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SUMMAKY. Ordinary Crown landsFirst time .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 255,380 Acres. Previously .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 442,729 „ Land for Settlements— First time .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 62,044 „ Previously ;. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,261 „ Grand total .. .. .. .. 778,414 „ It will be observed that 255,380 acres of new lands were opened for selection, and that 442,729 aores were reopened, the greater portion of the area under settlement conditions being offered under the provisions of " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903." The total area of ordinary Crown lands under all classes, therefore, amounts to 698,109 acres. Of the gross area opened 133,104 acres were offered under the optional system, 43,917 acres as small grazing-runs, and 174,178 acres on lease in perpetuity only. The proportionately large area opened under the last-mentioned tenure was due to the necessity for conserving the interests of miners in the Nelson and Westland Districts, and the rights of the Crown to coal and other minerals in other districts. The total is a very much less area than that submitted in the previous year, and is explained by the fact that very extensive areas of Crown lands were opened in that year on the " unsurveyed " system, or selection before survey, which enabled the Chief Surveyors and Land Boards to allow the public an opportunity of making selections throughout almost the whole extent of the Crown lands in the respective districts. The smaller area opened during the past year is also attributable to the fact that the pastoral runs offered aggregate only about one-sixth of the area offered on that system in 1903-4. It is satisfactory that we can still look to the inland portion of the Auckland, the northern portion of Taranaki, and the inland and northern portions of the Wellington Land Districts, and also to various parts of the Nelson and Westland Districts to provide areas of Crown lands for immediate requirements. These lands are generally of a hilly character and covered with forest, though well adapted when cleared and laid down in grass for pastoral purposes, especially sheepgrazing. Excepting in a few localities, these areas are not suitable for the establishment of close settlement under the village-homestead, improved-farm settlement, or other similar systems. The area opened under settlement conditions in Otago was obtained by the cutting-up of pastoral runs. Referring now to the Land for Settlements portion of the above table, it will be observed that 62,044 acres of newly acquired estates were submitted for selection, and that 18,261 acres were reopened, which gives a total of 80,305 acres for the year. The Matamata Settlement, in Auckland, and the Edendale Settlement, in Southland, comprised the areas opened for the first time. These lands were readily and promptly selected, and already the Commissioners of Crown Lands feel justified in predicting a successful and prosperous future for the applicants who were fortunate in securing allotments. Amongst the areas reopened for selection should be mentioned the portion of the Bickerstaffe Settlement which was not quitted at the first sale. The most recent notification relating to the Crown lands of the colony furnishes details relating to the various areas then lying open for selection. They comprise— Rural lands which may be taken up on the optional system of " The Acres. Land Act, 1892 " ... ... ... ... ... 979,738 Lands for lease under the small-grazing-run tenure ... ... 98,315 Under pastoral license ... ... ... ... ... 1,511,404 Township and other lands for lease ... ... ... ... 1,471 Available for selection on lease in-perpetuity tenure under the Land for Settlements Act ... ... ... ... 18,427 Total ... ... ... ... ... 2,609,355 The distribution of these lands in the several districts is as under: — Aores. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... •■■ •• 827,170 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... ... ... •■ 55,478 Taranaki ... .. ... ... ... ... ... 131,058 Wellington ... ... ... ...'• ... ■■• ■■■ 53,982 Nelson 332,990 Marlborough .. .. • ■ • • • • ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ • • 130 Westland ... ... ... ... ... ... ■•■ 925,343 Canterbury ... ..." ... ... ■•■ ■ •■ ••■ 68,809 Otago ... ... ... ... '••• •■ ■■• 72,095 Southland ... ... ... ... ■• ■■• ... 142,300 Total ... ... ... ... ... 2,609,355

2,609,355

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