13

G.— 3

PART 111.-SUMMARY OF AREAS. Acres. Area finally acquired to 31st March, 1896 (vide G.-3, 1896) .. .. .. .. .. ..6,420,104 Area finally acquired during 1896-97 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 315,490 Total area finally acquired to 31st March, 1897.. .. .. ■• .. ..6,741,594 Portion of 315,490 acres, as above, finally acquired during 1896-97, representing the work of that period .. 83,482 Progress on uncompleted purchases during 1896-97 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250,875 Total results for year ending 31st March, 1897 .. .. .. .. .. .. 334,357 Uncompleted purchases on 31st March, 1897, — Lands passed through Native Laud Court .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,527,380 Lands not passed through Native Land Court .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 78,776 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,606,156

PART IV.-EXPENDITURE.

P. Sheeidan, Native Land Purchase Office, Officer in Charge. Wellington, 31st August, 1897.

Eepoet on the Condition and Settlement of all Lands acquired under "The Native Land Purchases Act, 1892." The lands finally acquired north of Auckland are, speaking generally, all suitable for settlement, and their value will be considerably enhanced by the completion, during the ensuing year, of the purchase of the bulk of the other lands shown in Part 11. as partially acquired. In the Thames and Coromandel Peninsula, the lands dealt with during the year are all more or less auriferous, and their value is, from both a mining and settlement point of view, considerable. The purchases in the Eotorua and Bay of Plenty districts must necessarily increase the tourist traffic. The King-country purchases have a special value for settlement purposes in consequence of their proximity to the North Island Main Trunk Eailway line, and the generally good quality of the land. The bulk of the lands finally and partially acquired in the Hawke's Bay and Wellington districts are urgently required for settlement, for which purpose they are well adapted. S. Percy Smith, Lands and Survey Office, Surveyor-General. Wellington, Ist July, 1897.

3—G. 3.

The Native Ls Aoci North Island General Loans. Main Trunk Railway Loan. -g v Debentures. wide Purchases aunt. Total. By Cash. Expenditure from 1st April, 1896, to 31st March, 1897 :— On lands finally acquired : Part I. .. On lands partially acquired : Part II. On Native Land Court surveys On roads On old purchases On working-expenses £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 32,716 11 11 47,146 15 2 10,090 11 7, 28,696 0 4 : 7,653 3 8 2,715 13 4 £ s. d. 32,710 11 11 47,140 15 2 10,090 11 7 28,690 0 4 7,653 3 3 2,715 13 4 Credits to past expenditure 129,018 15 7 18 15 9 129,018 15 7 18 15 9 Total net expenditure, 1st April, 1896, to 31st March, 1897 Expenditure to 31st March, 1896, as per G.-3, 1896 128,999 19 10 128,999 19 10 •1,077,866 6 5 219,987 10 8 9,700 0 0 353,280 1 3 1,660,833 18 4 Total expenditure to 31st March, 1897 .. 1,077,829 4 5 219,9S7 10 8 9,700 0 0 482,280 1 1 1,789,883 18 2 • S: ince reduced by credit of £37 2s.