39

C.—l

Messrs. Brownlee and Co.'s large mill is still mainly cutting for the southern market, the bulk of the timber going to Canterbury. The total output of the mill for the twelve months ending the 28th February last was 3,142,947 superficial feet. The total number of men employed in the bush, in laying and repairing tramways, and in the mill is fifty-eight. Owing to a serious accident to the machinery the mill was stopped for about two months, bringing the year's output proportionately down. Messrs. Brownlee and Co. informed me that the average price of timber at present on their wharf is 7s. per 100 superficial feet. This is an advance of Is. on the price in 1900. Clerical Work. Besides the ordinary official correspondence, issuing of rent notices, and Land Board work, details of which it is not necessary to particularise, I may state that leases of all lands taken up have been promptly issued. The land revenue for the year amounted to £20,594 ss. 9d., being an increase of £1,921 Bs. 2d. on last year's total. This, however, does not represent the total amount passing through the Receiver's hands, as there is a considerable sum of money deposited with applications for surveys banked, and afterwards refunded to unsuccessful applicants ; there is also a collection of transfer and registration fees. Seventy-two transfers were effected and registered, and reports made upon thirty-four applications for loans from the Government Advances to Settlers Department, C. W. Adams, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

WESTLAND. The subjoined table shows the land transactions for the year ended 31st March, 1903. Compared with the returns of last year, the figures show a shrinkage in cash lands and occupation with right of purchase, but in all other classes there is a marked advance.

Summary of Land Transactions during the Year 1902-3.

Groion Lands open for Selection. —During the year the following lands were thrown open for selection under lease in perpetuity only : 41,819 acres of unsurveyed lands in the central portion of the district, and 1,948 acres of surveyed lands in the Kokatahi Estate under the Land for Settlements Act. There were also ten runs, comprising 61,770 acres, offered under the pastoral system ; these runs being distributed all along the coast. The total areas now open for selection under the optional system are 101,791 acres (nearly all unsurveyed), and thirty-four runs, aggregating 319,270 acres, under the pastoral tenure. Gash Sales. —There is a substantial shrinkage in the receipts for this year, there being only two transactions as against forty-two in the previous season. This is partly due to the fact that the whole oi this district is a goldfield, and it has been lately deemed advisable to conserve any possibly auriferous country by limiting the selection of any lands to lease in perpetuity, under which tenure the leaseholds can be readily resumed if the areas are required for mining purposes. Deferred Payment. —Under this tenure three settlers in the Grey andTeremakau Valleys have made their final payments. There is only one selector on the books, and it is expected that he will acquire his freehold during the coining year.

Class of Selection. m ,.■ j ■ ., •.;• Leasehold Area held on Transactions during the Year. lg03 Number. Area. Number. 1 Area. i I \ Revenue received during the Year. during the Year. Area. Cash lands Deferred payment ... Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity ... Lease in perpetuity, land for settlements Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases Timber royalties ... Flax licenses and royalties . Crown-grant and license fees, &c. Miscellaneous Endowments ... ... 2 1 3 "3 6 8 67 25 18 A. R. P. 342 0 0 40 0 19 235 0 24 1 A. B. p. 137 2 23 £ s. d. 296 10 0 110 6 2 933 2 39 7 96 580 1 8 16,845 0 21 51 16 0 470 11 1 817 3 23 2,018 3 4 62 21 11,200 1 17 3,656 3 14 262 17 0 437 8 8 76,461 2 0 4,134 0 27 126 158 612,835 2 0 17,889 0 6 709 13 9 239 5 2 2,040 14 10 38 15 0 139 14 10 11,567" 0 0 18 11,567 0 0 50 16 11 22 10 0 Totals 133 96,550 1 16 489 674,711 3 9 4,870 19 5