C.—l

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which gives an increase of £4,829 1s. 9d. on the preceding year, while the increase in the number of selectors in the district is thirty-three.

Lands opened for Sale or Selection. The area opened for sale or selection for the first time during the year was 3,653 acres, which included 117 aces on the optional system, all of which was selected; 472 acres for cash by auction, of which 463 acres were sold ; and burned-bush areas grassed by the Department which were offered on temporary lease, the greater portion of which has been taken up. The area opened during the year of lands which had been previously offered was 13,236 acres ; of this area 1.329 acres were under the optional system, of which 669 acres were selected; 477 acres of village-homestead lands were offered on renewable lease, of which 76 acres were selected. Two pastoral runs containing 9.851 acres were offered, one of 2.711 acres being purchased : the other is on the west coast of Stewart Island, and probably will remain unselected for some time. The operations in connection with the several tenures are summarised as follows :— Amongst the areas sold for cash was the greater part of the Township of Greenhills, on the Inver-cargill-Blufi Railway line, which had lain unused and unsought for a number of years, a considerable

Transactions during the Area held under Lease at, Slst Vriu. March, 1908. Gross Revenue Nature of Selections. ived during tin- Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash by auction ... 37 l,0Si 2 19 ... 1,178 2 7 Cash by application . ... 6 1,155 3 35 ... ... o31 2 9 Deferred payments ... 4 5,946 1 14 li>, 8 6 Perpetual lease ... ... •• 58 9,624 3 7 367 8 Perpetual lease made freehold 6 2,348 0 i ... 1,796 5 7 Occupation with right of pur 14 3,114 3 22 324 73,250 1 16 1,449 9 4 chase Occupation with right of pur- 1 168 1 26 ... ... 116 10 7 chase made freehold Lease in perpetuity ... 11 1,100 1211 345 101,998 2 10 2,050 6 , Exchange to lease in perpetuity 2 11 0 L6 ... ... ••• Occupation lease (Mining Die 1 31 2 28 42 1,201 3 12 109 b 5 tricts Land Occupation Art i Village settlements — Deferred payments made free- 1 10 8 6 ... ... 13 14 4 hold Perpetual lease ... 74 1,006 3 30 134 6 5 Perpetual lease made freehold 6 83 1 23 ... ... L98 11 3 Occupation with right of pur- ... ... 1 3 0 21 1 9 11 Renewable lease 9 76 1 29 9 76 1 29 Lease in perpetuity .12 251 3 15 305 4,781 114 888 18 8 Exchange to lease in per- 5 16 1 26 petuity Village - homestead special ... ... 46 523 3 34 127 4 6 settlement Improved-farm settlement ... 45 1.732 1 16 302 4 9 Small grazing-runs (National ... ... 19 64,436 0 13 764 10 0 Endowment) n „ , . Pastoral runs (ordinary) 11 147,584 0 0 65 702,188 1 0 3,952 1b 5 Pastoral runs (National Endow- ... ... 26 668,660 0 0 Miscdfaneousleases and licenses 69 3,304 1 32 387 32,958 0 11 1,455 19 9 Timber-cutting ... ... i 11,585,456s. ft. ... 4,028 12 7 Other miscellaneous revenue ... ... ... ■ ■■ ••• 53o 18 11 Totals ordinary Crown 187 163,113 130 1,753 1,671,338 130 19,670 7 6 lands Land for settlements — Lease in perpetuity LO 2,757 3 18 234 48,712 0 36 10,127 2 11 Small grazing-runs- 2 2,808 1 0 210 12 4 Miscellaneous 1 0 2 2 11 1,166 3 39 639 10 7 163,113 1 30 1,753 1,671,338 48,712 2,808 1,166 1 30 0 36 1 0 % 39 19,670 7 6 10,127 2 11 210 12 4 639 10 7 2,757 6 2 2 234 2 11 — j i 10,977 5 10 Totals land for settle- ; 11 2,758 1 20 247 52,687 0 35 10,977 5 10 ments Endowments ... 1 310 1 5 69 131,332 3 37 1,425 15 4 2,75s 1 20 247 52,687 0 35 310 1 5 69 131,332 3 37 1,425 15 4 Gross totals ... 199 166,482 0 15 2,069 1,855,358 2 22 32,073 8 8 166,482 0 15 2,069 1,855,358 2 22 32,073 8 8