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Is. Id. A new settlement, named " Kurow Settlement," formerly known as " Logan's Farm," with selection area of 220 acres 3 roods 22 perches in twelve small dairy farms, at a total annual rental of £235 10s., is to be opened on the 21st May, and there are other estates anticipated during the year, as, for instance, the Otekaike Estate, of about 17,800 acres; the Airedale Estate, of about 2,670 acres : and Ashley Downs, of about 3,700 acres. Pomahaka Downs. —Established February, 1894. Area, 7,478 acres 2 roods 2 perches. Occupied holdings, 24, with an area of 6,340 acres 1 rood 35 perches ; annual rental, £913 16s. 2d., inclusive of four temporary licenses over 1,333 acres 2 roods 24 perches at £32 19s. per annum. There is an unlet area of 925 acres and 8 perches, of a yearly value of £146 os. 4d. Receipts for the year, £499 15s. 5d., making the total to date £9,539 14s. lid. ; rebates, £15 3s. 7d., to five selectors ; arrears, £817 ss. 7d., owing by twelve selectors, holding 2,815 acres. Total population, 39 ; houses, 16 ; sheep, 3,355 ; cattle, 152 ; horses, 71 ; pigs, nil. Area in new grass, 955 acres ; in white crops, 831 acres ; in green crops, 848 acres ; native grasses, &c, 430 acres. Value of improvements, £6,567. The settlers on this settlement are still hopeful of some concession being made in regard to the capital value of the land. The Ranger reports, " The past year has proved a fairly good one for the settlers on Pomahaka. They all adopt mixed farming, and each keeps a flock of sheep. Good percentages of lambs have been obtained and a good price for wool. The grain-crops have been light, but there will be some very fair root-crops. The settlers have made more than ordinary progress during the year, and they have complied well with the conditions of their leases." Teaneraki. —Established February, 1894. Area, 351 acres and 39 perches. There are twentythree holdings over an aggregate area of 344 acres 1 rood 30 perches, at an annual rental of £281 9s. 6d. Receipts, £258 17s. 7d., making total to date £3,352 12s. 4d. ; rebates, £22 7s. lid., to twenty lessees ; arrears, £13 35., by three selectors, holding 45 acres. Total population, 81 ; houses, 17 ; sheep, nil; cattle, 168 ; horses, 39 ; pigs, 41. Area in new grass, 40 acres ; in white crop, 57 acres ;in green crop, 53 acres; native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £2,064. The Ranger reports, " This small settlement continues to hold its own, although the dry season affected it somewhat seriously. The greater number of the settlers find employment outside while their families work the land for dairying purposes. The stock went off very much in condition, and a number were sold at low prices ; but, since the weather broke, the root-crops as well as the grass have improved, and stock will now pull through the winter." Tahawai. —Established August, 1895. Area, 70 acres 1 rood 35 perches, there being eight holdings over an area of 68 acres 2 roods 14 perches, at £35 14s. 4d. yearly. Year's receipts, £33 16s. 6d. ; total to date, £396 13s. 4d. ; rebates, £1 10s. Bd., to seven tenants ; arrears, nil. Population, 38 ; houses, 8 ; sheep, nil; cattle, 48 ; horses, 12 ; pigs, 23. Area in new grass, 5 acres ; in white crop, 8 acres ; in green crop, 15 acres ; in native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements effected, £1,468. The Ranger states, " This little settlement is still in the same prosperous condition as in former years. The settlers are all doing well, owing principally to the water-supply from the race running through the settlement, which enables the settlers to irrigate their holdings. I would again suggest that the Government should acquire the right to this water for the benefit of the settlement." Maerewhenua. —Established September, 1895. Area, 11,163 acres 3 roods 31 perches. There are seventy-three holdings over an aggregate area of 10,922 acres 2 roods 29 perches, at an annual rental of £3,552 2s. 2d., including 12 acres 1 rood 1 perch under three miscellaneous licenses at £1 18s. per annum. There is also an unlet area of 3 acres, of the annual value of 15s. Receipts, £3,249 4s. 9d., making the total to date £39,220 12s. 4d. ; rebates, £345 lis. 3d., to sixty-six tenants ; arrears, 195., by one tenant, holding 8 acres 1 rood 35 perches. Total population, 241; houses, 55 ; sheep, 6,906 ; cattle, 611 ; horses, 251 ; pigs, 132. Area in new grass, 668 acres ;in white crop, 2,350 acres ;in green crop, 859 acres ; in native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £21,828. The following is the Ranger's report: " This settlement is in a very prosperous condition, the settlers nearly all doing well, although in common with all the farmers in north Otago they have suffered from the continued drought through the summer months. The grain-crops were almost a total failure. Many of them were eaten off, and what were harvested barely paid expenses. The grass disappeared, and the land was so bare that it was difficult to say whether it was pasture or ploughed land. Dairying suffered in consequence, the milk-supply being so much reduced that the closing of the creameries was seriously contemplated. Matters were made worse from the fact that settlers could not get the lambs away to the freezer, and consequently had to be held with the ewes on the already short supply of food or sacrificed in a falling market. Since the break in the weather, however, things have a much brighter appearance, and the root-crops have come away well, and in most cases will furnish food-supply for the winter." Puketapu. —Established March, 1896. Area, 509 acres and 6 perches, there being eleven holdings over an area of 496 acres and 36 perches, at an annual rental of £189 os. lOd. Receipts, £170 3s. 2d., making the total to date £1,955 9s. lid. ; rebates, £18 17s. Bd., to eleven lessees; arrears, nil. Total population, 37 ; houses, 7 ; sheep, nil; cattle, 104 ; horses, 24 ; pigs, 24. Area in new grass, nil; in white crops, 67 acres ; in green crop, 46 acres ; in native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £1,552. The Ranger reports, " The settlers on this estate are doing fairly well, considering the very dry season experienced. They work the land for dairying, very little grain being grown except for home consumption. The cows had a very hard time, and many had to be sacrificed to prevent them from dying of starvation, and all calves were destroyed, as there was no milk for them." Ardgowan. —Established May, 1896. Area, 4,267 acres 3 roods 28 perches, there being sixty-six holdings over an aggregate area of 4,170 acres 1 rood 33 perches, at an annual rental of £1,897 ss. 4d., including two miscellaneous licenses over 11 acres and 29 perches at £5 lis. 6d. yearly. Receipts, £1,864 os. 10d., making the total to date £20,382 Is. 9d. ; rebates, £84 Bs., to fifty-five lessees ; arrears, £50 4s. Bd., owing by five selectors, holding 176 acres. Total population, 232 ; houses, 48 ; sheep, 1,210 ;