17

C.-l

scheme for the construction of a water-race from the Tuki Tuki River to irrigate the fiat land is receiving a great measure of support, and, if carried out in the summer months, will greatly benefit the settlers who go in for dairying. There are no arrears of rent. General Review. —The number of settlements in this district is eleven, on which there are 288 tenants, holding an area of 69,006 acres 2 roods 9 perches, and paying an annual rent of £22,643 13s. The total receipts during the year amounted to £15,788 2s. 4d., which now makes a total from inception to the 31st March, 1903, of £49,044 Bs. 7d. The number of buildings on the settlements is 223, valued at £23,210, and the total number of souls resident is 883. The total value of the improvements effected is £60,424 7s. 10d., as against £24,173 9s. Id. required by the provisions under which the leases are held. The total area under crop is 3,250 acres 1 rood. The stock owned by the settlers is as follows: Horses, 784; cattle, 3,445; sheep, 110,048; pigs, 584: total, 111,861. With the exception of a few cases where the settlers have turned their attention to fruit-growing and market-gardening, the occupations of the land-for-settlement tenants in this district may be described in two classes —viz., dairying and pastoral pursuits. The first-named industry must be of great assistance to many of the smaller settlers, as they get cash monthly for their milk. Taken as a whole, the settlers are complying well with the requirements of their leases, and are generally in a very prosperous condition. Office-work. The number of letters and telegrams received and despatched during the year was 9,549, which is somewhat less than last year. This is accounted for by the fact that in last year's figures a number of the letters were in connection with roadwork, which is now under the control of the Roads Department. Leases, which were very much in arrear when writing last report, have been brought up to date, and this, together with current work—viz., applications for land, reports to Government Advances, audit cards, local bodies' proposals, warrants, returns, &c. —have kept the staff fully employed during the year. Eric C. Gold Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

TARANAKI. The land transactions for the year ending the 31st March, 1903, are shown in the subjoined summary: —

3—C, 1 App.

Class of Selection. Transactions during the Year. Number. Area. 1 Held at 31st March, 1903. Number. Area. Revenue received during the Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease Perpetual lease made freehold Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity, land for settlements Village settlements — Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Special settlements, lease in perpetuity Improved-farm settlements... Small grazing-runs Miscellaneous leases Transfer and other fees Miscellaneous receipts Miscellaneous receipts, land for settlements Crown-grant fees ... Endowments 25 14 A. B. p. 942 1 0 1,728" 3 0 17 A. R. P. 2,516 0 0 £ s. d. 1,110 19 0 203 8 5 781 7 0 16 32 4,259" 0 0 17,314 3 20 27 7,621 1 6 675 5 5 5,196 18 7 5,507 2 6 325 129,294 3 23 50 9 17,216 1 14 842 1 30 304 15 91,061 0 26 1,495 3 25 3,566 9 4 1,041 6 4 16 13 0 0 4 0 3 4 32 0 6 12 73 97 0 19 16,414 2 0 8 5 9 915 0 3 20 "8 3,004 3 0 54" 3 11 146 23 86 14,831 2 13 25,310 0 0 1,151 1 2 1,067 8 7 377 4 3 313 18 4 171 11 0 131 7 11 145 6 7 1,350" 2 4 14 7,938" 3 4 62 2 6 401 11 9 4 Totals 182 46,745 3 5 1,058 297,745 1 38 21,680 13 9