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Occupation-with-right-of-purchase and Lease-in-perpetuity Systems Since the passing of "The Land Act, 1892," ordinary settlement has followed under the . occupation-with-nght-of-purchase and the various phases of the lease-in-perpetuityTstems wh eh include rural, village homestead, and rural special settlements and improved farms. * ' Small Grazing-runs. M 9 1 T o h n iB n i mportant S^ em cor »Prißes 690 holdings, an area of 1,335,650 acres, at a rental of £42,130 per annum Otago possesses the greatest number and area of holdings but the s. stem is well represented m most of the other districts. It offers the best example or periodical va ul tions, as by law all eases run for twenty-one years only, with provision fo? valuation o thlland separately from the improvements, with the right to the tenant of a renewal of his lease on pre scribed conditions. One run containing 4,807 acres was forfeited; and four runs, 32,270 acres, surrendered during the year. The amount of rental in arrear was £2,788 13s 9d 18q4"l\ theSe r_ be n added . h ° ldingB UQder the " The Minin 8 districts Land Occupation Ac 1894, we have the Crown tenants most actively engaged in fulfilling the compulsory conditions generaliyleS; lm P rWement and resid —- «"* to whom "the Bankers' most The summaries and reviews by several of the Commissioners of Crown Lands and Crown Lands Bangers throw light upon the condition, requirements, progress, and prospects of tie settlers, and enable the following particulars to be stated :— prospects ot the Auckland. The condition of land settlement in the Auckland Land District may be considered on the whole as progressive. From Auckland northwards for many years the word "stagnation » had to be written but during the last seven years or so the whole aspect of matters has changed Gene rally speakmg, the hard battle with forest lands-difficulty of access-has been conquered and the settlers as a whole are fairly prosperous and contented. From Auckland southXds to the borders of Taranaki the same remarks apply, large areas being yearly brought under Cultivation milk- and butter-factories have been established in every settlement! andare circulating ready money-this, together with the opportunity of obtaining loans at reasonable rates Tave improved the condition of the settlers, and bond fide settlement is advancing with rapid strides SeElnt in the Bay of Plenty District, particularly the portion extending from Te Puke to Onotikinr ™ to the Hawke's Bay District boundary, has during the last five years mle Spro™ w_\\ Pr ° Q ISIUg fUt , Ure - The dl ' amin g and h ™Z™S into cultivation of tL P Matata and Whakatane Swamps the opening of the Opouriao Settlement, acquired under the Land for Settlements Act, the extensive maize production, and the starting of the butter factories have ccXulnce § "*** **"* t0UUnP ° n *" "* ° f whioh has «"Jy of Haivke's Bay. The Bangers' inspections and reports show that three times the value of improvements b e e q enmade y " by oroWn and that satisfa <4 SK^ffi Taranaki. The year's inspections were attended with satisfactory results; 183 inspections were made showing improvements effeced to the value of £36,895, whilst the value required by law was £I™7Bo' In the northern portion of the district the settlers on lands held under Pari 111 of "c Act depend principally on cattle-rearing, and-in a few favoured localities dairying operations have been recently commenced .although struggling, the settlers are fairly prosperous. Tn the south IhllTt? T ? th ? ? al " e heM C^ 16fl J for dail 'y ing Ptoses ; the remainder of the d strict is devoted to sheep and cattle-rearing; the bulk of the settlers are doing well, and are contented and prosperous. The small grazing-runs are devoted to grazing shee/and cattle-rearm, £v are occupied bya well-to-do class, who have, however, been affected by the fall m the price Tot wool. Settlers in the improved farms with few exceptions are prosperous; their means of subsis ence are stock-raising, dairying, supplemented by employment on public works The settlers m he special-settlement association blocks are all doing well, and depend on cattle-rearin7 and dairying for a livelihood. Generally, good progress has been made in all classes of set ement the tenants throughout are doing well and have bright prospects. Want of roads s he only drawback or handicap that is seriously interfering with the well-being of the tenants J Wellington. The large number of inspections demonstrated the great increase in value of improvements and a substantial advance on the road to prosperity and content; the principal difficulty andTraw back being the incomplete and impassable state of the roads in some of the back blocks Si prevent the setters from fully stocking their holdings or taking advantage of the opporttmit es now general y afforded for dairying. The residential conditions have, as a rule, been sEa<Tril, complied with The Bangers' reports will be read with pleasure by all who take an intendst kthe development of the resources of the colony under conditions which tax the patience per everance and energies of the pioneer settlers. Nelson. In this district the bulk of the Crown tenants' holdings are situated on the hills, and are only suitable for the grazing of stock, chiefly sheep; small flats and lower slopes are cultivated to

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