Q I

64

cattle, 997 ; horses, 186 ; pigs, 1.44. Area in new grass, 344 acres ;in white crop, 786 acres ;in green crop, 256 acres; in native grass, &c, 220 acres. Value of improvements, £12,837. The Ranger reports with regard to this settlement as follows : " The settlers are in much the same condition as those in other settlements. Crops were almost a total failure as a consequence of the drought, and the grass was burnt up. The settlers are chiefly dependent on the creamery, and the failure of the milksupply was a great loss to them. All the cows became very poor and had to be sold off for what they would bring to prevent them from starving. The root-crops, although receiving a great set-back, recovered a good deal after the rain, and the stock will now winter much better than was anticipated." Makareao and Makareao Extension. —Established, the former in June, 1896, the latter in April, 1897. Total area acquired, 4,972 acres 2 roods 16 perches, there being in all thirty-three holdings over an aggregate area of 4,714 acres 1 rood 21 perches, at an annual rental of £669 35., including three miscellaneous licenses over 60 acres and 33 perches at £9 ss. 6d. yearly. Receipts £640 95., from inception £9,250 lis. lOd. ; rebates, £70 2s. 5d., to thirty selectors ; arrears, nil. Total population, 86 ; houses, 19 ; sheep, 2,760 ; cattle, 619 ; horses, 75 ; pigs, 54. Area in new grass, 55 acres ; in white crop, 326 acres ; in green crop, 206 acres ; in native grass, &c, 2,962 acres. Value of improvements, £6,079. The Ranger reports, " This estate is in much the same position as it was last year. . The drought experienced had its effect on the grass and stock; so much so that stock had to be considerably reduced. The dairy industry also suffered, the shortage of milk having materially reduced the monthly cheques from the factory. There were, however, some good crops, several returns being from 30 to 40 bushels per acre. Very few fat lambs were got away, on account of the drought, the consequence being that farmers had to sacrifice either their lambs or their ewes." Momona. —Established May, 1897. Area, 224 acres 1 rood 16 perches. Holdings, 14, with an area of 219 acres 1 rood 16 perches, at- £185 Is. 2d. per annum. Receipts, £170 Os. 5d., making total to date £1,970 12s. 2d. ; rebates, £5 18s. 5d., to ten selectors; arrears, £37 Bs. lid., owing by four lessees, holding 85 acres. Total population, 54; houses, 14; cattle, 190; horses, 23; pigs, 51. Area in new grass, 8 acres ; in white crop, 22 acres ; in green crop, 39 acres ; in native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £2,248 12s. 6d. The settlers on this settlement are still suffering somewhat from the trouble that arose in the matter of the drainage, which has not even yet been finally settled. The Ranger reports as follows : " Good progress has been made on Momona this year. After the continued wet of last year, followed by very dry weather during the spring, the ground became very hard and difficult to work. Cultivation was therefore much more backward than usual. The early parts of the spring and summer were exceedingly dry. but the grass did fairly well. The growth was checked somewhat about January and February by the continued drought, but a few showers late in February helped things very much, and, the frost keeping off so far, the grass is still growing. Momona is purely a dairying settlement, and the ali-round results of the year have been very fair. Given normal years, the prospects Of this settlement are excellent. The settlers have no present grievance, except that relating to drainage matters, which may possibly be successfully settled by the proposal to constitute the whole of the Taieri as one drainage-area." Tokarahi. —Established May, 1897. Area acquired, 11,259 acres 2 rood 36 p.rches, there being seventy-nine holdings, with an aggregate area of 10,978 acres and 35 perches, at- an annual rental of £4,11.0 18s., inclusive of twenty-seven miscellaneous licenses over an area of 193 acres 3 roods 31 perches at £16 14s. lOd. yearly. Receipts for the year, £4,050>. Bd., making the total to date £39,277 ss. ; rebates, £356 175., to forty-five selectors ; arrears, £114 13s. 6d., owing by one lessee with an area of 400 acres. Total population, 195; houses, 41 ; sheep, 5,042 ; cattle, 648 ; horses, 286 ; pigs, 148. Area in new grass, 615 acres ; in white crop, 2,381 acres ; in green crop, 781 acres ; in native grass, &c, 2,185 acres. Value of improvements, £20,684. The Ranger's report is as follows : " The settlers are doing well in spite of the protracted drought experienced during the summer. The grain-crops were almost a failure, and those that were not fed off by stock barely paid harvesting. The weather broke about the middle of February, too late to save the grain-crops, but it very materially helped the turnips, so that stock will not suffer so much as they would, otherwise have done. Dairying received a set back here as well as elsewhere, but the good seasons of the past will enable settlers to tide over the effects of the late bad one." Janefield. —Established September, 1899. Area acquired, 147 acres and 2 perches, there being twenty settlement holdings and one occupied by the Agricultural Department, over a total area of 143 acres 2 roods 37 perches, at an annual rental of £258 6s. 2d. Receipts, £221 9s. lid., total to date £1,692 9s. Id.; rebates, £15 19s. lid., to seventeen tenants; arrears, £18 lis. 4d., owing by three selectors, holding 24 acres. Total population, 89; houses, 19 ; sheep, nil; cattle, 78 ; horses, 33 ; pigs, nil. Area in new grass, nil; in white crop, 15 acres ; in green crop, 22 acres ; in native grass, &c, 7J acres. Value of improvements, £3,551. Ranger's report : " This settlement has made solid progress during the past season, which, though dry and unfavourable in many respects, gave the tenants an opportunity of clearing much of the foulness that resulted from the bad farming of the former owner. Much remains yet to be done in the clearing of weeds, but the land is good, the settlers hardworking, and no doubt they will soon bring the land back to a healthy state of cultivation. Janefield has proved of great advantage to the class of tenants who occupy it. They were working-men living in and about Mosgiel, paying rent for cottages on quarter and one-eighth acre sections ; now they have their own houses, they can keep their cows and horses, and when out of outside employment they can occupy themselves profitably on their holdings. Doubtless if another such opportunity offered to get small holdings many of the working-people about the Taieri would gladly avail themselves of it." Elderslie. —Established March, 1900. Area, 11,618 acres 2 roods 4 perches, there being thirtyfour holdings over an area of 11,506 acres 3 roods 18 perches, at an annual rental of £4,126 19s. 4d., including eight miscellaneous licenses over 245 acres 2 roods 35 perches at £18 Bs. lOd. yearly. Receipts, £3,716 Bs. 10d., making the total to date £27,050 2s. 6d.; rebates, £410 16s. 10d., to twenty-six selectors ;