31

C— 1

Surrenders.

There were only six surrenders, comprising mostly small areas on which tenants could not make a living, and which were immediately taken up by adjoining owners. "Thirds" and "Fourths." The sum of £2,746 was paid to the local bodies, that amount being practically all moneys received during the year, so that no complaint can be made of the various Road Boards not taking prompt advantage of the revenue accrued under this heading. Forest-covered Crown Lands. Some comment has been made in the public Press and in letters from intending settlers as to the impropriety of holding back forest-covered land until the timber has been cleared off it by sawmilling; and, while agreeing that it is most necessary that settlement should not be retarded, it should, I think, be remembered that it is not wise to destroy the little remaining timber we have, even for so desirable an object as settlement. The present system of giving timber licenses to cut the timber on royalty before offering the land for settlement not only secures a very large proportion of the timber from being wasted, but obtains frequently as much as £4 an acre for the timber, and this not only does not impoverish the land, but to a certain extent helps the settler to make a better job of his bush-clearing, because it removes most of the large trees. Offioe-work. There were 5,275 letters received and despatched, and 2,000 rent-notices issued. This does not include a large number of sale-plans, Crown Lands Guides, &c. 369 vouchers were passed, amounting to £8,325 16s. In the office of the Receiver of Land Revenue, besides the gross receipts of the year, amounting to £33,015 18s. 7d. for which 1,820 receipts were issued, the sum of £851 Is. 7d. was paid into the Deposit Account, for which 167 receipts were issued and'271 cheques drawn. F. Stephenson Smith, 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 : — Lease in Perpetuity ,., , , (ordinary). Acres. Acres. Offered for first time .. .. .. .. .. 8,259 " 8,259 Offered previously .. . . .. . . .. Nil Total .. .. .. .. .. .... 8,259 The above were offered under section 121 of " The Land Act, 1892," and section 2 of " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Act, 1903," and comprised areas all over the district. Lands disposed of. The subjoined table sets forth the results of land administration in this district for the year : —

Transactio: is during the Year. Leasehold Areas held on 31st Maroh, 1907. Revenue received Class of Selection. Number. Number. during the Year. Area. Area. A. R. P. 580 18,590 R. P. 1 8 0 24 £ b. d. 27 12 0 668 1 3 Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity, land for settlements Lease in perpetuity, village settlements Mining Districts Land Occupation Act Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases Miscellaneous leases, land for settlements Endowments Timber licenses Flax licenses Other sources ... Transfer lease and license fees 87 2 1 2 58 34 14,327 215 0 90 34,726 5,895 0 33 1 36 1 0 1 3 3 36 0 9 7 106 471 27 11 6 193 243 1 59,732 4,990 198 136 561,059 82,233 8 2 9 1 4 1 27 1 3 0 35 0 13 2 0 1,637 0 10 574 18 1 12 11 7 3 11 9 1,186 18 1 492 7 10 10 0 6 1,631 2 5 1,750 17 0 8,607 14 2 91 4 1 100 5 1 169 7 0 Totals 184 55,255 0 37 1,071 729,160 1 8 15,323 8 9