C.—l

66

The following summary shows the land transactions for the year ended 31st March, 1903 : —

Summary of Land Transactions, 1902-3.

Lands opened for Selection. —The total area opened for sale or selection during the year was 135,901 acres, of which 117,328 was pastoral land, the balance consisting mainly of lands forfeited and surrendered, and of lands reduced in price and reoffered. No new blocks of land have been offered, the survey of the lands in the Longwood and Waiau districts not being completed. Lands remaining open for Selection. —The total area of surveyed lands was 73,646 acres, comprising the following lands : Town and suburban, 866 acres 3 roods 25 perches ; village-homestead settlements, 986 acres 1 rood 18 perches; rural, 62,171 acres and 26 perches ; rural, lease in perpetuity only, 1,595 acres 3 roods 19 perches; land for settlements, lease in perpetuity, and small grazing-runs, 8,025 acres 2 roods 34 perches; unsurveyed pastoral runs, 1,153,871 acres : total, 1,227,517 acres and 2 perches. Lands proposed to be opened for Selection. —During the current year I expect to open 9,500 acres in the Waiau and Longwood districts, survey of which is now nearly completed ; and about 2,000 acres in the Alton and Lillburn Survey Districts. On Stewart Island, if the land be found suitable for settlement after careful examination, a block of a few thousand acres may be opened. The whole of the lands to be opened are bush lands. Reservations for Tourist or Scenic Purposes. —ln addition to the areas already proposed to be reserved for these purposes in Stewart Island, I contemplate submitting for approval the reservation of the whole of what I may term the Sounds district as a national park. It may appear a very

Nature of Seleotiona, &o. Transactions during the Year. Number. Area. Area held under Lease at 31st March, 1903, Gross Revenue received during the Year. Area. Number. Area. 3ash deferred payments ... Deferred payments made freehold leases leases made freehold )ccupation with right of purchase jease in perpetuity ... jease in perpetuity (exchanged from other tenures) )ccupation leases (Mining Districts Land Occupation Act) /illage settlements— Deferred payments Deferred payments made freehold Perpetual leases Perpetual leases made freehold Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity /illage-homestead special settlement 22 A. E. P. 310 0 12 62 A. 13,669 R. P. 3 35 £ s. d. 635 2 1 720 5 11 9 1,542 3 2 "5 28 857 3 12 6,516 0 10 84 15,087 2 17 622 18 3 612 8 2 1,112 10 9 239 50,378 1 22 13 2 2,085 3 22 207 1 0 234 69,279 0 30 1,830 0 5 8 436 3 19 44 1,616 0 32 204 9 6 2 34 1 10 10 205 2 13 72 14 11 3 43 3 12 101 1,394 4 2 36 0 24 209 10 10 105 17 6 1 11 0 4 17 313 1 14 263 53 4,052 568 0 12 1 24 337 11 0 166 7 4 improved-farm settlement Small grazing-runs ... 5 astoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses Kinber-cutting Dther miscellaneous revenue ... 4 172 0 25 44 18 92 310 5,307 61,293 1,416,532 42,288 0 35 0 13 1 0 1 5 261 16 1 709 11 5 3,669 7 11 753 1 10 3,176 9 3 536 9 6 18 -10 299,903 0 0 7,814 0 28 10,027,175 s. ft. I Total ordinary Crown lands jand for settlements— Lease in perpetuity Small grazing-run ... Miscellaneous 171 320,237 2 6 1,558 11,681,677 0 18 15,738 3 8 11 1 5 2,547 1,150 1,688 1 8 0 0 2 33 84 1 9 22,593 1,150 3,076 2 9 0 0 0 39 2,648 3 38 10 414 15 7 0 1 Total land for settlements Eniowments 17 5,386 0 1 94 26,819 3 8 3,101 8 8 3,468 0 0 73 51,563 3 29 1,550 11 2 Grand totals 20,390 3 6 189 329,091 2 7 1,725 1,760,060 3 15