C.—s.

14

Departmental.

The business of this department is steadily increasing, notwithstanding the falling-off of applications for leases under the Land Act, the renewal of agricultural leases under the Gold Fields Act, and the application for gold-mining leases, entailing a considerable amount of work. Every exertiou is being made to work up the arrears of applications ou the leasing books, and the surveys are now so far advanced that, I am informed by the Chief Surveyor, I may calculate on the issue of at least 200 leases and 200 Crown grants during the year commencing Ist July instant. Under the heading " Miscellaneous " will be found a statement of the number of leases aud Crown grants, &c., issued during the year. The land revenue for the year collected at Nelson by the Receiver of Land Revenue amounted to £11,812 ss. This sura is exclusive of rents on agricultural leases issued under the Gold Fields Act, estimated at £1,970, and rents of gold-mining leases, estimated at £2,130, making a total revenue of £16,242 ss. Of the above sum of £11,812 55., the sum of £6,959 6s. 7d. was received for rents of leases and licenses. Miscellaneous. In addition to the returns asked for and appended hereto, I have appended to this report a statement prepared by the Receiver of Laud Revenue, which will better explain the revenues derived from this district. Statement showing Leases and Licenses in operation on the 30th June, 1879. Acroago. Rental. A. It. P. £ S. d. " Crown Lands Licensing Act, 1865 " .. 2/100 2 32 35 16 0 "Crown Lands Licensing Act, 1867" .. 360,391 1 9 2,872 11 1 "Waste Lands Act, 1874" .. .. 59,279 0 1 1,336 13 3 " Waste Lands Administration Act, 1870 " 67 0 0 3 7 0 Waste Lands Act (10-per-cent. clauses).. 9,413 039 579 7 4 Occupation licenses .. .. .. 157,377 211 768 7 9 Occupation reserves .. .. .. 6,598 0 2 52 9 8 Mineral leases .. .. .. 9,138 1 33 1,310 14 6 Total .. 601,665 1 7 £6,959 6 7 Amounts collected by Receiver of Land Revenue, Nelson, during Year ending 30th June, 1879. £ s. d. Land sales .. .. .. .. .. 3,223 16 0 Rents of leases, &c. .. .. .. .. 4,887 2 2 „ Licenses . . .. .. .. .. 647 1 9 Mineral .. .. .. .. .. 2,259 1.2 6 Royalties .. .. .. .. .. 405 0 6 Prospecting licenses .. .. .. .. 91 13 I Transfer fees .. .. .. .. .. 61 19 0 Fees on Crown Grants — Transferred from Deposit Account.. £142 16 9 Received .. .. .. 120 3 3 263 0 0 Total .. .. £11,812 5 0 Leases, Licenses, fyc, issued during Year ending 30th June, 1879. Acreage. Rental. No. A. R. P. £ S. d. "Waste Lands Act, 1874".. .. 17 6,148 0 4 202 6 9 Waste Lands Act (10-per-eent. clauses) 21 2,358 334 193 4 1 Occupation licenses .. .. 2 1,003 211 12 11 0 Licenses over reserves .. .. 3 1112 16 0 0 Mineral lease .. .. 1 97 0 0 2 10 0 Total .. 44 9,651 311 £426 1110 Leases forfeited during Year ending 30th June, 1879. A. E. P. Waste Lands Acts .. .. .. .. .. 2,092 224 Waste Lands Acts (10-per-cent. clauses) .. .. .. 307 3 13 Mineral .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,316 0 7 Total .. .. .. .. £6,746 2 4 Crown grants issued during year ending 30th June, 1879—122. Alfred Greenfield, Commissioner.