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with their families are ready-money customers of the neighbouring farmers. There are forty-nine sawmills erected on Crown lands and freeholds. The area occupied for timber-cutting purposes comprises about 29,000 acres. The output for the year amounts to 44,933,813 ft. of commercial timber, 95,000 railway-sleepers, 2,000 telegraph-poles, besides quantities of bridge, &c, piles, posts, firewood, and other lumber. The total royalty paid amounts to £8,607 14s. 2d. Flax-milling. There are twelve mills, employing about 150 hands, erected in the various flax-growing localities scattered throughout the district. Several of these firms are struggling under the great hindrances of difficult transport of supplies and fibre, as the mills are situated considerable distances from railway or ports. Nevertheless, new enterprises are being undertaken, older ventures re-established with better appliances, and the outlook is very promising. Several millers have applied to the Land Board for areas for the purpose of cultivating flax, and others already have drained and planted a fair acreage. Should these experiments succeed, then a considerable expansion of the industry will rapidly ensue, and much of our waste water-logged country be reclaimed. Crown Lands for Disposal during Year 1907-8. The Crown lands at present available and to be thrown open for selection, apart from pastoral runs, amount to 121,759 acres, and are classified thus : —

The town and suburban lands comprise sections in the Towns of Runanga and Rohutu, and the Villages of Kokatahi, Waitaha, and Runanga Extension. All the rural lands are or will be obtainable under " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903," and areas contiguous to gold-workings are also open for selection under the regulations for occupation of pastoral lands within mining districts. The provisions of the above Act and regulations have proved most applicable to this densely timbered country, and have greatly induced the settlement of many areas during the year. Of the surveyed land, 4,420 acres, between Waiho and Okuru, are open for selection under all tenures of the optional system; the balance of 5,754 acres is available on lease in perpetuity only, and is located in blocks all over the northern district. The pastoral runs cover all the country fit for depasturing stock. The subdivisions having been almost finished, six blocks of rural lands in different localities will be offered at an early date, and other lots will follow as soon as they are surveyed. As there is a continuous inquiry for farming lands, all these areas will probably be taken up. The classification of 120 runs by the Westland Classification Commissioners (in accordance with section 189 of " The Land Act, 1892,") was duly gazetted, and those lands in Class 2 adapted for agricultural purposes will now be resumed and subdivided for settlement. Payments to Local Bodies. Proposals and plans for the expenditure of " thirds " and " halves " were duly investigated, and after careful inspection and check were recommended to the Land Board and approved. " Thirds " under " The Land Act, 1892," accrued and were paid as under : Westland County Council, £339 14s. 4d. ; Grey County Council, £202 lis. 4d. : total, £542 ss. Bd. " Halves " under " The Timber and Flax Royalties Act, 1905," as under : Westland County Council, £873 Is. 7d. ; Grey County Council, £2,196 4s. 6d. : total, £3,069 6s. Id. Gross total, £3,6il lis. 9d. Eradication of Noxious Weeds. In connection with the destruction of these weeds on Crown lands, £204 12s. 9d. was paid during the year on the certificate of the Inspector of Stock, who, together with the Rangers, reports that corresponding efforts are being made by the settlers to do their share of the work. Departmental. The Land Board has held fifteen ordinary and special meetings during the year, and, as remarked above, has also made several inspection-visits to various parts of the district. The number of applications and items dealt with was 1,107, or an average of seventy-four at each meeting. The following items represent approximately the amount of clerical work put through by the Department during the last twelve months : Sale-posters, Land Guides, and lithographs distributed aggregated 1,166 ; the number of vouchers passed through the Accountant's office was 907, representing £24,421 Is. 6d. ; cheques issued on Imprest Account numbered 1,388, representing £15,125 14s. 2d. ; number of letters received and despatched 11,753; 3,783 notices sent out; 184 Audit cards; 1,338 receipts ; 217 departmental returns furnished ; 700 leases and similar documents prepared ; 83 reports to Wardens and other reports to Advances Office, Old-age Pensions, and other Departments. I have much pleasure in acknowledging the loyal and able assistance accorded by the staff in overtaking the work of the year, G. J. Robeets, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Suburban Lands. Surveyed. Unsurveyed. Town and Suburban Lands. I Rural Lands. Survejed. Unsurveyed. Pastoral Runs. 1.1111110. UUl VC1 OM. *J -l»"Jl*«. T i/J bui Lands now open for Selection. Acres. Acres. Acres. 112 ! 10,174 ! 85,503 Number. i Aores. 56 781,810 Lands to be thrown open for Selection. 160 22,120 3,690 Total lands available 272 32,294 89,193 during coming year \ 10 105,500 66 887,310 272 32,294 89,193 66 887,310 i