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arrears, nil. Total population, 79; houses, 24; sheep, 9,137; cattle, 182; horses, 186 ; pigs, 55. Area in new grass, 705 acres ; in white crop, 1,904 acres ; in green crop, 559 acres ; in native grass, &c, 752 acres. Value of improvements, £13,709. The Ranger reports as follows : " This settlement is in a very healthy condition, and the settlers are doing well, although the effects of the drought are as marked here as anywhere in the district. The land was very bare of feed, and stock were so low in condition that they were on the point of starvation, and the settlers were quite helpless in the matter, being unable to profitably dispose of the stock. The drought was unprecedented in the history of north Otago, and all farmers were alike affected. In former dry seasons it was the practice to send stock south, where feed was generally plentiful; but the southern district was in the same fix as the north, consequently there was no outlet and absolutely no demand. Things were so bad that to save themselves to some extent, as well as to save the sheep from dying of starvation, thousands of the older sheep, and in many cases young sheep and even lambs, were sent to the boiling-down works. Sheep which in January, 1906, would have brought £1 4s. per head were sold in January, 1907, at as low as 2s. 6d. per head, and lambs which in the previous year would have realised 14s. or 15s. were sold at from 3s. to 4s. per head. The grain-crops were largely eaten off, but since the rain came both turnips and grass have revived wonderfully, and will now provide feed enough to carry stock through the winter." Barnego.— Established May, 1900. Area, 7,078 acres 2 roods 1 perch, there being twenty-three holdings over an area of 7,054 acres and 10 perches, at an annual rental of £1,408 175., including 19 acres 1 rood 5 perches under miscellaneous license at £1 per annum. Receipts, £1,264 95., making total to date £8,285 19s. 2d. ; rebates, £90 7s. lid., to seventeen tenants ; arrears, £262 Is. Bd., owing by five lessees, holding 2,249 acres. Total population, 65 ; houses, 18 ; sheep, 4,065 ; cattle, 277 ; horses, 80. Area in new grass, 990 acres ; in white crop, 757 acres ; in green crop, 646 acres; native grass, &c, 1,145 acres. Value of improvements, £8,891 15s. The Ranger's report is as follows : " The settlers on the lower or flat portion of this settlement are all milk-suppliers, a factory being within easy distance. They have had a very good year, as a dry season suits them much better than a very wet one. In quality and quantity the milk-supply has come up to the best average, and good prices have been maintained. The root-crops, which did not promise well during the early part of the season, came away very well after the middle of February, and from all appearances now the turnips are likely to be a very good crop. The settlers- on the hill portion of the settlement have also had a very fair year. They are all more or less sheep-farmers, and the mild early season was very favourable to lambing. High percentages have been obtained, and good prices received for wool. The oat-crops have not yielded well, but the roots, though very backward during the earlier part of the season, promise to do well for the remainder. Generally speaking, Barnego has made satisfactory progress during the year. The settlers have complied very well with the settlement conditions." Earnscleugh. —Established December, 1901. Area, 1,269 acres 3 roods 5 perches, there being thirteen holdings over 1,239 acres and 4 perches, at an annual rental of £173 10s. Bd., including three miscellaneous licenses over 17 acres 1 rood 4 perches at £3 7s. 2d. yearly. Receipts, £168 145., total to date £965 3s. Bd. ; rebates, £4 16s. Bd., to eight tenants; arrears, nil. Total population, 50; houses, 8; sheep, nil; cattle, 65; horses, 15; pigs, 12. Area in new grass, nil; in white crop, 2 acres; in native grass, &c, 103 acres. Value of improvements, £2,195 10s. The Ranger reports as follows : " Very steady progress has been made on this settlement during the year. The fruit-trees are doing very well so far, and each year sees an additional area under trees. Progress in fruitgrowing settlements does not appear so marked as in ordinary farming settlements, and it is only on very close inspection and comparison with the results of previous years that the actual advance made can be seen. Each selector erected his buildings during the first year or two, so that the number of buildings will not increase to any extent in the future. Any marked improvement, therefore, must be looked for in the increased number of trees planted and their favourable development. So far as they have gone, these settlers have done very well in the direction of planting. They are all work-ing-men, chiefly engaged in the dredging industry, at which they work for eight hours every day, devoting their spare time to their holdings. The grass on the various sections is looking very well, owing no doubt to irrigation, and generally speaking the present position is satisfactory and the prospects decidedly encouraging." Windsor Park. —Established May, 1902. Area, 3,821 acres 2 rood 16 perches ; holdings, 37, with a total area of 3,803 acres 3 roods 25 perches ; annual rental, £1,647 16s. lOd. Receipts, £1,587 65., total to date £7,882 Bs. lOd. ; rebates, £135 lis. 7d., to thirty-three tenants ; arrears, £22 ss. Bd., owing by two selectors with 175 acres. Total population, 83 ; houses, 23 ; sheep, 2,073 ; cattle, 331; horses, 113; pigs, 59. Area in new grass, 746 acres ; in white crop, 989 acres ; in green crop, 224 acres ; in native grass, jut., 199 acres. Value of improvements, £5,318. (See Ranger's remarks under Windsor Park No. 2.) Windsor Park No. 2.—Established October, 1902. Area, 2,179 acres 2 roods 17 perches ; holdings, 10, with an area of 2,177 acres 2 roods 11 perches ; annual rental, £875 16s. Bd. Receipts, £898 13s. 6d., total to date £3,608 12s. Bd. ; rebates, £80, to nine selectors ; arrears, £7 lis. 1 Id., owing by one tenant holding 30 acres. Total population, 40 ; houses, 7 ; sheep, 526 ; cattle, 166 ; horses, 38 ; pigs. 21. Area in new grass, 101 acres ; in white crop, 397 acres ; in green crop, 180 acres ; in native grass, &c, 307 acres. Value of improvements, £2,580. The Ranger reports, " The settlers on these adjoining settlements are doing fairly well, but for some reason they are not in as good a position as some on other settlements ; probably this is in a measure owing to the short period they have been in occupation. A number of them adopt dairying as their pursuit, which industry, as in the case of other settlements, has received a set back in consequence of the drought, from which it will take some time to recover. The necessity of having to sacrifice their herds, and the reduction of their monthly income from the creamer}' through shortage of milk-supply, have temporarily crippled the settlers' finances, and caused

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