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VI

Compared with the operations of the preceding year, the following comparisons are submitted : The area opened for selection on the optional system in 1902—3 is about twice as great as that of 1901—2; the cash area is only one-fourth, the village-settlement area about twice, the pastoral runs about three times, and the small grazing-runs nearly double the area of the previous year ; the area opened on the lease-in-perpetuity system only was thirteen-fold greater ; whilst the gross totals are in favour of the year 1902—3 in the ratio of about 5 to 2. Lands disposed op. The usual summary, compiled from the Commissioners' returns, shows in a convenient form the nature and volume of transactions under all heads, and also the total receipts from every source, and is appended hereto.

Table B.—Number of New Selectors, and Area taken up, from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903, and Total Amount of Money received during the Year.

Compared with the previous year's figures, it will be seen that the number of selections or transactions (2,247) shows an increase of 88, and the total area dealt with— viz., 1,589,667 acres—is in excess by 495,581 acres ; the average area of the holdings (707 acres) is greatly in excess of that of the previous year, which was about 507 acres, but it must be borne in mind that in both instances the averages include extensive areas of pastoral and small grazing runs. The total revenue collected, £445,205 Is. 4d., exceeds the previous year's by €23,187 6s. sd. Remarks and comparisons as to the cash receipts are given in the paragraph on " Revenue." (Vide page xx.) Details are given elsewhere as to the Cheviot Estate, including five small transactions of the nature of subdivisions of existing leases, and the letting of a small reserve. Particulars as to Land for Settlements holdings are also set forth in the tables, showing a total of 344 dealings : the principal items being 286 leases in perpetuity, covering an

Nature and Tenure of Lands selected. <4-< O XV m r/3 <° taw a a o a-a.2 S53 m Ph Area. Average Holding. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. Town lands sold for cash Suburban lands sold for cash Rural lands sold for cash Perpetual leases made freehold Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Deferred-payment instalments Perpetual leases Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Agricultural lease Village settlement, cash „ deferred payment „ perpetual lease .. „ „ made freehold „ occupation with right of purchase .. , lease in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlement Special-settlement associations, deferred payment perpetual lease lease in perpetuity Improved-farm special settlements (lease in perpetuity) Occupation leases, Mining D.L.O. Act Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Thermal springs, Rotorua Miscellaneous leases and licenses Miscellaneous Cheviot Estate — Lease in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlement (lease in perpetuity) Grazing-farms Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases Miscellaneous Land for Settlements Acts— Cash Lease in perpatuity village Special-settlement associations (lease in perpetuity) .. Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous 154 83 134 403 285 3 19 A. R. P. 168 1 20 273 2 31 16,746 2 6 118,556 3 6 108,065 1 33 35 3 37 9 1 35 a. R. p. £ s. d. 1 0 15 1 3 17}- 12,494 18 0 124 3 36 I 27,250 3 2 2,857 12 1 6,513 8 2 0,869 3 10 294 0 29 34,502 0 4 37 3 26 31,763 15 10 11 3 29 17 6 6 0 1 39 143 16 0 103 2 11 418 14 10 407 6 6 11 4 11 15 1 15 566 18 3 44 1 35 1 3,396 10 5 245 15 3 139 2 9 198 2 24 6,282 11 6 134 1 19 4,010 6 1 46 3 7 911 10 9 2,672 0 24 ; 25,788 6 7 8,145 2 13 ! 78,700 17 10 8 2 34 1,923 6 9 246 0 35 ' 40,845 12 3 34,804 11 5 "39 34 598 2 4 1,511 3 23 29 30 52 35 129 35 434 5,761 0 0 4,031 3 25 2,433 2 5 93,525 1 14 1,050,779 3 18 304 3 35 106,859 8 35 2 34 1 0 17 0 20 6,222 5 0 915 7 8 1 6 2 0 6 2 0 6,956 1 10 193 3 8 4 0 2 295 10 8 27 0 11 2 8 0 4 3 286 1 5 0 32 53,645 3 38 20 0 0 1 2 37 65 17 6 187 2 12 93,735 8 9 20 0 0 427 3 10 182 8 5 2,265 3 33 j 10,983 2 0 122 2 9 130 3 24 I 5,116 5 5 9 20,393 2 19 "45 5,890 2 13 Totals 2,247 jl, 589,667 1 33 707 1 34 £445,205 1 4