CROWN LANDS REPORT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2236, 4 August 1891, Page 4

CROWN LANDS REPORT.

Wellington, July 29. The annual report of jthe Crqwn Lands Department was presented to Parliament to-day. It shows that during the past' year the land sales for cash amounted to 100,222 acres, as against 47,478 for the previous year. Those on deferred payments were, .35,081 acres,; against 47,181 while the area taken up on perpetual lease was 290,248 acres, as against 238,904., While the number of cash purchasers and of perpetual leaseholders is not materially different from those of the previous year, the area has largely increased, and this points to the fact that the average, size of individual holdings has increased. Those sold for cash average 262 acres, instead of 178, and on perpetual lease 366 acres, as against 313, this being deemed due to the more remote and broken nature of the country dealt with. The average price of rural land during the year has been slightly under £1 per acre .for cash, 14s 2d on deferred payment, 18s 9d on perpetual lease. The area of land open for selection at the beginning of the current year was 959,961; acres. The conditions of settlement generally . are fairly . well carried out ; indeed, in some districts improvements largely exceed the requirements of the Act. The chief laxity is in respect of residence condition, owing to the difficulty of access. Forfeitures and surrenders during the year amounted to 25,385, in addition to 25,127 acres of “ small grazing runs.” Forfeited sections are generally taken up again as soon as offered. There are. 9579 selectors on the books of the Department and 1266; pastoral tenants. During the year 185 pastoral runs, aggregating 1,596,690 acres, chiefly in Nelson, Canterbury and South.land, were disposed .of by auction, also 43 small' grazing runs aggregating acres. The valuations have been ihade under the Act .of 1889 involving the; following decreases ,in Valuation: Deferred payment, £147,870 ; perpetual lease, £1664. The loss .per acre was; 14s 8d deferred payment, and 2s 7d per-i petual lease. I