10

he Crown lands that are now being prepared for disposal are

Cash Lands. —Under this system three persons purchased an area of 709 acres of rural lands, one of these selections being an addition of 20 acres to a previous holding, the other two being ordinary selections under Part 111. of " The Land Act, 1892." Seventeen town and suburban sections, aggregating 10 acres 2 roods 35 perches, were also sold at auction. Deferred-payment Lands. —There are now only fiffcy-four selections, comprising 14,125 acres and 5 perches, on the books, the yearly instalments being £4,124 16s. 10d. Twenty-one selectors purchased freeholds during the year, representing an area of 3,373 acres and 14 perches. There were no forfeitures, and only two persons were in arrear with their payments at the end of the financial year, the amount being £16 17s. lid. Perpetual-lease Lands. —Two selections were made during the year, comprising an area of 651 acres 1 rood, the annual rental being £34 14s. 10d. 639 acres were lands previously held under perpetual-lease conditions of "The Land Act, 1885," which had been surrendered for "the purpose of being revalued and offered again for sale under that Act, and the other section was a small additional area selected in terms of section 114 of " The Land Act, 1892." There are now 289 persons, holding an area of 116,937 acres 3 roods, still on the books, the annual rental being £6,116 13s. sd. The freehold titles acquired during the year were ninety-seven, comprising an area of 37,217 acres and 36 perches, the amount received on account of them being £29,332 11s. 3d. Five forfeitures took place, representing an area of 2,445 acres, and an annual rental of £99 14s. 4d. Twelve lessees were in arrear £162 2s. 7d. One exchange to lease-in-perpetuity conditions was effected, of an area of 92 acres 3 roods 29 perches, on which was paid an annual rental of £5 16s. 2d. Occupation with Bight of Purchase. —Under this system an area of 27,553 acres 2 roods 28 perches was selected by ninety-seven persons. The forfeitures comprised twenty-three selections, of an area of 4,926 acres, and there was also one surrender of 100 acres, the combined annual rental being £318 2s. 10d. Twelve selectors were in arrear £163 11s. Lease in Perpetuity. —Forty-one persons selected 10,614 acres 3 roods 28 perches during the year, the annual rental payable thereon being £472 17s. 4d. Only one exchange from other systems was effected, of an area of 92 acres 3 roods 29 perches, and an annual rental of £4 13s. The selectors in arrear were fifteen, with payments amounting to £167 7s. 2d. There were fourteen forfeitures, the annual rental being £166 9s. 6d. Land under Land for Settlements Act. The only estate in this district acquired under the Lands for Settlement Act is Paparangi. It comprises what was formerly Mr. Drake's farm, close to Johnsonville, and is intended for the use of workmen or small farmers in the vicinity of Wellington. After careful survey and roading, thirtynine sections, comprising 298 acres 1 rood 1 perch, of the estate were offered for selection on the 2nd February, 1898, and nineteen holdings, aggregating an area of 212 acres 1 rood 30 perches, were taken up by the 31st March last, the annual rental being £194 17s. 2d., and it is anticipated that the great bulk of the other twenty sections, comprising 85 acres 3 roods 11 perches, will shortly be applied for. lam satisfied that all the sections would have been readily taken up had the train arrangements been more convenient for artisans and others whose business takes them to the city.

Village-settlement Lands under Lease in Perpetuity. —The new selections under this heading comprised twenty-five, the area being 469 acres 3 roods 5 perches, and the annual rental £48 15s. 4d. The forfeitures numbered seventeen, comprising an area of 202 acres 1 rood 38 perches, on which was paid an annual rental of £23 Is. 10d.; also one surrender, of, an area of 23 acres and 14 perches, the annual rental being £2 15s. 6d. Nine conversions from villagehomestead special settlement on perpetual lease, of 125 acres 3 roods 34 perches, took place during the year. The arrears due by thirty-one persons amounted to £57 Bs. 4d.

Class. Area. Block. Locality. First tr "• Acres. 1,492 5,389 3,720 Awarua 3d No. 2 ... Awarua 3a No. 2a ... Awarua 4a No. 38, and 4a No. 2 Bangiwaea Tauakira ... Mangapapa Betaruke Kaiparoro Kaitangata Te Mare ... Dannevirke Centennial Near Taihape. Near Taihape. Near Taihape. „ ... ... Second ... // • • • • * • 10,800 26,700 610 20,000 10,000 13,900 15,000 6,200 Between Wangaehu and Turakina Bivers. Near Athens, Wanganui Biver. East of Waitotara Biver. On Wanganui Biver. West of Eketahuna. West of Carterton. West of Mauriceville. North-east of Alfredton. it ' •' tr • '• tr "' i, ... ... First and second ... 13,000 Forfeited sections throughout district. Total 126,811