, Taraiiaki, and Wellington districts as' near the -Main Trunk lino as possible were made available, the result being that 46,792 acres wero distributed amongst 258 heads of families. The total repaid to date oil grass-seed supplied to settlers is £9979. The gross revenue for the year amounted to £074,9.07, or £15,893 over the estimate gross revenue, which was set down at £659,014. This falls short of last year's receipts by £21,468. Tho territorial revenue (£201,257) showed a reduction of £22,743.