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The selections made under a few special clauses of the Act have been as follows : —

For purposes of comparison, the figures in the first table may be brought together under a few headings, as below, which, however, exclude miscellaneous and temporary leases, endowments, &c, but include the Cheviot and the Land for Settlements Estates: —

In comparing the actual number of selectors during the last year with those of the preceding one there is found to be a slight decrease ; thus selections under all headings for 1897 were 2,173, for 1898 they were 2,058. The decline last year was principally under the head of cash purchasers and lease in perpetuity selectors; whilst, on the other hand, those who selected with a right of purchase are in excess of those of 1897, as are the purchasers of pastoral leases. If from the total number of selectors and purchasers (2,058) are deducted those who took up town, suburban, pastoral, and miscellaneous leases, but including small grazing-run holders, we shall get 1,396 selectors who took up lands subject to conditions of improvement and residence, and who presumably may be looked on as so many persons intending to permanently settle on the lands. Against this number (which is five more than for the previous year) the forfeitures and surrenders under the above systems, amounting to 658, might be placed ; but this would not show what may be .termed the balance of new settlers, for nearly the whole of the forfeitures, &c, refer to transactions entered into in previous years. The practical test in this matter is ihe answer to the question whether more land is being brought under cultivation, and are the people spreading out into the virgin lands year by year. Any one who takes the trouble to visit the out-districts will at once see that large areas are constantly being newly occupied, and that roads are being formed in parts of the country that; a few years since were unknown. The extension of settlement towards the central parts of the North Island has been phenomenal within the last few years. The average-sized farm taken up last year, excluding town, suburban, village lots, pastoral, and miscellaneous, was 190 acres; the average for 1897 being 138 acres, and for 1896 162 acres. In cases under the optional clauses of the Act, where the selector himself determines the area of his selection within the limits allowed by law, the average-sized farm was 222 acres; the average for 1897 being 220 acres.

The following is a summary of the lands of all descriptions taken up for the last ten years :—

Under Section 114; Under Section 115. Under Section 117. Under Section 13, of Act of 1S95. Number. Area. Number. Area. Num- , v,„r Area. Number. Number. Area. Lease in perpetuity Occupation with right of purchase Perpetual lease Small grazing-runs Cash Village-homestead : Lease in perpetuity .. 10 1 5 Acres. 794 150 67 31 3 3 Acres. 7,005 1,590 465 12 Acres. 186 Acres. E 158 Note.—The above figures are also included in the general tables.

1896. 1897. 1898. Tenure. Number. Area. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purohase Lease in perpetuity Pastoral runs Occupation and agricultural leases, Mining Acts 492 6 7 434 1,461 188 72 Acres. 26,584 455 1,427 84,970 199,098 2,156,378 2,967 392 19 281 966 156 50 Acres. 28,489 9,106 59,652 139,571 1,256,706 2,830 274 2 382 782 209 28 Acres. 22,526 651 81,416 128,855 2,139,872 1,542 2,660 2,471,879 1,864 1,496,354 1,677 2,374,862

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 1897-98 2,529 2,653 2,420 2,519 3,071 2,876 2,547 2,865 2,173 2,058 Aores. 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 2,451,062 £ 310,061 304,842 352,417 320,483 274,399 282,067 338,166 291,673 272,954 263,296 £ Not given. 322,885 364,938 324,470 310,523 347,343 375,879 345,331 360,993 359,086 Not given. 12,164 11,995 12,735 14,261 15,081 15,326 15,683 15,527 16,365