THE EARTH HUNGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2130, 12 July 1907, Page 2

THE EARTH HUNGER.

SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, last niglit. The annual report of the Lands Department, which was presented to Parliament to-dav, states that during the year ended March 31st last the total area of Hand opened under all classes of tenure amounted to 640,262 acres, or 871 acres less than last year. This area consists of 287,853 acres in the North Island and 351,409 atyres in the South Island. the area in the latter -island (with the exception of the Nelson district) being principally pastoral runs. The land district showing the largest area taken up is Auckland, with 165,894 acres. Southland being second with 152.257 acres, and Otago third with 114,453 acres. The land selected during the year totalled 958,652 acres, of which 215,529 acres were taken up under the O.R.P. system, and 73,545 acres under the L.I.P. system. Rural lands sold for cash accounted for 19,896 acres, small grazing runs for 7385 acres, and pastoral runs for 370,388 acres. Under the Lands for Settlements Act, 80,691 acres were selected on the L.I.P. tenure. The balance of Crown lands still available is stated at 2,288,722 acres, which is increased to 2,610,466 acres by the addition of the pending purchase of 321,744 acres of Native lands. The total number of selectors who took up land during the 12 months was 2280. The receipts during the year from all sources amounted to £578,223, or £27,981 in excess of the previous year’s receipts. The total estimated revenue for the current year is £566,200. Ten additional estates had been opened for selection under the Lands for Settlement Act during the year, and a portion of an estate previously acquired making a total area for selection of 189,633 acres. The area selected under this system during the year was 105,239 acres. v,p to the oresent a total area of 1,017.588 acres (comprising 140 estates), had been acquired.