30

0.-1.

Remarks.— During the month of March an inspection of the central Clarence Valley was made r by me, by direction of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, in order to ascertain its suitability for"closer settlement. A special report, with maps illustrating same, has been prepared and forwarded to the Head Office. Henry Trent, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

WESTLAND. Crown Lands opened for Selection. The following table exhibits the manner in which Crown lands were opened for sale or lease during the year: —

For cash by auction, 39 acres 3 roods 14 perches of the Township of Waitaha (as village allotments), and 4 acres 3 roods 38' perches of the Township of Kokatahi (as village allotments), were put up for sale. The area on perpetuity (village settlements), 47 acres and 30 perches, was an extension of the State Coal-mine 'of Runanga. The lands which were offered under lease in perpetuity (ordinary) were scattered groups between the Teremakau and Okuru Rivers.

Lands disposed of. The subjoined table sets forth the results of land-administration in this district for the year : —

Revenue. The revenue for the year amounts, as shown above, to £13,266 12s. 9d., which is £734 6s. 3d. above the estimate, and £1,364 6s. 9d. more than last year. Though, owing to the Westland settlement lands being of moderate fertility and wholly covered with forest, the upset prices are low and the resulting revenue is therefore comparatively small, yet it is steadily improving year by year. About 130,000 tons of coal were won from the Crown lands at the Point Elizabeth State Coal-mines; these, of course, are exempt from taxation, otherwise if subject to the ordinary royalty the revenue would have been augmented by £3,250. It must also be remembered that, as the bulk of the new lands have'been disposed of under the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, no rentals are derived in the majority of cases (after the first half-year's instalment) for the ensuing two or three years.

Cash by Auction. Village Settlements : Lease in Perpetuity Lease in Perpetuity. (Ordinary). Total. iffered for first time ... 'ffered previously Acres. 40 5 Acres. 47 Acres. 14,673 Acres. 14,760 5 Totals 45 47 14,673 14,765

Transactions during the Year. Leasehold Areas held on 31st Maroh, 1906. _ Revenue received Glass of Selection. luring t Number. Area. ; Number. Area. ear. Perpetual lease ... ... Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity, land for settlements Village settlements — Cash ... Lease in perpetuity Mining Districts Land Occupation Act Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases Flax royalty Timber royalty Transfer lease, &c, fees Crown-grant fees ... Other sources Endowment lands A. B. P. 1,466" 1 22 7 106 a. R. p. 580 1 8 18,590 0 24 £ s. d. 29 3 0 556 11 1 4 93 14,330 1 38 417 26 45,709 0 11 4,990 1 4 834 2 10 563 5 1 5 6 1 8 1 38 12 5 11 1 32 "l0 4 198" 0 27 46 0 0 25 0 0 11 4 2 1 10 0 68 29 38,824 3 11 4,280 0 4 149 229 595,048 0 11 8,087 0 18 849 7 2 573 5 10 278 16 0 8,159 11 4 177 4 0 5 0 0 55 11 3 1,147 1 0 6 1,631 2 5 Totals 206 58,918 0 30 954 747,600 2 28 13,266 12 9