G.—lo.

5

For instance, in Auckland the areas were under-estimated by 45,650 acres ; whereas in Wellington the land was over-estimated by 506,033 acres, in Hawke's Bay by 15,000 acres, and in Taranaki by 1,750 acres, making an actual difference of 477,133 acres over-estimated. The deficiency is, however, more than made up by the transactions of the present year, which are stated thus: — Auckland ... ... ... ... 522,664 acres Wellington ... ... ... ... 10,000 „ Taranaki ... ... ... ... 41,252 „ Total ... ... ... ... 573,916 „ The following is a summary of the transactions completed last year:— Auckland.—Mangonui ... ... 11,884 acres Hokianga ... ... 35,300 „ Kaipara ... ... 117,595 ~ Whangarei ... ... 882 „ Total North of Auckland 165,661 acres Thames ... ... ... 4,205 „ Taupo ... ... ... 19,423 „ Wairoa ... ... ... 146,080 „ Total Auckland ... ... 335,369 „ Wellington ... ... ... ... 58,425 „ Taranaki ... ... ... ... 82,381 „ Total Purchased ... ... 476,175 „ Leased ... ... ... 138,971 „ Total Purchased and Leased during year ended 30th June, 1876... 615,146 „

GENERAL SUMMARY. The several purchases and leases completed and incomplete up to the 30th June last, and the total expenditure, are shown in the following table : —

* This area includes Ohinemuri Gold Field, 132,175 acres. —a total area of 6,284,250 acres, equal to one-fifth of the entire area of the North Island, on which has been paid the sum of £445,404 2s. Id. The unexpended balance of the £700,000 voted by the General Assembly for the acquisition of land in the North Island was, on the 30th of June last, £254,595 17s. lid. The balances available to complete outstanding liabilities and new purchases that may be undertaken, are— £ s. d. Auckland ... ... ... ... 82,972 1 10 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... 40,132 12 1 Wellington ... ... ... ... 90,857 4 7 Taranaki ... ... 40,633 19 5 £254,595 17 11

Purchases. Leases. Total Expenditure. Transactions completed Acres. 1,769,972 Acres. *339,499 £ s. d. 241,677 8 10 „ incomplete 2,695,867 1,478,912 120,438 9 7 General expenses ... 4,465,839 1,818,411 362,115 18 5 83,288 3 8 £445,404 2 1