0.-1.

Meetings of Land Board. During the year the Land Board held eighteen meetings and paid eight visits, making inspections in. the following districts : Wairarapa, Eketahuaa, Rangitikei, Hutt, Nukumaru, and Martinborough. Present Position and Future Prospects. From the foregoing and from my personal observation when visiting the outlying portions of the district where settlement is principally taking place, as well as from the visits of inspection made by the Land Board, and the frequent and lengthy reports furnished from time to time by the various Crown Lands Rangers, I have no hesitation in saying that the condition and future prospects of settlement in this district are eminently satisfactory not only in regard to the ordinary Crown lands as dealt with under " The Land Act, 1892," &c, but also in regard to that taking place under the Land for Settlements Acts. Lands to be opened during the Coming Year. The following lands will probably be placed on the market during the coming year : Two homestead sections in Longbush and Tablelands Settlements, 920 acres ; the Mahupuku Settlement, 4,831 acres ; Hikawera Settlement, 1,753 acres ; Dyer Settlement, 16,450 acres ; and the Waddington, Heretaunga, Hall-Jones, Wilford, Pitt, Melling, and Hawtrey Settlements, which have been acquired subject to the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act and " The Workers' Dwellings Act, 1905 " : also the Kawhautahi (North Kaitieke) Block, 20,000 acres ; the Te Maire, Kirikau, and Retaruke Blocks, 48,000 acres ; Raugitatau Block, 9,000 acres ; and probably a number of forfeited sections. It is also proposed to hold sales of township sections in Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru, Taihape, Mangaweka, &c. Clerical Branch. The number of letters received during the year amounted to 13,285, and those despatched to 15,792. Including letters, rent-notices, parcels, &c, a total of 59,577 letters, &c, were received and despatched during the year. Six hundred and twenty-five cheques were drawn on my Imprest Account for a total of £5,651 ; the number of vouchers dealt with being 916, representing a total of £22,632. John Strauchon, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

NELSON. Summary of Land Transactions during the Year 1905-6.

4—C. 1.

25

Transactions during the Year. Area under Lease at 31st Maroh, 1906. System. Revenue received during the Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. A. E. P. 4,704 3 4 A. E. P. £ s. d. 1,884 13 5 866 1 5 Cash ... Deferred payment... Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease Perpetual lease made freehold 20 123 11,803 1 4 "46 4,851' 0 35 302" 0 0 12 2,017 3 14 33 0 11 113 5 0 2 Occupation with right of purchase Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Lease in perpetuity Mining districts land occupation Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses, including coal and timber royalties Other sources 3 626 2 28 193 37,910 3 3 985 18 2 1 100 0 0 30 0 0 53 6 16,468 0 27 372 1 13 279 27 78,261 3 13 1,398 3 27 2,193 2 6 117 18 6 6 273 6,500 0 0 13,152 0 6 6 60 560 8,556 0 0 237,909 0 0 83,615 0 15 102 3 11 535 0 4 2,699 6 8 471 16 4 Totals ... 410 47,077 0 33 1,260 461,502 2 36 10,032 7 2 Endowments. Village - homestead special settlement Mining districts land occupation Miscellaneous leases Boyalty.on coal and timber... 3 13 2 0 20 79 100 1,497 3 7 2 11 15 0 77 19 6 9 3 0 1 13 297 5,480 2 26 837 1 13,222 18 5 1 Grand totals 416 47,091 0 6 1,656 468,581 3 0 24,185 6 11