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five, with the remainder of the settlers, are working on the co-operative works near Taihape. The total value of improvements effected at the settlers' own cost is £1,211 6s. 4d., and the total amount of Government advances during the year is £45 for 25 acres of bushfelling. The population is fifty-three souls, and the stock consists of 440 head of mixed sorts. Oraukura is situated about a mile north of Taihape Township, on the Main Trunk Road. It contains ten sections, ranging in size from 147 to 207 acres. Nine settlers are residing, but selector of Section 52 has not yet taken up his residence. Advances to the amount of £497 7s. 2d. have been made on six sections, out of which £119 2s. was made during the present year. The total value of improvements now on the land is £1,704 3s. 2d. The population is fifty-four souls, and the stock consists of 174 head of mixed sorts. This settlement, on account of its situation and the sections being of a fair size, promises to be very successful. Only two settlers are dairying at present, but most of them intend going in for it during the coming year. Otuarei. —This settlement contains nine allotments, of an average size of about 200 acres. During the year one section was transferred, and one forfeited for failing to comply with the conditions. The progress of this settlement is still very slow, partly accounted for by the want of dray-road access. The widening of the bridle-track is now in hand, and as soon as it is completed and a creamery built there should be a marked increase of the progress of the settlement. The total value of improvements is £900 2s. 10d., of which those effected at the settlers' own expense amounts to £515 14s. 7d. The amount advanced during the year is £39 ssi The total population is twenty-nine souls, and the stock consists of 89 head of cattle, 22 horses, 1,172 sheep, and 27 pigs. Ohutu Settlement contains an area of 2,200 acres, divided into twenty-eight sections. The population is 122 souls. They have effected improvements to the value of £6,549 15s. 4d., out of which the sum of £1,702 3s. Bd. has been advanced by the Crown for bushfelling, houses, &c. The total amount advanced during the year is £84 10s. This settlement continues to make good progress. With two or three exceptions, the settlers all go in for dairying in the summer, and do some outside work during the winter months, although a few of the sections are now self-support-ing. The stock consists of 830 head of cattle of all kinds. Ohutu Extension is situated to the south of and adjoining the Ohutu Improved-farm Settlement, and was selected in March, 1900. It contains an area of 695 acres, divided into six sections. Only one settler has taken up his residence, but the others will probably do so during the coming year. Improvements to the value of £377 7s. 3d. have been made, out of which £153 7s. 3d. has been advanced by the Crown for bushfelling and grassing. Dray-roads are now formed to the settlement, but not into it. Otaihape, comprising 204 acres, adjoining Taihape Township, is divided into ten holdings. The population is fifty-three souls. The total value of improvements is £1,475 3s. 3d. No advances have been made during the year. The settlers are engaged in business, or work about Taihape, and go in for dairying in a small way, and make their sections their homes. Taihape Extension is situated south of and adjoining Taihape Township. The area is 567 acres, held in six sections, and was balloted for in December, 1901. Three of the settlers are residing, and the population is eight souls. The total value of improvements is £377 45., of which £60. has been advanced by the Crown for bushfelling. We feel sure this settlement will be a success, as the areas are fairly large and the soil good. The settlers are employed on the co-opera-tive works in the locality. Horopito is situated near Raetihi, in the Waimarino district. There are only two settlers, and the population is four souls. One of the settlers is dairying, and the other, who is a single man, grazes stock. The value of improvements is £576. The area felled and grassed is 103 acres, and the number of stock 87. There is now a formed dray-road to this settlement. Masterton-Tenui. —There are twelve settlers in this settlement, holding an area of 1,163 acres. As the land here is rough, two of the settlers have been allowed to enlarge their holdings by buying their neighbours out. The total population is forty-seven souls. The settlers are mostly employed on the co-operative works, but put their spare time on the land, and when the co-opera-tive work ceases they will no doubt be able to make a living on their sections. The total value of improvements is £3,281 6s. 4d. Pemberton Settlement. —The population of this settlement numbers sixty-eight. Dairying is their principal occupation. The total value of improvements effected is £4,392 155., of which £2,055 10s. Id. has been advanced by the Government. No advances were made during the year. All except three of the settlers have stated that they do not want any further assistance from the Government, and have obtained ordinary occupation-with-right-of-purchase and lease-in-perpetuity licenses and leases. Kawhatau. —In this settlement an area of 916 acres is held by eleven settlers, the total population numbering seventy-six. The value of improvements effected is £3,761 10s., out of which the Government has advanced the sum of £1,189 14s. 6d. for bushfelling, houses, &c. No advances were made during the year, and all the selectors except two have notified that they do not want any further assistance from the Government, and ordinary lease-in-perpetuity and occupation-with-right-of-purchase leases and licenses have been issued to them. The number of stock on the settlement is 1,204. Sommerville is situated on Murray's Track in the Sommerville Farm-homestead Block. There are eight sections, and all the settlers are residing. The population is thirty-nine souls. The total value of improvements is £1,169 10s. 3d., and of this £88 10s. has been advanced for bushfelling, &c, during the year. The total number of stock of all kinds is 250. A few of the settlers go in for dairying, and as soon as the roads are more advanced this will no doubt be the main industry here. 5—C 1 App.