49

C—l

OTAGO. Land Transactions. The Following table shows in n concise form the transactions thai have taken place during tinvear, and tin- total revenue received from all sources within the period :

Number of New Selectors and Area taken up, from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908, and Total Amount of Revenue received during the Year.

The results of the year as regards revenue have been highly satisfactory, the gross estimate having been exceeded by the sum of £11,416. This large excess, however, is to be accounted for partly by the fact that a sum of upwards of £4,000 was included in the year's receipts on account of the valuation for improvements on the Blackstone Hill and Home Hills Runs, and also by the fact that under the Land Laws Amendment Act of last session rents for the broken period between the date of selection and the ordinary half-yearly-rent period in the case of land for settlements had to be collected at the date of disposal. But, apart from these facts, there is a substantial surplus of receipts over the estimated amount, sufficient to indicate that the year's transactions in respect of both ordinary Crown lands and land for settlements have been of a satisfactory nature, there being an excess of revenue under each head. For a time—as was somewhat the case the previous year—the early part of the season was characterized by extremely dry weather, which in some parts threatened serious loss to the settlers ; but a general break-up of the drought having occurred at an opportune date, the situation was saved, so that the general outcome of the year's operations was favourable. Settlement of Ordinary Crown Lands. Transactions under this head continue to be comparatively few, as the available area of ordinary Crown lands for selection on settlement conditions becomes gradually less. During the year there was opened under various tenures a total area of 253.212 acres, of which 37,354 acres were under the Land

7—C. 1,

Nature and Tenure of Lands 'elected. Number of Selectors. Area selected. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. Town lands sold for cash Suburban lands sold for cash Rural lands sold for cash Perpetual leases made freehold Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Deferred-payment instalments Perpetual leases ... ... .?. Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity ... Renewable lease Agricultural lease ... Village settlement— Deferred payment Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase ... Lease in perpetuity Renewable lease ... 11 5 22 14 40 1 3 I 4 A. B. P. 4 0 21 6 1 0 599 1 IH £ s. d. 1 13 0 0 37 0 0 885 2 3 2,759 0 (I 51 0 0 432 3 0 989 14 8 1,228 5 3 5,282 9 3 1 15 8 27 3 6 4,174 0 17 12,419 3 32 118 3 0 88 3 32 49 3 31 2(1 3 21 3 2 8 31 11 9 1 2 6 142 14 5 1 7 7 (R. 82 IH 11 11. 35 3 0 Village-homestead special settlements... Special-settlement associations— Lease in perpetuity Occupation leases, Mining Districts Land Occupation Act Small grazing-runs ... Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses Miscellaneous Land for Settlements Acts — Cash Lease in perpetuity Renewable lease ... Renewable lease (village) ... Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases, &c. ... Endowments SO 44 14 107 2 31 63 "k 938 1 12 180,589 3 24 262,781 3 23 26,504 2 3 3 0 0 5,561 1 29 46,268 2 21 108 12 1 437 7 7 15,428 18 10 26,626 5 8 2,170 12 6 5,522 16 (i 30 15 0 30,691 13 10 4,286 17 10 312 4 0 1,254 8 5 121 13 0 H61 11 9 5,530 8 1) 1,337 2 13 Totals 400 400 |541,471 2 20 105,489 0 2