C.—l.

having been formed during the year. This settlement has been unsuccessful on account of the light quality of the soil and want of means among the settlers. The number of souls on the farm is five, with fifty-seven cattle, seven horses, and seven pigs. The total area in grass is 98 acres. The length of fencing is 124 chains, and the area in gardens is 3J acres. The total value of improvements in the settlement is £638 16s. Bd., of which those effected at the settlers' own unaided expense amount to £286 13s. 4d. Hautapu.—The vacant Section 7 has been divided among the adjoining holders. All the eleven sections are now being resided upon and improved. By an accident in a railwav-tunnel one settler (J. Gardiner) was unfortunately killed, but the section has again been taken up. In April, 1899, 70 acres was sown in grass, and 45 acres was felled last spring, only 11 acres of which has, however, yet been sown. A considerable amount of improvements in the way of fencing, gardens, &c., has been done. No roadwork beyond maintenance has been done on the farm during the year, but improved access has been afforded to it by the completion of the TaihapePaengaroa Road, and the joining of the Pongaroa Eoad with the Ohingaiti-Tokaanu Eoad. The number of souls on the farm is fifty-four, with 136 cattle, twenty-nine horses, one sheep, and 127 pigs. The total area in grass is 425 acres. The length of fencing is 630 chains, and the area of gardens 19-J- acres. The total value of improvements in the settlement is £1,709 Bs. Id., of which those effected at the settlers' own unaided expense amount to £747 2s. lOd. Otuarei.—The original 100-acre sections have now been consolidated into twelve 200-acre sections, all of which are being held and improved, though several of them, having only been lately settled upon, are as yet but slightly improved. With the enlarged areas and improved access, the settlement promises to be more successful. Last autumn 10 acres was sown, and 18 acres has been felled last spring but not yet sown. All the sections are now accessible by formed bridletracks. The roadwork done comprises 135 chains of engineering survey, 165-J chains of bridletrack on the Torere-Pukeokahu Eoad, 98"8 chains of bridle-track with 96 lineal feet of culverts, 74 chains of dray-road formation, and 65 chains of bridle-track have been made passable for horse traffic between the isolated portions of dray-road on the Kaiangaroa Eoad. A temporary bridge, suitable for horse traffic and also for scaffolding for the permanent bridge, has been erected across the Otuareiawa Creek, on the Kaiangaroa Eoad. The number of souls on the farm is fourteen, with twenty-seven cattle, eleven horses, 364 sheep, and eleven pigs. The total area in grass is 86 acres. The length of fencing is 76 chains, and the area in gardens 4-J acres. The total value of improvements in the settlement is £330 3s. 9d., of which those effected at the settlers' own unaided expense amount to £125 4s. 6d. Rongoiti.—All the eight sections of the farm are being held and resided upon, and satisfactory improvements are being made in the way of dwellings, gardens, fencing, &c. Last autumn 50 acres was sown, and last spring 40 acres of bush was felled, but none is yet sown. Most of the settlers have been employed at roadworks when not on their farms. All the sections except Nos. 1, la, 3a have dray-road access. The Kakariki Eoad, shortly to be formed, will afford these sections access also. The roadwork done comprises 64 chains dray-road formation and 94 lineal feet of culverts on the Taihape-Paengaroa Eoad. The works on the main trunk railway adjoining the farm will greatly assist the settlers. The number of souls on the farm is fourteen, with eleven cattle, twenty-two horses, one sheep, and twenty-five pigs. The totai area in grass is 140 acres, the length of fencing 207 chains, and the area in gardens 3J acres. The total value of improvements in the settlement is £6lB 25., of which those effected at the settlers' own unaided expense amount to £292 ss. 6d. Taihape. —All the twelve sections in the farm are being held, resided upon, and considerably improved. All the sections are now in grass except parts left for reserves. No further advances under the improved-farm settlement system are now required on this farm. Some of the settlers are finding steady employment on the adjacent railway-works. There has only been maintenance of the road in the farm itself, but on the Pukenaua and Puke-naua-Mataroa Eoads, payments on which have come out of the authority for this farm, 63 chains of bridle-track has been formed and 46 lineal feet of culverts constructed; 69 chains of engineering survey was also executed on the Pukenaua Eoad. The number of souls on the farm is forty-three, with seventy-six cattle, twenty-two horses, one sheep, and twenty-five pigs. The total area in grass is 200J acres, the length of fencing 499 chains, and the area in gardens 7f acres. The total value of improvements in the settlement is £1,091 9s. 5d., of which those effected at the settlers' own unaided expense amount to £426 17s. sd. Oraukura.—This settlement of ten sections was only allotted on the 11th August, 1899. The sections range in area from 139 to 205 acres. Three of them are already being resided upon, and improvements have been made on seven sections. There has been 80 acres of bush felled, and it will be sown soon. This settlement is very advantageously situated, and is mostly superior land. Five sections have already dray-access by the Ohingaiti-Tokaanu main road, and the Papaki Eoad now in course of formation as a bridle-track will afford the remainder access sufficient for a start. By cutting along a sideling below the main road, inside the river reserve, the Papaki Eoad has been considerably shortened, and a good ford secured. Two hundred chains of engineering survey has been executed. The number of souls residing on the farm is four. Ohutu.—Twenty-two out of the twenty-eight sections comprised in the farm are being resided upon and vigorously improved. The remaining sections have either been recently allotted, or the drawers have been allowed temporary exemption from residence. Several settlers are inclined to be absent too frequently, and consequently are not progressing with their improvements. The proposed creamery on the Wairano Eoad has given a stimulus to this settlement. The factory is to be at Taihape, and other creameries will probably be established adjacent to the other improved farms in the district. The railway-works also provide work for many of the settlers. There was 174 acres sown last autumn, and 262 acres felled last spring. All the sections, except

110