a—l.

Number of New Selectors and Area taken up, from the 1st April, 1905, to the 31st March, 1906, and Total Amount of Revenue received during the Year.

The total area now on the books on settlement conditions is 595,536 acres, held by 3,273 selectors, or 31,970 acres, and 133 selectors more than the previous year. The revenue received was only £10 less than the previous year. Lands opened for Sale or Selection. The total area of Crown land offered for sale or selection during the year was 23,821 acres, which, added to the area standing open on the Ist April, 1905—viz., 95,769 acres—made a total area of 119,590 acres available for selection. Of the area of 23,821 acres offered during the year, 20,105 acres were offered for the first time. Included in the area offered was a portion of the Awarua Block, near Utiku, comprising about 14,496 acres, subdivided into 11 lots disposed of on optional system, and 2'lots as small grazing-runs. The keenness of the demand for this block was shown by the fact that about 1,660 applications were received for it, the number of the applicants for several of the sections varying from two hundred to over three hundred. Part Section 19, Block X, Hautapu, near Mangaweka, offered on optional system, was applied for by 416 applicants. The Tupapanui Block, situated near Raetihi, and comprising 2,614 acres subdivided into five lots, was offered and disposed of on optional system! Five lots for cash, and 52 village homesteads, in the Manunui Village Settlement, near Taumarunui; 6 lots in the Pukeroa Township, near Hunterville; and 9 lots in Raetihi Township were also offered.' Seven creamery-sites, situated in Apiti, Umutoi, and Mount Cerberus Districts, Taihape Township, and Makuri and Pongaroa Villages, were sold for cash by public auction. The Tawaha Settlement, recently acquired from the trustees of the late Mr. C. R. Binwell, comprising 2,302 acres, situated near Martinborough, subdivided into twenty-three farms, was offered on the 26th March, 1906. Ten of the lots still remain open for disposal. The timber on part of the Awarua Block, near Utiku, comprising totara, matai, rimu, miro, kahikatea, and maire, estimated at 31,635,900 superficial feet, was offered by public auction in three lots, but up to the present none of it has been disposed of. Out of the 23,821 acres offered during the year, 17,755 acres were opened subject to " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903," 14,556 acres being classed as " heavy bush," 2,809 acres as " light bush," and 390 acres as " scrub land." On behalf of the Wellington School Commissioners, a primary-education reserve (Lots 5 and 6, and parts 4 and 7, of Section 101, Otahoua District, Masterton Suburbs), 9 acres, was disposed of for cash by public auction. About 2,510 formal applications were received for lands during the year. Inspections and Rangers' Reports. These comprise 856 inspections by the two Rangers in the east coast district of an area of 275 803 acres, being a decrease of 102 in number, but an increase of 66,316 acres over last year's figures, the value of the improvements required to be effected being £108,007. The amount actually spent was' £213,052, being £105,045 more than was required to be spent.

23

Nature and Tenure of Lands selected. I Number of Selectors. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. Area selected. A. R. p. 7 0 38 539 2 13 £ s. d. Town lands sold for cash Eural lands sold for cash Perpetual leases made freehold Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Deferred-payment instalments Perpetual leases Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Village settlement—Cash Village-homestead special settlements Special-settlement associations— Perpetual lease ... Lease in perpetuity Improved-farm'special settlements Improved-farm special settlements made freehold Small grazing-runs ... Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses Miscellaneous Land for Settlement Acts— Lease in perpetuity Small grazing-runs Miscellaneous leases 16 11 60 9 48 31,317 3 19 1,021 1 24 285 0 5 I 1,720 19 7 2,113 4 4 8,237 18 11 ■ 339 15 5 370 19 7 9,960 14 2 5,840 7 2 10 5 0 1,895 11 1 27 10 0 4,386 13 7 2,454 19 10 1,167 13 3 2,041 16 8 2,041 7 9 1,017 4 6 2,764 10 7 3 537' 0 0 4 2 b9 . 8,303 1 37 32,052 0 0 1,391 1 8 16 1,050 3 20 9,010 16 0 171 13 4 3,820 19 0 Totals 208 76,505 3 4 59,394 19 9