17

C—s

Forest Land. It will be observed by Return No. 1 that the area of forest land is~ estimated to be 1,420,000 acres ; of course this is a rough approximation, and must be so taken into account. I find that the bush along by the sea-coast, and, indeed, wherever population has become settled, is being much cut up. Endeavours have been made from time to time to adopt measures for its more economical use, but partially without success. Accidental fires have been the principal cause of its destruction, and tbis it is almost impossible to prevent in parts of the district to which rangers have not been appointed. I have little doubt but that persons are cutting timber without a license, but it would not be easy to obtain a conviction. Rabbits. The rabbit pest has now spread up the valley of the Clutba to the Lakes, and they are found more or less over all my district. It bas been, however, a good deal mitigated by the energetic use of dog and gun. The difficulty of keeping tbe pest in check in the Clutba Valley arises from the loose subsoil on the ranges, into which the rabbits burrow with ease. The occupants of all cultivated grounds, however, find little trouble with them, as limited-sized holdings can be thoroughly examined and the rabbits destroyed. The pastoral tenants are the principal sufferers. The carrying capabilities of runs bave been, I understand, in some instances reduced by about one-third, although iv other parts ofthe district the provisions ofthe Rabbit Nuisance Act have been successfully employed in lessening the scourge. There have been fifty sittings ofthe Land Board, at which the cases disposed of were 1,210. Return of Lands and their Classes in the Provincial District of Otago at 30th June, 1879. Class. Acres. Forest .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,421,000 Lakes .. .. .. .. .. .. .284,800 Barren .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,346,240 Agricultural and pastoral .. . . .. .. 9,308,600 Total area of Provincial District of Otago .. .. 13,360,640 Acres. Area under pastoral leases and licenses .. .. .. .. 6,383,389 Area under deferred-payment licenses and exchange agricultural leases at 30th June, 1879" .. . . .. .. .. .. 122,936 Area under deferred-payment pastoral licenses .. .. .. 8,910 Area under deferred-payment leases (exchange agricultural leases, including purchased area) .. .. .. .. .. 26,922 Area under agricultural leases at 30th June, 1879 . . . . .. 75,257 Area under coal-mining leases .. .. .. . . .. 979 Area sold within hundreds .. .. .. .. .. 1,584,880 Area sold outside hundreds, from 1868 .. .. .. .. 290,463 Area sold outside hundreds previously held under agricultural leases and deferred-payment exchange leases (included in acreage outside hundreds) .. .. .. .. .. .. 74,095 Area of hundreds .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,863,651 Area unsold within hundreds, including area under deferred - payment licenses and leases .. .. .. .. .. 278,771 Miscellaneous. Issued during the year ending 30th June, 1879: Number of Crown grants, 532; occupation licenses (see Table No. 7), 44; timber licenses issued by Rangers, 135 ; depasturing licenses within hundreds, 150. Land revenue from all sources received in Dunedin and in Invercargill for tbe Invercargill Land District (including £3,208 4s. 7d. deferred-payment rents and issue fees collected by District Land Officers) and passed through Receiver's cash book, Dunedin, per bank vouchers, viz., £147,536 15s. Id. This amount docs not include the rents of agricultural and gold-mining leases and other gold fields revenue, nor deferred-payment rents collected by District Officers, the revenue from these sources not passing through Receiver's cash book at Dunedin. J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

SOUTHLAND. Report of tho Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Year ended 30th June, 1879. During the above period there have been sold 79 acres 1 rood 20 perches of town, 435 acre* 3 roods 9 perches of suburban, and 29,396 acres 1 rood 20 perches of rural, land. The sums 3—C. 5.