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70

Arrears of Rent and Interest on the 31st March, 1907. Number. Area. Rent. Interest. Total. Under village-homestead regula- a. r. p. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. tions ... ... ... 59 1,050 332 190 4 2 79 13 7 269 17 9 Under other tenure ... ... 56 1,308 333 164 4 2 ... 164 4 2 Totals ... ... 115 2,359 325 £354 8 4 £79 13 7 £434 111 In the North Island 76 1,705 018 259 14 10 68 6 9 328 1 7 In the Middle Island ... ... 39 654 3 7 94 13 6 11 610 106 0 4 Totals ... ... 115 2,359 325 £354 8 4 £79 13 7 £434 111 Value of Improvements on the Land. £ s. d. Under village-homestead regulations ... ... ... ,198,697 0 0 Under other tenure ... ... ... ... ... 43,908 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... £242,605 0 0 In the North Island ... ... ... ... 142,651 0 0 In the Middle Island ... ... ... ... 99,954 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... £242,605 0 0 Number of Souls on the Land. Under village-homestead regulations ... ... ... ... 4,656 Under other tenure ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,179 Total ... 5,835 In the North Island ... ... ... ... ... 2,653 In the Middle Island ... ... ... ... ... 3,182 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,835 I think the financial results in connection with village-homestead settlements as disclosed in this report prove conclusively that the system is one to encourage and extend whenever land is available for the purpose. J. E. March. Superintendent of Village Extracts from Reports of Commissioners or Crown Lands on Village Settlements. AUCKLAND. The village settlements proper in this land district are practically limited to the settlements selected under " The Land Act, 1892 " —viz., Te Kuiti, Kinohaku, and Rangaroa Village Settlements. The first two are progressing satisfactorily, and notwithstanding that residence is not due on Kinohaku a number of selectors are residing. Rangaroa is comparatively new, and at present shows no sign of being a specially successful settlement. There are other settlements on the books under the heading " Village Settlements," but they are holdings selected under the provisions of " The Land Act, 1885," and so many of the selectors have converted their tenures to lease in. perpetuity and been treated as no longer village settlements that the original settlements are in some cases reduced to one section only. They have been reported on by the Rangers for the purposes of this report, but the ordinary statutory reports have all been made, and so far as residence and improvements are concerned the Department has no control in the matter; and in view of this fact, and the small number of selectors, it does not seem desirable to treat them as village settlements for purposes of comparison. The following reports on these settlements have been received from the Rangers : — Te Aroha Village Settlement. —There has been no perceptible change in this settlement since last report. The settlers have their homes in good order, but, having to depend on outside employment, they have only sufficient time to cultivate a small garden, and just enough grass to keep a cow. Like all other settlers in this district, they were sufferers by the recent flood. Te Kuiti Village Settlement. —This settlement adjoins Te Kuiti Township. Access is good, and there are nine selectors living on their holdings. Progress has been steady, and the improvements effected are greatly in excess of requirements. The success of the settlement is assured. ,