C.—l.

The forfeitures and surrenders under the Land for Settlements Acts are referred to elsewhere. Alteration of District Boundaries. —The alteration of district boundaries referred to in last year's report, whereby practically the whole of the Amuri County, comprising an area of 1,305,390 acres, was transferred from Nelson to Canterbury, and an area of 478,000 acres at the head of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea was transferred from Canterbury to Otago, has been fully completed during the year, and the results are embodied in this year's figures. It may be remarked, however, that some inconvenience has resulted from the boundaries of the lands and deeds registration districts not having been altered at the same time, so that dealings under the Land Transfer Act, &c., have still to be registered as before. Reserves.—The area of land set apart permanently as reserves during the year was 7,664 acres 2 roods 26 perches, amongst the principal items being: Forest preservation, 5,600 acres; restingplaces for travelling stock, 900 acres 2 roods; plantations, 626 acres 3 roods 24 perches; river conservation, 217 acres; Stock Department's purposes, 202 acres 1 rood 6perches ; besides various smaller areas for recreation-grounds, cemeteries, gravel-pits, school-sites, and other public purposes. Timber Licenses.—The licenses issued to split and saw timber in bush on Crown lands were as follows: Sawmill licenses, five holders, 1,240 acres 2 roods; royalty paid, £294 12s. 7d. Hand-splitting licenses, eight holders, 1,985 acres; fees paid, £9B 15s. Of these licenses, all but one were situated in the Oxford Bush. The areas granted on splitting licenses appear large, due to the fact that the greater proportion of the timber has already been cleared, either by sawmillers or by bush-fires, and much of what remains is exceedingly difficult of access, The revenue derived from these licenses is lodged in Deposit Account, in view of the possible selection of the areas by the Midland Railway Company, within whose zone of selection they lie. Crown Lands Bangers' Beports.—The Crown Lands Rangers' reports received during the year show that, with few exceptions, Crown tenants are complying satisfactorily with the conditions and requirements of their leases. The year has been a satisfactory one for most holders throughout the district. The pastoral and small-grazing-run holders are doing particularly well, and all the larger holders of leases in perpetuity are doing satisfactorily, whilst, as regards the village holdings, they also have benefited through the good amount of work that has been obtainable by industrious men. During the year the reports for the sixth year's tenancy of the holdings around Lake Ellesmere fell due ; these showed, on the whole, a large value of improvements effected, and satisfactory permanent residence upon the drier areas. In the cases of most of the lower-lying sections, liable to annually recurring submergence, there was a considerable deficiency of improvements, which cannot profitably be placed upon such lands. During the latter portion of the year a considerable amount of the time of both Rangers was taken up with the valuation of improvements on pastoral runs, which were to change hands on the Ist March, 1900. Crown Lands for Disposal, 1900-1. —Except for such lands as may from time to time be acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts, there are practically no lands available for settlement in this district. The areas appearing in the Land Guide are generally remnants of inferior quality or remote locality, and in either case are unattractive to selectors.

The Area of Crown Lands available for Settlement, 31st March, 1900, is

20

County. System. Area (First Glass). Area (Second Class). Total Area. A. E. p. A. E. p. A. B. p. Geraldine Village lots 1 2 11 1 2 11 Ashburton Village homestead 128 2 0 ... 1 1 q q Geraldine „ 36 1 3 ... r JLDtfc o o Selwyn Eural lands under Part III., 269 0 0 " Land Act, 1892 " Ashburton Ditto 323 3 32 389 2 11 0 71/1 Q QO Geraldine ft ... ... 5 0 36 659 3 38 o 66 Mackenzie tr • • • • • • • • • 990 0 0 Waimate „ 77 0 36 If • •• Small grazing-runs 5,908 0 0 5,908 0 0 Selwyn Land for settlement 13 1 32 ... Ashburton „ ... 24 0 0 ... 126 3 13 Geraldine ir • • • 89 1 21 • •• Amuri Forty-two years' leases 108 1 21 ... 108 1 21 Totals ... 6,807 2 36 2,116 3 5 9,024 2 1