LAND TRANSFER ACT.

Evening Star, Issue 4229, 14 September 1876, Page 4

LAND TRANSFER ACT.

A^repoß ( t;of more than usual interest is that presented to both Houses of Parliament by the .Registrar-General of Land. One feature noticeable in it is the proportion which the receipts bear to the expenditure. Thus, from the .assurance fund, the latter amounts to L 12,257, a pretty considerable figure, while the expenditure, we presume, is stated to be L 9,220. The receipts for the ensuing year are estimated at L 13,000, but the increase is almost met by the additional cost, ■which is expected to be L 9,790. In the statement of business transacted, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago by far exceed all the other provinces put together. The total number of applications during the year ended 30th June last was 1,259, of which 119 were in Auckland, 255 in Otago (besides 118 in Southland), and 500 in Canterbury. The area applied for shows about the same proportions, while the value in these three is much higher than in the other provinces. The following totals may be of interest:—The total number of applications was 1,259; of these 581 acres were town or suburban property, and 121,675 country holdings, the total value being £742,245. The total acreage of transfers were— Town and suburban, 3,624 ; country, 275,708,,;» and the " consideration money" given, £914,655. The total number of mortgages was 2,819; the acreage in towns beiDg 2,135, in the country, 545,235 ; the amount secured being £1,755,115, a sum which seems pretty stiff for a comparatively young Colony. During the ye>ir 2,268 Crown grants have been igmed for 4,325 acres of town and 209,878 acres of rural land. The two highest Provinces* in this respect are Nelson, which has got 446, and Otago 743, not including Southland, which has thus Secured 144. Opposite Taranaki in this column stands the solitary figure 9. The numner of caveats against dealings was 99, of which 33 were in Otago and 49 in Canterbury. The number of leases is set down at 418. Under the Transfer Act the total fees received was L 15,566, and the amount secured by mortgage under that ■. ,