THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, C-05

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Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Section 85 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908.

The Land Purchase Inspector to the Hon. W. F. Massey, Minister of Lands. Wellington, 20th July, 1912. Sir, — Land for Settlements. I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ending the 31st March, 1912. The number of properties considered during the year was 109, containing 313,452 acres. This 13 an increase of twenty-eight in number, but a less area by 37,256 acres. As will be seen, Canterbury again furnished the largest number, mostly agricultural farms of 1,000 to 2,000 acres in extent. The invariable reason given by the owners for seeking to dispose of their properties is the ever-increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate labour. While there is a paucity of applicants for agricultural lands, the reverse is the case for grazing. As an instance, for the Four Peaks Settlement, of an area of 12,692 acres, subdivided into eight sections, there were 393 applicants, while for the Timaunga Settlement, of 5,957 acres, mostly agricultural land of good quality, there were only thirty. Both are in South Canterbury, and were offered on the same day. The area purchased and taken possession of during the year is 44,447 acres freehold, together with the goodwill of 55,300 acres of Crown leaseholds. In addition, nine properties, containing 10,690 acres, have been purchased, and are now being surveyed. These were all secured at reasonable prices, considering the high values placed upon the bulk of the lands offered and the prices ruling generally. The actual expenditure was £381,483, making a total up to the 31st March of £5,948,071 for 1,296,942 acres. The hardening of the money-market will undoubtedly have a steadying effect upon the undue inflation of values, and will in all probability considerably curtail the operations of speculators. The following table shows the position of the Land for Settlements Account for the year: — Dr. £ a. d. I Cr. £ a. H. Cash and instalments, 31st March, 1911 53,397 14 8 Purchase-money .. .. .. 381,483 Oil New Zealand State-guaranteed Ad- Charges and expenses— £ s. d. vances Office, in terms of section 5 On debentures .. 119 10 2 of the New Zealand State-guaranteed Expenses in connecAdvances Act, 1909 .. .. 407,500 0 0 lion with estates Debentures matured and redeemed .. 412,415 0 0 purchased .. 16,285 18 2 Receipts under Land Act, section 177 11,536 18 9 Other expenses .. 7,734 18 2 Receipts under Land Act, section 191 249 1 8' 24,140 6 6 Rents' .. .. .. .. 281,695 19 7 Debentures redeemed and matured .. 409,215 0 0 Credits .. .. .. .. 380 16 11 Interest .. .. .. .. 223,149 3 7 Recoveries.. .. .. .. 6 0 0 Sinking fund .. .. .. 63,154 7 7 Balance .. .. .. .. 66,039 13 0 £1,167,181 11 7 £1,167,181 11 7 Land Settlement Finance Act. The total number of associations incorporated up to the 31st March is twenty-four, with an area of 23,696 acres, valued at £276,195, and a membership of 152. Notwithstanding the difficulties to be mcc with in starting new settlements, it is pleasing to be able to state that in only one or two instances has an extension of time been asked to meet payments. Besides the associations already incorporated, seven others have been approved, while several more are under consideration. A number have had for various reasons to be declined. The preliminary requirements of the Act are still a source of annoyance and delay, and, should an opportunity occur, several very necessary amendments will be suggested. The general opinion is that the principle of the Act is a good one, but that the machinery is defective. In any case the results so far quite justify the experiment. Appended are explanatory tables. I have, &c, The Hon. W. F. Massey, Minister of Lands. John D. Eitchie I—C. 5.

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Table A.—Summary of all Lands considered by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act, 1908, from 1st April, 1911, to 31st March, 1912.

Table B. —Summary of Estates acquired up to 31st March, 1912.

Table C.—The Land fok Settlements Account at 31st March, 1912, stands as under: — Dr. £ Cr. £ Loans current .. .. .. ..6,321,612 Purchase-money .. .. .. 5,948,071 Rents, &c, received .. .. .. 2,517,685 Incidental expenses .. .. .. 537,876 Receipts under Land Act, section 191 .. 6,240 Interest.. .. .. .. .. 1,996,437 Receipts under Land Act, seotion 177 .. 46,492 Sinking fund .. .. .. .. 343,605 Balance .. .. .. .. 66,040 £8,892,029 £8,892,029

Table D.— Estates acquired since 31st March, 1912.

Land District. Area of Estates considered. Number. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington ... Marlborough... Nelson Westland Canterbury ... Otago Southland . . ;:: ::: 5 5 2 G 3 1 67 11 9 Acres. 108,974 31,527 1,388 14,484 1,347 215 123,008 14,593 17,916 Totals 109 109 313,452 313,452 I

Land District. Number. Area. Purcbase-money. Incidental Expenses, Improvements, Koads cfec. Luckland lawke's Bay 'aranaki Vellington larlborough lelson Vestland 'anterbury Itago Southland 28 26 4 26 9 2 2 84 35 7 Acres. 279,198 193.415 4,609 60,824 116,364 24,347 5,125 339,958 216,180 56,922 £ 455,675 1,205,762 79,363 473,999 355,017 29,975 8,343 2,081,275 1,045,275 213,387 £ 86,970 93,562 6,109 65,763 47,216 2,983 2,915 86,014 91,949 20,651 Totals 223 1,296,942 5,948,071 504,132

Name. Locality. Area. Price. Possession. iherenden 'unanui ... Near Hastings, Hawke's Bay Near Hastings, Hawke's; Bay Albury, Canterbury ... Near Fairlie Acres. 8,300 2,000 5,985 5,600 £ 62,250 15,000 43,000* 30,800* March, 1913 If li II It ii It dount Nessing islnvick Flat * Includini leasehold.

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. Table E.—Return of Lands purchased from 1st April, 1911, to 31st March, 1912.

Area taken Possession of during Year, and Amount paid. Area approximately not Name of Owner. Name of Estate. Locality. Price per Acre. Mode of Acquisition. Name of Settlement. yet taken Possession of. Area. Paid for Lana - I ' I I I Hawke's Bay. £ s. d. Mahora Acres. £ 88* Acres. Sowerby, R., and Eb.au and Hori Tupaea Hastings By agreement Morland, T. .. Richards, E... Holland, P. .. Murray, G. .. Sherwood Downs Company (Limited) .. Hamilton, G. J. Avenel Waihao Downs .. Greta Peaks Glentanner freeholds Sherwood Downs Canterbury. Near Rakaia Waihao Downs Scargill Mackenzie country Near Pairlie 16 0 0 19 2 6 11 5 0 15 0 Avenel Douglas Scargill Glentanner Sherwood Downs 1,749 27,986 3,305 63,203 1,694 19,064 1,825 2,281 11,822 70,000f 20 30 L. Walker's trustees Leadley, G. W. Aitken, J. McKenzie, 8. McLennan, K. Sealey, T. .. Lowe, William Wright, W. .. Irwin, j. Rosendale, H. P. E. M. L. andE. C. Studholme.. Scott, William Patterson, J. Lavers, William Pour Peaks Valverde Smithfield Timaunga Bourndale Pour Peaks Distriot Wakanui.. Near Winchester .. Near Timaru Makikihi Corwar S.D. Kirwee Mitcham Near Timaru Waimate Otaio 1 10 0 19 0 01 (3 0 0) 12 0 0 22 15 0 (14 10 0| ( 7 10 0/ 12 5 0 13 12 6 13 10 0 16 0 0 14 0 0 13 0 0 16 2 6 12 15 0 12 5 0 11 5 0 Four Peaks Valverde Winchester Timaunga Bourndale Avenel Extension Aylesbury Avenel Extension .. ., Claremont Waimate Timaunga Extension 2,803 17,822* 2,307 14,000J 802 18,253 (2,850 41,330 "i 1,184 8,880 1,842 22,559 1,575 1,300 1,002 521 2,456 1,676 1,089 612 459 Highneld Claremont Te Waimate Otago. 32,203 305,408 10,690 Shennan, Watson Reid, J. B. .. Turnbull, R. M. Conical Hills Elderslie Spottis Creek Pomahaka Near Oamaru Cardrona S.D. 4 0 0 20 0 0 Conical Hills Elderslie No. 2 Spottis Creek 10,542 42,167 1,671 33,420 31 400 12,244 75,987 •• 1 improvements thereon. ♦ I .sehold and improvements thereon. 44,447 381,483 10,690 I ; Balance paid after 3 list March. * For land for drainage. t Including gooi will of 45,000 acres leasehold ♦ Ii uluding loodwill of 10,300 acres lei

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Table F.—Land-settlement Finance Associations incorporated up to 31st March, 1911.

Table G.—Land-settlement Finance Associations incorporated from 1st April, 1911, to 31st March, 1912.

Association. Locality. Name of Owner. Purchase. Numt >e r Area of Allotments. . I _ I ~ I Eureka Tainui Komata South Hikutaia Melrose Martha Auckland. j Eureka Matangi Komata South . . Hikutaia Te Aroha Hinuera G. Howie W. Ranstead Hubbards and Hubbards's executors G. Alley .. .. ! G. W. Mace McGuire and Miller Acres. £ 824 15,870 5 466 6,520 5 658 9,990 5 5 5 5 8 5 id 100, 188, 200, 185, 151. 112, 50, 50, 82, 172. 176, 158, 89, 104, 131. 839 7,663 8 858 6,466 5 1,698 10,245 10 180, 180, 129, 110, 145, 9i 169, 169, 176, 176, 168. 174, 172, 184, 184, 18! 198, 200, 100, 101, 20< Korokipo Hawke's Bay. Korokipo J. E. Lane 5,343 ' 56,754 38 670 16,630 64, 102, 79, 162, 101, 11! 50. Nikau Grange Moorfield Wellington. Ashhurst Kimbolton Messrs. Praser E. H. Crabbe 672 807 18,830 16,948 li r, 130, 141, 145, 133, 123. 150, 184, 191, 150, 132. Brookland Waitohi Downs Canterbury. Winchester Temuka R. Brookland D. Shaw, jun. R. Brookland D. Shaw, jun. 400 1,021 1,479 9,621 12,636 35,778 11 5 (i 53, 68, 93, 65, 121. 178, 197, 200, 223, 223. 1,421 22,257 11 Incorporated 911-12 14,783 144,776 8,913 131,419 67 86 23,696 276,195 152

Association. Locality. Name of Owner. Area. Purchasemoney. Number of Members Area of Allotment. Glengariff.. Auckland. Ohaupo Greenslade, Mrs. .. Acres. 1,088 £ 15,237 9 152, 185, 130, 155, 156, 208, 102. 110, 123, 63, 76, 78. 100, 101, 138, 176, 163. 196, 130, 270, 170, 243. 200, 200, 200, 205, 117, 138, 122. 200, 200, 205, 205, 204. 150, 133,150, 53, 204. Dunlop Waipa Mimosa Downs Walton .. Kaipaki Te Awamutu Walton.. Sturges, W. N. McGovern, P. Hutchinson, C. Q... Butler, R. 450 678 1,009 1,182 5,967 11,186 8,582 13,003 5 5 7 9 Waitangi .. Pukekawa.. Waiuku Pukekawa Sinclair, W. P. Morrison, R. E. .. 1,014 690 9,637 4,840 5 (i Melville Downs Gleniffer .. Canterbury. Pairlie Beautiful Valley Black, William .. Macaulay, A., and Mrs. Dick North, W. B HarriB, E. 6,111 1,023 852 68,452 12,280 10,277 46 5 5 197, 224, 198, 208, 196 160, 200, 164, 164, 164. Wentnor .. Chasbleton Pleasant Valley .. 1,113 1,528 12,248 10,885 5 5 207, 207, 206, 218, 275. 279, 333, 335, 276, 305. Southland. Merrivale 4,516 45,690 20 Merrivale No. 1 Ellis, J. C. 2,276 16,560 11 305, 376, 293, 178, 250, 199, 169, 257, 249. 184, 157, 297, 310, 275 315, 342. No. 2 1,880 14,074 8 4,156 30,634 19 14,783 144,776 85

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Table H.—Land-settlement Finance Associations under negotiation at 31st March, 1912.

Table I.—Land-settlement Finance Associations declined at 31st March, 1912.

Approximate Vutt of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,600 copies), £6.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l2.

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Association. Association. Members. Agreement. Name and Address of Vendor. Area. Price. At 31st March, 1912. Auckland. Matatua Moana Vale* Woodside* » 5 S 10 "l 2/3/12 Misses Andrews, Orton 20/10/11 P. Paine, Rotoorangi Goodwin Bros., Newstead .. C. Manuel, Hamilton J. Slater, Pukekawa Mapp Bros., Walton Acres. 880 1,844 1,287 3,000 2,000 762 £ 7,116 13,881 28,184 31,500 16,000 3,382 Hawke's Bay. Matamau* 11 Lloyd and Tansey, Matamau 9,773 1,467 9,773 105,063 105,063 26,406 1,467 26,406 Wellington. 589 663 11,415 14,570 Tawhera Auohmore* 6 7 G. Potts, Levin 27/1/12 J. McGregor, Okoia 589 663 11,415 14,570 Marlborough. Clifton Grove* Robin Hood Bay .. .. ' 8 6 20/1/12 A. E. Heywood, Grovetown 15/4/12 H. J. Stace, Robin Hood Bay 1,252 327 000 U 1,252 327 900 1,227 .3,719 25,985 15,557 6,300 r 25,985 15,557 6,300 21,857 179,311 1,227 21,857 13,719 179,311 At 30th June, 1912. Auckland. Otterburn 7 8 Death Bros., Okoroire 11/6/12 Meares Bros., Walton 1,389 992 1,389 992 18,057 15,975 18,057 15,975 Wellington. 328 1,613 12,855 Quiltower.. Glencairn 6 12 22/5/12 Wbiteman, E. H, Wanganui Bruce, J., near Turakina .. 328 1,613 12,855 Canterbury. Owersby* 9 Dixon, R. A., Cattle Valley 2,619 2,619 21,607 21,607 •Sim :e approved.

Association. Members. Datelof ; Agreement. 7/12/12 17/10/11 12/2/12 Name and Address of Vendor. Area. Acres. Mrs. Tonge, Paeroa .. .. 670 Main, J. M. and R., Walton .. 1,539 Milliken, W. H., Tatua .. .. 954 Smith, Collinson, and Brewer, Mau- 2,950 ngatautari Eddow, Whareroa.. .. .. 3,150 Mooney, D., Whatawhata .. .. 775 Patterson, T., Glen Murray .. 2,382 12,420 Declined. Auckland. Puketutu Wingaiui Tatua 5 10 6 13/2/12 16/10/11 14 3 12 20/3/12 Morley i 20/3/12 20/3/12 25/3/12 Taranaki. 28/7/11 Glenfern Pitt Bros., Glenfern .. .. 2,022 _ . . _ ... Wellington. Lockwood Silver; on 15 10 Lockwood Company, Kairanga .. 2,997 Cornfoot, H. C, Halcombe .. 1,121 Shaw, G:, Pitzherbert .. .. 518 Lovelock, W., Pitzheibert .. .. 609 5,245 19,687 24/11/12 23/1/12 28/10/12 24/11/11 Lovelock 6