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In comparing the total number of selectors for the past period with those of previous ones a considerable fabing-off will be noticed. Taking the selectors under all headings shown in the first table there are 2,173, as against 2,865 in 1896, and 2,547 in 1895. An examination of the foregoing table will show that the decline in numbers is general, but, at the same time, principally in the lease-in-perpetuity selections. The reason for this is that there has been less land of good quality thrown open under the optional clauses of the Act, and, further, that the eagerness to obtain blocks of land under the association system has declined. Deducting from the total number of selectors (2,173) those who took up town, suburban, pastoral, and miscellaneous lands, we get 1,391 selectors who may be said to have selected homesteads or farms, greater or smaller, in most of which residence and improvement are compulsory. Of this number 389 were selectors of lands acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts. Excluding the pastoral and village holdings, the average size of the farms selected during the year is 138 acres, or 24 acres less than the average for the previous year. If the selections under the optional clauses of the Act alone are considered, in which the selector himself determines the size of his farm, it is found that the average area is 220 acres. The following table summarises the lands of all descriptions selected for the last nine years to the 31st March last :—

From the above table it will be seen that the number of selectors on the books of the department is one hundred and fifty-six less than at the 31st March, 1896, notwithstanding that 1,848 selections other than for cash were made during the year. The reason of this is that some of the terminating tenancies are running out. Deferred payment and perpetual leases, for instance, are gradually disappearing by the properties becoming freehold, when they cease to appear on the departmental books. The deferred-payment lands made freehold during the year were 507 in number; area, 67,480 acres: perpetual leases, 190 in number; area, 64,174 acres: homesteads, 10 in number; area, 1,607 acres. The forfeitures, surrenders, and expiries, which have been numerous during the past year, also tend to reduce the number; they amount to 1,076, covering an area of 2,015,986 acres. Consolidated leases under the Pastoral Tenants' Belief Act reduce the number by 12, and 209 miscellaneous and temporary leases expired. A large amount of land has been thrown open for selection or offered for auction during the past year ; it amounts to about 477,000 acres more than in the previous year, due to the large amount of pastoral country reoffered. The figures given below include all classes of land, whether ordinary Crown lands, lands acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts, Cheviot Estate, &c, but exclude endowments. A good deal of this land represents forfeited and surrendered sections again thrown open for selection. It also comprises both surveyed and unsurveyed lands : — Acres. For Optional selection ... ... ... • .... ... 261,522 Perpetual lease ... ... ... ... ... ... 9,753 Lease in perpetuity ... ... ... ... ... 35,207 Village allotments ... ... ... • •. ... 1,931 Cash lands offered at auction ... ... ... ... 12,554 Leases of Crown lands and reserves ... ... .... 6,217 Small grazing-runs ... ... ... ... ... 156,435 Pastoral runs ... ... .... ... ... ... 1,348,673 Total ... ~. ... ... 1,832,292

1895. 1896. 1897. Tenure. Number. Area. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Pastoral runs Occupation and agricultural leases, Mining Acts Acres. 415 I 38,719 49 5,497 3 1,263 428 75,500 1,082 166,037 123 I 568,293 492 6 7 434 1,461 188 72 Acres. 26,584 - 455 1,427 84,970 199,093 2,156,378 2,967 392 19 281 966 156 50 Acres. 28,489 9,106 59,652 139,571 1,256,706 2,830 2,050 855,309 2,660 2,471,874 1,864 1,496,354

Year. Number of Selectors or Purchasers. Area taken up during the Year. Territorial Revenue. Total Revenue collected. Number of Crown Tenants on the Books. 1888-89 1889-90 1890-91 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 2,529 2,653 2,420 2,519 3,071 2,876 2,547 2,865 2,173 Acres. 2,313,611 4,155,472 2,154,138 1,453,082 1,663,339 1,393,918 1,015,577 2,662,344 1,600,695 £ 310,061 304,842 352,417 320,483 274,399 282,067 338,166 291,673 272,954 £ Not given. 322,885 364,938 324,470 310,523 347,343 375,879 345,331 360,993 Not given. 12,164 11,995 12,735 14,261 15,081 15,326 15,683 15,527