LAND SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1915, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT.

OPERATIONS LAST YEAR. During the last , financial year an area of 1,202,260 acres was offered for public application under the following tenures:— For application for cash, for occupation with night of purchase, or for renewable lease (optional system), 145,465 acres. For selection on renewable lease only, 80,008 acres. Small grazing runs, 81)4,221 acres. Town aw', suburban lands for cash and other areas for lease by auction and application, 13,.w8 acres. Tow and suburban lands for cash and other areas for lease by auction and application, 13,."J">S acres. Educational endowments, 37,41.') acres. Applications by lessees for the purchase of the freehold of their holdings under the Land Laws AmonJinent AcU arc numerous, and during 100 past year 4!M settlers, occupying 93,54? acres, converted a sum of £174,412. In addition-, 423 selectors still hold, under deferred payment license, an area of 81.702 acres, which they are purchasing on this system. The annual instalments amount to £11,344. During the past year the development of swamp lands in the. Hauraki and Eangitaikii Plains has been actively prosecuted, special legislation having been passed in both instances to authorise increased expenditure. These areas are now becoming reproductive, and Will in the future, muke a vast addition to the products of the Dominion. The reclamation of the Wa.hi swamp is also in hand, so that altogether the operations of the Department cove? some IiOO,OOO acres.

As a result of the successful opera tions, the chief drainage sovices have been much in demand throughout the Dominion, advising as to the practicability of similar projects. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. Owing to the unsettled conJivioi if affairs abroad the operations during the latter part of the past year wer.i sjnowlvat restricted. The area deait with was 50,211 acres, valued at £Bso,f>S(i. It was offered in fairly small area? and eagerly competed for. The i:een demand is no doubt partly due to the High prices ruling for all products.