LAND SETTLEMENT RETURNS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2387, 26 July 1892, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT RETURNS.

The report of the Lands Department shows that the perpetual lease is becoming the favourite tenure, while the deferred-payment system is fast dying nut. During the past year the following were the nu . der of selector,and areas selected under the four principle systems of tenure; —Cash - 501 selectors, 40.930 acres; deferred payment — 240 selectors, 40,049 acres; perpetual lease 287,604 acres; pastoral—2oo selectors, 1,004,416 acres.

The number of selectors and purchasers is 72 more than for the previous year, but in addition, 455 individuals have formed special settlement associations, and 15 blocks containing 99,254 acres, have been proclaimed up to 31st March, Other 1286 persons have applied, under special settlement conditions, for an average of ISO acres each, but these do not appear in this year’s returns. The average piece of rural lands disposed of during the past year is for cash, a trifle over £1 per acre; de-ferred-payment lands, about 15s per acre; perpetual lease, about 15s 9d.

The area of land open for seteution on 31st March, much of which, however, is of inferior quality—part surveyed, part unsurveyed—was 1,037,413 acres. The actual area opened during the year was, for close settlement, 507,898 acres. The area actually selected was 370,250 acres.

The land revenue for the past year is £124.083 ]fis. and the territorial revenue £200,383 4s sd. The revenue from endow meats is dtiio.MiU Os Ud. All the islands in '.he West Co is> Sounds are to be . served for the protection of native Mora and fauna.

The following paragraphs from the lands report dealing with pastoral runs will be of interest Throughout the South Island this present year will see the termination of the leases of a considerable number of pastoral runs in the southern part of the colony. All the country falling in there has been uiassifiucl by the Cqwiuissiuuers uuder

section 9 of the Amendment Act of 1888, and, as the result thereof, 277.209 acres have been withheld for settlement purposes. Though the bulk of the above area does not fall in till 28th February, 1899, preparations have been in progress for some time to throw these lands open under various systems as soon as the surveys are completed. This will be early in January next. Besides this area ot 277.209 acres witheld for settlement, 84 runs in Otago and Canterbury, containing an area of 145,002 acres have been resumed under powers given in the Land Act, and will be available for closer settlement early next year. There were disposed of during the year 120 runs, covering 854.952 acres. All were let for varying terms of years. The bulk of these runs lay in Otago and Southland, and, as far as can be

ascertained, the results show for Otago a loss on the previous rents, and in Southland a considerable advance. Eighty small grazing runs, covering an area of 159,464 acres, were disposed of during the year at a rental of £7114. and it is probable that a large area will be submitted under this system of tenure during the ensuing year. Much of the resumed county appears to be well suited for this class of holding, which gives a fixity of tenure for 21 years certain. Obviously, the fixity of tenure for considerable periods is what is much wanted in order to prevent deterioration of pastoral lands by overstocking, and also to encourage improvements.”