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being resided upon and highly improved. The total population of the settlement is 140, and the improvements effected by the settlers are valued at £4,435. The stock comprises 62 cattle (39 of which are dairy cows), 70 pigs, and 30 horses. The smaller sections are used|simply as homes, but on the larger areas several settlers are milking cows and sending their milk to Wellington; others are going in for poultry-farming. The settlers comprise artisans of various kinds and labourers, most of whom find employment in Wellington and Petone. On account of the exposed position the settlement is not suitable for fruit-growing or gardening, although most of the settlers have gardens for their own use. Mangawhata Settlement is situated near Oroua bridge. The area is 1,226 acres, held in seven sections, all of which are occupied by a good class of settlers ; with the exception of one who runs sheep they are all engaged in dairying, and there are two creameries near the settlement. The total number of dairy cows is 208, and the number of other stock is as follows : 201 head of cattle, 1,119 sheep, 41 horses, and 122 pigs. About forty acres has been cropped, but floods have spoilt some of the crops. All the settlers are residing, and the total population of the settlement is thirty-five souls. The total value of improvements is £2,722 Bs. Out of this the sum of £834 has been expended by the settlers themselves, the balance representing value of improvements on the land at time of selection. The settlers seem to be doing well, though some of them have suffered from floods. Full reports on damage by floods have already been made. The new road through the settlement requires metalling, and complaints were made by several settlers who have to cart their milk over this road of its bad state in the winter. We trust something can be done to this road, as it cuts up badly in wet weather. Te Matua Settlement contains 702 acres, held in thirteen sections, all of which are occupied. It is situated near Awahuri, on the main road from Palmerston North to Wanganui and Taranaki. All the settlers are dairying, and there is a butter-factory and creamery near to the settlement. The total number of dairy cows is 203, and the other stock in the settlement is 94 head of cattle, 186 sheep, 39 horses, and 89 pigs. About 46 acres has been ploughed, chiefly to provide winter feed for the dairy cows and cattle. All the settlers are residing, and the total population is forty-three souls. The total value of improvements is £2,703. Out of this the sum of £2,041 has been expended by the settlers themselves since the land was taken up. The settlers are all good men, and have improved their position since taking up land in this settlement; they all seem content, and no complaints were made. Aorangi Settlement is situated near Feilding, on the right bank of the Oroua River. The area is 1,753 acres, held in thirty-seven sections, all of which are now occupied by a very good class of settlers. The chief industry of the settlement is dairying, and twenty-eight of the settlers are engaged in this pursuit. The other settlers, either engaged in business or trade in Feilding, have taken up the land for the purpose of making homes thereon, or engaged in market-gardening, or doing work for other settlers in the district. The total number of cows milked for the factory is 494. The other stock is as follows : 542 head of cattle, 102 horses, 897 sheep, and 283 pigs. About 150 acres has been cultivated. There are thirty-seven houses, some of which are of a superior character. All the settlers are residing, the total population numbering 152 souls. The value of improvements is £9,000, including £7,753 expended by the settlers themselves since the land was taken up. The Oroua River is encroaching on some of the sections that back on to it, and the question of systematic protection-works is one that will have to be faced before long. Some of the settlers are taking steps in this direction, and others should do so, otherwise it may lead to most serious consequences. The success of this settlement is undoubted, and the settlers are all doing well. Linton Settlement is situated about three miles from Halcombe. The area is 550 acres, held in five sections, all of which have been taken up. As this settlement was only taken up in September last no statutory inspection is due, but an inspection has been made, and it was found that three of the settlers are residing and the total population is nineteen souls. Owing to the fact that there are as yet no creameries near the settlement the dairying industry has not started. Two of the settlers are however dairying, milking in all twenty-three cows. The other settlers are using their sections for grazing purposes, and the stock is as follows : 83 head of cattle, 5 horses, 744 sheep, and 3 pigs. One new house has been built, and 35 acres has been ploughed. The total value of improvements is £2,012 35., which includes the improvements on the land at time of selection. Improvements to the value of £169 6s. have been made at the settlers' own cost. We have no doubt this settlement will prove a success, as the land is good, well situated, and the settlers seem to be good men. Ohakea Settlement is situated on the left bank of the Rangitikei River (on the opposite side from the Township of Bulls). It contains 1,732 acres, held in fifteen sections, all except one being occupied. There are fifteen houses in the settlement, and fourteen settlers are residing; the population is sixty souls. Ten settlers are engaged in dairying, milking 221 cows. There is a creamery adjoining the settlement. The number of stock is as follows: 372 head of cattle, 56 horses, 2,080 sheep, and 162 pigs. All the settlers have done more or less cropping. The total area ploughed is 667 acres, and the yield from thirty to fifty-eight bushels per acre. The total value of improvements is £5,645 14s. 6d., out of which sum £3,772 represents the value of improvements done at selectors' own cost. The new bridge over the Rangitikei River has now been opened for traffic, and this is a great boon to the settlers. All the settlers seem to do well, and are quite satisfied, their only complaint being in regard to the regulations as to the number of crops they are allowed to take off the land. They seem to think that they should be allowed to take more than two grain-crops in succession, and one or two of them have done so in contravention of the regulations. Improved-farm Settlements. Hautapu. —No changes have occurred in the occupation of the eleven sections in this settlement. Six settlers «go in for dairying, but only one is making a living from his section ; the other