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α-i.

CHEVIOT ESTATE. (Canterbury District.) The land transactions on the Cheviot Estate during the year have been very small. Sixteen town and village sections at Domett, which is for the present the terminus of the Waipara-Cheviot Railway, were sold for cash at auction ; the total area was 7 acres and 31 perches, and the price realised, £379 19s. 6d. Four temporary occupation licenses wore granted over an area of 169 acres 2 roods. These included a fresh lease, for a term of three years from the Ist September last, of the Cheviot Woolshed Block, close to tho Town of Mackenzie. The rent obtained was less than for previous terms, owing to the fact that the establishment does not now possess the practical monopoly of the Cheviot business that it formerly enjoyed. A large number of sheep are still, however, shorn and dipped here, and the new lease has fallen into the hands of the capable manager who has held it for the preceding six years. The number and area of holdings occupied on the estate remain practically the same as during the previous year. The Crown Lands Ranger's report states that the tenants have experienced a good year, especially so considering the abnormal amount of dry weather during the late spring and summer. 8,147 acres was cropped, with fair results; of this amount, 822 acres was in wheat, 2,256 acres in oats, 259 acres in barley (grown principally for sheep-feed), 2,335 acres in turnips, 1,878 acres in rape, 115 acres in mangolds, and 78 in potatoes. The plantations on the leaseholds occupy 240 acres, the orchards 68 acres, and the gardens 48 acres. 87,800 sheep were shorn, and approximately 36,000 fat lambs sold off the estate. In addition to the sheep, there are 1,263 head of cattle, 819 horses, and 446 pigs. Except for occasional additions to dwellinghouses, wool-sheds, or stables, or the bringing of a few more acres into cultivation, the improvements have not increased in value to any extent, and are approximately estimated at £100,000. In the Town of Mackenzie four new places of business have been erected during the year. The area of land now in English grasses is 26,906 acres, and in tussock 32,513 awes, part of the latter having been surface-sown. The inhabitants of Mackenzie are taking steps to have their township formed into a town district. The permanent population does not vary much ; on the leaseholds there are 758 souls, and if the residents on freeholds and in the township were included the total population of the estate would be nearly nine hundred souls. Eeic C. Gold Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

APPENDIX lI.—LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS (REPORTS OP COMMISSIONERS OP CROWN LANDS ON). AUCKLAND. A perusal of the tables relating to these settlements and the Ranger's reports will show that, generally speaking, the selectors are in a prosperous condition. Dairying and stock-raising are the principal industries. The outlook in the Okauia Settlement is still of an unpromising nature, but with, this exception all the settlements give evidence of industry on the part of the selectors, and indicate that there is a very promising future in view for the energetic farmer. It will be noticed that the Opouriao Settlement, in the Bay of Plenty, has been particularly successful. The Selwyn Settlement is the most recent, and shows signs of being a success. Workers' Hamlets. The hamlets as a whole are not such thriving settlements as we should like to see, and the remarks with regard to them made in our last report appear to be equally applicable to this year's efforts, although all but Hetana and Waari are making fair progress. In some cases the holdings are considered too small to be of use, considering the distance they are from the city. Township Sections in Estates. Hitherto it has been recognised as not necessary to insist on holders of township sections complying with the teims of their leases in regard to residence and improvements, although, as the land is selected under the lease-in-perpetuity conditions and there is no provision in the regulations to exempt the lessees of town sections, the holders are liable for compliance. In the case of some of these town sections, failing to either improve or reside is constituting a drawback to the progress of settlement, and the Land Board has taken action to insist on the fulfilment of the conditions of the leases.