C—l

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A comparison of this table with the corresponding one for the preceding year shows a falling-off from 205 to 171 in the number of transactions for the year, although the area represented has risen from 41,447 acres to 53,191 acres, owing to the increased area of pastoral holdings included in thif year's transactions. The area held at the close of the year has increased by 3,889 acres 1 rood 15 perches, and the number of tenants by thirty-eight. The total revenue for the year shows a falling-off of £1,726 18s. 2d. as compared with the receipts of the previous year. Lands opened. Excluding lands offered under the Land for Settlements Acts and on the Cheviot Estate, which are dealt with separately, the lands opened for selection during the year may be summarised as follows : — (a.) Offered for sale for cash by public auction : Fifty-six sections, totalling 13 acres 2 roods 38 perches, in the Township of South Rakaia ; sixteen of these, comprising 3 acres 3 roods 19 perches, were sold for £103, the upset prices totalling £80. (6.) Offered under the small-grazing-run 3ystem : Five runs, comprising a total area of 12,268 acres, situated in the Malvern Hills. For these five runs 428 applications were received, the number balloting for individual runs varying from 151 to 363. The favourable seasons and prices of stock and wool recently experienced, together with the limited amount of this class of holding obtainable in Canterbury, and tho reasonable rents fixed, no doubt combined to create the keen demand experienced for these runs, although a scrutiny of the ballot-lists leads to the conclusion that the number of applicants would have been very much reduced if they had been required to undergo the examination prescribed for applicants under the Land for Settlements Acts. (c.) Offered under the pastoral-lease system : One run of 11,000 acres situated in the Hakataramea Valley, which was purchased at the upset rental. (d.) Offered by tender or auction for lease for varying terms : Six blocks, totalling 2,130 acres, situated at Hamner Springs, Port Lyttelton, and near Morven ; all these realised satisfactory rentals. The Diffeeent Systems of Tenure. The two disappearing systems of tenure —namely, deferred-payment licenses and perpetual leases —have only been slightly reduced during the year, the former by two holdings of 130 acres converted into freehold, and the latter by three allotments totalling 45 acres 1 rood 13 perches also converted into freehold. The number so treated shows a very marked diminution from the figures for the preceding year, when twelve holdings comprising 1,071 acres became freehold. Under the occupation-with-right-of-purchase system one holder of 240 acres exercised his right of acquiring the freehold, but otherwise the figures remain unchanged, and the ordinary leases in perpetuity are also unaltered. Under the village-homestead system there has been one new selection of 16J acres, and a small transfer of holdings from the perpetual-lease to the lease-in-perpetuity subdivision, but with these exceptions the tenure remains unaltered. The farm-homestead holdings also remain as before. The number of small grazing-runs has increased by the five runs, totalling 12,268 acres, already referred to under the heading of " Lands opened " ; but the pastoral runs, notwithstanding five fresh selections, comprising 16,717 acres, have decreased by about 18,757 acres, as the result of expiries of leases which have now been dealt with under other tenures, such as the small grazing-runs previously mentioned. No further expiries of any importance are likely to take place until 1910, when a considerable number of runs now held under leases for terms of twenty-one years from 1890 will be available for disposal a year before the expiration of the existing leases. Rangees' Inspections. , The total number of holdings inspected by the three Rangers during the year was 1,849, of an area of 562,278 acres and 1 perch ; the total value of improvements required was £253,741 6s. Bd., and the value effected £469,897 2s. 6d. There were thirteen defaulters on account of non-residence, and thirtyone on account of deficient improvements. The very large value of improvements placed upon the holdings, and the small proportion of defaulters, emphasize the success which has attended Crown settlement in the Canterbury District. In addition to the work represented by the above figures, a very large number of miscellaneous inspections and other duties have been performed by the Rangers. Of the Crown lands disposed of under lease in perpetuity, occupation with right of purchase, and other tenures under the Land Acts, the greater number have now been occupied for over ten years, and with the exception of the Lake Ellesmere leases, where the periodical inflow of water prevents full compliance with requirements as to value of improvements effected, and some of the hill holdings, ranging up to 2,000 acres in South Canterbury, upon which it is practically impossible to remuneratively expend the prescribed amount, the tenants have generally complied in a satisfactory manner with the requirements of their leases, and further annual supervision becomes unnecessary. In these cases there is not much change in the condition of the holdings, but, generally speaking, the improvements are well maintained, and the lands kept in a good state of cultivation. Some leases and licenses in the Oxford district selected in 1903, and a few scattered holdings in other localities, remain under supervision, and among these there are a few defaulters in respect of residence or improvements, but in most oases the law will probably be satisfied during the ensuing year. The leaseholders of land on the confines of Lake Ellesmere benefited by the continuance of the lake at a low level for a considerable period, so that during the dry weather excellent feed was obtainable when most needed. On the other hand, the lighter lands suffered considerably from the drought. A good deal of surface sowing has been done with much success on the hill holdings of South Canterbury.