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245 acres 2 roods 35 perches, at £18 Bs. lOd. per annum. The receipts for the year amounted to £4,315 ss. 5d., the total from the beginning now being £10,617 lis. 7d. Rebates of rent were granted to eleven tenants to the extent of £130 os. 9d. Number of houses, 20 ; persons resident, 75 ; total value of improvements now on the land, £7,811 os. lOd. Ranger Atkinson reports : " This estate, along with others in North Otago, was never in a better or more flourishing condition. The crops have turned out above the average of past years. The season experienced just suited the class of country, being in great contrast to the droughts which too often affect the North Otago district. During the past year 2,663 acres was in cultivation, as against 2,076 last year, while there are two more houses and twelve more souls on the estate. The large yields and the good prices should be the means of placing the settlers in a much more satisfactory position than previously. This estate also benefited in the matter of fat sheep and lambs by the competition between the rival freezing companies. The settlers were all fully employed during the year on their several holdings. The conditions of settlement are being well complied with, and I have every reason to believe that the tenants are well satisfied with their prospects. The improvements effected are of a most substantial and permanent character, both as regards buildings and fencing." Bamego. —No change in the areas let and unlet has taken place during the year, 6,048 acres and 5 perches being occupied by twenty-one selectors at £1,316 ss. 6d. per annum. The annual value of the unlet area of 1,006 acres and 5 perches is £125 7s. The receipts for the year — which, as in other cases where there are buildings, include principal and interest on account of such buildings—amounted to £1,129 65., the total to date being £3,521 15s. 2d. Rebates of rent amounting to £90 13s. were granted to sixteen selectors. Number of houses, 17 ; persons resident, 66 ; value of improvements, £4,986 10s. The Ranger's report on this settlement is as follows: "The settlers on the lower-lying portions of this estate are all doing well. They are all milk-suppliers, and there is a dairy factory within easy distance of the estate. Very little cropping is done, and, with the exception of a few acres of root-crop each year, the land is kept in grass. On the higher portions of the estate mixed farming is carried on. The crops are good this year, but, as in other parts of South Otago, the season has been very late, and it is doubtful if the Barnego settlers will be able to save all their grain-crops. The general condition of the settlers on this estate may be described as fair, and they have all made satisfactory progress during the year. The prospects of those supplying the dairy factory are very bright, but the prospects of those engaged in mixed farming are doubtful this year, owing, of course, to the unfavourableness of the season. Good roads are available to all parts of Barnego. The conditions of the various leases have been satisfactorily complied with." Earnscleugh. —The total area now leased on the settlement is 1,224 acres and 11 perches to eleven tenants, at an annual rental of £170 Bs. 6d. This includes the two areas of 850 acres and 38 perches and 103 acres 2 roods respectively let on pastoral license as homestead-sites; eight small allotments on lease in perpetuity ; and a temporary license over a road-line area of 2 acres 1 rood 11 perches not now required for road purposes. Amount received during the year, £163 os. sd. ; total from the beginning, £285 lis. 9d. Rebates amounting to £28 Bs. 9d. were granted to eight selectors. Including the homesteads, there are eight houses, with forty-one persons residing ; and, in addition to the improvements on the land at date of selection, further improvements to the value of £632 10s. have been effected. It will be seen from the Ranger's report that there is every prospect of this settlement becoming a prosperous one. Ranger O'Neill states: " This settlement was taken up in December, 1901, and since then considerable progress has been made. In each case the selectors are residing on the settlement, and each has his holding fenced and built upon. Some of the lessees are engaged in dredging in the neighbourhood, and these have not yet had sufficient time at their disposal to do much in the way of planting fruit-trees. Others have turned their attention wholly to planting, and already some fine plantations of fruittrees have been made. The surrounding district is very suitable for fruit-growing, especially where a reliable water-supply is obtainable for irrigation. Large quantities of fruit are produced, and it may be expected that the output will be largely increased by the Earnscleugh Settlement in the near future. Improvements to the value of £632 10s. have been effected, and there are forty-one persons residing on the settlement. The prospects of the settlers are bright, and their present condition quite satisfactory. Given a good water-supply the Earnscleugh Settlement promises to be a profitable fruit-producer." Windsor Park. —This estate, recently acquired from Mr. E. Menlove, was opened for selection on the 28th May, 1902, the selection area being 3,814 acres 2 roods 35 perches, in thirty-eight allotments, the rentals per acre varying from 4s. 9d. to 14s. 3d. It was eagerly taken up, as may be inferred from the fact that there were no less than 185 applicants. The whole is therefore occupied by thirty-eight tenants at a total annual rental of £1,655 Bs. 2d., including principal and interest on account of buildings. The receipts to date amount to £1,118 Bs. lOd. Ranger Atkinson reports as follows: "This estate was only selected at the end of May, 1902, but since then considerable progress has been made. 840 acres was cultivated, seventeen houses erected, and fifty-four souls are residing. Improvements to the value of £1,412 have been effected. The land is of very good quality, and in the course of a year or so the settlement should prove a successful one. In and around Ngapara, where the sections are held in small areas, the tenants are not residing, they already having homes in the township, and finding employment both in the township and district. The season having been a very favourable one, the crops, both grain and root, have been beyond expectations. The improvements are substantial, and the settlers appear to be satisfied with the results so far."