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£ s. a. £ s. d. The total annual rent, including interest on advances, amounts— In the North Island to ... ... ... 1,966 4 5 In the Middle Island to ... ... ... 3,05112 10 5,017 17 3 Equivalent to a rental of 3s per acre. The amount received as rent and interest for the year ending 31st March last was— In the North Island ... ... ... 1,676 6 1 In the Middle Island ... ... ... 2,58112 1 4,257 18 2 The total amount received for rent and interest from the commencement of the system to the end of the past financial year was ... 17,620 7 0 Classified as under :— North Island.—Eent ... ... ... 5,114 4 2 Interest ... ... ... 3,163 15 4 8,277 19 6 Middle Island.—Eent ... ... ... 7,881 3 1 Interest ... ... ... 1,461 4 5 9,342 7 6 Total receipts ... ... ... ... £17,620 7 0 The arrears of rent and interest on the 31st March last amounted t0... 2,575 3 2 Namely:— North Island—Arrears of rent ... ... ... 1,042 18 11 Arrears of interest ... ... 1,082 17 0 2,125 15 11 ■ ' Middle Island—Arrears of rent ... ... 389 6 8 Arrears of interest ... ... 60 0 7 449 7 3 Total arrears ... ... ... ... £2,575 3 2 The forfeitures and surrenders during the year number 56, the area being 1,127 acres, and the annual rent £239 13s. 5d., as under:— a. «• p- & s. d. North Island ... ... 28 ... 552 3 15 ..-. 126 8 8 Middle Island ... ... 28 ... 574 2 17 ... 113 4 9 During the past year 48 settlers have been allowed to exchange their village-homestead settlement tenure for leases in perpetuity. £ s. d. £ s. a. The value of improvements now on the land amount to ... ... 92,834 0 0 In the North Island ... ... ... 52,903 0 0 In the Middle Island ... ... ... 39,931 0 0 92,834 0 0 The financial position in round numbers is therefore this :— £ Capital value placed upon the land when disposed of ... ... ... 79,315 Amount advanced to settlers ... ... ... ... ... 25,778 Payments made by settlers as rent and interest ... .... ... 17,620 Value of improvements now on the land ... ... ... ... 92,834 And if the amount advanced is deducted, there remains ... ... 67,056 as representing the value of the work done by the settlers. Cheviot. The number of settlers on small areas at Cheviot under the village-homestead system is 87, and, with their wives and families, number 341; the total area they occupy is 2,419 acres 1 rood 22 perches, the average area to each settler being under 28 acres ; the annual rent is £844 9s. 6d., equivalent to an average of nearly 7s. per acre. The amount paid as rent by the village settlers at Cheviot for the year ending 31st March last was £771 2s. 2d., and the total payments made by them since they occupied the land amount to £1,079 ss. lid. On the same date eleven settlers only were in arrear, the rent due being £48 7s. Bd. The number of sections forfeited or surrendered was seven, the area being 175 acres 1 rood 38 perches, and the annual rent £64 2s. 4d. The sum of £40 was advanced to assist four of the settlers to erect cottages. The improvements which the eighty-seven settlers have made on the land are valued at £3,044, thus proving that they have been industrious, and are of the right class. General Bemarks. The figures shown in the annual return clearly indicate that the system of village settlements is one to encourage and extend, but it cannot be done successfully without means. I know at the present time many of the village settlers who are badly off, and require aid to enable them to establish themselves on the land ; it is for the want of more generous aid that the progress under this system is comparatively slight in proportion to what it should be. If village settlements are to be a real benefit to men whose time is not fully employed, some assistance is really necessary to enable them to build their cottages, and, if on bush lands, a little 12—C. 1.