LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9158, 4 August 1908, Page 4

LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT.

The annual report of the Lands for/ Settlement Department states that' during the year ended March last 229 j estates, comprising 1,033,300 acras were offered to the Government. Of these, 48 were inspected, and the Government was recommended to purchase 35, of an area of 294,521 acresi The transactions completed numbered 16 estates, omprising -126,867 acres, for which £565,727 v\ a; paid, whilst £47,967 was expended :on roads, workers' dwellings, and other :ontingencies. Tnere were also seven estates, containing 74,043 acres, purchased for £334,597, which were to be paid for and opened for selection during the current year. Rents, interest and other revenue leceived during the year amounted to £249,273. The total area acquired up till the end of March last was 1,122,135 acres, tor which £4,80?, 369 was paid, whilst £409,885 had been spent on roads and in preparing the land for settlement. Tlie / capital value of the land acquired was thus £5,217,254. The total area leased is j 979,094 acres, held by 4,292 tenants. Of this area 679,410 acres are held under lease-in-porpetuity, 67,107 acres under renewable Irmse, and 232,577 under small grazing run leases and other tenures.