DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, C-01

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1917. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of If is Excellency.

CONTENTS. General Report— P ft Re Appendix I— continued. Page Conditions of Settlement .. .. .. 3 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 14 Recent Legislation .. .. .. 3 Marlborough .. .. .. .. 14 Lands opened .. .. .. .. 4 Westland.. .. .. .. .. 15 Lands to be opened .. .. .. 4 Canterbury .. .. .. .. 15 Lands selected .. .. .. .. 4 Otago .. .. .. .. '16 Lands made Freehold .. .. .. i Southland .. .. .. .. 16 Receipts .. .. .. .. .. 5 Expenditure .. .. .. .. 5 Appendix ll— Postponements of Rent .. .. .. 6 Land for Settlements— Remissions of Rent .. .. .. 7 Statements showing Estates opened during Revaluation of Crown Leaseholds .. .. 7 Year, and Position of all Settlements at 31st National Endowment .. .. .. 7 Maroh, 1917 .. .. .. .. 18-22 Inspections by Crown Lauds Rangers .. 7 Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Inspection of Offices .. .. .. 7 Crown Lands— Sand-dune Reclamation .. .. .. 7 Auckland .. .. .. .. 22 Staff of the Department .. .. .. 7 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 22 Departmental Changes .. .. .. 8 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. 23 Expeditionary Force, Officers joining, &c. .. 9 Wellington .. .. ■ .. .. 23 Reports on Cognate Subjects .. .. 9 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 23 Head Office .. .. .. •• 10 Marlborough .. .. .. .. 23 Westland .. .. .. .. 23 Appendix I— Canterbury .. .. .. .. 23 Settlement of Crown Lands— Otago .. .. .. .. .. 24 Auckland.. .. .. •■ •• H Southland .. .. .. .. 24 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 12 Taranaki 12 Appendix 111Wellington .. .. .. .. 13 Land-drainage Operations .. .. 25

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CONTENTS— eontmued. Tables— Page Tablks— continued. Page Table 1. —Lands of the Dominion, Position of Table 19.—Rebates of Rent granted during the (approximately) .. .. .. 27 Year .. .. .. .. 42 2. —Lands opened for Sale and Selection „ 20.—Arrears of Rent .. .. 42 during the Year.. .. .. 28 „ 21.—Payments to Local Bodies from 3. —Lands taken up during the Year .. 29 "Thirds," "Fourths," and 4.—Comparative Statement of Lands "Halves" .. .. .. 43 selooted for Ten Years .. .. 30 „ 22.—Payments of Capital Value under 5. —Lands sold for Cash during the Year 31 Seotion 191 of the Land Act, 1908 43 6.—Deferred-payment Lands (Land Aots, „ 23.—Forfeitures and Surrenders during 1877 and 1885) .. .. .. 31 I the Year .. .. .. 44 7. —Deferred-payment Lands (Land Laws „ 24. —Solootors, Numbor of, Area held, and Amendment Acts, 1912 and 1913) .. 32 \ Area made Freehold .. .. 45 8. —Perpetual-lease Lands .. .. 33 „ 25. —Return of Educational Endowments 46 9.—Occupation-with-right-of-purchase ~ 26.—Village Settlements .. .. 47 Lands .. .. .. .. 33 „ 27.—Special settlement Associations .. 47 10.—Lease-in-perpetuity Lands.. .. 34 „ 28.—Improved-farm Settlements .. 47 11.—Renewable-lease Lands .. .. 35 , 29.—Land for Settlements Aots, Land 12. —Agrioultural-lease Lands .. .. 36 acquired and leased under .. 48 13. —Mining Districts Land Occupation „ 30.—Transactions in Bush, Swamp, and Leases .. .. .. .. 36 Scrub Lands under Section 127 of 14. —Pastoral Licenses in Mining Distriots 36 the Land Act .. .. .. 49 15.—Small Grazing-runs .. .. 37 „ 31.—Rangers' Inspections .. .. 49 16.—Pastoral Runs .. .. .. 38 „ 32. —Advances obtained for the Purpose 17. —Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses .. 39 of roading Crown Lands, showing 18.—Gross Revenue received during the the Amount borrowed and the Year .. .. .. .. 40 Amount repaid .. .. .. 49

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ANNUAL BE POET. The Undeb-Secbetary for Lands to the Right Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sib, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1917. I have the honour to submit herewith the report on the operations of the Department of Lands and Survey for the year ended 31st March, 1917. I have, &c, T. N. Brodriok, Under-Secretary. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C., Minister of Lands.

REPORT. Tim operations of the Department have been to a certain extent restricted by the unusual conditions produced by the existing war, but every endeavour has been made to meet the altered circumstances. Naturally, the settlement of returned soldiers on the land has been the chief object in view, and the separate report (C.-9) on the operations under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act indicates what has been and is being done to meet the requirements of the situation. The other work of the Department in connection with general settlement still continues, however, and is dealt with hereunder. Conditions of Settlement. Weather conditions over the whole of the Dominion have been somewhat exceptional, the summer especially being remarkable for its dryness, except in the northern portion of the North Island, where the rainfall was much above the average. On the whole, however, the conditions have been very favourable to the growth of grass, the moist spring producing a luxuriant growth which the succeeding dry season was not of sufficient duration to check. As a result those farmers who devoted their attention mainly to grazing, and were well established before the war, have had a very successful year, and the high prices ruling for stock have returned them very handsome profits. The demands for mutton and beef for export purposes and the prices offering have tended to induce graziers to dispose of their young stock more freely than usual, and a shortage of stock in the coming season is not improbable. In the dairying districts the returns produced have been highly satisfactory. The lot of the agriculturist has not been very encouraging, as the dry summer was not conducive to heavy yields, especially of grain crops; on the lighter land these crops were far from good. The prospects of the root crops in their early stages were decidedly promising, but the development of the crops was somewhat marred by the dry summer, particularly on the lighter classes of land. The development of the fruitgrowing lands is progressing steadily. A fair area of new land has been broken in and planted, and a considerable number of new orchards have come into profit during the year. The yield of fruit was very satisfactory. While the existing commercial conditions have been particularly favourable to improved lands, they have operated as a serious obstacle to the development of new lands. With the scarcity of labour and high prices demanded for material for fencing, <fee., the cost of effecting improvements has so increased as to overburden those settlers who are endeavouring to bring new holdings to a state of profit. An appreciable reduction in the value of new improvements as compared with previous years is noticeable. Recent Legislation. During the session of 1916 legislation was passed affecting the operations of this Department, and the following is a summary of the principal provisions : — Appropriation Act. —Section 29 appropriated £20,000 for the formation of roads for the purposes of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act amended the Act of 1915 by extending its provisions to residents of New Zealand who have served with other Expeditionary Forces in the present war. It also enables financial assistance to be given to any discharged soldier who already is, or may hereafter become, a holder of a lease of Crown land or any land administered by Land Board, whilst it authorizes the taking of freehold land under the Public Works Act for discharged soldiers settlement, and furthermore gives authority to raise a sum of £500,000 for the acquisition of land under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. At the same time the sum of £50,000 previously authorized to be raised for general purposes was increased to £100,000.

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Expiring Laws Continuance Act extended until the 31st August, 1917, the provisions of sections 42, 43, and 44 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1914, which authorized the exemption of lessees of Crown land, Ac, from cropping and other conditions; enabled the postponement of rent to be extended to tenants of pastoral runs; and also to holders of small grazing-runs of settlement land. Finance Act. —Section 50 authorized a loan of £50,000 for the purpose of afforestation. This supplements the revenues derived from the sale of timber in State forests. Beserves and other Lands Disposal, &c, Act contained a number of provisions relating to specific lands, and also amended the provisions of the Wanganui River Trust Act, 1891, the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908, and other enactments that concern the operations of this Department. War Legislation Act. —Part II extended the provisions of section 24 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1915 (relating to applications for land by agents on behalf of members of the Expeditionary Force), fixed the age-limit of applicants for settlement land who are or have been engaged on military service at a minimum of seventeen years instead of twenty-one, and also gave power to postpone the dates of payment of instalments of principal and interest by deferred-payment licensees of Crown land who are members of the Expeditionary Force. Lands offered for Selection During the year au area of 425,119 acres of land was offered for selection under the various tenures provided by the Land Act, Land for Settlements Act, and Education Reserves Acts. In addition (lie Crown also dealt with an. area of 2,709 acres comprised in endowments other than education and national endowments, the administration of which is carried out by the Department acting under special statutory authority. Under the optional system an area of 32,110 acres was advertised, and practically all selected. Under renewable lease an area of 39,657 acres was offered, 9,374 acres being settlement land, of which the lessees have the right to acquire the freehold; 26,344 acres national endowment; 2,543 acres ordinary Crown land supposed to contain metals or minerals; and 1,396 acres of Cheviot Estate. Pastoral runs offered comprised 311,803 acres, and an area of 12,033 acres was offered as small grazing-runs. In addition to the above, a total area of 276,290 acres of Crown, settlement, national-endow-ment, and Cheviot Estate lands, comprising 529 holdings, was set apart for selection by discharged soldiers under the ordinary tenures of the Land Act and the Land for Settlements Act, and the special tenures of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. Full particulars regarding these lands will be found in the report on the operation of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. Lands to be opened. It is estimated that a total area of 547,359 acres, comprising 1,796 holdings, will be available for selection during the coming year. The following table shows the distribution of this area :—

Of this area all lands which are considered suitable for settlement by discharged soldiers will be set apart accordingly. Lands selected. The total selections during the year under all tenures covered a gross area of 1,010,152 acres by 2,059 selectors. These figures include, however, 135 purchases of small town and suburban sections aggregating 181 acres, offered for sale at auction.

Land District. Town. Suburban. Number Number of Area. of Area. Holdings, j Holdings. Number of Holdings. Rural. Area. Number oi' Holdings. Toi ;al. Area Auckland Hawke's Bay.. Taranaki Wellington Marlborough . . Nelson Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland 120 12 90 50 160 Acres. 30 13 41 50 40 20 *29 4 Acres. 20 43 37 450 123 72 174 8 106 80 72 82 76 Acres. 90,000 73,963 29,942 5,371 4,758 71,151 12,567 192,600 52,200 14,500 590 123 113 268 58 266 80 79 137 82 Aores. 90,050 73,963 29,998 5,449 4,808 71,191 12,567 192,607 52,218 14,508 45 12 7 10 6 7 6 8 Totals 477 186 76 121 1,243 547,052 1,796 547,359

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The selections made by discharged soldiers are also included in the figures quoted, but as these last-mentioned lands are dealt with in a separate report prepared and laid before Parliament in accordance with the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, there is no necessity tc repeat the information in this report. The usual table giving separate figures under each tenure appears in the appendix as No. 3. Freeholds acquired. During the year the following lands were purchased outright for cash :— ~T , Area, Price Number. £ Town lands ... ... 114 81 6,246 Suburban lands ... ... ... ... 21 100 3,51,3 Rural lands ... ... ... ... 178 5,233 11,699 Totals ... ... ... ... 313 5,414 21,463 The leaseholds and deferred-payment holdings converted to freeholds during the year covered an area of 179,034 acres, in 758 holdings, the total purchase price being £224,460. The holdings converted to freehold under the Land Laws Amendment Acts of 1912, 1913, and 1914, and included in the gross total given before, comprised an area of 76,119 acres, in 401 holdings, the purchase price being £131,109. This now brings the total freeholds acquired under these enactments to 379,092 acres, in 1,947 holdings; purchase price, £648,281. Receipts. During the year the revenue received was as under : — £ Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 237,301 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... 185,992 Taranaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 72,531 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 171,604 Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41,425 Marlborough ... ... ... ... ... ... 51,338 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19,010 Canterbury... ... ... ... ... ... ... 246,077 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 151,685 Southland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 64,403 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £1,241,366 The following analysis shows the sources from which the revenue was derived : — £ Cash sales and purchase of freeholds ... ... . . ... 222,211 Defered-payment instalments ... ... ... 63,537 Perpetual-lease rents ... ... ... ... ... 2,033 Occupation-with-right-of-purchase rents ... ... ... 116,161 Lease-in-perpetuity rents ... ... ... ... ... 216,514 Renewable-lease rents ... ... ... ... ... 184,377 Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations : Rents 2,825 Sniall-grazing-run rents ... ... ... ... ... 87,735 .Mining districts land-occupation leases: Rents ... ... ... 1,574 Pastoral-run rents ... ... ... ... ... ... 78,670 Educational and other endowments ... ... ... ... 131,235 Other leases and licenses and miscellaneous receipts ... ... 134,1-94 Total ... ... ... ... ... ...£1,241,366 This total shows a diminution of £45,158 on the previous year's figures, which is more than accounted for by cash sales and purchase of freeholds having decreased. It must be borne in mind that the above amount does not include the statutory deductions, such as rebates of rent granted to tenants who pay their half-yearly rent within a month of its due date; reductions of rent consequent on revaluation, &c.; whilst lessened rent is now accruing in consequence of the former acquisition of the fee-simple of Crown leaseholds. Expenditure. The statement of expenditure discloses that under the various appropriations £278,952 was voted, and that the net expenditure was £193,166, or £85,786 less than the estimated requirements. Salaries and general departmental expenditure were £25,782 less than the appropriations. This reduction is due to the fact that a considerable portion of the staff is now serving with the Forces, and their places have either been filled with smaller-paid temporary men or cadets. In some cases positions have not been filled owing to reduction in survey operations through the war. The curtailment of surveys is reflected in the amount of wages, &c, paid to Survey labourers and in payment to contract surveyors, the amount being approximately £16,500 less than estimated.

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Under the heading " Lands and Survey, Miscellaneous," the net expenditure is shown as £23,400 less than estimated. To a large extent this is due to the fact that expenditure upon such works as improvements to recreation-grounds out of Government subsidies have been discouraged during the war, but the amounts hitherto voted will appear in the estimates and be held available until conditions become normal. Also, votes for roads provided for out of the Consolidated Fund have not been extensively drawn upon, the cause being attributed largely to the difficulty in obtaining adequate labour. A new account recording expenditure under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act appears for the first time in this report. A complete system has been set up in connection with the transactions under this Act, which is more fully reported upon in parliamentary paper C.-9. Taking the operations under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act into consideration, the gross expenditure passed for payment b}' the Department is £19,000 less than in the previous year, but it is anticipated that during the year operations under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act will show a substantial increase, incidentally increasing the gross financial transactions of the Department. Rates are to be levied during the year on the Hauraki Plains settlers to provide money to carry out maintenance of the completed works hitherto provided out of Consolidated Fund, and the Rangitaiki land-drainage ratepayers will be requested to pay rates extending over a period of forty years to recoup the expenditure, together with interest and administration charges. Fresh valuations of the Hauraki Plains area and the Rangitaiki Land Drainage District have been provided by the Valuer-General.

Summary of Expenditure approved during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

Postponements of Rent. The statutes under which postponements of rent may be granted to Crown tenants are the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1912 (section 13), Land Laws Amendment Act, 1914 (sections 43 and 44), Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 (section 7), and the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1.916 (section 13). Under these enactments an amount of £21,151, comprising rent and other payments which fell due during the year, was postponed, the number of tenants affected being 398. At the 31st March, 1917, the amount still postponed was £25,478.

Voto No. Name of Voto or Acoount. Not Amount voted. Glross Expenditure. Recoveries. Not Expenditure. 69 70 118 120 121 Consolidated Fund. £ Lands and Survey .. .. 160,050 Lands and Survey, Miscellaneous .. 53,942 State Forests Account .. .. 32,643 Scenery Preservation Account .. 10,826 Land for Settlement Expenses .. 6,491 £ 160,050 53,942 32,643 10,826 6,491 £ s. (I. 176,422 16 5 32,935 12 4 28,143 11 8 1,554 19 3 3,865 18 11 £ s. d. 44,187 13 2 2,394 3 10 334 1 0 £ s. d. 132,235 3 3 30,541 8 6 27,809 10 8 1,554 19 3 3,755 19 8 109 19 3 II 15 Public Works Fund. Improved Farm Settlements .. 6,000 Lands, Miscellaneous .. .. 9,000 6,000 9,000 546 6 10 1,093 19 2 .3,553 8 9 817 7 5 Cr. 3,007 1 1.1 276 11 9 Totals .. .. ..278,952 278,952 244,563 4 7 51,396 13 5 193,166 11 2 Permanent charges under special Acts (section 19, Appropriation Act, 1916 —war bonus) Hauraki Plains Settlement Account (section 93, Reserves, &c, Act, 1916) Rangitaiki Land Drainage Account National Endowment Account Native Land Settlement Account Swamp Land Drainage Account (section 95, Reserve, &c, Act, 1916) —■ £ s. d. Kaitaia .. .. 3,843 7 3 Poukawa .. .. 1,538 4 6 Waihi .. .. 1,182 14 7 8,145 11 13,936 19 19,245 0 6,040 6 34,390 13 9 6 0 6 4 0 5 1,037 0 0 6 8,145 11 13,936 14 18,207 19 6,040 6 34,390 13 9 6 6 6 4 6,564 6 32,324 4 12,121 11 12,999 4 4 3 0 6 2,956 17 1 6,564 6 29,367 7 12,121 11 12,999 4 4 2 0 6 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account Land for Settlements Account Special Acts (Deposits Accounts, refunds of revenue, &c.) Totals 145,767 17 2 3,994 2 7 141,773 14 7 Grand totals 1390,331 1 9 55,390 16 0 334,940 5 9

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Remissions of Rent. The rental remitted for the year amounted to £9,043, an amount of £757 being granted to ordinary tenants. The balance of the amount is made up of remissions granted to members of the Expeditionary Force and discharged soldiers, particulars of which are given in the Discharged Soldiers Settlement report. Revaluation of Crown Leaseholds. Durino- the year forty properties were revalued under section 15 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1915. The capital values were reduced from £70,186 to £58,007, and the annual rentals from £3,229 to £2,667. At the close of the year there were still six applications lodged but not yet dealt with. National Endowment. The area of national-endowment land in the Dominion at the 31st March, 1917, was 8,769,055 acres. Of this area, 6,620,441 acres was field under lease or license, providing an annual rental of £113,031. The gross amount received from this endowment during the year was £120,319. Inspections by Crown Lands Rangers. The Crown Lands Rangers made inspections during the year of 6,379 holdings, aggregating 2,491,449 acres. Particulars as to the value of the improvements effected as against those required by law, also number of defaulters for deficient improvements, non-residence, &c., are given in Table 31 published in the appendix. Inspection of Offices. Owing to the Inspector of Offices having joined the Expeditionary Force his inspections have consequently ceased. As, however, he had completed the inspection of every District Office of the Department prior to his going on leave, and had submitted full reports on their staffing, methods, and work, it was decided to let the matter of further inspections standin abeyance until it could be seen whether it was necessary to continue the inspections in the immediate future. In the meantime every care is being taken to ensure that the work of each office is carried on under satisfactory conditions, and special inspections of any particular office can readily be made if required. Sand-dune Reclamation. The continuation of the war having made it necessary to limit expenditure on public works, funds were available only for maintenance-work in connection with sand-dune reclamation on the coast at the mouth of Ihe Rangitikei River. Arrangements are being made to have the experimental work temporarily looked after by a, resident in the neighbourhood. No operations were carried out at the Waikato Heads. At Sugarloaf Hill (near Cromwell, in Central Otago) the Vincent County Council, with departmental assistance and advice, planted with marram-grass a small area from which drifting sand was becoming a great nuisance to neighbouring settlers. At the conclusion of the war it is hoped to be able to undertake sand-dune reclamation on a larger scale. Staff of the Department. The calls made upon the Public Service generally in connection with the present war have naturally been felt to a large extent by this Department. At the outbreak of war the staff of this Department totalled 572, comprising 506 permanent and 66 temporary officers. Since that date to tie 31st March last 119 officers have joined the Expeditionary Foi'ce, 17 of whom have given up their lives in defence of the liberties of the Empire. Eight other officers died during that period, while 62 have retired from the Department and left the Service, and 17 have been transferred to other Departments. To cope with this serious abatement 68 new appointments have been made to the permanent staff, and 38 officers who were formerly on the temporary staff have been permanently appointed, whilst 62 temporary appointments have been made, and 9 officers have been transferred from other Departments; so that the staff at the end of the last financial year comprised 418 permanent officers and 74 temporary, or a total of 492, thus showing a diminution of 80 officers from the previous strength of the Department. With a view to economizing as much as possible, and to enable the present staff to cope with, the abnormal position occasioned by the war, the work of the Department, wherever possible, has been curtailed. Triangulation has been stopped, no inspections of surveys have been made that could temporarily be dispensed with, and the travelling of officers and the attendant expenses have been reduced to a minimum. In every office the substitution of new maps for old and dilapidated ones, the arrears of mapping, and preparation of plans dealing with compilation of surveys has also been postponed as much as possible. All work that is not deemed of first importance or immediately required for settlement or current operations has been allowed to stand over, leaving only the absolutely essential work to be carried out by the reduced staff till the end of the war, when better conditions will enable such work to be once more undertaken. The settlement of discharged soldiers on the land has added new work to the Department, and in every direction demands are constantly being made upon the services of the staff. The utmost willingness lias been displayed by all officers to keep the work up to date and have it promptly

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attended to, whilst, where necessary, officers have been permitted to take up duties outside the Department (such as on Military Service Boards, &o.) to deal with war work and new problems. In every possible way the Department has co-operated with other branches of the Public Service in carrying out its respective duties satisfactorily notwithstanding a curtailment of staff, and I can conscientiously say that the officers of the Department are only too eager to respond to all necessary calls in a most loyal and efficient manner. Depabtmental Changes. The principal changes during the past year comprised : — Death. Mr. F. W. S. Bronte, who joined the Department as a draughtsman on the 16th May, 1898, and whose whole period of service was in the Head Office, died very suddenly on the 15th January last. His assiduity in attending to the duties entrusted to him and his obliging disposition gained him the confidence and respect of his superior officers and members of the Department, and universal sympathy was extended to his widow and family. Betirements. Mr. Charles R. Pollen, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor at Chrlstchurch, retired on the 30th June, 1916, after a period of continuous service of 45| years, being the last remaining officer of the Department who was appointed under the Civil Service Act, 1866, prior to the abolition of provinces. Mr. Pollen, after long service in the Auckland Office, became Chief Draughtsman at Blenheim in 1899, after which he occupied similar positions in New Plymouth and Auckland. In 1910 lie was promoted to be Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor at Napier, proceeding from there to Christchurch in 1912. In Mr. Pollen's retirement the Department loses the services of a loyal, hardworking, and conscientious officer. Mr. W. Dcverell, draughtsman, Invercargill, retired on superannuation on the 28th February, 1917. Mr. Deverell was a draughtsman of recognized ability. As well as performing the ordinary work of a draughtsman he was of assistance as a black-and-white artist in connection with the half-tone process and in illustrating Tourist Guides and other publications. His continuous service amounted to upwards of forty-one years. Mr. John Hugh Boscawen retired on compensation on the 31st March, 1917. He joined the Railway Department originally in 1877, and was afterwards in the Land-tax Department. After a short break in service he was appointed, to the Lands and Survey Department in 1879, in which he served continuously till his retirement through reaching the age-limit. He had acted as Chief Clerk in the Head Office and subsequently in the Auckland Office, but in 1911 he was appointed Inspector of Forests and Reserves, in which capacity he did much useful service. In addition ■to liis departmental duties Mr. Boscawen was honorary Aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor for many years, and held the rank of Hon. Lieut.-Colonel in the Defence Forces. Mr. Thomas G. Waitt, Receiver of Land Revenue, Wellington, retired voluntarily on the 31st March, 1917. His service extended to almost forty-five years, practically the whole of which was in the Lands and Survey Department, principally in the New Plymouth, Napier, and Wellington offices. His retirement on superannuation is a well-merited reward for many years of efficient service. Mr. J. W. Shannon, Crown Lands Ranger, Auckland, found it necessary to relinquish work on account of ill health, and was retired on superannuation. Mr. Shannon has to his credit twelve years of useful and faithful service.

Promotions and Transfers.

Position to which- appointed. Officers promoted and Previous Position. Date. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier W. H. Skinner, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier W. F. Marsh, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika Thomas Brook, Land Officer, Gisborne W. J. Wheeler, Inspector of Surveys, Auckland F. A. Cullen, Receiver of Land Revenue, Auckland William Robertson, Clerk, Head Office H. R. Robinson, Accounts Clerk, Kauri-gum Superintendent's Office F. T. Sandford, Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue, Hokitika J. H. Treseder, District Surveyor, Invercargill C. F. Williams, Assistant Crown Lands Ranger, Canterbury E. C. Clarke, Surveyor's Assistant, Auckland 3 April, 1916. 8 May, „ Commissioner of Crown Lands, Hokitika Land Officer, Gisborne 25 July, „ 25 „' „ Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue, Hokitika Senior Clerk, Auckland Cashier, Auckland 10 Feb., 1917. 13 „ „ 1 „ „ Clerk, Head Office 16 „ „ Land Drainage Engineer Crown Lands Ranger, Canterbury 1 July, 1916. 1 Sept., ,, Crown Lands Ranger, Auckland 11 Oct., „

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Expeditionary Force. In addition to those officers mentioned in previous reports, the following have joined the Kxpeditionary Force:— Surveyors.—o. N. Campbell (Thames), J. J. Carroll (cadet, Auckland), A. W. Craig (Auckland), P. C. Gannaway (Thames), H. E. Girdlestone (Head Office), R. G. Macmorran (Thames), P. V. Norman (Auckland), 0. D. Pearce (cadet, Auckland), H. G. Shannon (Auckland), J. R. H. Thorp (cadet, Auckland). Draughtsmen.—A. E. I!. Bagnall (cadet, Auckland), C. H. Baigent (Nelson), P. G. Barton (Auckland), H. B. Black (Nelson), J. h. Climie (Wellington), H. R. Cochrane (cadet, Auckland). H. F. Kdgecumbe (Land Transfer Draughtsman, Dunedin), J. Fitzsimmons (Hokitika), W. J. Oallen (Nelson), K. F. Haszard (Auckland), A. W. Knapp (cadet, Auckland), P. S. Lawson (New Plymouth). G. J. Logan (Blenheim), L. E. Martin (Napier), E. M. Morilleau (cadet, Auckland), W. A. Nicholson (Wellington), W. A. Nimon (cadet, Napier), E. C. O'Brien (Auckland), W. R. Palmer (Auckland), E. Pfankuch (New Plymouth), C. E. Pfeifer (Napier), R. A. Watkin (cadet. New Plymouth), N. W. Wilson (cadet, Hokitika), P. B. Wright (Auckland). Clerks.—il. H. Bell (Nelson). J. A. Chesney (Hokitika), F. R. Jameson (Auckland), H. A. Joyce (Thames), B. King (cadet, Christchurch), J.P. Lane (Wellington), H. M. Lawrey (Auckland), A. D. McGavock (Chief Clerk, Invercargill), G. H. McKenzie (cadet, Auckland). Forestry. —J. T. Kenny (Tapanui), R. Macßae (Whakarewarewa), P. M. Page (Whakarewarewa), J. J. Rogerson (Whakarewarewa), T. 0. Screen (Tapanui). Honours awarded. It may be mentioned that 2nd Lieutenant S. T. Seddon (Nelson) has been awarded the Military Cross, and Corporal F. W. Watson (Auckland) gained the D.C.M. Both have since been promoted. Casualties. Died in Greytown Hospital. —Private J. C. Thomson (Invercargill). Killed in Action. —2nd Lieutenant S. 0. Esam (Auckland), '2nd Lieutenant F. W. Watson (Auckland), Lance-Sergeant R. C. Caiman (Wellington), Sergeant W. M. Gray (Napier), Sergeant R. V. Parker (Dunedin). Believed to be killed. —Private D. J. Lowry (Tapanui), Corporal W. H. Ellis (Auckland). Died of Disease. —Gunner G. A. Harvey (Invercargill), Corporal T. H. Hudson (New Plymouth). The deaths of these officers, who were assisting the Empire in the maintenance of its fight for freedom, are keenly felt by their fellow-officers and all those who were privileged to be associated with them, and the respectful sympathy of the Department is tendered to their relatives. Though comparatively young in service, they had all shown evidence of ability, integrity, and a desire to perform their duties in a conscientious and thorough manner, and the untimely ending of promising careers of such gallant young men is a distinct loss to the Department and the Public Service of the Dominion. Wounded. —Corporal S. Parkinson (Nelson), Sergeant J. H. Robertson (Auckland), Private T. G. Phillips (Invercargill), 2nd Lieutenant M. H. B. Burrell (Auckland), Corporal R. W. Cooper (Head Office), Private J. M. Hemphill (Dunedin), Private H. K. Kenrick (Gisborne), Private J. Pegram (Napier), Corporal W. Paora (New Plymouth), Private T. R. Hancock (New Plymouth), Temp.-Corporal H. N. F. Burry (Head Office). Reports on Cognate Subjects. As in former years, separate reports are required to be laid before Parliament in connection with many of the operations carried out by the Department. They comprise— Surveys. —The report by the Surveyor-General on the work of the survey (or technical) branch of the Department is submitted in parliamentary paper C-la. State Nurseries and, Plantations. —Particulars of the tree-planting carried on in the Rotorua district in the North Island, and in the Otago, Southland, and Hanmer districts in the South Island, are fully detailed in parliamentary paper C.-3. Swamp-drainage. —The report required by the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, is contained in parliamentary paper C.-4. Scenery-preservation. —A comparatively small area was reserved under the Scenery Preservation Act during the past yoar. Details and statement of accounts are included in parliamentary paper C.-6. Advances for Boading of Crown Lands. —The necessary report submitted in accordance with section 63 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, appears in parliamentary paper C—7. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains. —A full report by the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject is included in parliamentary paper C.-8. As usual, the works have progressed satisfactorily. Discharged Soldiers Settlement. —The second annual report under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, is furnished by the Department in parliamentary paper C.-9. Public Domains. —The usual statement regarding the condition of the domains in New Zealand is comprised in parliamentary paper C.-10. Bangitaiki Land Drainage. —The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains is given in parliamentary paper C.-11, which contains full particulars of the works in progress. Aggregation of Land.— A report under section 65 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, appears in parliamentary paper C.-13.

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Head Office. The work of the office has steadily increased, as will be seen by a comparison of figures. Correspondence. —During the year 33,761 letters, telegrams, <fee, were received, and 33,409 despatched, making a total of 67,170, as against 57,004 for the preceding year, and 35,403 ten years ago (1906-7). A new series of files opened in connection with the settlement of discharged soldiers, financial assistance, &c, contains upwards of 1,400. Cemeteries. —At the beginning of the year there were 525 public cemeteries under the control of the Department. Five new ones were added during the year, and three were vested in local authorities. There were therefore 527 on the books of the Department at the close of the year. Public Domains. —The public domains on the books of the Department now number 576. There were 567 at the commencement of the year. Ten now ones were made and two were amalgamated. Land Guide. —Three issues of the Crown Lands Guide were published during the year, a total of 5,400 copies being printed for distribution. Land-sale Posters. —ll9 sale posters were published during the year, totalling altogether 128,350 copies; and twelve editions of the monthly poster giving a summary of the lands advertised from time to time were issued. The total number of copies printed amounted to 33,500.

Summary showing the Number of Proclamations, Orders in Council, Warrants, and Notices prepared and issued during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

1 Proclamations. Orders in I 'oiineil. Warrants and Notices. Total. Under the Land Act and the Land for Settlements ActUnder the Public Reserves and Domains Act Under the Scenery Preservation Acts Under the Native Land Act Under the Education Reserves Acts and Public Bodies' Leases Act Under the State Forests Act Under the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Acts Under the Cemeteries Act Under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 Miscellaneous 94 9 9 3 12 85 2 70 2 6 384 95 12 480 165 23 15 20 20 Eh i 4 10 4 26 6 5 42 33 37 48 118 42 Totals 212 96 633 941

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ArPEN DICES. APPENDIX 1.-SETTLEMENT OE CROWN LANDS. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS ON SETTLEMENT OPERATIONS DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS WHICH ENDED ON THE 31st MARCH, 1917. AUCKLAND. (11. M. Skeet, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) General Conditions affecting Settlement. —The past season throughout the Auckland District lias been abnormally wet, severe floods being experienced on several occasions even in the middle of summer. The unusual rainfall produced an abundance of pasture, though not of the best quality, and the season has not been favourable to root crops or the laying-down of fresh pastures. Nevertheless the dairy industry, on which a large proportion of the farmers depend, has had a successful year, and exceedingly high prices have been realized for all classes of stock, especiallydairy cows and heifers. Home separation is being practised to an increasing extent, and in some cases creameries have been abolished in favour of the system of treatment at central factories. Two new factories have been established south of Auckland for the manufacture of milk products, which are able to guarantee very high payment for butter-fat. Owing to the nature of the season, as well as to the scarcity of labour and the high prices of grass-seed and fencing-material, the areas cleared and brought into pasture have been limited, and new improvements generally are restricted to absolute necessities. The departure of so many settlers to the war without having been able to make satisfactory arrangements for the working and stocking of their farms will involve serious depreciation of the condition of many country areas, where fern quickly takes control of grassed lands that are not systematically worked and fully stocked. An element of danger also lies in the excessive slaughtering of young stock, which should have been kept to replenish and strengthen herds. It is, however, satisfactory to note that more attention is being paid to the quality of the stock kept, especially in the case of milkingherds. The position of the established landholder, whether of freehold or Crown leasehold, whose holding had already been sufficiently developed to be reproductive, has therefore been very profitable, but conditions have pressed hardly upon the new selector whose means would not permit of the development of his holding under present heavy costs, and the bringing-in of new country is therefore very largely at a standstill. The number of cases of default disclosed by the Ranger's reports, both in respect of. residence and improvement conditions (the former in the case of new selections being also affected By the cost of material), has consequently been unusually large, but the Land Board recognizes that under the circumstances strict fulfilment of conditions can hardly be expected, and all cases are being dealt with accordingly. Notwithstanding the difficulty of carrying out surveys of land for disposal, the area opened during the year (including 14,832 acres for discharged soldiers only) has totalled 53,306 acres, slightly in excess of the figures for the preceding year. Competition for the lands offered has, of course, been limited, but the total selections have been very satisfactory under the circumstances. The prosperity of the fully developed Crown leaseholds is probably reflected by the fact that 332 lessees, holding a total area of 80,522 acres, acquired the freehold of their sections during the year, these being in excess of the totals for the previous year. In addition, forty-eight others, holding 9,187 acres, commenced the purchase of their sections by deferred payments, these latter figures being, however, considerably less than those of the preceding year. The gross revenue for the year, £237,301, is again a record for the district, and the number of Crown tenants of all classes at the end of the year was 7,917, occupying an area of 1,903,985 acres, the total annual instalments or rental payable being £112,624. Education Endowments. —The total area of primary and secondary education endowments under the control of the Land Board is 126,358 acres, out of which 78,944 acres are occupied by 701 tenants, paying a rental of £6,222 per annum. Although reports obtained from time to time on these holdings show that in many cases they are being well farmed and improved, still there are a sufficient number of cases in which the land is not being used to the best advantage to make it a subject for consideration whether it would not be to the interests of the endowment, as well as advantageous to the development of the country, to impose compulsory improvement conditions.

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HAWKE'S BAY. (W. F. Mabsii, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The past season has been a particularly favourable one for all classes of the farming community, and the effect has been noticed by the ready compliance by Crown tenants with the conditions of their leases. To those engaged in dairying the last mild winter, followed by abundance of rain in the spring, ensured such a growth of feed that stock never went back, and suppliers were able to take advantage to the utmost of the high price ruling for butter-fat, and also to considerably augment their profits by the sale, at very remunerative prices, of their young stock —rather an unusual experience with dairymen. In the Gisborne portion of the district late rains unfortunately played havoc with much of the hay crop, but with the cattle in such good condition it is expected that what was saved will be sufficient for winter requirements. Pastoralists and graziers have had little to complain at, their principal trouble being that the grass got away from the sheep, and it was almost impossible to acquire sufficient cattle to effectually clean up the ground. It is now well recognized in Hawke's Bay that the nibbling sheep must be accompanied by the grazing cow, and that much of the potential wealth of the land is wrapped up in the latter's ability to be constantly improving the sward. The luxuriance of the last year lias not altogether been to the liking of those immediately concerned in the fattening of stock, and in some parts of the district the rankness of the growth not only made it almost impossible to turn out stock —especially lambs —in tip-top freezing condition, but caused rather a heavy mortality among young sheep. However, these disadvantages have been more than counterbalanced by the phenomenal prices realized for products—prices which expert judges consider will be maintained with little variation, for some time yet. New freezing-works have been established at Wairoa. The necessity for one has been long felt in this district, and its completion has given great satisfaction to the farmers. Education endowments do not form a very large portion of the lands administered by this office, and, as at present held, are not standing in the way of settlement. One case of proposed resumption is, however, now before the Minister. A considerable diminution in the number of applications to transfer is noticeable in the records of the past year, due in a great measure to the shortage of transferees capable of making the necessar}' declarations. Of those approved, a fair proportion was by men who had volunteered for the front and were anxious to settle their personal affairs before leaving the Dominion, and every facility was afforded to such applicants. A. greater number preferred to apply for exemption from personal residence while serving with the Forces, and sixty-eight permits so to do were granted to Crown tenants. A satisfactory feature in the district is the steady subdivision that is going on of larger holdings, and although there is always some cry about aggregation it is more probable that segregation is taking place more rapidly.

TARANAKI. (G. H. Bullabd, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) A retrospect of the past year indicates that, notwithstanding set-backs in some respects, the district as a whole is still prospering. While on the one hand there has been a serious shortage of labour, arising mainly from the exodus of young men for military service, coupled with the abnormally increased cost of building and fencing-material, grass-seed, manures, <fee, as a set-off, the farming community has benefited by unprecedented returns for most classes of stock and all primary products. The abundant rainfall during the spring favoured the dairying industry, and, although the later dry summer months caused a considerable shrinkage, the total returns will bo well ahead of previous years, notwithstanding the fact that many of the settlers, tempted by the high prices prevailing for dairy stock in the early part of the season, parted with their herds. Towards the end of last autumn a considerable mortality was experienced amongst lambs in the northern part of the district, otherwise losses among stock generally were very light, and the winter was an exceptionally mild one. The ruling prices for stock during the year have been as follows: Fat bullocks, £14 to £18; fat cows, £11 to £14; two-year steers, £10 to £13; one year to eighteen months steers, £5 to £10; dairy cows, £10 to £14; daily heifers, £8 to £11; calves, £2 10s. to £6; fat sheep, £1 I6s. to £2 for wethers, £1 ss. to £1 15s. for ewes; lambs, to £1 55.; store wethers and ewes, £1 ss. to £1 155.; breeding-ewes, £1 to £2 45.; store lambs, ss. to £1 3s. Owing to the rather wet spring, cropping operations were generally a failure compared with the previous season. Root crops, with some exceptions, had a splendid start, and were doing well until the dry months of February and March gave them a severe set-back. Potato-blight was very prevalent amongst the earlier crops, and, although later plantings are comparativelyfree, the percentage of small tubers is high, and generally speaking the potato crops cannot be regarded as very successful this year.

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In several localities there may occur some shortage in winter feed, as, owing to the exceptionally dry summer and a consequent scarcity of feed, stockowners have in many instances been obliged to make big inroads on their turnips and feed which had been provided for winter use. "Crown tenants generally are continuing to develop their holdings as well as present circumstances permit. The Crown Lands Rangers' reports go to show that on some of the rougher sections where the tenants are absent on service fern is encroaching on the grassed land. The statutory reports received from the Grown hands Rangers for the year show as follows : Value of improvements required, £96,231 ; value of improvements effected, £236,733. Though in more recent years single men have been largely excluded from Crown-land ballots through the operations of the preference clauses of the Land Acts, over 150 of our tenants, mainly single men of military age. have voluntarily enlisted for service; and where circumstances warrant it every consideration has been shown these men by the Land Board in the abatement of residence and improvement conditions, also exemption from payment of rent whilst on active service. Bushfolling has been practically at a standstill during the year both on Crown lands and lands held under freehold title. Private owners have paid up to £2 ss. per acre for felling. Such a heavy initial cost added to the high price for grass-seed, labour, fencing-wire, &c, renders bushfelling, especially in the ease of poorer and rougher classes of bush land, almost prohibitive. Bevenue. —There lias been a shrinkage of £2,572 in the revenue of the year compared with the previous year's figures, which is accounted for mainly by the falling-off in the number of conversions to fee-simple. On the other hand, the position of tenants with regard to rental arrears has improved, there being forty-six defaulters less, representing £585 less, than the figures at the 31st March, 1916. West Coast Settlement Beserves. —During the past six months the Crown has acquired by purchase from the Native owners over 14,600 acres in the Opunake, Waimate, and Kaupokonui Survey Districts, known as the West Coast Settlement Reserves, most of which is already held by tenants under the provisions of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Acts. As the Native band Amendment Act, 1913. confers on the tenants a right of acquisition of reversion from the Crown either in fee-simple or under Renewable lease, it is anticipated that the majority of them will in the near future avail themselves of securing a title under either tenure direct from the Crown. New Lands. —The proposals for dealing with new lands during the coming year include the offering, chiefly for discharged soldiers, of an area approximating 20,000 acres partly in the Waro Survey District and in other localities in the northern end of the district. In the south part of the district about 600 acres, recently acquired from the Native owners, will also be offered for selection in suitable areas.

WELLINGTON. (G. H. M. McCluke, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The year has been profitable for all classes of farm-produce, prices for butter-fat, wool, and stock still keeping up, though the exceptionally dry summer affected the dairying returns. White crops were good, but turnip and rape did not turn out well. On light lands pasture was badly burnt up, but on papa soils feed was not much affected. Settlers have learnt a lesson from this, and will in future pay more attention to conservation of water. The burns of felled bush were generally successful, and the grass-seed has taken well. The necessity for growing more wheat and oats has impressed itself on the farmers, and more attention will, no doubt be given to this in view of the conditions prevailing in the United Kingdom. In newly settled districts the roads are gradually improving, lending themselves to the use of motor transport, enabling farmers to attend to their business with an economy in time. The shortage of labour caused by men serving with the Expeditionary Force, coupled with the high prices ruling for fencing and other materials, has retarded improvements on newly settled farms. It is estimated that 150 Crown tenants are serving the Empire in the Force, and the sons of many have given their services and lives in the great national struggle. The area notified open for application was 57,684 acres, of which 49,198 acres were for selection by discharged soldiers. In addition an area of 19,387 acres was dealt with under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, and of these areas 34,937 acres remained open for application at the close of the year. The Land Board held sixteen meetings, of which four were special meetings to deal with lands set apart for settlement by discharged soldiers. At the ordinary meetings 257 transfers were consented to, showing a falling-off of nine on last year's dealings. The North Waimarino Improved Farm Settlement may now be regarded as part of the ordinary tenures, as most of the eighty holdings are well improved, and only nineteen settlers have not taken up their licenses, principally because sawmilling operations are not quite completed. It is satisfactory to report that arrears of rent are gradually being reduced, and the amount owing is £1,014 less than it was last year. During the year four leases of education-endowment lands expired, and the lessees were granted renewals, the aggregate rental being increased from £19 7s. lOd. to £75 18s. per annum. Inspections made by the Rangers show that the conditions of occupation as to cultivation, noxious weeds, &c, are in the main being satisfactorily complied with.

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NELSON. (F. A. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Owing mainly to stress of the war, progress in the district during the year has not been very marked, with the exception of dairying and the fruit industry. Some ninety Crown tenants have joined the various Reinforcements, and in addition a more numerous body of their connections and assistants in the same branch of industry have likewise enlisted. Thus the great demands of active service abroad have of necessity restricted the operations of pioneer development such as bushfelling, grassing, fencing, and roadmaking. Full advantage could not therefore be taken of the exceptionally dry summer so favourable to bush-burning. In the more settled and older established parts of the district, both in respect of leasehold and freehold land, stock-raising and grain-growing have been in good evidence, whilst the high prices realized and the increasing success of the various agricultural and pastoral shows testify to the flourishing conditions of farming operations. Dairying especially has advanced, all parts of the district considered, at an estimated rate of some 40 per cent, during the past year. The timber industry, although still considerable, shows an appreciable falling-off, due undoubtedly in part to labour exigencies, but in greater degree more probably to the increased difficulty of working remote areas. Very considerable development continues to be manifest in the fruit industry, both in the extent of new ground broken in and the improved appliances for assembly and despatch now being installed. The necessity of reserving reasonable areas of land specially for discharged soldiers and Expeditionary Force men has to some considerable extent curtailed the areas available for general selectors, but on the whole the wants of the latter have been fairly well satisfied, though the difficulties of developing backblock land at the present juncture have indeed precluded the immediate offering of some good land which is bound to be keenly sought after at no distant date. The Land Board held twelve regular meetings at the principal office, and paid a visit to the West Coast, holding special meetings at Westport and Reefton. Messrs. Walker and Bell, whose term as nominated members had expired, were reappointed. The Board has in all practicable cases endeavoured to extend very sympathetic treatment to soldiers on active service as well as to settlers seriously hampered by prevailing war circumstances affecting the initial stages of land-settlement. Numerous reports by the Rangers show that the improvements in most cases are well above statutory requirements, and that the number of defaulters in this respect is not considerable.

MARLBOROUGH. (H. D. McKellab, Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The past year has been a more favourable one from a climatic point of view than the two preceding ones, consequently the farmers have benefited accordingly, and, generally speaking, have had a successful year, although the crops have not been so heavy as was expected, the average for the district being about 30 bushels wheat, 40 bushels oats, and 35 bushels barley per acre. The dairying industry is steadily increasing throughout the district, and for a farmer in. a small way is one of the most remunerative. The lucerne and pea crops have been satisfactory. Stock have brought a good price, although the mortality among the sheep has been heavier than usual, the fly having been very troublesome. Education Endowments. —The total area of education endowments administered by the Board is 1,381 acres, consisting of forty-three leases. No leases have expired during the year, but steps have been taken to revalue those expiring this and next year, when no doubt a considerable increase in rent will be received. Land Beard. —The Land Board held twelve ordinary meetings and two special meetings. Mr. Weld retired through effluxion of time, and Mr. J. Boyd, of Kaikoura, succeeded him. Mr. Fulton, the elective member, was again appointed, there being no other candidate. Expeditionary Force. —Thirteen Crown tenants joined the Expeditionary Force, and in most instances partial remission of rent has been granted. Lands to be opened.— There will be only a small area of about 5,100 acres in the Rai and Opouri Valleys likely to be available for selection, most of which is in State forest that has been milled out and from which the reservation requires to be uplifted. Flax Industry. —There has been more activity in this industry owing to the high prices ruling. Fruit Industry. —Further areas are being planted with fruit-trees, and I anticipate it being a profitable industry as the orchards become matured, the climatic conditions being favourable. Sawmilling Industry. —This industry is diminishing as the timber becomes cut out, and it will be only a matter of a few years when it will be practically finished in this district. The Marlborough Timber Company is installing a. box-mill, which will be the means of utilizing for fruit and butter boxes a good deal of the timber at present wasted. Lime Industry. —There are two lime-works in the district, one at Flaxbourne and one at Kaikoura; but with the exception of supplying local requirements in a moderate degree they are unable to compete outside the district on account of the high freights. The quality of the lime is good.

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WESTLAND. (Tiros. Bbook. Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Weather conditions during the past year have been exceptionally favourable to farming operations, and excellent results have been obtained in all parts of the district. Dairy-farming is making steady progress, the output increasing year by year as the holdings are being developed. The number of fat cattle disposed of in the Christchurch market far exceeds that of any previous year, and the prices realized—up to £26 10s. per head—prove that under present conditions they can be delivered in Christchurch in prime condition. Two education reserves in South Westland, containing 843 acres, were leased by public auction, and another of 851 acres in the vicinity of the Wataroa Dairy Factory was subdivided into four sections and disposed of on renewable lease. As showing the keen demand that exists for land of good quality, it is worth noting that 204 persons applied for these four sections. The Department of Agriculture has under consideration the establishment of an experimental farm in Westland, and farmers are taking a keen interest in the matter. Owners of suitable properties have been invited to place them under offer to the Government, but up to the present the selection of a site has not been made. Another project that is receiving considerable attention is the establishment of a plant for the production of agricultural lime in quantities sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the whole of Westland. A. representative committee has the matter in hand, and the relative values of several deposits of limestone arc now being investigated. . The sawmilling industry has been greatly hampered by a shortage of suitable labour and shipping. The output of sawn timber for the year is slightly over fifty million superficial feet, a very satisfactory result in the circumstances. Sawmillers have in obtaining whitepine in sufficient quantities to meet the keen demand that exists for it within the Dominion and for export to Australia. One hundred and seven Crown tenants are known to be serving with the Expeditionary Force and there are doubtless many others of whom we have no knowledge.

CANTERBURY. (W. H. Skinneb, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Semi-pastoral and agricultural farms situate along the foothills and adjacent thereto had a good season. The rain did not fail them in the spring, as they benefited both from the northwest as well as from the south-west showers. The wheat, oats, and other crops were normal, and the turnips and rape were satisfactory. The rainfall was 39 in. along the belt from Oxford to Peel Forest, whilst on the lower plains only 24 in. fell during the year, mostly during the months of April, May, and July. During October, November, and December, when the crops required rain, there were only rare and light showers of little value; consequently all cereal crops were light. To make matters worse, an unexpected frost early in January caught the wheat on the lowlands between Ashburton and Ashley Rivers, reducing the value of this cereal to quite one-half of what otherwise it would have been. Large fields in the Ellesmere district, which previous to the frost had promised a return of 40 bushels and more to the acre, were so seriously affected that the owners of threshing-mills would not work on the usual basis of a sum per bushel, but insisted that if they threshed at all they should be paid by the hour; and the results did not exceed 12 bushels an acre. South of the Rangitata River the wheat was not frosted, and the yields of grain were good. The dry weather in the spring months was also responsible for a large area all over Canterbury of the light arable lands being devastated by the grass-grub Mamestra compositer, those pastures consisting of rye-grass "being the worse affected. Turnips were a failure except along the foothills, the diamond-back moth destroying where the turnips had grown, but in most places in the South the turnip-seed did not strike at all. Pastoral Country. —The licenses of sixteen pastoral runs expired on the 28th February, 1917, comprising ever half a million acres, which were dealt with as follows : Eleven were renewed at enhanced rentals to the old licensees, under the provisions of section 56 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, and two were subdivided into nine parts, seven of these being offered as small grazing-runs and renewable leases under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. Of the remaining runs one was a temporary license, and two have been subdivided into four holdings. The Land Board is now dealing with twelve pastoral runs, comprising 325,722 acres, the licenses expiring on the 28th February, 1918. These have been referred to the Classification Commissioners. There has been ample feed during the season for all the flocks depastured on this back country. The losses during the winter were a little above the normal average. Lambing was satisfactory. The shortage of experienced musterers (nearly all the old hands have gone to the front) was sharply felt, and the mustering left a lot of sheep on the land and consequently unshorn. Tho shortage in quantity was more than compensated for by the exceptional high prices received for the wool, and the extra market prices secured for the culls of sheep flocks. Forward store cattle further increased the pastoral licensees' profits. Education Endowments. —Forty-one leases, comprising 9,344 acres, which expired during the year were dealt with. Further leases, numbering forty-one, with an aggregate area of 13,360 acres, will expire in March, 1918. These will be dealt with during the coming year. Some trouble

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has been experienced in getting the lessees to pay attention to the spreading of gorse from the hedges, there being a difficulty now in obtaining labour. The reserves containing agricultural land are being farmed in accordance with the conditions. The pastoral holdings are now very profitable to the lessees. The endowment will benefit to a considerable amount when the leases, soon about to expire, are relet. Cheviot Estate.— The rainfall on the estate during the past year was 2897 in., half of which fell in the months of March. May. and July. The growing months received a moderate fall until November and December, when a dry period was experienced. However, the wheat and oat crops on the agricultural lands turned out to be moderate, about 1,000 acres of wheat averaging 25 bushels per acre, oats 29 bushels (not all yet threshed owing to scarcity of mills), on, say, 400 acres which was threshed, and 750 acres that will produce 1|- tons of chaff per acre. There is a desire amongst farmers to put in as much wheat as possible, but owing to various causes a less area of wheat will be grown in the coming year. Owing to the ravages of the diamond moth, settlers have had to put in a quantity of green feed for wintering stock. Between sixty and seventy thousand fat sheep were sent to market last season, an average of one fat sheep per acre of the estate, in addition to numerous cattle sold. The population remains as in previous years, a lot of young men having enlisted. The improvements are well maintained and added to from time to time. Twenty-eight grazing-fann leases, aggregating 37,520 acres, were renewed to the original lessees, ami three, representing 3,306 acres, are temporarily leased pending decision as to future disposal. Land, Board. —During the year there were twelve ordinary and one special meeting of the Land Board, at which 24<S applications to transfer leases were dealt with; 221 were approved and 27 declined.

OTAGO. (Robebt T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The principal land-settlement during the year has taken place upon the subdivisions of pastoral runs. The Puketoi Run was cut up into eight subdivisions, of which six consisted wholly of high summer country, and were disposed of readily to those holding sufficient low country to work in conjunction therewith.. The Galloway Runs were subdivided into five runs, which were all taken up, and an area of 900 acres at Little Valley was set apart under the provisions of the Water-supply Amendment Act, 1913, to be worked by the Alexandra Development Company. In addition an area of about 3,000 acres was kept out of the runs for close settlement and afforestation. The Hawkdun Runs were also subdivided into five runs, and four were selected by soldiers on active service. A mild winter and good spring promised better results in North and Central Otago, but later the weather was very dry and the crops were only moderate. In Central Otago the best rainfall for eight or nine years has been experienced recently, and in consequence the prospects are good. At Alexandra rabbit canning and freezing works have been established, and are making a great addition to the prosperity of the district. The fruit yield in Central Otago both for stone and pip fruits has been excellent. In this district the growing of lucerne is now engaging much attention. The soil is well adapted to its growth where water for irrigation is available, and it will probably prove a more profitable crop than fruit. Generally, in spite of the dry season, in North and Central Otago the settlors have, with a few exceptions, done fairly well, owing to the high prices realized for all farm-produce. There is nothing particular to report with regard to education endowments, a. number of leases have been renewed at an increased rental, and generally the position is satisfactory. There are a few areas of indifferent quality and some town sections of little value unlet. As far as can be ascertained, nineteen Crown tenants in this district have joined the Expeditionary Force. These have all been granted exemption from rent during their absence.

SOUTHLAND. (H. D. M. Haszabd, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) It is pleasing to be able to report that the district has again experienced a most successful year—probably a record one. December and January were two of the driest months experienced here for many seasons, but from February on the weather was most conducive to the growth of grass and turnips. The luxuriance of the pastures throughout the district at time of writing has been described as nothing short of remarkable. There is an abundance of grass, and some magnificent crops of turnips may be seen, so winter feed for Southland is more than assured.

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Owing to the remarkable growth during the autumn —a season which has never been excelled in Southland—and the high price prevailing for " stores," most of the lands are considerably understocked, and it is difficult to keep the grass down. On account of existing war conditions prices of all products have increased —fat bullocks readily bring up to £25, fat wethers £2, and fat lambs £1 10s. The lambing is equal to last year, but it is considered that there are less ewes in the district. The wool-clip having been commandeered, the price has been fixed by the Government. The dairying industry in Southland is making rapid progress, and several new factories—both butter and cheese —have commenced operations. The price of cheese (also commandeered by the Government) shows a marked increase, and notwithstanding the tax on butter the dairy-farmers are doing remarkably well. A report on the grain prospects cannot be so reassuring. Owing, probably, to the scarcity of labour, the quantity of grain grown is considerably less than in previous years. The crops are light and the grain not well filled. This followed as the result of the dry spell at the New Year, the ears ripening fully a month earlier than usual. It is anticipated that the crops will show a decrease of about 20 bushels per acre from those of the previous year. The number of tenants on the books at the close of the financial year, principally through conversions to freehold, is nine less than the figures for the previous period, but the annual rentals payable show an increase of over £3,300. The gross revenue received, while a little short of last year's total, is much above the average, and exceeded the estimate. The land opened for sale and selection during the year amounted to 42,800 acres, and is about double that for the preceding year; but this is accounted for by the fact that two pastoral runs were offered, so that the number of selections does not show a corresponding increase. As all lands suitable will probably be opened for discharged soldiers, there will be naturally less land placed on the market for the general public during the coming year. To some extent the arrears of rent may be taken as an index of the prosperity of the tenants, and it is again satisfactory to note that the outstanding amount is comparatively a small one. A larger number of lessees and a greater amount of money, in comparison with last year, are shown in rebates for prompt payment of rent. The desire to convert holdings into freeholds is still maintained, and the number of conversions during the year show a slight increase, but the amount received was considerably less than last year. The work in connection with the administration of education endowments in this district is considerable, but all transactions are up to date. Over eighty expiries of leases were dealt with during the year, and the result is that the revenue payable shows a similar increase to that of last year—viz., nearly £600 per annum. The policy of the Land Board is to grant renewals where the lessee has no other land, or where the other land, together with the endowment, is just sufficient as a holding. In the other cases the leases are submitted at auction and the highest bidder is the purchaser. In some few cases the endowments have been dealt with under the provisions of the Land Act. This enables the Board to settle suitable and deserving applicants, but on the other hand the revenue may suffer through the leases not being auctioned. However, subdivision in many cases would be futile if such divisions were put to the hammer. There are nearly eight hundred education-endowment tenants, and out of an annual rental payable of over £16,600 only £16 is shown as arrears on this return. This is sufficient indication of theclassof tenant and of the prosperity enjoyed. Since 1911-12, during which time the administration has been in the hands of the Land Board, the annual rentals payable on these leases have increased by nearly £4,000. The season generally has again been a most prosperous one, and last year's general remarks might be reiterated concerning the prosperity of the province and the conditions prevailing amongst the farming community. i

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APPENDIX lI.—LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS. The following tables show the land-for-settlement estates opened for selection during the year and the present position of all settlements disposed of : —

Estates opened for Selection during the Year.

Notic. The whole of these settlements, with the exception of Hilderthorpe, eleven sections in Reynolds Settlement, and three sections in Taniwha Settlement, were proclaimed under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, for selection by discharged soldiers.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1917.

Land District. Name of Estate. Number of Holdings opened for Selection. Area opened (or Seloction. Auckland Wellington Marlborough Reynolds - Pakarau Taniwha / Tiraumea 1 Greystoke j Makowai (Fairfield Erina ISeaforth Lees Valley Clayton Cricklewood I Clifton.. 1 Hilderthorpe Lamont 25 23 10 21 14 25 8 12 9 8 5 8 22 22 5 Acres. 1,486 2,128 613 10.138 1,046 1,450 1.020 6,968 516 26,196 11,603 1.915 5,149 681 745 Canterbury Otago Southland Totals .. 217 71,654 217

Name of Estate. Leaseholds. Freeholds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Remarks as to Present Position. uckland — Balachraggan Bickerstaft'e (lad man .. Carroll Clifford .. Oradock .. Ecclestone No. 2 Pencourt .. Gorton Hetana Karapiro .. Kitchener Lawry Mangapouri Mangawhero Matamata Methuen . . Ohauiti Okauia Opouriao .. Otway Pakarau .. Parahi Plurner Prescott .. Rangiatea Rewi Reynolds. . 24 46 8 7 4 33 10 36 16 8 11 20 164 11 12 11 77 15 21 9 6 1 16 9 23 2 1 "l 7 I 11 '.53 ■2 4 3 6 106 19 Dairying Grazing Not offered. Not offered. Dairying Homes and orchards Homes Dairying Dairying Homes and orchards Dairying Somes Homes Dairying Dairying Dairying Homes and orchards Mixed farming Dairying Dairying Dairying Dairying Dairying and grazing Homes and orchards Grazing; lease only. Dairying Dairying Dairying Good. Good. Fair. Good. Good. Very good. Fair. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Very good. Good. Fair. Good. Very good. Good. Now estate (discharged soldiers). Good. (food. "6 30 2 15 I 4 1 Very good. Good." New estate (part discharged soldiers). Good. New estate (part discharged soldiers). Fair. Good. Good. Good. Fair. Good. Selwyn Taniwha .. 108 7 55 Dairying and grazing Dairying Tautari .. Teasdale .. Waari Waimana.. Waitakaruru Whitehall 43 56 19 23 14 11 2 47 16 12 Dairying Business and residence sites .. • Homes and orchards Dairying Dairying and grazing Dairying "8 Totals 879 415

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Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1917 — continued.

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Name of Estate. 1 .easeholds. Freeholds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Remarks as to Present Position. Hawke's Ray —- Argyll . . Clydebank Elsthorpe Forest Gate Gwavas Haturna Kanakanaia Kumeroa Lindsay Mahora Mangatahi Mangatoro Ngatapa Otanrauri.. Pouparae Pourerere Raumati . . Kaureka . . Sherenden Springhill.. Te Arai To Mata Tomoana Tongoio Waihau Waimaric.. Waipuka Wigan Willows 60 21 47 23 12 72 7 14 64 31 23 23 29 16 6 6 30 15 21 17 52 9 11 12 22 18 1 13 22 2 2 5 6 7 2 5 2 3 3 3 Agricultural and pastoral Pastoral Pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Pastoral Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Agricultural,fruit-culture, and dairying .. Agricultural and pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Pastoral Pastoral Agricultural and dairying Agricultural and pastoral Pastoral and dairying Dairying and fruit-culture Mostly pastoral .. " .. Mostly pastoral Agricultural, pastoral, arrd dairying Fruit-culture Fruit-culture and dairying Mostly pastoral Mostly pastoral Agricultural and dairying Mostly pastoral Pastoral Agricultural and dairying Vory good. Very good. Very good. Good. Vory promising. Very good. Very good. Very good. Good. Very good. Very fair. Good. Very good. Good. Very good. Vory fair. Very fair. Very good. Good. Very good. Very good. Good. Very good. Very fair Very fair. Very good. Good. Excellent. Vory good. "2 4 7 3 5 Totals 697 61 Taranaki — Clandon Huinga Spotswood Tariki Tokaora 7 10 41 8 9 "4 Dairying Dairying Homestead Dairying and grazing .. .. Dairying Good. Fair. Good. Very good. Excollont. "7 Totals 75 11 Wellington — Aorangi Bartholomew Carrington Dyer Epuni Hamlet Fairfield Falloon Greystoke Hall-Jones Hawtrey Itcatherlea Langdale Linton Longbush and Mahupuku Makowai Mangawhata Maungaraki Normandale Ohakea Paparangi Pitt Poroporo Tablelands and Hika31 0 34 37 36 1 6 7 5 35 26 29 5 1.8 6 1 2 6 • Dairying arrd fruitgrowing Dairying Dairying Grazing and cropping .. .. Market-gardening, &c. Grazing and cropping Grazing and cropping Dairying, cropping, &c. Grazing, gardening, &c. Residential Dairying, poultry, bees Grazing Dairying and cropping. . Grazing, dairying, &c. Excellent. Good. Fair. Excellent. Very good. .Satisfactory. Very fair. Satisfactory. Satisfactory. Fair. Good. Good. Good. Excellent. "5 I 2 3 1 20 30 8 31 2 10 17 6 2 8 3 Dairying and cropping.. Grazing and dairying Grazing, pigs, and poultry Grazing, pigs, and poultry Dairying, cropping, &c. Residential, pig-farming, &c. Satisfactory. ExcellentGood. Fair. Excellent Good. 1 Grazing, cropping, &c. Grazing Fair. Very'good. wora Tawaha Te Matua Tiraumea.. Waddington Wilford .. 24 12 2 1 7 1 I Grazing and dairying .. Dairying and grazing Dairying and grazing Lot for grazing only. Residential, gardening, &c. Good. Satisfactory. Satisfactory. 3 Satisfactory. Totals 447 51 Nelson — Braeburn.• Lake Wangapeka 22 3 14 1 Dairying and grazing Dairying and grazing Dairying and grazing Good. Improving. Very good. 3 Totals 39

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Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1917— continued.

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Name of Estate. Leaseholds. Freeholds. Prlneipal Purpose for which Holdings arc utilized. Remarks as to Present Position. Marlborough — Blind River Krina Flaxbourne Hillersden Hillersden Bush Lynton Downs 'North Bank Omaka Puhipuhi Rainf ord Richmond Brook .. Starborough Waipapa Wither 18 4 126 54 3 11 11 13 2 II 12 185 4 15 2 6 5 Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming. Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming Procuring fencing-timber. Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep -farming Sheep-farming and light cropping Grazing Dairying Sheep-farming and grain-growing Shoep-farming and grain-growing Grazing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Fair. Fair. Satisfactory. Doubtful. Satisfactory. Sound. Satisfactory. Good. Fair. Fair. Fair. Satisfactory. "4 2 Totals 469 19 • Westland — Kokatahi Poerua 8 23 Dairying and grazing Dairying and grazing Highly satisfactory. Highly satisfactory. Totals 31 Canterbury —■ Albury Allanholme Annan Ashley Gorge Ashwick Avenel Avenel Extension .. Aylesbury Bourndale Braco Buddo Burke's Homestead Chamberlain Clandeboye Clandeboye No. 2 .. Claremont Clayton Copland Crioklewood Culvordon Douglas Drayton Eccleston Epworth F inlay Downs Four Peaks Fyvie Glenmark Glentanner Hokeao Highbank Hillboro Hornby Horsley Down Kaimahi Kapua Kapuatohe Kereta Kinloch Kohika Kohika No. 2 Kowhatu Ladbrook's Lansdown Lees Valley Lyndon Lyndon No. 2 Marawiti Maytown.. Mead Meadows Mills Moricc Mount Nossing Omihi' Valley Orakipaoa 78 8 42 8 8 17 11 6 7 9 13 1 "2 2 5 Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Mixed farming and grazing Dairy-farming and grazing Shoep-farming and grain-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming Mixed farming Sheep-farming arrd grain-growing Market-gardening Workors' dwellings Homestead-site. Sheep-farming and grain-growing Dairy-farming and grain-growing Dairy-farming and grain-growing Sheep and dairy farming and grain-growing Sheep-grazing Sheep and dairy farming and grain-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming and grazing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Agricultural Sheep-farming and grain-growing Established and prosperous. Good. Established and prosperous. Woll established. Good. Very fair. Fair. Fair. Very fair. Well established. Fair. 1 21 10 0 II 5 2 2 58 32 20 4 •s Established and prosperous. Fair. Fair. Fair. Just selected. Good. Just solocted. Good. Fair. Indifferent. Well established and prosperous. Now freehold. Very good. Good. Bad. improving. 2 5 8 4 28 1 I Dairy-farming and grain-growing Sheep-f.arming and grain-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming and grazing Homestead -sites. Mixed farming Mixed farming Sheep-farming and grain-growing Agricultural and gardening Mixed farming Workers' homes and gardening Small farming and dairying Workers' homes and gardening Dairying Dairy-farming and grazing Mixed farming Mixed farming Mixed farming and grazing Dairying and mixed farming Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-grazing Mixed farming Mixed farming and grazing Mixed f arming and grazing Sheep-farming and dairying Mixod farming and grazing Shoop-farming and grain-growing Small farming and dairying Dairy-farming and grass-seed growing Shoep-farming and grain-growing Stock-accommodation. Dairy-farming, grain-growing, andgardening 13 74 3 21 19 II 12 13 4 32 17 • 4 4 14 10 7 9 9 13 11 22 14 21 30 11 3 6 8 2 1 Well established and prosperous. Well established and prosperous. Good. Fair. Well established and prosperous. Satisfactory. Good. Satisfactory. Well established. Very good. Weil established and prosperous. Vory good. Uncertain yet. Moderate. Good. Just selected. Well established and prosperous. Well established and prosperous. Well established and prosperous. Good. Well established and prosperous. Vory fair. Well established. Satisfactory. Vory good. 1 "l *27 Well established.

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Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1917 — continued.

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Narrre of Estate. Leaseholds. Freeholds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Remarks as to Present Position, Canterbury —continued. Otaio Otarakaro Papaka Pareora Pareora No. 2 Patoa Pawaho Peaks Puhuka Punaroa Raincliff Rakitairi Rapuwai Rautawird Roimata Rosobrook Rosewill Ruapuna No. 2 Scargill Seaforth Sherwood Downs . . Stoke Strathmoro Studholme Junction Takitu Tamai Tara Tarawahi Teschemaker Timaunga Timaunga Extension Tripp Valvorde Waiapi Waikakahi Waimate Wharonui Winchester Homestead-sites .. 9 5 9 28 30 2 18 10 9 10 1 22 5 6 21 14 155 15 8 "2 3 2 7 2 1 1 "8 6 Small farming aird dairying Market-gardening Mixed farming Sheep-farming and dairying Sheep-fanning and grain-growing Grazing and small farming Market-gardening Mixed farming Workers' homes Dairy and sheep farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Workers' homes Small farming and dairying Sheep-farming and grain-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming and grazing Not yet selected. Sheep-farming and gram-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming Small farming and dairying Shoep-farming Workers' homes Sheep-farming and grain-growing Workers' homes Sheep-farming and grain-growing Mixed farming Mixed farming Shoep-farming and grain-growing Mixed farming Shoep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming and grain-growing Sheep-farming, grain and fruit growing .. Workors' homes ... Sheep-farming, grain-growing, and dairying Well established. Well established ; satisfactory Woll established and prosperous. Good. Woll established and prosperous. Satisfactory, m Satisfactory. Satisfactory. Well established. Well established and prosperous. Well established. Good. Well established. Well established, j Satisfactory. Good. Well established and prosperous. Good. Moderate. 26 7 3 4 5 34 8 22 12 17 7 24 11 13 195 34 23 10 11 6 I 7 Vory fair; improving. Good. Fair. Good. Well established and prosperous Satisfactory Very good. Satisfactory. Very good. Fair; improving. Good. Fair. Indifferent. Good. Well established and prosperous. Good. Well established Fair. 2 I "S Totals 1,097 88 itago —■ Airedale Ardgowan Aviemore Barnogo Bellamy Clareview.. Clifton Conical Hills Duncan Earnscleugh Elderslio Elderslie No. 2 (lallo way Greenfield Hilderthorpe Janefiold Kauroo Hill Kurow Maerowhenua Makaroao Makaroao Extension Maraeweka Matakanui Moadowbank Momona Otanomomo Otekaike Plunket .. Pomahaka, Downs .. Puketapu Rugged Ridges Steward Spottis Creek St. Helens Tahawai Taumata Te Aneraki Te Puke 12 65 1 24 15 5 2 46 5 15 35 16 5 42 10 20 42 13 70 33 3 7 3 11 12 25 64 18 27 11 1 51 1 3 7 9 23 4 3 I 2 2 1 3 I Dairying and general farming Dairying and goneral farming Grazing Dairying and gonoral farming Grazing Dairying and genera) farming General farming Grazing and general farming Dairying Fruitgrowing I ti'iieral farming General farming Homestead-sites for pastoral runs Homestead-sites for pastoral runs General farming and workers' homes Dairying, fruitgrowing, &c. General farming General farming and dairying General f arming General farming Goneral farming General farming General and grazing General farming I lairying Dairying .. General and mixed farming General and mixed farming Goneral and mixod farming Dairying Grazing General and mixed farming Grazing General farming Dairying Mixed farming Dairying General farming Fair. Fair. Good. Good. Fair. Fair. No inspection made. Fair. Fair. Very fair. Good. Fair. No inspection made. Good. Poor. Good. Very fair. Good. Good. Good. Good. Fair. Fair. Very fair. Good. Good. Fair. Fair. Very fair. Good. Good. Fair. Fair. Good. Good. Good. Fair. Very poor 2 1 1 1 I 2 1

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Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1917 — continued.

EXTRACTS EROM REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. AUCKLAND. (H. M. Skeet. Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The total number of occupied settlements is now thirty-two, on which there are 879 tenants, occupying 157,119 acres and paying a rental of £27,162 per annum, in addition to which 415 tenants have acquired the freehold of 61,958 acres, at a purchase price of £109,710. Three new settlements were the year, namely : Reynolds Settlement, near Cambridge, containing 1,512 acres, of which part was offered for discharged soldiers only and part for ordinary ballot; Taniwha Settlement, of 615 acres, near Te Kauwhata, and Pakarau Settlement, of 2,755 acres, near Morrinsville. The two latter settlements, with the exception of two sections in Taniwha, were offered for discharged soldiers only. The greater part of these settlements are already being successfully occupied, and very good progress is being made by the settlers. The Rangers' reports show that in the majority of cases the older settlements are in a prosperous condition, especially as dairying is the staple industry of most of the settlers. A few of the more recently established settlements which need development or improvement of pastures arc being retarded by the high price of necessaries, but there is every prospect of satisfactory progress being made as circumstances permit. The small settlements near Auckland are now very largely freehold, and further subdivision has been in progress, as they are favourably situated for workers' homes. HAWKE'S BAY. (W. F. Marsh, Commisisoner of Crown Lands.) Land-for-settlement estates cause very little trouble indeed, I hose older ones that are still subject to inspection for improvements showing a marked surplus over requirements, the motorshed being much in evidence. The recent settlements of Gwavas and Otamauri bid fair to be as prosperous.

Name of Estate. l.easchnlds. Freeholds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Remarks as to Present Position. Otago —co u tinued. Tokarahi Totara Waitahuna No. 1 .. Waitahuna No. 2 .. Windsor Park No. 1 Windsor Park No. 2 79 26 1 5 37 10 1 I 1 General arrd mixed farming General and mixed farming General and mixed farming General and mixed farming General and mixed farming General and mixed farming Good. Fair. Vory poor. Very poor. Good. Good. Totals 920 25 Southland —■ Ardlussa Beaumont Edendale. • Krmedale. ■ Fortification Hill Glenham Knowsley Park Lamont Maori Hill Merrivale.. Merrivalo No. 1 Merrivale No. 2 Otahu Ringway Waiarikiki 4 10 125 13 6 42 9 4 14 47 9 6 7 6 6 2 25 1 4 Pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Agricultural, pastoral, ami dairying Pastoral and dairying Pastoral Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Pastoral Agricultural and dairying Dairying and pastoral Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying Agricultural and pastoral Agricultural and pastoral Pastoral Poor. Fair. Excellent. Good. Good. Good. Doubtful. Good. Good. Very good. Fair. Fair. Good. Good. Doubtful. 8 2 Totals 308 42 (Irand totals .. 5,562 716

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TARANAKI. (G. FT. Rullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The only acquisition by the Crown in this district during the year was the Tututawa Settlement, comprising 726 acres in three sections, situated about four miles from the Douglas Railwaystation on the Stratford Branch line. As, however, the purchase was only completed on the 29th March last, the land will not be on the market until the 22nd May, 1917. It is to bo made available for discharged soldiers only. The old settlements, five in number, are all now well established and in a prosperous condition, the tenants' interests exceeding those of the Crown in most instances. Twenty-two of these holdings, aggregating*2,724 acres, are still under the lcase-in-pcrpetuity tenure, and the tenants' rights to acquire the fee-simple thereto will expire in November, 1918.

WELLINGTON. (G. H. M. McClure, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) On lands which were purchased during previous years two allotments, in Tablelands and Hikawera, 1,231 acres, were disposed of under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, as were also five sections in Longbush and Mahupuku, 2,31.7 acres; one section in Normandale, 857 acres; and three allotments in Hall-Jones, 7 acres. An area of 29 acres 3 roods 17 perches in Bartholomew was taken over by the Agricultural Department for use temporarily as an adjunct to the Weraroa State Farm. The new settlements disposed of during the year were as under: Greystoke, fourteen sections, 1,046 acres; Fairfield, eight sections, 1,020 acres; Makowai, twenty-five sections, 1,450 acres; Tiraumea, twenty-one sections, 10,138 acres. Of these areas, fifty-two sections have been allotted to discharged soldiers, those in Greystoke and Makowai being used as dairy farms; Fairfield, mixed farming and agriculture; and Tiraumea, for sheep and cattle farms. The prospects of all these settlers may be considered as satisfactory.

NELSON. (F. A. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lauds.) Only three estates have been purchased in this district—namely, Braeburn, Lake, and Wangapeka. In all three settlements the principal sources of income of the settlers are dairying and grazing. In the Braeburn and Wangapeka Settlements very satisfactory progress has been made during the year, and large areas of bush have been cleared and brought into profit. Some of the settlers are supplying milk to factories, and these are well satisfied with their prospects. Generally speaking, (Iks settlers are in a very prosperous condition. In the Lake Settlement there are three selectors, one of whom is on active service. Two selections were made during the year, and it is likely that, taking into consideration the access to, locality, and quality of the land, the remaining sections will be readily disposed of. It is considered that in a, few years this settlement will compare favourably with the others in this district.

MARLBOROUGH. (11. I). MoKeli.au, Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands.) There are fourteen settlements in (lie district, comprising 214,903 acres, held by 469 lessees. No new settlements have been acquired during the year. The settlers on the more recently acquired ones, excepting Lynton Downs and a few isolated eases on the others, are satisfied with their holdings. The crops having been good and (he stock fetching high prices, most of the settlers should have had a fairly good year.

WESTLAND. (Thomas Brook, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The two settlements in this district (Kokatahi and Poerua) have been in the occupation of settlers for many years, and the conditions of residence and improvements are being fully complied with. The settlers are engaged almost wholly in dairy-farming, and their holdings being well developed they were in the fortunate position of being able to take full advantage of the favourable season and the high prices realized for produce.

CANTERBURY. (W. 11. Skinner,, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Of the forty-six estates purchased and disposed of in North and Mid Canterbury, nineteen are well established, ten are progressing, eleven comprise suburban workers' homes and marketgarden areas and arc in a satisfactory position, and six are not yet considered as satisfactory. Most of the last-mentioned settlements are lately settled and have not yet. recovered from the recent

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adverse seasons. The high cost of fencing and building material and other calls upon the settlers' resources have retarded complete compliance with the improvement conditions. The dry spring and late frosts affected the cereal crops except on those settlements especially favoured by position, and the diamond-back moth again made 'ravages with the turnip crops. The rape was only a partial success, but showers in January and February improved it so that a good percentage of lambs was made fit for market. The enhanced values for wool and stock more than balanced losses sustained in cropping. Oats, Emerald rye, &c, as winter and early spring feed, will have to be largely provided, reducing land-cultivation for cereal crops. Autumn rains have improved the outlook. There are forty estates in South Canterbury, four of which have not reached a satisfactory position. The season just passed has been the most successful for some years, and even the poorest settlements in the district show a marked improvement. This, of course, is to be accounted for by the abnormal prices ruling for wool, stock, and cereals of all descriptions. Unfortunately the outlook for- the successful wintering of stock is not good, as the district has been suffering from want of rain to keep pasture land in good heart and bring on the rape and turnip crops. At the time of writing, however, we are experiencing rain at last, and if the frosts keep off, the situation,, as far as grass goes, may yet be saved, although I am afraid it is too late to benefit the rape and turnips. The large amount of improvements over statutory requirements is sufficient evidence of the continued prosperity of the district as a whole. The plantations throughout the whole district are looking exceedingly well.

OTAGO. (Robert T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Two new settlements were opened during the year—viz., Hilderthorpe, in North Otago, divided into two farms and a number of small sections for workers' homes. The farms were selected, but most of the small sections were not taken up. Clifton Settlement, out from Balclutha, was opened for discharged soldiers only. Five applicants were examined by the Board, but only three sections out of twenty-two were allotted. The older-established settlements are doing fairly well, with the exception of Waitahuna Nos. 1 and 2, near Havelock; two of the settlers on these settlements have abandoned their holdings, not being able to make a living. Revaluations were made of the three sections forming Te Puke Settlement, near Oamaru, and two on Otanomomo. In both cases a substantial reduction was made in the values, it being considered that the rents were too high. As the, values of the Committee are reckoned on a 5-per-cent. rental basis and the tenants pay only a, 4-i-per-cent. rental with the right to a 10-per-cent. rebate of rent for prompt payment, any reduction made by the Committee means a considerable loss to the Crown.

SOUTHLAND. (H. D. M. Haszard, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Including Lamont Settlement, which is being administered under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, there are now fifteen settlements in this district, being an increase of three during the year. Aided by the excellent conditions at present prevailing, the majority are in a prosperous Waiarikiki, Knowsley Park, and Ardlussa are the exceptions. ' With regard to the first-mentioned two settlements, the tenants were handicapped at the outset on account of difficulty in arranging financial matters, and insufficient farming experience added to their troubles. The three settlements added during the year are Lamont, Merrivale No. 1, and Merrivale No. 2. Lamont is very conveniently situated, within two miles from railway-station, school, dairy factory, &c._, and is only thirteen miles from Invercargill. It was subdivided into five holdings, four of which have been selected, by discharged soldiers. These selectors are competent and industrious men, and as the land is capable of being highly improved there is every prospect of success ahead. Merrivale Nos. 1 and 2 were originally held under the conditions of the Land Settlement Finance Act, and during the first two years the settlers made no headway, the principal handicap being the unfavourable climatic conditions. Pursuant to legislation enacted these settlements were taken over by the Government, and are now administered under the Land for Settlements Act. The result has been that prospective failure for the settlers has been changed to a fair chance of success, and already the majority have passed the critical stage. Three are dairying and the others are sheep-farming. Only sufficient grain for their own "requirements is grown on these settlements. When the Orawia Railway is completed the value of these lands will be enhanced and the proximity of the railway to the settlements will be a decided advantage to the settlers Edendale still holds pride of place amongst Southland settlements, and it is worthy of mention that it supplies six dairy factories. Taken as a whole, the position of the settlements in this district must be regarded as satisfactory.

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APPENDIX lII.—LAND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS. (J. B. Thompson, Chief Drainage Engineer.) During the past year the Land Drainage Branch has been actively engaged in attending to matters pertaining to land-drainage and river-protective works generally. The passing of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, has further increased the scope of this branch. A separate report on works carried out under this Act is being forwarded. Special inspections and reports were made in connection with the following: Ashley RiverOxford East water-supply; Steward Settlement protective works; Lees Valley drainage; Waipaoa River; Moutoa Estate drainage; Takapuna water-supply; Waikanae River improvement; Waipa River improvement; Rangitikei River improvement; Omapere Lake drainage; Hook River; Ody's Swamp; Taieri-Waipori Rivers engineering surveys, &c.; Mamaku water-supply; Raupo drainage-works; flood damage between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti ; Waikato River Board works; Waikato River and tributaries; Seaward Moss Swamp; and also on other minor works. Work, done by local bodies out of Government grants and subsidies was inspected and certified to, plans and specifications for such works being examined for approval or otherwise. Vouchers in this connection, totalling £2,559 10s. 9d., were prepared and certified to for payment to the local bodies through Treasury. Hereunder is a short report on works that have been carried out in connection with various grants-expended by this branch : — Hauraki Plains: Orchard East Boad Extension. —This work connects the Orchard Road with the Turua-Netherton Road, and is the direct outlet for the Piako River bridge at Ngatea (Orchard), now in course of erection. The sum of £56 was spent in clearing and road-formation. Hauraki Plains: Waikaka Tramway Boad,. —The work on this line has all been maintenance, workmen being employed continually throughout the year keeping it in good repair. Expenditure for the year was £268 15s. 6d. Hauraki Plains, Metalling Boads in. —-This work has been enumerated in the Hauraki Plains Report. Some 5 miles 5 chains was metalled during the year, spread over the following roads : Kerepehi—Kopuarahi, Orchard East, To Hopai, Patetonga access road, Orchard Wharf approach, Pipiroa-Waitakaruru, and access to wharf, Waitakaruru. The cost of work done during the year amounted to £4,893 9s. 2d. Hauraki Plains: Maintenance existing Drains, &c. —This vote is for maintaining drainageworks on settled portions of the Hauraki Plains. The expenditure during the year was £2,094 lis. The expenditure was greater this year, due to some of the drains requiring two cleanings instead of one, on account of abnormal growth of vegetation consequent upon a very wet season. Opouriao Protective Works.--As last year, the chief work has been repairs and maintenance of existing works. The proposed cut at Section 6, Block XII, Whakatane, referred to in last year's report, has been completed, and a boom groyne erected across the old channel. At the back of Section 10 the river showed signs of changing its course, and as this would give a better line steps were taken to protect the new channel, and the old one is gradually silting up. Below the Taneatua Bridge, at the junction of the Waimana and Opouriao Rivers, important works are being carried on. A portion only can be done each year, as it takes time for the work to become consolidated and the willows firmly established. An increasing amount of driftwood is noticeable in the more recent, Hoods, and this trouble will probably increase as the bush is felled above the Waimana Settlement. The expenditure during the year, amounted to £639 17s. Id. Waimana, River Protective, Works. —The chief work has been the cutting of the diversion channel through Woolfield's Section 19, Block 111, Waimana Survey District. W r ork was commenced with four scoop teams, but on account of the high state of the river, the hard nature of the country, and the scarcity of drivers the channel was not made as deep as was intended. A permanent stream now flows through the channel, and recent floods considerably enlarged it. The project is a great success, and is giving immense relief. At Section 2 four groynes have been erected and the bank protected by establishing willows. Maintenance of existing works, and works generally, have been impeded by excessive rainfall and poor quality of work offering; but notwithstanding, no complaints have been received as during former years before the works were started. The expenditure during the year was £1,004 19s. sd. Oturay Settlement. —-The work done on this block consisted in forming 1 mile 11 chains of road and cleaning 28 chains of drains, at an expenditure of £105 13s. 6d. Waipori and Taieri Bivers Engineering Surveys. —The work done last year was continued as follows :— Waipori River: The proposed deviations were pegged and levelled and cross-sections taken. A set of soundings was taken across the Waipori Lake, tide-gauges being erected to harmonize soundings. The deviation from Waipori Outlet to Berwick was altered and poled afresh across Waipori Lake. Taieri River : Cross-sections from Warden's to Outram were extended over either bank and continued, up the river above Outram for two miles. River sections were also taken below WardelPs and Maori Leap for tidal weir purposes. Tide-gauges were erected in the Lower Gorge between Wardell's and the mouth and connecting levels run. The total levels run were fourteen miles, and three miles of traverse, together with about ten miles of continuation of cross-sections. Three

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26

possible flood-water impounding-areas were also contoured, situated respectively at Taieri Lake, Waipiata, and Matarae-Middleinarch. All plans of dam-sites, sections, &,c, have been completed. The expenditure during the year amounted to £339 7s. Bd. Lees Valley Drainage Scheme. —Engineering surveys were continued as follows: Traverse and levelling, 35 chains; traverse and levelling main drains, 1 mile 8 chains. Duck Creek has now been levelled and traversed for six miles. All the plan work with the exception of three drainlines is completed. Owing to the impossibility of obtaining labour in this locality developmentwork was not put in hand. The expenditure for the year was £66 14s. 7d. The following large schemes were carried out by this branch, and, of course, comprise the major proportion of the works: (1) Hauraki Plains drainage-works; (2) Rangitaiki drainageworks. These works are treated in separate reports to comply with the separate Acts governingeach. A separate report on the following drainage-works is also forwarded in accordance with the provisions of the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915: (1) Waihi drainage area; (2) Poukawa drainage area; (3) Kaitaia drainage area. The particulars hereunder show the principal works carried out in various localities during the past year. There are, however, many works of a minor -nature that it is impossible to summarize :— M. eh. Double drain and road formation ... ... ... ... 0 18$ New drain and road formation ... ... ... ... ... 1 5 Deepening and widening road-drains ... ... ... ... 3 24 Clearing and grubbing roads ... ... ... ... ... 1 34 Cleaning road-drains ... ... ... ... ... ... 79 16 Outlets ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 65 Deepening and widening outlets... ... ... ... ... 62 66 Cleaning outlets ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 63 Clearing willows and snagging ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 Forming roads ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 18 Shelling roads ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 52 Sanding roads ... ... ... ... ... 0 40 Widening roads ... ... ... ... .. ..: 1 40 Metalling roads ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 33 Disking roads ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 0 Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 47 Spoil dredged ... ... ... ... 544,138 cubic yards. Excavation, by wheel scoops ... ... ... 58,000 ~ Artesian wells sunk ... ... ... ... 13 (number). Flood-gates built ... ... ... ... 2 ~ Wharves ... ... ... ... ... 2 ~ Bridges built ... ... ... ... ... 1 ~ Tram-sleepers laid ... ... ... ... 1,900 ~ Fascines laid ... ... ... ... 1,800 ~ (!ravel for roads ... ... ... ... 9,549 cubic yards. Offi,ce. —The total expenditure certified for payment during the year was £54,277 13s. lid., vouchers for this amount being prepared in Thames office. Of the above amount, direct Treasury payments amounted to £17,452 ss. 9d., payments through Thames and Whakatane Imprest Accounts £36,493 lis. 5d., and payments through Post Office £331 1.65. 9d. Some 113 piecework contracts were in operation. Inward correspondence amounted to 1,840, and outward 2,160, and some 1,320 vouchers were prepared and passed through the books. A considerable number of engineering, road, and other plans were made and tracings for photo-litho purposes prepared. The expenditure quoted represents the amounts actually expended in the various works, but will not necessarily agree with the figures shown in the tables as submitted to Parliament, as portion of the expenditure would not be brought to charge at the end of year.

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Table I. —Return showing (approximately) Position of Lands in the Dominion at 31st March, 1917.

27

District. Total Area sold and held on Freehold. Total Area granted under Acts without Money Payment or reserved for Public Purposes from Foundation of Dominion. Total Area of Crown Lands leased under all Tenures (exclusive of Reserves leased by Crown). Total Area Total Area open of for Selection. Native Land. Estimated Area of Barren and Worthless | Estimated Area Country occupied not already ! by Roads, Rivers, included under Lakes, &c. any of the other ! Headings. Total Area remaining for Future Disposal, exclusive of Land shown in Preceding Columns. Total Area in Land District. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. 662.1311 Acres. 1,205,717 Acres. 13,525,540 Auckland 2,569,300 3,580,663 1,804,863 215,898 3,486,960 Hawke's Bay .. 2,469,465 436,272 954,474 24,526 1,312,671 150,190 161,302 5,508,900 Taranaki 533,209 714,990 595,671 18,745 292,624 67.602 181,659 2,404,500 Wellington 3,282,809 - 897,989 814,339 34,937 1,613,936 36,500 195,232 175,258 7,051,000 Nelson 599,981 329,716 870,405 105,293 30,627 1,573,000 60.093 1.145,885 4,715.000 Marlborough 772,871 222,032 1,489,820 18,196 131,447 100.416 33.218 2,768,000 Westland 142,384 308,555 1,785,808 502.603 750,000 154.208 220,320 3.863,878 Canterbury 3,611,409 1,352,288 3,717,508 12,500 175,000* 445.400 263,305 163,940 105,891 9,478,045 9,095,000 Otago 1,976,170 610,492 5.552.398 13,144 573,600 i Southland 1,603,880 3,557,588 1,639,170 30,724 626,479 140.559 283,969 7,882.369 Totals 3,866,026 _^__ 2,239,144 17,561,478 12,010-5851 19,224,456 976,566 6,736,818 3,677,159 66,292,232 * Area reduced by exclading land formerly classed as barren and worthless now held under temporary lease. f Total Crown land reserved during the year was 17,928 acres.

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Table 2. —Lands opened for ordinary Sale and Selection during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

In addition to the area given in Table 2, the following summary shows the lands which have been proclaimed for selection by discharged soldiers under the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. Further particulars regarding soldiers' lands arc given in the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Report, parliamentary paper C.-9. Lands proclaimed during the Year ended 31st March, 1917, under Hie Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1015. Land District. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 43,289 Hawko's Bay .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,915 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,340 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 68,354 Nelson .. .. ... .. ..15,169 Marlborough ~ .. .. .. .. ..7,452 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,506 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 62,447 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56,582 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,236 Total .. .. .. .. .. 276,290

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District. Sale at Auction for Cash or on Deferred Payment. Town. Rural. Optional System. Renewable Lease. Small Grazingruns. Pastoral Runs. BhSn is 8 S £ S Q ri o fl-rj q 13 p* 9 -o . 2 a w 4= <8 3 o ,0 a at <•& o a a<*£% * lS V, $ as Totals. Rural. Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 68 47 49 91 Acres. 77 8 38 66 Acres. 4971 3 44 1 23| Acres. 16,112 1,701 3,084 0,387 Acres. 701 Acres. 4^812 Acres. 11,920 Acres. 997 Acres, 30 65 6 7 Acres. 18,452 18,521 3,280 0,640 1,436 907 103,273 3,117 117,707 25,432 07 1,429 4 "58 1 845 102^910 363 "l 11 140 57 ' * . 46 72 392 60 670 3,251 113,350 21,340 3,011 3,400 50 4 342 Totals 271 386 1,1341 32,110 2.543 1 4,812 249,520 1,360 0,029 298,765 Cheviot Estate, Canterbury 1,3961 1,396 Land for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 10 .3 '7 14 2 8 43 528 542 554 8 588 7 24 426 681 7,197 195 450 876 7,211 14 Totals II II 67 9,374 195 9,694 National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 15,007 2,540 2^259 31236 15,067 3,236 2,540 '2,259 3,719 1,840 090 229 3,250 6,969 1,840 03,513 229 3,985 58,838 Totals 20,344 7,221 62,088 95,653 Thermal springs districts leases .. 12 12 Education endowments ♦19,599 Grand totals 425,119 315 400 1,201 32,110 39,657 12,033 311,803 1,360 0,041 Other endowments 2,057 52 2,709 * The following shows the Land Taranaki, 759 acres ; "Wellington, 1,251 Southland, 7,283 acres. Districts acres; ', in whii el son,' 3h these !,167 acn lands wen ss; Westls 3 situatei ,nd, 1,694 : Auclsli rcres; C and, 4,389 a( Janterbury, ; Hi 1,359 aci i/wke's B •es; Otaj lay, 237 acreb; go, 453 acres

0.—.1.

Table 3. — Return of Lands selected during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

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Number of Selectors. ° 50 « <D +5 3 * <£ ABO 82*& B * r> * 5 Aver; ige Holdings of Selectors. n S3 *S <H £ <MU'MS 0 J« « °p"S ° rf«8 * aff 2 (H-*l C*fl fcn u (Q H Q^ 5 *hO_ MOO *- 3 ?> m J=8§ flp ago aSvg |«<5 | m « |o>S |,8| sag 3 1 O . ■§a > 9 to 41 p H Tenure. Ordinary Crown Lands — Cash lands Deferred payment Occupation with right of purohase Renewable lease Mining districts land occupation leases Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses 206 13 176 162 29 45 107 1 1 168 10 62 10 24 4 20 1 08 79 5 25 1 24 32 11 17 20 "5 1 5 14 Acres. 5,387 026 37,791 60,500 800 12,282 1 21 706 175 310 1 128 1 44 I 19 35 2,280 305,856 190,478 14 Totals 1,449 284 588 327 113 62 75 616,001 ■heviot Estate — Renewable lease Miscellaneous leases 1 4 3 1 I 1,391 2,14i Totals 5 3 3,541 ,and for Settlements — Cash lands Deferred payment Ronowable lease Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses 15 24' 143 4 37 5 15 2 10 9 23 1 22 69 3 10 21 14 14 2C 54 61,906 256 2,363 4 1 Totals 223 26 05 S2 21 15 14j j 64,599 National-endowment Lands — Renewable lease Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses 146 28 9 4 57 5 42 10 27 9 6 5 33,424 7,328 15 13 31 1 15 1 4 15 11 6 133,411 61,674 74,115 1 4 1 Totals 233 14 66 88 II 7 37 309,95: 'normal springs districts leases Iducational-endowment Lands — Primary .. Secondary Cash sales (primary) 123 15 2 37 9 46 6 2 29 8 1 2 10,001 4. Totals 140 46 54 2<l 16,05' Grand totals 2,059 379 776 506 183 85 130 1,010,15: Hher Endowment Lands — Westport Harbour Board Lake Ellesmere Otago University Bluff Hi rbour Board 19 4 11 1 2 2 8 1 6 1 3 ii 1 1,088 109 91,431 2,657 Total (other endowment lands) 35 :j 12 95,885

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Table 4. —Comparative Statement of Selectors and Lands selected under Settlement Conditions for the Ten Years ended 31st March, 1917.

Cash. Deferred Payment. Lease in Perpetuity. Renewable Lease. Occupation with Right of Purchase. Agricultural Lease. Mining Districts Land Occupation Leases. Small Grazing-runs. Education Endowments. Pastoral Licenses in Mining Districts under Special Regulations. Totals. Year ending 31st March, No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. Acres. 28,522 Acres. Acres. 100,669 Acres. 70,643 Aeres. 188,212 Acres. 84 Acres. 3,047 Acres. 226,757 Acres. Acres. 7,876 Acres. 625,810 1908 407 499 183 360 3 73 64 57 1,646 1909 382 42,194 193 106,184 860 219,172 382 123,116 36 1,490 10 28,989 83 14,743 1,946 535,888 1910 381 8,886 4 1,011 694 184,904 528 141,757 60 2,068 45 298,494 71 11,946 1,783 649,066 1911 274 9,547 15 1,877 612 124,268 498 136,007 73 2,687 22 128,764 106 27,421 1,600 430,571 1912 409 6,096 628 187,082 388 132,869 55 1,426 23 144,617 18 5,061 192 53,114 1,713 530,265 1913 352 4,625 585 207,606 362 104,935 36 773 10 37,749 142 6,847 121 28,606 1,608 391,141 1914 312 5,948 539 213,402 ' 489 117,366 61 2,398 4 14,691 59 3,340 145 28,037 1,609 385,182 1915 288 5,742 18 27 325 88,400 ' 428 110,729 29 1,285 6 14,803 102 20,948 114 36,951 1,310 278,885 1916 319 7,097 11 486 359 139,533 265 59,234 43 977 12 150,514 103 15,037 114 37,041 1,226 409,919 1917 313 5,414 37 680 452 157,226 176 37,791 29 800 in 135,691 138 16,050 73 19,610 1,234 373,262

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Table 5. —Lands sold for Cash during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

Table 6. —Return of Deferred-payment Lands, under the Land Acts, 1877 and 1885 at 31st March, 1917.

31

Town. Suburban. Rural. Totals. District. oS ii if tort Area. 0 It 31 »i fij 11 Area. *| "8| S a 11 Area. « . "Sir 1° ■SB § • si Ss ai Area. £^ Jr SI 0^ Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 15 6 29 56 Acres. II 7 18 36 £ 441 172 1,096 4,219 3 8 6 Aores. 16 21 31 £ 252 201 780 82 2 11 8 2 !) 1 11 15 23 Aores. 1,671 8 132 164 7 58 4 91 2,378 702 £ 6,131 145 672 84 i 17 545 40 747 962 1,427 100 8 48 70 2 9 I 12 I!) 27 Aores. 1,698 15 171 231 7 58 4 92 2,382 729 £ 6,824 317 1,969 5,840 17 545 40 897 1,025 1,662 1 4 1 I 4 1 150 63 50 3 '26 185 Totals 112 78 6,191 20 94 1,418 164 5,215 11,527 296 5,387 19,136 )and for Settlements — Auckland Wellington Marlborough Canterbury Otago 2 "3 '55 7 1 2 1 2 I) 1 3 I 3 78 10 19 15 42 7 1 4 1 2 9 1 6 I 3 78 16 74 15 42 Totals 17 170 15 20 225 55 13 Educational Endowments (Primary) — Auckland Southland I I. 1 2,100 2 1 6 2,100 6 1 1 2 Grand totals 114 81 6,246 21 100 3,518 178 5,233 11,699 313 5,414 21,463

Not Area held on 81st March, 1917, including Capitalized Holdings. frj +3 n, in SSllai OJ O i-H §1 y 4 £ a Freehold during tl acquired he Year. Made B Commence to 31st 'roohold I'rom anient of System March, 1917. Select Arrear March ;ors in on 31st i, 1917. District. Yearly InNurnber stalments of Area. and Selectors. Interest payable. Number of Purchasers Area. Number of Purchasers. Area. Ii Ss II to™ ■a § o 8 ■< Acres. £ £ £ Acres. Aores. 46,003 91,324 159,479 219,491 150,467 4,682 4,572 30,278 193,205 196,916 £ Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland.. Canterbury Otago Southland 333 972 1,424 1,579 1,592 65 100 643 1,238 1 ,586 7 132 it 3 650 15 '7 3 It 15 ii -IS i 50 Totals 10 782 32 (12 rill 9,522 1,096,417 NOT! I—This tal rle includes village-set 1 -.lenient and special-settlement lands.

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Table 7. —Return of Deferred-payment Lands held under the Land Laws Amendment Acts, 1912 and 1913, at 31st March, 1917.

32

Selections during io Year. Convei Tenure! •slons froi; 3 during t: other .e Yoar. Net Area held on llli 1917. it March, District. Number of Selectors, Area. Annual Instalment. Number of Selectors. Area. Annual Instalment. Number of Selectors. Area. Annual Instalment. Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 3 1 1 Acres. 487 10 6 £ 36 12 8 21 2 2 15 18 1 1 5 Acres. 4,171 413 493 5,036 2,928 6 335 243 £ 287 100 78 692 104 4 17 41 ill 9 14 85 37 1 II) I I 4 -II Acres. 22,682 8,107 3,322 24,763 9,453 0 2,832 429 275 3,421 £ 832 573 318 2,931 394 4 79 66 27 289 8 117 75 3 480 "39 Totals 13 620 131 68 14,105 1 ,362 306 75,290 5,513 iand for Settlements — Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland.. Canterbury Otago Southland 4 1 9 3 5 8 16 i 61 32 -11 '4 27 14 4 9 5 (i 016 054 78 847 621 2,158 111 351 173 47 24 29 2 12 15,892 16,878 701 4,205 1,779 11,514 2,742 6,092 794 1 ,481 183 2,280 '4 '8 16 i3 030 ,313 43 7 10 3,491 2,875 1,161 1,285 561 210 3 13 24 3 723 "94 Totals 24 51 181 13 748 3,648 347 58,496 15,628 Grand totals 37 680 312 27 853 5,010 653 133,786 21,141 Amount received during tjli Year ended 31st Marc: 1917. Freehi durir rids igt: i acquired he Year. Mad 1 me; Fr-oc it of mold from ( System to 111 1917. ■0111; st M imencelarch, .electors on Diet 19: n Arrear larch, District. i Total mount ealized, :clusive Interest. Numbi of Purchasi sr irs. Area. Numof Purcha ber Area. i A: r< ox of I Number of Selectors. Amount. rsers. Ordinary Grown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland £ 4,969 1,182 584 11,570 392 6 148 115 51 891 16 Acres. 7,522 2!) 5 4 26 6 Acres. 11,164 4,279 797 6,990 2,614 £ 8,098 6,935 960 12,295 1,072 3 £ 29 i2 1 2,659 100 6 3 ,32 163 i 1 1 4 15 2 549 633 125 738 1,041 '3 ioo 2 "4 Totals 1.9,908 229 32 10,381 III) 27,034 31,264 15 iand for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Wostland Canterbury Otago Southland 15,851 11,978 2,583 3,805 116 5,275 20 2 4 1 4,760 22 30 37 84 8 2 6 1 10,934 1,333 175 161 37 24,692 9,925 3,209 2,235 78 6 132 2,127 1 ,336 496 2 "6 5 i2 702 i io '4 351 2,249 Totals 43,567 30 4,865 110 13,003 43,150 6 132 Grand totals 63,475 62 15,246 200 40,037 74,414 21 361

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Table 8. —Return of Perpetual-lease Lands at 31st March, 1917.

Table 9. —Return of Occupation-with-right-of-purchase Lands at 31st March, 1917.

s—o. 1.

33

to do Exchan other Ti ring the ges enures Year. Forfeitures during the Year. Expiries during the Year. Freeholds acquired during the Year. District. to™ Area. Annual Rental. 11 Area, *™™} g o .Rental. O »i t. £ S ° a ..„„ Annual a o Area. t,,„..„, g « Rental. a o to™ 8S ii Area Amount Area - realized. Acres. £ Acres £ Acres. £ Acres. 3,801 £ 1,990 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland i 6 i 26 i 2 885 972 771 728 3 1 3 143 95 65 15 4 11 3 206 6 6 6 451 28 15 11 5 18 14 114 1,889 897 375 1,410 1,017 Totals 8 309 31 3 6 12 206 479 26 (il! 8,558 6,291 Comi lade Fi lencem 31st M reelrold lent of i larch, 1 from lystem to 317. Net Arei held on 31st 1917. [arch, o'5-o. fl £OC PT3 «i <l • SB ft »-j £►-)•§ l-l E 11 '« En SO a, a » a Sel An Mai lectors in ■ear, 31st rch, 1917. District. oE si 'to£i Area. Total Amount realized, exclusive of Interest. ii ii 82 ?™ Area. i Annual ] Rental. if 82 B a> to™ Amount. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westfand .. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 626 314 408 833 32 11 9 151 262 206 Acres. 176,542 136,450 102,858 312,421 10,137 1.824 682 17,538 41,610 27,009 £ 83,750 104,570 95,627 279,462 3,499 880 685 27,521 33,900 23,151 111 2 6 30 5 12 4 77 149 102 Acres. .15,878 399 2,127 1,081 666 334 381 2,248 16,745 6,426 £ 409 23 107 79 14 20 19 256 675 374 £ 412 28 110 96 13 21 17 293 669 374 11 1 1 £ 25 10 2 3 ii i 1 Totals 2,852 827,071 653,045 498 46,285 1,976 2,033 17 49 Nora, .—This table inoludes villago-settlement and special-settlement lands.

Taken up during the Year. Forfeitures during the Year. Surrenders the Yei luring ir. Freeholds acquir the Yea: :ed durirrg r. District. SB a% Area Annual gg Aloa - Rental. to,™ o in SS •2 o Area. p O to,™ Annual Rental. 2b 4, p •2 o Area. to,™ Annual Rerrtal. oB 8 2 Area. Amount realized. Auckland lawke's Bay taranaki .. Vellington kelson darlborough Vestland.. Canterbury )tago iouthland 94 4 10 10 1 4 Aeres. 19,994 405 4,437 8,571 1,047 824 £ 1,406 52 372 830 08 52 -IS 7 4 3 1 Acres. 15,291 5,659 872 1,134 730 £ 877 303 90 33 44 Acres £ 152 28 14 67 5 2 1 2 5 24 Acres. 40,163 15,555 9,027 20,917 1,030 544 100 498 917 5,818 £ 35,388 13,390 7,421 27,026 319 238 75 622 412 2,794 4 8 11 74 922 1,517 35 62 161 7 8 1,584 1,122 43 40 Totals 1.76 37 791 3,038 78 26,392 1,430 300 94,569 87,685 District, s I Free >mm< molds encemi list Mi acquin cut of 1 arch, 1 ed from System ti .917. Net Area hold 19: 05 O •SIS Are on 311 17. it March, g Q « Annual -3 llental. o a <_ rCf O ' . o < ta®! OJ D- I SOT 1 •1 8 ■fe i bo P. : O 1 O m qjj O -° o 9 "3 Sel An Mai Ie< rei itors in ar, 31st h, 1917. Area. Total Amour realizei >a. Amount. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. 1,280 197 164 637 93 26 25 26 63 175 Acres. 299,529 100,725 08,631 190,664 16,366 7,079 4,610 4,017 9,815 36,748 £ 184,526 92,127 61,377 224,415 6,488 6,344 2,823 4,816 5,288 20,134 2,800 332 695 801 209 85 85 20 295 432 Acres. 736,206 123,189 301,043 305,319 66,379 24,937 14,294 3,133 51,755 87,474 £ 48,175 22,243 19,671 24,679 1,436 1,703 468 441 1,611 3,520 £ 45,298 20,288 17,636 24,857 1,215 1,382 382 426 1,515 3,162 201 6 27 28 10 1 4 £ 3,672 163 904 826 65 15 26 4 8 21 44 Totals 2,686 738,184 608,338 5,760 1,713,729 123,947 116,161 289 5,736 Note.—This table includes village-settlement and improved-farm-settloment lands.

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Table 10. —Return of Lease-in-perpetuity Lands at 31st March, 1917.

34

Forfeitures c the Yea: luring Su: •readers the Yei during 9.W Convorsior eferred Pa; luring the is to arrent Year. Freeholds ac< during the [uired Cear. t, District. i CO IM o x g Area. il a 3 Ph ■+. O |fi h jh Area. a 2 U 3 u 'to 2 a s "3 § 3 15 3 r, a q x 3 § a co "3 a ID B 3 9 a a < *o 3,2 Area. n £ !6 Area. Amount realized. Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acros. .... .. j 2 1,475 '.'. \'i 342 I 155 £ Acres. £ 1 2 2 9 1 Acres. 975 413 493 880 166 £ 41 70 47 51 2 61 20 ID 64 1 3 4 9 5 I I Acres. 13,569 5,409 4,506 8,560 220 1,627 838 951 2,067 1,215 £ 10,198 4,881 7,055 16,867 74 1,481 320 2,002 I ,979 1,326 34 '.'. i i II 2 ioo '7 I '.'. 3 I 415 'l2 Totals Land for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland .. j 4 1,972 :: ::' :: I 44 i I IS 3,442 234 200 39,022 46,183 12 4 2 4 1,191 1,398 57 831 343 433 75 296 41 I 7 ; 2 7 1 1 j 8,284 2,323 61 247 13 16,909 11,514 1,728 4,027 116 40 ii "22 74 ii 3 1,330 121301 3,293 0 3 723 '94 76 13,8404, 49,928 Totals 36 4,222 1,315 < irand totals 4 1,972 : 44 1 I 54 7,664 1,549 2 70 52,86241 96,111 Freeh Commei 31 lolds acquired fro] ncement of Syster 1st March, 1917. to et Area held 19: on 31st Ma: 7. ich, ■313 a> a? I>i3 '5 3 « tr . 3^2 or K%a o a a« 3'C-i= %zS Sell Arr Mai rei ectors in ■ear, 31st rch, 1917. si. 3 A 1-1 O m aM 3 o to a 3 o J* '.i O * E-i & cc o fc>2 So gg BiS is I Area. "3 -*> a « M "3 0 a a 1) cc District. Amount. Area. in O *E 0> O a° 3 - a 2. to, Ordinary Grown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Wostland Canterbury Otago Southland 354 84 86 415 104 35 77 66 64 184 Aores. 79,677 25,524 21,184 63,253 30,960 11,611 18,223 8,955 12,120 28,041 £ 63,039 31,520 32,054 102,876 17,175 8,295 9,040 15,352 10,401 22,985 977 255 733 ! 1,174 403 316 377 405 849 465 I 1 i I Acres. 223,787 80,882 199,526 174,035 141,918 135,323 43,329 75,407 189,880 73,819 Acres. 223,787 80,882 199,526 174,035 141,918 135,323 43,329 75,407 189,880 73,819 1 2 5 5 1 I 1 ' 7 ) ) £ 6,554 5,036 9,199 10,237 2,536 3,230 1,149 4,663 5,721 2,203 i 6,5 5,0 9,1 10,2 2,5 3,2 1,1 4,6 5,7 2,2 £ 6,140 4,721 8,670 9,824 2,219 2,986 946 4,339 5,286 2,085 36 1 12 21 27 5 24 8 £ 233 1 5 96 95 198 85 71 29 3 7 Totals 1,469 306,148 312,797 5,954 1,337,906 50,528 47,216 137 814$ Land for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 167 33 7 31 1 I 25,871 8,814 515 2,409 13' i 56,044 49,285 12,415 31,357 116 40 386 386 22 253 12 281 28 1,009 552 203 76,897 105,014 2,724 34,693 4,084 52,998 4,988 158,836 104,691 42,156 13,182 34,579 1,865 12,388 817 11,875 538 55,995 33,600 9,616 12,800 32,042 1,996 11,799 738 10,848 476 51,301 31,656 9,040 18 5 5 9 519 50 122 224 75 8 26 0,215 1,676 4,582 45,240 7,712 13,660 23 472 I "20 Totals 349 50,095 ; 215,869 3,132 587,681 174,455 162,696 III 1,413 Cheviot Estate, Canterbury 210 26,866 7,211-1 6,602 Grand totals 2,227£ 1,818 356,242J 528,066 9,296 1,952,453 1232,277 216,514 198 !e-settlemont, s] leeial-si ittlement, and im] l-farm-settt sment lands. Nom.—This table Ini sltrdes villi irovei

35

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Table 11. — Return of Renewable-lease Lands at 31st March, 1917.

Taken up during the Year. Exchanges from Conversions to other Tenures Forfeitures during Surrenders during Deferred during the Year. the Year. Payment during the Year. the Year. 'Freeholds acquired during the Year. Freeholds acquired to Net Area held on 31st March. 31st .March, 1917. 1917. Amount of Rent Selectors in Arrear, 31st March, 1917. - ' I ID U 3 Area. a a Area. •3 82 3 3a> < District. JO o Area. a Area. *3 a 3 3 o i as 3 © to™ 3 a a v- * as 2 to™ a -4 Area. 3 3 3 a <rl . O m as 3*© to.™ Area. 3 a 3 3 a a in r. • a g Area Prlce S-S Alea ' realized. '+2 oa Total i £ o Area. Amount -° S realized. " -3 Area. received : during the Year ended , 31st March. Annual 191 7 Rental. C in - - 3 » to™ o a 3 I I £ Aeres. 204,478 848 .. 1 35 1 Acres. £ 659 i 64 151 84 471 111 364 20 . 264 180 Acres. 170,904 27,908 57,919 23,491 206,035 21,768 47.255 8,129 35,108 21,470 £ 8,225 4,925 4,362 2,368 4,747 781 1,400 640 1,354 989 £ 6,734 4,609 3,912 2,594 1,770 646 942 483 1.238 855 79 1,365 2 99 National Endowment — Auckland .. .. 55 Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. .. 10 Wellington .. .. 1 Nelson .. .. 24 Marlborough.. .. 8 Westland .. ..12 Canterbury .. .. 3 Otago .. .. j 17 Southland .. .. I 16 Acres. ; 9,166 4,049 59 13,496 2,392 821! l,854i 1,154! 433! £ 471 291 6 368 104 30 92 59 73 "2 Acres. 7^220| £ 296 " 7 i 2 "3 Acres. 297 3,2i3 ! £ Acre-. 155 '.'. '.'. 21 '.'. '.'. £ Acres. £ i I .. . I •• 4 167 43 340 3 13 38 152 1 1 4 1 3 27 3 886 20 114,992 100 3 990 6 1 7 1,010 1,539 377 35 1 529 154 .. 15 .. 121,102 "ii •• 4 1 ■• 555 - i3 '.'. '.'. 6 .. '.. •• ! ii 51 ■- Totals .. ..146 33,424 19 11,032 ( 1072 4511136 465 5,066 201 .. 2,368 619,987 29.791 I 23,783 177 2,165 1,494 13 2,165 " " Cheviot Estate — Canterbury .. .. 1 I 1 I 1,3961 325j 15 2,051 831 846 2 ! 39 •• .. .. •• : •• , ! 10,775 9,764 30,861 28,959 944 953 10,080 8.972 1,505 2,066 12,007 10,438 69,i07 59,671 22,007 20,351 7.246 8,451 Land for Settlements — Auckland .. .. 57 Hawke's Bay .. 2 Taranaki Wellington .. 24 Nelson .. .. 2 Marlborough.. .. 5 Westland Canterbury .. .. 21 Otago .. .. ; 12 Southland .. .. : 20 4,977 63 6,437! 2,681: 1,767 3,628 47 3,558 233 420 " I " " 4 326 "1 ;> 132 • • ! "2 2 "l 152 i4 131 15 ..10 2 14 5 3,82o[ 4,656 21 16| 198 1,506 32j 30j i 9 2 f 2 - 1,353 84 1 ■• 2,522 771 iso SO 3 2 4 2 19,990 85 4 245 1,209 20,948 809 234 2.060 7,421 273 235 28 146 25 91 43,882 88,557 1,148 23,361 21,921 104,040 26 2 1 ' 8 5 510 243 a. 4 223 275 .. .. " I •' : .. .. •• .. - ■■ 39,773 1,088 5,120 4,708 522 2,010 • • 41,096 2 757 21,036 13 3,2154, 526 219, j 261 " " 1 3 "7 1 1 259 166 1,121 662 3 4 3 260 1,278 385 1,211 5,612 793 554 243 80 296,542 99,867 30,646 51 3 7 3,602 67 293 "l| 265 99 '.'. "I -- •• .. Totals .. ..143 15,126 M 1,140 4 244 33 ! 1,773 15 1,863 1,675 j 709,964 164,532 149.625 ! 103 :61,906 431 8,521 5,226 101 23,456 39,088 5,217 Ordinary Crown Lands — I Auckland .. ...29 Hawke's Bay .. 56 Taranaki Wellington .. .. j 52 Nelson .. .. 1 Marlborough .. 2 Otago .. . • 13 Southland .. .. 9 6,570 18,982 16,909 865 485 15,466! 1,223 ; 701 6,404 2,158 27 56 523 192 '• 3 823 3 1 352 » " ! 314 4 2 2 "2 " "l2 " i "a! U-4 '• ! .. '2 ! I .. io " 83 8 "22 387 40 I 92 8 295 ; 1 2 14 9 8,492 30.247 883 23,051 865 485 17,707 1.223 1,053 9,657 61 2,853 27 56 583 192 846 6,312 578 1,953 14 38 265 117 2 2 29 10 62 97 " •• - •• " .. j •■ ■• 1 1 " Totals .. ..162 Grand totals .. 452 60,500 10,061 1 .. 6 824 I 361 — 2 314J 5.811J ' 8 2 1 ! 12 9 2 10 -; 83 I ! i 8 22 387 461 \ 82,953 i 14,482 10,123 1 33 I 101 I "• 27,006 19 11,032 64 15175J 1,966 19 453; 35 1,873 39,475 4,514 157226 1072 35 8,5331,782 17 5,309 109 23,478 11,414,955 ; 209,636 184,377 I ' ' I I 315 7,59( Note. —This table includes village-settlement and improved-farm-settlement lands; special tenure-renewable lands under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, are also included.

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Table 12. — Return of Agricultural-lease Lands at 31st March, 1917.

Table 14. —Return of Pastoral Licenses in Mining Districts under Special Regulations, at 31st March, 1917.

36

du: Ixpiries ring the Year. Renewals during the Yoar. Net Area held on 31st March, 1917. •3 OS Q d -- glHg III 2 M 'S pa Made Freeholi Commencement ol 31st March, 1 from System to 1917. S el eel Arret 31st M 19. tors in a,r on larch, 17. District. O a il li Area, a a a © O 05 ■2° ■ 3.2 3 © "3r3 3 .roa. b a a ii <Ph sj , 13 a o Area, b r, as 3 8 3 » -<X a ra k-i' <£ O S 7 « 5-1 ttt $ a d a Area. Total Price realized. O ih K S 8° a u as r 03 to™ a s o a Auckland Westland Otago Southland Acres £ Acres £ 16 Aeres. £ £ 541 23 15 Acres. 67 2,750 32 279 1,326 131,297 50 6,570 £ 590 489 131,581 6,570 £ Totals .. 16 541 23 15 1,475 140,896 139,230 Table 13—Km 'urn of Mining Districts L the Land Act, 1908, nd Occupation ,t 31st Maech Leases unde: 1917. Part VIII of Taken up •irrg the Year. Expiries during the Year. Renewal* [ring the \ Forfeitures during the Year. Surrenders during the Year. dm 'ear. District. 2s s o 3 0J Is * ii Area. 3 a a Area. 3 a a v 9 a 5 I Area. §3 3 Area. 9 ft fl d d <u M £ A Area. §3 a a MA , i Auckland Nelson .. Marlborough Westland Otago Southland Ill 3 15 1 Aeres. £ 215 11 "8 6 567 45 10 2 Acres. £ Acres. £ 2 Acres. 88 £ 5 Aeres. £ 23 697 29 20 644 (id i 96 7 Totals 29 64 23 80i 697 29 211 644 60 88 5 96 7 Exchanges t Tenur-t during the o other iS Year. Fr« du: iliolda ai ring tiro ■■'II Y, Fre< lired from :ar. o 31sl shoids acquired Commencement if System to on fc March, 1917. Net Area held list March, 191.7. Selectors i rr arrear on 31st March, 1917. District. Area. ° & 'tort Area. *h in il Ii 4" 11 'tor. — 3 "3 t. u Area, "g Ss 6^ Area. 35 «a 4- " o t i« sJ I S,™ < Auckland Nelson .. Marlborough Westland Otago Southland 12 2 Acres. 618 130 £ 39 4 2 1 Acres. 14 70 £ 40 35 2 1 Acres. 14 70 £ 40 218 35 27* 2 ' .. 89 1,417 313 .. | 58 Acres. £ 10,137 | 514 963 I 44 200 8 769 131 10,084 600 1,934 , 187 £ 54!) 37f 12 118 677 182 £ 28 116 4 4 1 1 9 , 14 6 282 ii l<> 723 1,377 is 732 Totals 20 1,030 5-1 III 807 1,452 21 816 1,492 |707 24,087 1,484 i 1,575 42 Il35 * Includes two selector! i, area 13 acres, mnual rental £: !, nationi J-em Lowment land. t Includes £1 national endowment.

Taken up during the Yoar. Exchanges to other- Tenures during the Year. Forfeitures during the Year. Surrenders Freeholds acquired during the j to 31st March, Year. 1917. Net Area held c March, 191 in 31st ■7 Selei Arr< 31st ctors in ear on March, 917. 7. Rent paid during the Year. District. 11 Are „ Annual ■2 g Area. RentaL 3"S to™ -I li\ So go ■So Area, Area. S v dm Ii a "S Area. a v Hi" oS I * . U % -r 3*° ■S a Area, -g o-§ s 2 sSa"3 "3 „; 05 O 1" 3 "53 Area. Total Annual Rental. O to II I* d s Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Nelson Westland Aores. £ 29 9,103 288 8 2,513 58 8 666 34 29 8 8 £ 288 58 34 8 15 2 Acres. 2,578 2,640 505 Acres. 3 200 6 1,539 Acres. 4 ! 323 1 35 2 134 9 I I Acres. 1,879 1,547 £ 1,321 1,147 310 108 93 Aores. 100,208 20,334 13,771 £ 2,649 446 349 £ 683 405 257 53 Id 5 £ 529 148 14 Totals ■15 12,282 380 25 5,723 9 1,739 7 1,884 2 j 803 9 2,687 18 (4,426 7 492 20 3,426 2,468 511 134,373 3,444 1,345 77 691 lational-endowment Lands — Auckland Nelson Westland 1 13 11 174 3,597 3,557 4 88 100 28 144 224 6,143 27,246 45,400 131 600 1,077 105 659 716 4 31 25 11 259 107 3 5 886 840 2 ! 210 Totals Grand totals 28 7,328 192 1,726 2 210 9 I 702 396 78,795 11,808 1,480 80 377 73 19,610 572 33 7,449 2d 3,426 2,468 907 213,168 5,252 2,825 137 1,068

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Table 15. —Return of Small Grazing-runs at 31st March, 1917.

37

District. du: ~Mr 7~ O m J* Area. a a 5« Taken up ring the Year. Expiries Renewal of Leases Forfeitures Surrenders during the Year. during the Year. during the Year, during the Year. 8 sts 6 Id s sd g 1*3 a sS .a as -a 3.3 a 3^2 a Area. a a a Area. a a 3 Area, a a g Area, a a to <» to -"« to <X> r\ <K hdinary Crown Lands —■ Hawke's Bay 1 Acres. £ 2,280 137 Aores. £ Acres. £ Aores. £ Acres. £ £ I meviot Estate — Canterbury 3 2,543 311 28 37,520 9,033 28 3 \ands for Settlement —■ Canterbury Otago 313 31 .. 313 47 1 1,215 129 1 1,215 157 i i Totals 1 1,528 160 1 1,528 204 ! r 1,528 160 1 1,528 National-endowment Lands — Hawko's Bay Marlborough Canterbury Otago 1 ii 1 3,236 249 1 2,868 77 1 2,868 488 1 2,746 220 3 998 12 3 998 29 1 1,012 101 1 1,012 153 6 14,268 346 6 14,268 468 1 3,985 100 I 3 I ii 2,868 998 1,012 14,268 77 12 mi 346 I 3 1 6 2,868 998 1,012 14,208 1 220 14 180 ', 175 1,915 i Totals 15 15 11 19,146 536 11 19,146 1,138, 1 2,746j 220 1 3,985 100 1 133,411 2,164 11 19,146 ,:iii 11 19,146 1,138, 1 Grand totals 16 16 135,691 2,301 15 . _____ . . ; i . , 15 23,217 1,007 40 58,19410,37s' 1 2,746! 220 1 3,985 100 23,217 1, in 58,194 10,375 1 1 107 Excl 11111; Te •ins angee to other Tenures ing the Year. P: •eeholc luring Ss a< the jquired Year Free from drol Con >f Bv it Mi ds Ri mren ■sten arch, cquired rcemerrt n to 1, 1917. Net Aret on 31et Mar >a a hi rob lid 1917. Ol a-" QJ DID « 3 *=,!& O 5-o>h a ® a v jL Seleei arre 31st J 19 tors in lar on March, 117. d 3 o a du: 31i District. u o a a 3 53 §2 Area. a a d a) E3 S ! a II j3 ! Area. o-^ il "« "i O in as 3 o to™ 1 1 Area. „a-o "Si m o 1-2 3 " to™ c o o Area. 3 3 a oj Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. £ Acres. £ Acres. 3,990 1,301 £ 2,750 3,885 Acres. 17,374 117,212 5,750 35,403 4,928 22,541 192,068 £ 639 8,169 123 2,049] ml 1,524 5,370 £ 708 8,599 82 2,251 117 1,595 5,643 £ 2 1 2 III 6 32 9 10 82 i is 4 4^44 234 4 2^561 2^561 5^83 is 1 10!555 244 270 3 126 3 5J29 5,604 Totals 4 4,144 234 4 I' ! 2,561 • 2,561 5,183 22 21,219 136,564 190 395,270 17,98718,905 144 Cheviot Estate — Canterbury 9,858 4,594 194 33 40,3281 Land for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland • ■ I • • 2 1 i 1 4,997 1,200 748 916 1,479 8,040 1, 0991 5,849 I 12 4 28 41 III I 18,588 14,083 6,280 41,950 79,531 10,953 1,150 167 130 3,323 3,211 1,176 747 5,996 5,073 10,56110,273 1,643 1,5641 77 77 1 1 i 3 46 i49 465 i LOOS no i L658 2,582 Totals 1 1,005 170 111,519 22,955, 100 172,535 22,943 21,075 6 660 National-endowment Lands—■ Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland 2 7J220 45 .. | .. 12 50 4 12 9 79 56 306 2(1 47,899 106,238 4,906 12,656 16,758 250,216 212,505 1,234,454 66,531 406 307 4,560 4,207 75 1 95 737 480 109 80 3,644 3,6611 8,94410,014' 23,294 23,203! 1,0331 1,016] 1 4 2 1 1 8 3 1 458 62 95 12 236 330 i 1,539 140 .. | .. ■ ■ i i ifi Totals 3 8,759 185 548 2,012,163 42,802 ,43,071 21 1,209 Grand totals 8 13,908 589 4 2,561 5,183 28 32,738 59,519 871 '2,020,302 |93,590|87,735l 32 2,207

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Table 16.— Return of Pastoral Runs at 31st March, 1917.

38

District. Taken up duri Year. i-i . O oi a o Area. as 3 o to™ ig the 13 a a a Exchanges to other Tenures Forfeitures Expiries during Re: dux-ins the during the Year. the Year. during Year. rH i+H • _ _. . o m om °tfi q in 82 a Kg s $ . «2 Area. £> o Area. -° « Area. «_> o 3 Q 3~ 3,2 = ,£ to,™ to™ to,™ | g* newals ; the Year. Area. Ordinary Grown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 2 £ Acres. Acres. Aeres. Acres. 2 11,716 173 I 14,800 i 50 i 36,000 .. .. 1 5 104,560 2 5,530 8 146,590 3 22,060 5 2 8 3 38 103 1,118 187 3 54,010 I 13,000 !) 307,736 7 1 221 .. .. 15 537,991 13 16 196,195 13 3 3 9 15 16 7 13 13 199,234 217,493 98,134 i Totals 21 305,856 1,664 221 54,01.0 II 1,054,922 34 550,861 Land for Settlements — Canterbury Otago 1 3 61 195 17 107 Totals 250 124 National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 2 10 1 2,418 58,838 418 i 8,250 7 2 6 143 700 5 217,995 69,000 59,483 8 2 4 141,355 17,545 35,025 Totals 13 01,074 843 8,250 L5 346,478 II 193,925 Grand totals 38 367,786 2,633 221 62,260 56 1,401,400 48 744,786 Sur durini ■rem Stir, I era Year. Net .rea he. Id on 3 Selectors in et Marc]], 1917. Arrear on 31st March, 1917. Rent paid — during Werage Annual *he Year. 8 loldings. Rental. 2 to <j District, O oo U tH Q O S" as 3 « to™ .rea. O GO U g x, -g Area (approxlg a> mately). to,™ Ordinary Grown Lands — Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 15 14 4 4 34 67 68 173 61 Aeres. 75,733 75,118 100,813 225,529 552,846 1,100,452 1,688,018 2,185,547 600,114 Aeres. 5,049 5,365 25,203 56,382 16,260 16,424 24,823 12,633 9,838 £ 221 1,054 1,815 520 3,451 753 14,692 14,731 3,333 £ 113 1,054 1,124 701 3,020 741 16,046 15,267 3,098 2 1 3 £ 13 193 18 1 1 1 3 Totals 440 6,604,170 15,009 40,570 41,170 8 228 Land for Settlements — Canterbury Otago 1 12 786 3,483 786 290 59 516 60 536 Totals 13 4,269 328 575 596 National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 8 1 14 1 14 21 59 65 26 84,210 186 28,115 10,000 276,640 272,530 1,143,348 1,219,859 645,780 10,527 186 2,008 10,000 19,760 12,977 19,378 18,767 24,837 138 12 765 34 830 297 22,121 10,138 2,351 163 12 1,092 40 810 280 22,049 10,181 2,277 1 1 2 28 Totals 209 3,680,074 17,610 36,686 36,904 29 Grand totals 662 10,289,113 15,542 77,831 78,670 11 257

39

A—i

Table of Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses not otherwise enumerated at 31st March, 1917.

District. Coal and Mineral. a 4rea Annual g Area. Rental. to Transactions during Year ended 31st March, 1917. Timber-cutting, &c. nded 31st March, 1917. Flax-cutting. Miscellani _§ Total Jj g Area. Amount g Area. 3 I received. 3 izi j fc Flax-cutting. Miscellaneous. reaseu reeeived during the recervea Year durmg the J-ear. Vpar * Annual * ear ' Rental. Total Area in Occupation 1 *??!^ on on 31st March, 1917. aistMarch, 1917. •o . Annual -° . ± I Mea - Rental. g Amount. to I to J> Total 3 Area. Amount a received. to Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay.. Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. .. 4 2,422 £ Acres. 113 .. 2 j 702 i j 200 £ 429 '.'. 21 '.'. Acres. ■ £ Acres. £ 191 14,182 1,463 39 ' 26,424 4,341 118 I 13,642 1,886 89 i 1,258 330 j 46 I 11,580 119 I 13 1,265 178 28 25,478 33 36 35,302 441 101 52,916 876 38 5.107 60 Acres. 16.604 26,424 14,344 1,258 11,580 1,465 25,478 35,302 52,916 5,107 £ 15,247 701 9,851 173 1,420 279 9,700 588 1,896 353 3,174 200 941 593 4,428 709 3,666 1,082 4,948 467 Acres. 129,468 73,974 16,277 71,351 107,593 41,467 144,693 212,909 150,053 38,657 £ 6,926 7,046 2,313 3,502 630 1,214 984 4,414 I 2,122 ! 1,375 90 6 4 42 20 0 1 -i I 46 i 2 ! 2 £ 515 141 22 100 60 6 105 73 45 18 ! _ I -i : : Totals .. 4 2,422 113 3 902 113 902 450 .. 450 .. i •• 1 ~r 699 1187.154 9,727 699 |187,154 9,727 190,478 55,271 '5,145 986,442 30,526 271 1,085 Cheviot Estate — Canterbury _ - ■■ 1! LI! 4 2,145 j 428 -' .. 4 2,145 428 2,145 5,153 57 5,218 920 Land for Settlements — ■ Auckland Hawke's Bav.. Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland '.'. 1 i 200 200 7 1.282 111 2 19 18 7 35 7 9 185 108 9 641 214 2 1 7 7 1.282 2 19 7 35 9 185 9 641 2 1 in 18 "7 108 214 7 1,282 19 247 152 2 1,318 43 17 15 1,860 295 3 640 296 154 3 592 3 5 9 34 235 348 3 1,484 887 162 57 3 49 96 14 4,401 39 1,196 2,752 75 394 3 478 887 24 i 1 185 641 1 2 2 Totals .. ■■ L— i:— 1 1 1 200 200 36 2,163 J 36 2,163 I 465 465 2,363 4,603 > 295 11,261 2,831 11 4ii National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 1 i,6is - - __*" '' 1,015 40 .. 40 .'. 4 j 8J01 i8 23 36,962 55 2 3.997 101 1 24,040 40 2,381 I 15 23 2 40 4 315 5 1,066 131 11,301 29,021 1.039 1,989 38,762 163 23 5 256 561 1 5 .. 1,015 :: :: i •• •• 4 I 8^ioi is 8^101 8 17 " .. ] .. ; .. .. .. 23 2 1 36^962 3.997 24,040 55 101 40 36,962 10,113 316 765 1 24 51 3 100,838 242 21,558 24,059 653 5 235 41 36 il2 .. .. 3.997 24,040 .. ■.. .. Totals .. 1 |1,015 1 jl,015 40 .. 411 1 30 30 : 73,100 214 73,100 214 74,115 14,754 501 228,809 1,942 i 45 134 Grand totals ■— 4 2,422 113 4 1,917 I I 113 4 1,917 I I 490 1 j 490 200 J769 —, : 769 264,562 10,834 264,562 10,834 269,101 79,781 |5,998 1,231,730 36,219 333 1,271 * Includes coal and timbt >er royalties and receipts from State forests.

C.--1

Table 18. — Return of Gross Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

40

Tenure. a B co csW K 1 1 i En I f Is a o 03 a> ■to i s , o u o a a a. 9 it i 5 j o o 'C 9 3 S o 1 o H Ordinary Crown Lands, &c. Cash lands .. .. .. .. ( Perpetual lease made freehold (Land Act, 1885) Perpetual leaso made freehold (Land Laws Amendment Acts, 1913 and 1914) Occupation with right of purchase made freehold 3/ Lease in perpetuity made freehold . . .. 1( Renewable lease made freehold Mining districts land occupation leases made freehold Pastoral licenses in mining districts made freehold Small grazing-runs made freehold Deferred payment (Land Acts, 1877 and 1885) Deferred payment (Land Laws Amendment 4 Acts, 1912, 1913, &c.) Perpetual loaso Occupation with right of purchase .. it Lease in perpetuity .. .. .. ( Renewablo leaso Agricultural lease Mining districts land occupation leases Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Coal and mineral leases and royalties Timber licenses and sale of timber . . .. 2 Flax-cutting . . . . . . .. 1 State forests .. .. .. - .. j 4 Other miscellaneous leases and licenses .. | 8 Payments of capital value under section 191 of the Land Act, 1908 Miscellaneous .. .. .. . . *2 £ 6.850 1 1,862 97 35,405 10,154 40 689 4 969 412 45,298 6,140 846 £ 6,851 1,86! 9' 15,401 0,15' 4( 68! 4,96! 41i ■5,29! 6,141 841 54! 68; 70S 112 55J 2,161 1,038 4,99:: 0,49; 2,33£ £ 446 13,390 4,881 1J82 28 20,288 4,721 6,312 £ i 1,628 771 1 7,182 6,675 584 110 17,636 8,670 578 £ 5,713 900 26,587 16,593 83 5,182 11!570 90 24,857 9,824 1,953 £ 159 455 75 35 1,134 392 13 1,215 2,219 14 £ 545 238 1,478 6 21 1,382 2,986 38 £ 40 74 325 148 17 382 946 £ 897 130! 245! 623: 2,002; I 14 115 293 426 4,339 48 51 669 1,515 5,286 265 15 677 £ 1,021 1,355 50 412 1,978 li.368 £ 1,617 714 303 2,794 1,326 891 374 3,162 2,085 117 £ 18,916 4,832 1,595 I. ! 87,160 45,487 83 1,443 1,823 5,182 62 19,908 2,033 110,161 47,216 10,123 15 1,574 1,345 549 683 36 405 "l2 ii8 257 182 708 113 558 2,161 1,038 4,993 0,497 8,599 1,054 82 2,251 1,124 701 141 940 41 117 3,026 28 209 9 1,751 1,117 741 33 24 22 1,595 16,046 43 5,643 15,267 597 375 65 140 2,489 3,098 400 1,357 67 ! 1,828 ! 1,296 18,995 41,170 1,802 12,817 1,959 9,204 29,489 533 18 2 448 7,225 717 : 9,833 7 963 111 1,758 422 774 862 485 3,900 *2,339 tl,239 1 574| 125 113 4,390 Totals .. .. .. 132 132,401 2,401 70,752 46,686 117,429 8,749 13,023, 3,989, 31,278 39,286 21,724 485,317 Land for Settlements. Cash lands Lease in perpetuity made freehold . . 17 Renewable lease made freehold .. .. 2 Small grazing-runs made freehold Deferred payments . . . . . . 15 Lease in perpetuity .. .. ..12 Renewablo lease .. .. .. 9 Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Coal and mineral loases and royalties Timber licenses and sale of timber Flax-cutting Other miscellaneous leases and licenses Payments of capital value under section 191 of the Land Act, 1908 Miscellaneous 78 17,171 2,518 78 7,171 2,51S 5,851 2.80C 9,764 130 247 31 11,514 771 1,728 215 4,031 151 116 74 40 16 12,144 1,121 42 3,205 750 425 49,949 5,311 15,851 12,800 9,764 130 11,978 32,042 28,959 3,211 2,583 1,990 953 3,805 ll,799i 8,972 747 116 738 2,066 5,275 10,848 10,438 5,073 476 2,127 51,301 59,671 10,273 60 25 1,336 31,656 20,351 1,564 536 496 9,040 8,451; 77 43,567 162,696 149,625 21,075 590 27 2 247 152 l|318 348 1 1,458 887 15 145 16 4,560 2 3 34 35 17 30 10 7 133 Totals .. . . .. 58 58,593 8,59.1 88,662 7,262 31,055 3,030 32,126 479 138,207 60,327 1 18,233 437,080 Cheviot Estate. Cash lands Lease in perpotuity Renewablo lease Grazing-farms Pastoral runs Coal and mineral leases Timber licenses and sale of timber Flax-cutting Other miscellaneous leases and licenses Payments of capital value under section 191 of the Land Act, 1908 Miscellaneous 4 6,602 846 4,594 4 6,602 846 4,594 5^53 6, 153 Totals 17,199 17,199 National-endowment Lands. Cash lands Renewable leases .. .. . . 6 Small grazing-runs 6,734 307 8,734 307 4,609 4,207 3,912 95 2,594 480 j!770 80 646 1 3,669 942 483] 10,014; 1 1,238 23,203 855J 1,016 1 23,783 43,071 Carried forward .. .. 7 7,041 8,816 7,041 4,007 3,074 1,850 4,315] 24,442 942 10,497 1,871 66,855 * Includes £429, Native-larul-settlerricrrt lease made freehold. Iiii-llldi-i £1,239, 'cist Ooi ist Settlement lease made in >ehold,

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Table 18.— Return of Gross Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1917— continued.

6—o. 1.

41

Tenure. T3 3 M 3 a i a cc) ■r « ta fl g O 1 i 50 a cd *a $- to a_ ■6 I a 9 ►> B a j a m o I o a 3 s o 03 ta 1 O National-endowment Lands —continued. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Brought forward 7,041 8,816 4,007 3,074 1,850 4,315 942 10,497 24,442 1,871 66,855 Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Pastoral runs Coal and mineral leases Timber licenses and sale of timber Flax-cutting Other miscellaneous loases and licenses Payments of capital value under section 191 of tire Land Act, 1908 Miscellaneous 105 163 2/319 12 40 659 . . 1,092 40 810 244 288 . . 611 .. 716 280 73 9,575 40 425 22,049 10,181 2,277 3 1,48(1 36,904 608 12,545 40 1,562 62 "23 71 i68 .. '705 48 44 281 325 Totals 9,734 8,851 4,047 4,481 3,616 5,125 12,051 33,311 34,904 4,199 120,319 Educational-endowment Lands. Primary Secondary 8,898 1,475 10,824| 1,943 6,587 964; 10,748 2.694 424 133 442 92 440 100 23,165 270 4,776 843 17,061 282 83,365 8,796 Totals 10,373 12,707 7,551 13,442] 557 5341 540 23,435 5,619 17,343 92,101 Other Endowment Lands. Cash lands Perpetual lease made freehold Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Deferred payments Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchaso Leaso in perpetuity Renewable lease Mining districts iand occupation leases Small grazing-runs .. .. Pastoral licenses in ruining districts under special regulations Pastoral runs Coal anrl mineral loases Timber licenses and sale of timber Flax-cutting Other miscellaneous leases and licenses Miscellaneous I I 9 8 25 14 5 335 18 86 123 70 1^560 46 300 "72 1^627 .360 46 9 326 25 1,732 128 70 2,322 174 43 •• ■• 131 .. 2:l! 066 204 L693 15 5,482 1,693 7,175 24,759 223 4 2: 841 "39 1,000 9 73 ".33 "88 2,085 • ■ I Totals 104 2 841 374 24,698 1,717 1,633 7,560 2,145 39,074 Thermal springs districts leases 2,035 2,035 Survey liens on Native land 16,647 3,341 2,341 2,223; 13 24,567 Miscellaneous 7,414 1,617 3,803 2,600 767 517 234 1,014; 3,989 759, 22,714 Grand totals .. .. : 237,301 185,9921 72,531 171,604 41,425] 51,338 1.9,010 246,077 151,685] 64,403 1,241,366 , I I I I

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Table 19. —Return of Rent granted under Section 116 op the Land Act, 1908, and Section 55 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908, during this Year ended the 31st March, 1917.

Table 20. —Arrears of Rent due to the Crown at 31st March, 1917.

42

District. Number of Tenants who have been granted Rebate. Amount of Rebate granted. District. Number of Tenants who have been granted Rebate. I Amount of Rebate granted. I j Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland •' 5,715 597 1.186 2,020 450 387 337 373 1,019 701 £ 4,365 3,030 2,256 3,233 199 432 130 576 724 455 Land for Settlements —contd. Otago Southland Totals 724 249 4,879 £ 5,463 1,205 31,927 National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 817 60 116 80 132 93 184 21 170 145 491 436 383 217 62 58 78 46 103 78 Totals 1 12,845 12,845 15,400 Cheviot Estate —■ Canterbury 132 768 Land for Settlements — Auckland.. Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury •' I 1,019 622 45 310 27 375 25 1,483 Totals 1,818 1,952 1,804 6,734 262 1,932 148 2,615 5111,713 Grand totals Other Endowment Lands — Nelson.. Canterbury 19,074 50,047 29 72 8 155 Totals 101 163

District. Number of Selectors. Amount in Arrear, exclusive of current Half-year's Payment. District. Number of Selectors. Amount in Arrear, exclusive of current Half-year's Payment. hdinary Grown Lands — Auckland.. Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelsorr Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 427 16 43 130 84 10 103 57 7 17 £ 5,144 384 1,022 1,280 640 300 249 113 07 77 National-endowment Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson.. Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 86 6 2 5 83 11 101 4 4 4 £ 1,383 557 62 262 628 249 399 331 1 42 Totals 894 9,282 Totals 300 3,914 Vieviot Estate — Canterbury Thermal springs (Rotorua) .. 15 263 and for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 30 178 54 7 1 18 5 11 1,216 293 4 379 275 374 Education Endowments — Primary Secondary 125 33 1,547 163 Totals 158 1,710 79 3 8 4,541 67 319 Grand totals 1,589 22,8.15 Totals Other endowment lands 78 204 186 7,408

43

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Table 21.— Statement showing Payments to Local Bodies during the Year ended 31st March, 1917, from "Thirds" of Deferred-payment, Perpetual-lease, Occupation-with-right-of-purchase, Renewable-lease, and Lease-in-perpetuity Lands, "Fourths" of Small Grazing-runs, and "Halves" of Timber and Flax Royalties.

Table 22. —Return showing Payments of Capital Value under Section 191 of the Land Act, 1908, at 31st March, 1917.

District. " Thirds," Deferred-payment, Perpetual-lease, Occupation-with-right-of-purchaso, Renewable-lease, and Lease-in-perpetuity Lands. " Fourths," Small Grazing-runs, " Halves," Timber arrd Flax. Total Payments, Auckland Hawke's Bay .. Caranaki Wellington kelson Marlborough .. Westland Canterbury Dtago Southland £ 13,972 9,191 4,550 12,318 2,415 3,002 752 105 857 1,282 £ 75 543 2 224 21 598 £ 45 £ 14,092 9,734 4,556 12,542 2,973 3,755 4,636 1,289 4,716 1,871 4 537 155 3,884 1,184 3,732 3 127 580 Totals 48,444 0,382 5,338 60,164

Amot mt dexrosited during tiro Year. Total Pay: tents at 3. .st March, 19 .7. System and Tenure. *o CO U U Q O a a aS 3 "3 303 to Area held Amount Areaneid. dopositecL *S IT U o o at S~ 3cC to Area held. Uriginsl Annual Rental payable. Total Payments made on Account of Capital Value. Annual Rental now payable as reduced by such Payments. >rdinary Crown Lands — Lease in perpetuity Renewable lease .. 11 Acres. 1,117 £ 533 38 2 Acres. 6,169 I £ 347 5 £ 3,110 52 £ 221 3 Totals .. 11 1,117 533 ■Id 6,170 352 3,162 224 'heviol Estate — Leaso in perpetuity 1 107 50 999 6 ,and for Settlements — Leaso in perpetuity 3 363 205 3,406 92 Grand totals 11 1,117 533 44 0,640 673 7,627 322 WitMrawaU durin. 1 Year. —Lease porpsti lity, ordinar Crown lam orre iduotor, urei 5U0 acres, amount £50.

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44

Table 23.—Return of Forfeitures and Surrenders during the Year ended 31st March, 1917, showing under each Tenure the Number of Selectors who have forfeited and surrendered their holdings, and the area and rental of such holdings.

Tenure. F Number. Forfeitures. Forfeiture Area. es. Si Rental! "umber. Surrenders. Surrender! Area. :'S. Annual Rental. Ordinary Grown Lands — Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Renewable lease Mining districts land occupation loases Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous 3 78 4 6 2 9 Acres. 206 26,392 1,972 824 88 1,739 £ 6 1,430 44 361 5 38 1 2 1 7 Acres. 1 314J 96 492 £ 1 8 7 14 3 166 54|6l0 14,618 22 891 52 30,947 2,186 Totals 271 99,849 2,797 63 31,850£ 2,216 Land for Settlements — Leaso in perpetuity Renewable lease Miscellaneous is 8 3,215£ 363 1,140 66 431 1,505 244 82 4 5 Totals 21 3,578i 1,206 9 1,936 326 National- endowment Lands — Ronowablc lease Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous 45 9 11,130 2,687 465 67 13 2 5,066 210 201 13 1 1 16 2,746 8,250 2,831 220 8 39 1 3,985 100 8 31,930 "26 Totals 72 27,650 799 24 41,191 340 Education Endowments —■ Primary .. .. .. .. Socondary 29 2 3,323 8 207 25 9 1 61 55 99 3 Totals 31 3,331 232 III 61i 102 Grand totals 395 134,4084, 5,034 100 75.038J2,984

45

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Table 24. —Return showing the Total Number of Selectors, with Area of Crown Land selected or held, the Yearly Rent payable, and the Area made Freehold at the 31st March, 1917.

Tenure. Tenure. Total Number of Selectors. Total Area held. Total Yearly Rental or Instalment payable. Total Area made Freehold, Tenure. Number of Purchasers, Area. Ordinary Crown Lands — Cash .. .. Deferred payment (Land Acts, 1877 and 1885) Deferred payment (Land Laws Amendment Acts, 1912 and 1913, &o.) Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Leaso in perpetuity Renowable lease Agricultural lease Mining districts land occupation loases Homestoad Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses "lO 306 498 5,760 5,954 461 16 705 Acres. 782 75,290 46,285 1,713,729 1,337,900 82,953 541 24,074 £ 32 5,513 1,976 123,947 50,528 14,482 23 1,4 82 9,522 90. 2,852 2,686 1,469 8 1,475 21 525 20 Acres. 13,177,095 1,090,417 27,034 827,071 738,184 306,148 22 140,896 816 80,453 3,426 511 134,373 3,444 190 440 5,145 395,276 0,604,170 986,442 17,987 40,570 30,526 22 21,219 Totals 11,401,821 290,510 19,996 11,401,821 16,418,781 Cheviot Estate — Cash Lease in perpetuity Renewable lease Grazing-farms .. ..' Pastoral runs Miscellaneous loases and licenses 210 15 33 26,806 2,051 40,328 7,294 831 9,858 6,855 "57 5,218 920 Totals 315 74,463 18,903 6,855 Land for Settlements —■ Cash Deferred payment (Land Laws Amendment Acts, 1912 and 1913) Leaso in perpetuity Renewable loaso Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous loases and licenses ,347 3,132 1,675 100 18 295 58,496 587,681 709,964 172,535 4,269 11,261 15J628 174,455 164,532 22,943 575 2,831 iio 349 101 6 605 13,003 50,095 23,450 11,519 Totals 5,562 1,544,206 380,964 98,678 National-endowment Lands — Ronowablo leaso Mining districts land occupation leases Pastoral licenses in mining districts under special regulations Small grazing-runs Pitstoral runs Miscellaneous loasos and licenses 2,368 2 396 619,987 13 78,795 29,791 2 1,808 548 209 501 2,012,163 3,680,674 228,809 42,802 30,686 1,942 Totals 4,024 0,020,441 113,031 Thermal springs district loases 327 3,653 2,115 Educational-endowment Lands — Primary Secondary 3,188 390 767,170 38,463 77,563 8,731 Totals 3,578 805,633 86,294 Grand totals 33,802 20,450,217 891,817 16,524,314 Other endowment lands 840 361,884 17,866 Summary showing Tot^ ll Land : HELD IN EACH L.AND DlS 'RICT. District. Number Selector: ,° f Area Iteld. Ar Annual Rental Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 7,897 1,984 2,386 4,095 2 ,067 1,377 2,363 3,684 4,985 2,964 Aores. 1,900,204 1,045,867 648,010 977,762 907,666 1,525,434 1,808,618 4,055,035 5,595,510 1,986,111 £ 112,534 149,683 46,944 91,577 15,205 48,146 8,460 238,583 130,972 49,713 Totals 33,802 20,450,217 891,817

C.-l.

Table 25. —Return of Education Endowments at 31st March, 1917.

46

District. i a ce CD CO SB CD M <l 15 O 6H cog Taken up during the Year. Expiries duriug the Year. Renewal of Li during the Y eases 'ear. S go t-i 9 si ".2 u -*-* c3 cfl S 5 •3 o . in U tH S -2 i m. Annual *8 Area " Rental. S'f 303 to ■h .,,„„ Annual 2 Al0a - Rental. » a a a 3 to Area. Annual Rontal. P. •ima\ 7/ Educ lion. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 116,023 80,185 51,115 94,674 10,717 1,120 14,613 70,125 45,439 348,197 Acres. 4,370 237 738 1,258 2,167 17 0 8 13 1 I 8 !) 20 40 Acres. 1,329 483 13 1,252 241 1 1,881 1,359 453 8,993 £ 308 138 30 378 3 2 150 1,031 211 498 I Acres. 19 | 2,302 6 87 9 221 4 1,125 3 I £ 93 131 68 19 4 15 3 10 4 3 Aeres. 1.911 220 1,125 1 £ 269 62 248 76 4 1,094 1,359 452 7,283 41 9,344 44 i 2,027 42 | 9,956 3,807 405 485 34 31 24 7,974 1,575 3,194 4,573 496 599 Totals 832,208 19,558 123 I 16,005 2,755 168 25,063 5,012 121 16.0011 6,327 Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago . . .. ' Southland 10,335 7,484 2,354 12,178 802 284 4,448 1,024 2,100 579 Se< conda wy Edu, •ution. 19 21 2 2 6 11 28 oi) 3 123 5 343 15 I 5 i 343 29 2 1 1 1 1 5 1 ' 5 n 357 56 *8 356 68 Totals 41,588 41 15 45 180 18 701 72 14 700 99 Grand totals 873,796 19,599 138 16,050 j 2,941 186 25,764 5,084 138 16,7014 6,420 Forfoitun the - * 3S C eiL [uring Sun •e: tl iders d ie Yea: luring r\ Not .re: held on lilst March, 1917. Selectors in Arrear on lilst March, 1917. District. "o CO K u oj O at a% 303 to A i-eii Annual Area - Rental. Gross Amount received during the Year. | U ri a) a a r a ° s g to | < u a a 3 la Area. ~"5 is ■3 tH CD a 5 3 to Area. §3 Is rT Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 5 1 3 3 Acres. 35 1 1,972 0 £ 66 1 47 8 'r'n 2 6 ,ary En Acres. r. lucat', £ 41 52 Ion. 536 215 360 512 94 39 59 223 379 771 Acres. £ 70,296 4,783 80,481 , 9,461 48,325 j 6,072 94,339 10,896 0,564 ' 473 1,119 451 13,832 I 451 70,125 24,142 42,653 4,428 339,436 16,400 £ 8,898 10,824 6,587 10,748 424 442 440 23,165 4,776 17,061 £ 38 364 14 238 10 230 18 214 15 54 4 5 7 80 7 333 5 10 7 19 38 14 10 18 15 4 7 7 5 7 i "i 6 5 12 1 1,308 3 82 Totals 29 3,323 207 °i 99 3,188 767,170 77,563 S3, Mlir. 12.1 125 1,547 Si '.com lary 1 •duca. 'ion. 20 131 2 1 1 0 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nolson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland i "7 i 1 i 24 1 55 3 165 29 51 12 31 4 30 8,648 7,478 2,317 12,177 817 262 3,209 1,024 1,952 579 1,439 1,892 1,032 2,693 129 89 109 270 831 247 1,475 1,943 ■ 964 2,694 133 92 100 270 843 282 7 10 20 2 1 7 i 3 is 3 '47 21 Totals 25 55 3 390 38,463 8,731 8,796 33 163 Grand totals 31 3,331 232 10 61i 102 3,578 805,633 86,294 92,161 158 1,710

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Table 26. —Return showing the Area of Land settled under Village-settlement Conditions to the 31st March, 1917.

Table 27. —Return showing the Area of Land settled under Special-settlement-association Conditions to the 31st March, 1917.

Table 28. —Return showing the Area of Land settled under Improved-farm-settlement Conditions to the 31st March, 1917.

Area held at 31st March, 1917.* Area ma< to le Freehold Date. Total Amount advanced to Selectors for Improvements up to lilst March, 1917. District. f-l o £a as Annual Rental or Instalment Area held, payable, including Interest on Advances. Amount of Advances which have been repaid to 31st March, 1917. Number of Selectors, Number of Purchasers. Area acquired. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Nelson Marlborortgh Westland . . Canterbury Otago Southland,. 5 14 3 57 1 3 2 42 39 5 14 3 57 1 3 2 42 39 83 123 14 678 5 46 15 333 209 297 Acres. 3,241 3,687 55 10,989 il 389 89 9,709 3,233 4,507 £ 281 1,960 10 2,542 6 70 18 I ,748 598 578 80 414 441 652 J7 21 .774 260 1,047 Acres. 488 2,438 3,170 4,286 i42 125 5,864 2,976 9,668 £ 2,312 877 £ 2,333 429 6,893 51742 104 "l5 2J580 U580 I ,100 591 Totals 168 168 1,803 35,910 7,823 3,712 29,157 13,872 10,640 i I i _J » Incl iides holdingi converted bo deferred-payment license.

District. u 2 • a a ai Area held at 31st March, 1917.* Number of Annual S" Area held. , Rental or selectors. Instalment. Area made Freehold to Date. Number of Area Purchasers. acquired. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Canterbury .. • Otago 6 54 8,830 250 2 10 2,000 80 9 87 15,604 844 50 361 64,701 3,842 4 37 4,132 271 I 14 2,765 121 6 2 9 50 4 1 54 10 87 361 37 14 Acres. 8,830 2,000 15,604 64,701 4,132 2,765 £ 256 80 844 3,842 271 121 66 56 3 904 4 Acres. 7,436 5,610 600 96,403 518 Totals 72 563 98,032 , 5,414 1,033 110,567 * Includes holdings converted to deferred-payment license.

District. *2 °B 303 to Area held at 31st March, 1917.* Area made Freehold to Date. Total Amount advanced to Selectors for Improvements. Nnmhpr nf Annual Selectors Area ,leld ' Eental or selectors. Instalment. Number of Purchasers., Area acquired. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki . . Wellington Southland. . 12 2 19 19 4 '117 15 338 207 35 Acres. 15,958 1,692 47,207 25,089 3,885 £ 1,936 219 5,227 3,851 234 8 2 22 138 10 Acres. 799 219 2,408 15,500 846 £ 26,696 2,020 44,913 33,661 12,058 Totals 56 712 94,431 11,467 180 19,772 119,348 * Includes l: lOldingB convi irted to deferred-payment license.

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Table 29.— Lands disposed of under the Land for Settlements Acts to the 31st March, 1917.

48

District. J-3 ' tH T3 <3 -+? tn •§SS°SSa° Total Area purchai Net Area nn A ™ or made Freehol, acquired, °°°g»g ■§ *„- «1 S| 2 fl ' -■«-,, including uy Uf ""18 «-5 0 S 3 « 1*2,2 °S ascertained 1{o an ;» g||*S Sj! §| 5! g Surplus. ,"'w Sis a »"Sp- -24 Area - unlet. jSS«»°SS« fi" £.3.8 h n a a &o3 gg < to* I 3ed for Cash A to Date. Price realized. Total Lands leased at Date. O co U M co O at as 3 cl) to,™ Area. Annual Rental. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. 295,867 6,699 70,091 415 01,958 239,109 2,211 3 61 11,465 5,331 61 .. 11 694 85,719 890 12,819 51 2,831 34,501 770 5,891 4 56 228,226 2,673 6,480 19 3,982 5,125 99 557,544 3,975 5,694 88 7,493 237,610 2,774 7,024 25 3,191 .. | 91,049 950 7,902 42 7,008 Acres. 70,091 3 5,891 0,480 415 61 11 51 4 19 Acres. 01,958 11,465 694 2,831 56 3,982 £ 109,710 68,573 15,858 36,677 221 13,025 879 697 75 447 39 469 31 1,097 920 308 Acres. £ 157,11.9 27,162 225,427 75,009 4,576 3,600 09,179 25,71,7 27,784 2,505 214,903 32,552 5,026 ! 541 540,382 137,485 224,021 59,214 75,189 17,173 5,694 7,024 7,902 88 25 42 7,493 3,191 7,008 53,467 14,690 20,017 Totals .. 1 780,081 21,102 115,904 71 98,678 332,238 5,562 11,544,200 380,964 Total Amount advanced to Selectors for Improvements, 5ele Ar] list ictors in rear on March, 1917. I-Ioldini ;s inspec 31st 1\ d during Yea,r ended irch, 1917. District. Yearly Value of Unlet Iiand at 31st March, 1917. Rent and other Payments received during the Year. Total Receipts from Inception to 31st March, 1917. O el) . ID t. ID a S-g 5°'" Value of Improvements. Amourrt. Area. Required. A « No. Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough .. Wostland Canterbury Otago Southland £ 2,869 2 £ 4,487 162 337 3,821 850 £ 58,593 88,662 7,262 31,055 3,036 32,126 479 138,207 60,327 18,233 £ 414,734 885,742 70,244 313,285 18,853 330,973 8,690 1,400,877 685,348 190,933 54 7 1 18 5 II £ 1,216 293 242 527 47 60 34 230 28 1,001 401 300 Acres. 31,708 191,790 3,265 17,779 22,510 152,870 5,023 378,242 140,024 75,000 £ £ 31,866' 23,187 678,793 526,467 8,499 19,232 21,078: 44,678 17,827 36,726 62,658 159,584 3,320 22,000 334,321 461,830 168,965 245,301 83,045 162,250 £ 31,860 678,793 8,499 21,078 17,827 62,658 3,320 334,321 168,965 83,045 4,744 278 1,641 4 379 275 374 2,290 3,251 699 2,786 79 3 8 4,541 67 31.9 76 Totals Payments of capital valr Land Act, 1908 15,774; 12,519] 437,980 4,379,679 186] 7.468 1 2,870 1,018,211 1,410,372 1,701,315 le under lection 191 of the 3,466 4,383,145

C—l

Table 30. —Transactions en Bush, Swamp, and Scrub Lands under Section 127 of the Land Act, 1908, during the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

Table 31. —Inspections made by the Rangers for the Year ended 31st March, 1917

Table 32. —Advances obtained for the Purpose of roading Crown Lands, showing the Amount borrowed and the Amount repaid up to 31st March, 1917.

Approximate Colt of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,075 copies), £00.

By Authority : MABOUS F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l7.

Price, Is. Sd.\

7—C. 1.

49

Selections during the Year. Area opened during Year. Heavy-hush hand. Light-bush Land. Scrub Land. District. — -— o in Amount : o co Amount o g Amount Heavy- Light-- „ , go of Rental £« :of Rental Je of Rental bush bush i t Totals, at Area, remitted au Area, 'remitted a v Area, remitted Land. Land. I Land ' g| per || pel ||i per to,™ Annum, Annum, Annum. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. £ Acres. £ Acres. £ Auckland .. .. ..... .. . . .. .. .... .. .... Taranaki ... .. 382 .. 382 . . .. Wellington 3 4,448 288 . . ., Nelson .. 3,977 4,954 2,789 11,720 7 6,135 220 1 L59 6 I 1,047 68 Westland .. .. 5,511 .. 5,511 .. .. .. 9 4,612 94 Totals .. 3,977 10,847 2,789 17,613 10 10,583 508 10 4,771 100 1 1,047 68 Totals. nt o m Amount tal jo of Rental ed a o \ Area, remitted II ! l»r n. toi '' Annum. IT Acres. £ 3 ! 4,448 288 8 9 7,341 294 9 4,612 94 8 21 16,401 676 Total Area held at 31st March, 1917. Heavy-bush Land. Light-bush Land. Scrub Land. District. - " — ? 2 Annual ° 2 Annual ° E ' Annual ° S5 I Area i Rental %S Area Rental »5 Area I Rontal « % g ; held. : (re- ft g held. (re- 3 8 held, j (re- a s« mitted). 3~ mitted). 3f knitted). 3 to™ | to™ to™ | rH , . , Totals. ° 2 Annual S° Area , Rental I g I held. (re3» mitted). to™ Acres. £ ] Aores. £ Acres. £ Auckland.. .. .. .. 10 7,498 1,098! .. .. .. Taranaki.. .. .. .. 24 16,649 1,150 .. .. Wellington .. .. .. 16 17,365 1,480 2 968 65 .. ] .. Nelson .. .. .. ..160 81,6681 2,209 62 37,192 803 32 14,352 390 2 Westland.. .. .. .. 9 4,612 94 Totals ... ..216 123,180 5,937 73 42,772 962 32 14,352 396 3 Acres. £ ' 16! 7,498 1,098 24 16,649 1,150 18j 18,333 1,546 254 133,212 3.408 9 4.612 94 321 180,304 7,295

District. Number of Properties visited. Area. Value of Inv Roouired. irovements. Actually made. Numbi For For . Deficient NonInrprove- residence merits only. ] only. ir of Defaulters, For Non- ] rosidence and Improvements. For other Reasons Toiil. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland... 633 719 377 476 938 301 383 1,172 475 905 Acres. 135,344 330,579 134,540 171.173 334,919 342,780 78,303 518,275 210,836 234,700 £ 66,465 774,408 95,559 50,675 109,221 73,505 33,809 339,957 177,546 107,685 £ 112.180 865,841 235,703 161,395 320,695 249,461 90.903 407,823 267,815 222,330 j 633 719 377 476 938 301 383 1,172 475 905 28 117 46 55 lf> 12 5 12 65 50 24 15 24 7 177 11 49 18 70 14 56 6 6 6 50 3 12 5 9 1 210 107 33 24 165 42 43 193 68 118 28 1 Totals 6,379 2 6,379 2,491,449 1,828,830 2,491,449 1,828,830 2,994,146 509 ! 311 172 11 1,003 inspections were made by the Bangers irr connection with educational endov In addition numerous applications. i inspections v were made bj the Rangers viuriit leases a ml misci ■llailfi.il:-

District. Area. borrowed. Amount repaid. .uckland lawke's Bay 'arauaki Vellington lelson .. larlborough Vestland Janterbury )tago louthland Acres. 1,391,521 498,840 708,531 820,969 415,517 217,971 59,717 3,552 267,516 181,247 £ £ ■ 343,791 162,319 150,323 72,828 232,964 167,802 301,697 215,473 48,046 10,069 29,943 30,940 8,006 2,424 1,821 1,036 23,975 25,095 43,676 25,666 Totals .. 4,565,387 1,184,242 713,652 1,184,242 713,652