a—B.

1898. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: VILLAGE-HOMESTEAD SETTLEMENTS (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

These settlements now number 165. The original selectors number 2,284, and of these 1,185 remain in occupation. Some of the original selectors have taken up land on other conditions, and cease to be village settlers. The number who have taken up land during the past year is 101, the area taken up being 1,485 acres 3 roods 20 perches, an average to each selector of 14 acres 2 roods 33 perches, and the average rental is 2s. 4Jd. per acre. The forfeitures and surrenders number 62, with an area of 1,216 acres. The rent and interest of the forfeited sections was £158. The number of present settlers is 1,567, and of these 1,097 are residing on their sections. The total area held is 35,454 acres, an average to each settler of 22-J acres ; the average rent, including interest on advances, is 2s. 9d. per acre. The capital value of the land is £97,646, and the yearly rent, including interest, £4,904. The actual sum received for rent and interest during the year ending the 31st March last was £4,877 14s. Id., equivalent to nearly 5 per cent, on the capital value of the land. The total payments made by village settlers from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last was £31,873 ss. sd.—namely, rent, £24,961 165., and. interest, £6,911 9s. sd. The total amount advanced for cottages, bushfelling, and grassing has been £25,932, and of this £2,462 has been repaid, leaving £23,470 outstanding. The settlers in arrear number 265, and the rent and interest due by them is £2,045. The arrears are chiefly in the Auckland District, where the number in arrear is 146, and the amount owing £1,751. I fear many of the settlements in this district are not likely to prove successful, as they were formed on wrong lines, several being on poor soil in isolated localities, where there is very little outside employment, and, as only a small area is allotted to each villager, it follows that he is heavily handicapped, and finds himself unable to keep up his payments. I propose at an early date making full inquiries into the position of the settlers who are owing the above amount, with the view of seeing what is best to be done, and making recommendations accordingly. It is satisfactory to note that wherever village settlements have been formed in suitable localities, and on fair to good soil, they are an undoubted success; the figures in this report clearly prove it. At Cheviot the village settlers number seventy-nine, and with their wives and families 284 souls. The area they hold is 2,480 acres, an average of 31J acres to each settler. The capital value of the land is £17,455, and the annual rent and interest £874, being an average of 7s. per acre. The amount paid for rent and interest during the year was £885, or slightly over 5 per cent, on capital. The total payments for rent and interest amount to £3,500. The arrears are £37, and the value of improvements £5,643, which is equivalent to £2 ss. 6d. per acre, or £71 Bs. 6d. for each holding. The total number of souls on village-homestead settlements throughout the colony is 4,894, and the improvements made by the settlers are valued at £115,834, or equivalent to an average improvement of £3 ss. 4d. per acre, or £73 18s. to each holding. The position of these settlements on the 31st March last was therefore briefly as follows : — Number of settlements ... ... ... ... 165 Number of settlers ... ... ... ... ... 1,567 Number of souls on the land .. ... ... ... 4,894 Area held (acres) ... ... ... ... ... 35,454 Capital value of land ... ... ... ... ... £97,646 Amount advanced for cottages, &c. ... ... ... £25,932 Amount repaid ... ... ... ... ... £2,462 Present annual rent and interest. ... ... ... £4,904 Eent and interest paid during year ... ... ... £4,877 Total payments made for rent and interest ... ... ... £31,873 Arrears of rent and interest ... ... ... ... £2,045 Value of improvements on the land ... ... ... £115,834 In Wellington and Hawke's Bay Districts a few of the village settlers suffered great loss through the disastrous bush-fires which occurred in the early part of the year; and in the Middle Island the settlers suffered greatly on account of the exceptionally dry weather. Generally speaking, however, their engagements have been well met, and, with the exception of the District of Auckland, the arrears are not heavy, and are less than last year. J. E. Mabch, Superintendent of Village Settlements.