7

G.—6

TARANAKI DISTRICT. The land-purchase operations in this district have been carried on by Mr. Parris, Civil Commissioner. The transactions to 30th June last year were the acquiring by purchase 8 blocks of land, containing 113,870 acres, also, negotiating for the purchase of 4 blocks of land, containing about 53,000 acres, on which advances were made to the sum of £2,194 6s. sd. During the present year there has been purchased 5 blocks of land, containing 56,629 acres, making a total 170,499 acres, at a cost of £25,381195., or 2s. llf d. per acre; also negotiating for the purchase of 6 blocks of land estimated to contain 84,130 acres, on which advances have been made amounting to £674 3s. 6d. There has also been paid for the survey of the Patea River the sum of £162 Is. GENERAL SUMMARY. From this statement it will be seen that the area of land acquired by purchaes or lease since 1872, the year the Government commenced the present land purchases under "The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870," have been — Acres. T xT. t> • r a i i j Cby purchase ... ... 490,784 In the Province oi Auckland, < , J i „„,'„„. ' (by lease ... ... 391,601 In the Province of Hawke's Bay, by purchase ... ... 240,537 In the Province of Wellington, by purchase ... ... 429,702 In the Province of Taranaki, by purchase ... ... 170,499 A total of 1,331,522 acres, purchased at a cost of, including £13,000 charged for expenses of department, commissions, &c, £164,218 10s. Id., or 2s. sfd. per acre; and 391,601 acres leased, on which has been paid the sum of £2,987 9s. Id. The incomplete transactions represent— Acres. T ~ T-, • c . ii j (by purchase ... ... 1,618,686 In the Province of Auckland, J i; 2 14,667 In the Province of Hawke's Bay, by purchase ... ... 37,000 T ,i t, £m ~. <by purchase ... ... 1,202,026 In the Province of Wellington, J { eage W1,535 In the Province of Taranaki, by purchase ... ... 84,130 A total of 2,941,842 acres under purchase, and 1,522,502 acres under lease. In all 4,464,344 acres, on which has been paid, including £13,135 2s. 9d. for departmental services, the sum of £118,823 Is. From these totals it will be seen that no less than 6,187,467 acres of land have been negotiated for since 1872, on which moneys have been paid amounting to £286,029 os. 2d. The total amount charged against the sums voted by Parliament for landpurchase purposes to 30th June last was referred to by my honorable colleague, the Colonial Treasurer, in his Financial Statement, as £377,059 18s. Id. Some explanation may be necessary as to the difference between this sum and that of £286,029 os. 2d., before noticed by me ajs the total payments made for actual landpurchase purposes, a difference of £75,344 4s. 6d. This amount is made up from payments made to the £ s. d. t, • » . -, , j ( Under authority of sections 47 and") ■>* m* n n Province of Auckland 4S of '< The Immigration and Province of Hawke's Bay, J_ public Workg A<jt> £- 2 „ j 3,000 0 0 Transfer to Native Land Act Account under Appropriation Acts of 1872, 1873,1874 ... ... ... ... ... 24,292 8 5 Advance to New Zealand Settlements Act (Confiscated Lands) ... 20,500 0 0 Expenses of raising Loan ... ... ... ... ... 9,534 1 1 In Suspense Account ... ... ... ... ... 100 15 0 £75,344 4 6 This sum of £75,344 4s. 6d., as against £286,029 os. 2d. actually paid for lands, certainly appears large, but it must be borne in mind that, with the exception of £20,500 advanced to the New Zealand Settlements Act, the whole has been charged in accordance with the votes of this House. The fact should also