LANDS THROWN UP IN RABBIT-INFESTED DISTRICTS IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND, AND INCREASE OF LAND UNDER CULTIVATION IN OTAGO AND MARLBOROUGH, (RETURN OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1887 Session I, C-17

C—l 7

1887. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS THROWN UP IN RABBIT-INFESTED DISTRICTS IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND, AND INCREASE OF LAND UNDER CULTIVATION IN OTAGO AND MARLBOROUGH, (RETURN OF).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 28th April, 1887.

Ordered, " That there be laid on the table a return showing—(l.) The area of country thrown up in Otago and Southland since it became infested with rabbits, and showing the loss of revenue to the Crown arising therefrom. (2.) The increase of land under cultivation in the Districts of Otago and Marlborough for a period commencing Ist April, 1879, to the 31st March, 188G."—(Mr. Lance.)

No. 1. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. Sir, — Crown Lands Department, Dunedin, 10th May, 1887. In reply to your telegram of the 2nd instant and memorandum of the 3rd instant No. 283/2, asking for a return showing the area of country thrown up in Otago and Southland since it became infested with rabbits, and showing the loss of revenue to the Crown arising therefrom, I have now the honour to supply the required information. The area surrendered amounts to 1,346,554 acres, and the loss of revenue to the Ist March last to £32,803. Of this area the greater portion has been relet at considerably-reduced rentals, only twenty runs containing about 414,000 acres lying unoccupied at the present time exclusive of West Coast runs, which are unoccupied on account of their elevation and inaccessability, and not because of rabbits. I have, &c, J. P. Maitland, Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

No. 2. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, to the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. Sir, —■ Crown Lands Office, Invercargill, 6th May, 1887. Be telegram No. 403, calling for return showing area of country thrown up in Southland since it became infested with rabbits, &c. No runs in Southland have actually been thrown up on account of the rabbit pest. Prior to the incoming of the rabbits the runs were held at 2d. per acre all round, the period of lease being generally from 1866 to about 1883. During the period from the incoming of the rabbits to the expiry of most of the leases in 1883 the losses to the runholders must have been enormous, but as the original rent paid to the Government was moderate, this rent still continued to be paid, none of the runs having been thrown up. In 1883 the most of the runs were relet generally at the old figure (which was the upset) of 2d. per acre. No doubt had the country not been infested with rabbits the runs would have realized, I should say, an average of 4d. per acre at least, thus making the loss to the Government since 1883 not less than £15,000. The information given above may be put ill a tabular form as follows :— Loss to the Government up to 1883 ... ... ... Nil. Loss to the Government since 1883 ... ... ... £15,000 This table is constructed on the lines indicated above ; the loss of revenue to the Government not having been so great for the reasons given 4 but the loss to the individual runholders and to the country generally having been enormous. I have, &c, John Spence, Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. Commissioner of Crown Lands.

0.—17,

2

Acreage of Land in Cultivation, Marlborough and Otago, 1879 to 1886. Marlborough.

Note.—About 60 per cent, of the grass lands in Marlborough, and about 24 per cent, in 1879 and 1G per cent, in 188G in Otago, consisted of lands simply surface-sown with grass seed ; and, although included above, can hardly be strictly deemed " cultivated " lands. Wm. E. E. Bbown, Begistrar-General. [[Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,275 copies), £1 Bs.]

Authority : George Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB7.

Year. Fallow. Grain. Green and other Crops. Artificial Grasses. Total. Increase in Total Acreage, 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 3,012 2,917 4,482 10,401 3,367 3,182 5,642 7,111 7,911 9,116 9,287 8,538 9,450 9,790 9,254 8,803 2,304 2,467 3,028 3,744 4,626 7,451 7,461 7, (MO 55,133 52,926 67,318 60,807 77,781 104,301 117,370 135,337 68,360 67,426 84,115 83,490 95,230 124,724 189,727 158,951 934 16,689 625 11,740 29,494 15,003 19,224 90,591 Toti J increase, land i cultivation, 187! I,., i use, Otaoo. 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 77,404 77,156 86,203 89,021 06,611 73,051 59,080 81,439 195,030 207,050 200,614 220,694 260,543 242,858 270,50G 228,385 94,288 107,561 135,182 154,504 174,462 222,477 225,517 208,298 416,208 469,158 572,936 650,479 822,963 867,278 988,571 1,079,054 783,530 860,925 1,000,935 1,114,698 1,330,579 1,405,664 1,543,674 1,597,776 77,395 140,010 113,705 215,881 75,085 138,010 54,102 814,246 Toti A increase, land h cultivation, 187! to 1886