C—l.

Review of the Current Systems of Tenure. Cash Lands.— As has been previously noted, owing to the district being a proclaimed goldfield, great care is necessary not to dispose of any auriferous country, consequently cash sales of lands are now wholly confined to town allotments. Occupation with Right of Purchase.— During the year, under this system, there were four selectors, for 1,466 acres. These lands were situated within blocks which had in past years been withdrawn from the goldfield. Lease in Perpetuity.— Under this tenure during the year, in all parts of the country, separated areas of suitable settlement lands were subdivided and offered for selection, resulting as follows : Number of allotments offered, 68, of 14,673 acres ; number of allotments taken up, 52, of 10,985 acres. The summary of land transactions for the year shows 93 selections, for an area of 14,330 acres; of these, 23 selections, for a total of 6 acres, were for lease in perpetuity, in the Township"'of Runanga, at the State Coal-mine, near Greymouth. Village-settlement Lands (for Cash).— ln the Township of Kokatahi five half-acre sections were purchased at auction. Village-settlement Lands (on Lease in Perpetuity).— ln the Runanga Township Extension, six sections were taken up, totalling 1-J acres. Leases under " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894."—0ne leasehold of 11 acres has been occupied during the year ; three also, of 120 acres, await survey, and will be included in next year's return. The minimum rental under this Act is too high for this*district, and its contemplated reduction will result in considerable areas being selected. Pastoral Runs.— The area leased during the twelve months amounts to 38,825 acres, held by 68 lessees, of whom 24 are holders of small areas under the 219 th section of the Land Act, and 44 occupy 8.884 acres under the Regulations for the Occupation of Pastoral Lands. Miscellaneous Leases.— The total area occupied under this heading throughout the year amounts to 4,280 acres. Four selectors took up coal lands, and 3 leased flax areas, while 22, on a yearly tenure, and determinable at instant notice, obtained small acreages comprising unoccupied reserves, and also odd portions of lands in the vicinity of gold-mining operations. Inspections and Rangers' Reports. The Land Board members and the Commissioner have from time to time visited various localities in the northern district, and also made an extended journey into south Westland. They were thus enabled to satisfactorily settle several cases of dispute by meeting the contending parties on the ground; and the local knowledge gained on these excursions has been of invaluable service in connection with ordinary Land Board business. As heretofore, the Commissioner, besides very frequent inspections of the northern and central parts, has visited the far south, and thus had personal oversight of the whole of the district. Consequently, many important questions of adjustment, especially as affecting the settlement of lands abutting gold-workings, have been arranged ; proposed sawmilling timber reserves inspected, and duly set apart from settlement action ; ordinary and disputed valuations settled on the spot; and conclusive reports furnished to headquarters and the Land Board on the varied and intricate matters of the land-adminis-trition of the district. Rangers Meharry and Macfarlane have had a very busy year. The necessity for close inspection and reports upon all the numerous applications for land adjoining gold-workings, and the constant vigilance which is also required to preserve the milling-timber, compels very thorough examination of each block before a grant is made, hence much time and trouble has been involved in furnishing the necessary information for the guidance of the Land Board. The Rangers have also sent in the usual reports upon the Crown tenants' holdings scattered throughout, the whole district; and likewise supplied the Wardens with information regarding the numerous "applications for sawmill areas, reservations, and residence areas which come under their jurisdiction. They have likewise inspected the various sawmills and flax-mills ; investigated the manner of timber-cutting, and compared the mill-books with the railway, shipping, and wagoners' returns, so as to check the output for the correct collection of the royalties. Altogether, apart from the ordinary routine work of serving of notices, delivery of deeds, &c, the Rangers have made 1,047 inspections and reports during the year. Position and Progress of Settlement. Northern Division.— That portion of the district between the Nelson boundary and the Mikonui River may be termed the Northern Division. This includes (with the exception of a few isolated holdings) the earliest selections, and consequently many freeholds. Interspersed with and surrounding these are the Crown tenantry. Much cultivation takes place, and dairying is carried on, owing to the close proximity of the larger towns and the dairy factories, speedy connection therewith being cheaply obtained by road and rail. Moderate supplies of fat stock are sent to market, but ordinary farm and dairy produce form the settlers' main support. The present position is as follows : Number of tenants, 167 ; area held, 33,630 acres ; area brought into profitable use, 6,760 acres ; value of improvements effected by tenants, £29,378 (exclusive of Runanga Township, pastoral \and miscellaneous tenantry. noted below). Southern Division.— Between the Mikonui River and the Otago boundary lies the southern portion of Westland, which has been in the main occupied only during recent years. Consistent progress has been made in and around the older settlement centres during the year, and also in the newer farming localities. Owing to difficulties of access, through want of road'communication and reliable ports, farming and dairy produce are not as yet wholly payable. A few energetic settlers at Okuru export

31