31

C—l

A season of drought, unprecedented for fifteen \ ears, iwleiidmg from -November to March last I detrimental to many settlers in northern Nelson. Turnip, rape, and potato crops, and also in a lesser degree hops, suffered ; hut oats, wheat, nd barley crops were equal to previous years. The bush-fires, which occurred during the drought, and to which I specially refer in another paragraph, swept a large area, the probable outcome of which will be the grassing of the burnt country, and consequently an increased carrying-capacity for siock. In view of The establishing of freezingworks in Nelson at an early date (a company has been formed and capital subscribed)'several farmers have already commenced to bring waste lands into cultivation. There is no doubt but that freezingworks successfully established will mean the regeneration of .Nelson from a pastoral point of view. The Crows lessees in this district are observing the term-, and conditions of their leases in as satisfactory a manner as can reasonably be expected in bush-clad country. Bush setilement requires nursing in its early stages, it is inevitable that a settler here and there shall fail in his efforts to succeed on land, just as a man will fail in any oilier walk of life. Where, however, the settler is possessed of energy, perseverance, and industry, and desires to establish himself on the land, the Board treats him gonerously, affording him all the assistance permissible by law —and the Land Act is read liberally in this regard. Writing with a personal knowledge of most of the backblocks settlers in this district, and having witnessed their submission to the hardships associated with pioi r .settlement, I have nothing but admiration for their qualities. A. the same time the Government ol the Dominion by expenditure on roads, extension of telegraphs, telephones, postal and* educational facilities, is doing its share in the work of creating and furthering settlement, and the settler recognises this. The following t dm!,:. - hows the land transactions during the year, the area under lease at the 31st March, 1908. and the revenue received during the past year : —

Tenure Transactions during thp Area under Lease at 31st Vnar. March, 1° Revenue received during the Year. ie Arcu. under Lease at 31st March, l: Number. Number. Area. Ordinary ( Wown Lands. Cash Deferred payment ... Deferred pavme.nt m hold a. K. P. a. K. r. £ s. d. 28 4,975 0 9 ... L,856 13 8 24 2,919 (I 27 394 I Q 5,948 0 i .\ Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Occupation with right of pur-i-ii;> freehold Lease in perpetuity ... petuity made freehold Lease in perpetuity I .ami for settlements Mining districts land occu- ; pation lease Small grazing-runs Small grazing-runs— Land for settlements Pastoral runs Pastoral licenses within mining disti: Miscellaneous leases and licenses, including coal and timber royalties Other sources — Renewable lease 11 L.922 2 13 19 13 0 9,268 3 11 206 45,45] 3 2 676 10 2 6 L.510 3 39 ... 514 10 5 63 20,214 2 21 881 L08.625 0 8 1,151 17 0 1 11 2 0 ... ... 1,032 0 (i 14 4,204 0 9 13 4,099 0 9 681 9 8 s 40 2,085 I 32 51 17 I ■J. 1,084 8 18 8 I d.757 3 Is 8g 16 5 1 1,947 0 i» I 1,947 0 0 24 8 8 2 165,829 i) o 817 10 0 is 4,215 i) 30 in 10 0 30 106 14 5 Lfifl 21,217 8 7 710 185,«8? 1 36 4,816 11 9 Hli 11 1 Totals 79,611 135 1,437 542,553 2 10 11,851 (ill Enduiriucilt Luiuls. Ijease in perpetuity Village - homestead 8] settlenn Mining districts land-QCC tion lease Miscellaneous IV R lyalty on coal and lirnl 4 DO l.'» ll 21) 100 3 7 1-14 9 7 276 3 1 l 1,551 2 11 111 12 J IH i) 'i 8,920 0 in 1,266 17 6 .. ' ... ... ... is 5 itals 0 39 I .('lit 559,510 8 5 29,070 3 2