63

C.—l

Hikawera Settlement. —The area purchased by the Crown was 2,615 acres 2 roods 33 perches. Five sections, aggregating 2,605 acres, are under occupation and the number of persons on the settlement is nine. 1,725 acres are laid down in new grass, and 28 acres are in native grass, orchards, &c. The improvements are valued at £1,388. The stock consists of 2,665 sheep, 265 cattle, and 11 horses. The settlers use their holdings wholly for pastoral purposes. A bad season has been experienced on account of the drought during the summer months, but otherwise the settlement is in a prosperous condition, and will doubtless prove a successful one. Mahupuku Settlement. —An area of 7,064 acres 2 roods 25 perches was purchased by the Crown, of which area 7,027 acres have been selected by ten selectors, the total population being sixteen souls. 4,579 acres are laid down in new grass, 40 acres in white crops, 10 acres in green crops, and 202 acres are in native grass, orchards, &c. Improvements to the value of £3,357 have been effected. The stock consists of 5,500 sheep, 545 cattle, 29 horses, and 12 pigs. The selectors use their holdings for pastoral purposes, and are making every effort to make a success of the settlement. Dyer Settlement. — The area purchased was 16,657 acres. Thirty-five sections, aggregating 16,439 acres, have been selected, the total population of the settlement being 117 souls. 15,742 acres are in new grass, 229 acres in white crops, 269 acres in green crops, and 208 acres in native grasses, orchards, &c. The whole of the improvements are valued at £10,647. The stock consists of 13,463 sheep, 2,627 cattle, 130 horses, and 180 pigs. The land is used principally for pastoral purposes, and the settlers seem well satisfied with their selections and appear to be prospering. When the selectors get thoroughly established on their holdings, this settlement ought to prove a most successful one John Strauohon, Commissioner of Crown Lands. NELSON. Wangapeka Settlement. —This settlement is situated 44£ miles from the City of Nelson, of which distance 42 miles is by railway to Tadmor and 2| miles by road. It is the only settlement under the Land for Settlements Act in Nelson District. It was established on the 26th June, 1907. The area offered for selection was 6,151 acres, subdivided into fifteen farms and one small grazing-run. The whole of the settlement is taken up excepting one small area of 105 acres which was surrendered recently. There are fourteen tenants, twelve of whom are residing, and thirteen have complied with the improvement conditions of their leases. The value of the improvements required by law is £451 12s. 3d.; the value of the improvements effected is £2,129 3s. 6d. The total population of the settlement is fortyone. A school has been established, the attendance of children thereat being eighteen. The livestock consists of 3,145 sheep, 56 cattle, 29 horses, and 2 pigs. Wangapeka Settlement contains both agricultural and pastoral land. At present the settlers are principally engaged in pastoral farming. The average percentage of lambs was 98. These lambs brought the highest price in Nelson District as " freezers." ' I have no doubt but that this settlement will be successful. The quality of the land, its locality relative to the Port of Nelson, and the character of the settlers thereon augur well for its future. Notwithstanding an unfavourable season prejudicial to all kinds of crops, the settlers are satisfied with their prospects. F. W. Flanagan, Commissioner of Crown Lands. MARLBOROUGH. Blind River Settlement. —Situated on the stream of that name, which flows into Cook Strait south of the Awatere River. Area purchased, 5,507 acres. Opened for selection in 1895, cut up into twentynine sections of various areas up to 320 acres. Was taken up by nineteen selectors ; this number has now been reduced by grouping into fourteen holdings ; only ten tenants are permanently residing on their sections, three others with near relations on the estate, and one resides occasionally ; the total number of persons residing is forty-four, living in twelve houses. They run the following stock : Sheep, 4,122 ; cattle, 18 ; horses, 57 ; pigs, 4. The area under white crops is 546 acres, green crops 289 acres ; land in cultivated grass, 1,742 acres ; and in native and surface-sown grass, plantations, gardens, &c, 1,930 acres. The settlement continues to improve, and the early-sown crops on the damper ground have done fairly well, but the recent drought has seriously affected the pastoral interest. The railway is now almost completed to the estate, which will derive a considerable advantage from it. Omaka Settlement. —Situated on the east bank of the river of that name, about eight miles southwest of Blenheim. The area purchased in 1896 was 3,898 acres, now held in thirteen holdings by thirteen holders, seven of whom are resident and the others reside on adjoining land with near relatives. The estate is generally good agricultural and pastoral land ; there are forty-nine persons living in ten houses on the estate. Stock, 3,660 sheep, 40 cattle, 47 horses, and 7 pigs. Six hundred and seventy-three acres of white and 210 acres of green crops ; 2,302 acres of land laid down in grass ; and 713 acres of native grass, plantations, gardens, &c. This settlement is doing fairly well, but, in common with the rest of Marlborough, has suffered a good deal by the drought. Puhipuhi Settlement. —This is a small' area of 320 acres of fairly good land, purchased in 1897 ; being two small sections of freehold land situated in the midst of a large area of Crown lands. The improvements are probably worth about £250, but, like the stock it is impossible to closely estimate them as the settlement is worked with larger blocks of Crown lands held by the Bame owners.