C—s.

1902. NEW ZEALAND.

"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900" (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Subsection (2), Section 73, of " The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900."

The Land Purchase Inspector to the Hon. the Minister op Lands. g IE) Government Buildings, Wellington, Bth July, 1902. I have the honour to report the transactions under "The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900," that have taken place during the twelve months which ended on the 31st March, 1902. The Board of Land Purchase Commissions held 19 meetings —viz., for Auckland 1, Hawke's Bay 2, Taranaki 1, Wellington 8, Canterbury 4, Westland 1, Otago 1, and Southland 1; and dealt with 79 estates, containing 381,500 acres. The number of properties offered during the year was 110, containing 452,518 acres. The recommendations of the Board were accepted by the Government for 29 estates, and purchases were completed of 24 properties, containing 82,887 acres 1 rood 31 perches, for which £406,576 11s. lid. was paid. • The names of the estates paid for during the year are—Cradock, Hetana, Kitchener, Methuen, Plumer, and Waari, in Auckland ; Forest Gate, Kumeroa, and Mangatoro, in Hawke's Bay ; Toka-ora, in Taranaki; Langdale, Mangawhata, and Bpuni, in Wellington ; Kohika, Kaimahi', Kapuatohe, Lyndon No. 2, Maytown, Puhuka, Eaincliff, Eapuwai, and Rural Section 36278, in Canterbury ; and Glenham and Eingway, in Southland. Since the Ist April, 1902, other estates have been acquired—viz., Te Eeinga, in Hawke's Bay; Linton, in Wellington ; Patriarch, Eaglan, and Manuka Island, in Marlborough ; Kokotahi, in Westland; Eccleston and Mead, in Canterbury; Windsor Park and Windsor Park No. 2, in Otago. Negotiations are proceeding for the Longbush and Table-lands Euns, 27,000 acres, in Wellington ; the Flaxbourne Estate of 55,000 acres, the Upton Downs, and Weld's Hill Exchanges, in Marlborough; and the Levels Estate in Canterbury, containing 43,000 acres. Requisitions for the compulsory taking of the following estates have been gazetted and served: viz., Longbush and Table-lands in Wellington, containing 27,000 acres, and Kokatahi (Diedrich's) in Westland, containing 4,993 acres. With regard to Milburne and Mount Vernon, which are also to be taken compulsorily, the requisition has to be served on the Milburne trustees in London, and, as they have 150 days in which to respond, the Arbitration Court cannot sit until October or November next. The Mount Vernon case is deferred until both the Hawke's Bay cases can be taken together. Negotiations for the purchase by agreement of a considerable portion of Longbush and Tablelands are nearly complete, and the balance will go before a Court of Arbitration as soon as a date can be settled. The owner of the Kokatahi property having asserted his right to retain the maximum area allowed, an agreement was come to whereby an area of 1,911 acres was acquired at a reasonable price, and the action taking the remainder was adjourned. For workmen's hamlets there were 8 properties purchased during the year—viz., Cradock, Hetana, Kitchener, Methuen, Plumer, and Waari, near Auckland; Kaimahi and Kapuatohe, near Christchurch ; and Puhuka, near Timaru. The transactions under the Land for Settlements Act, as disclosed in the " Statement of Receipts and Expenditure" for the year which ended on the 31st March, 1902, published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 22nd May, show that the rents received from 386,530 acres of lands leased amount to £90,053'55. 6d., and the interest paid was £66,834 18s. 6d., giving a profit for the year of £23,218 7s. The original Land for Settlements Act was passed in October, 1892, the first purchase was made in November, 1893, and the first land offered to the public was in December, 1893. The total purchase-money paid for the 107 estates, containing 448,349 acres, acquired to 31st March, 1902, amounts to £2,117,352 4s. 3d. To this has to be added preliminary expenses, 1-C. 5.