c.—i

70

30. Punaroa Settlement (near Fairlie, Mackenzie County). —Established April, 1900. Area purchased, 7,029 acres 3 roods 5 perches, on which there are sixteen lease-in-perpetuity holders, and one small-grazing-run holder. There are seventeen dwellinghouses, occupied by sixty-six souls. During last season grain-crops were sown in 293 acres, root or green crops in 745 acres, and 4,031 acres were in cultivated grasses. The stock on the whole area included 7,544 sheep and 5,607 lambs, 133 head of cattle, 118 horses, and 36 pigs. The value of improvements required is £6,342 13s. 9d., and the value effected £9,772 2s. lOd. The tenants have put in excellent work in cleaning their lands, and are now reaping the advantage in heavier crops and more grass, as the land is of good quality and repays working. The homesteads and other improvements are well kept, and the lessees are prosperous and contented, and are complying satisfactorily yvith the conditions of occupation. 31. Lyndon No. I Settlement (near Waiau, Amuri County). —Established March,, 1901. Area purchased, 4,243 acres 3 roods 28 perches. Th ■, nine dwellinghouses, and thirty-nine souls on the settlement. The stock include 4,448 sheep, 37 cattle, 63 horses, and a few pigs ; and the area under cultivation during th'- past season has been 373 acres in grain-crops, and 416 acres in green or root crops, besides which 2,623 acres had bei n sown in artificial grasses. The value of improvements required is £5,093 135., and the value effected £8,161 12s. 4d. ; in one case the value of improvements effected is somewhat short of requirements, bht this deficiency will probably be made up during the ensuing year. The lambing was not si .tor;, as in previous years, an unexpected cold snap with snow having caught the bulk of the \ of their career. The holdings are of suitable size for profitable occupation, and the present condition of the settlement is satisfactory. 32. Kohika Settlement (near Otaio, Waimate County). —Established May, 1901, on a purchased area of 3,864 acres I moil It) perches', now occupied by seventeen holders. There are fifteen dwellinghouses, and a resident population of fifty-six s itils. The value of improvements required is £5,604 18s., and the value effected £6,478 Os. 9d. Ti In crop list season consisted of 561 acres iv grain and 540 acres in green and root crops, and 2,634 acres were in cultivi \ B. The stock numbered 4,086 sheep and 3,567 lambs, 77 cattle, 140 horses, and 33 pigs. 1 I the settlement is progressing satisfactorily ; the I keeping their homesteads in good order, and appear to he prosperous. Th,. crops ha prospects are favourable for winter' feed. In three cases the Improvi ill" amounts required for the sixth year, which recently expired, but th.. se defii ill probi bly be made good b. fore long. 33. Tarairalii Hamlet (Workmen's Homes, situated at Spreydon, v Suburb of Christchurch). — Established June, 1901. The area purchased was 3! s, which has been subdivided into twenty-four holdings ;on each of th ■ Uinghouse lias been ere. I there is a total population of ninety-six souls. The value of lmpro requiri d is r.720, and the value effected £5,883. Two of the lessees are not residing at present, hut in other respects the requirements have been satisfactorily fulfilled. The Ranger reports that "th f this hamlet is improving, ornamental hedges are taking the place of the old post-and-wire fencing, and the gardens and shrubs give it a homely look. Unfortunately the tomato-crop (a feature of the settlement) suffered a good deal from blight this paSt season, seriously affecting the returns. However, the settlement is on the whole in a satisfactory position, and the unimproved value of the land is advancing." 34. Raincliff Settlement (near Fairlie, Geraldine County).—Established June, 1901. The area purchased was 745 acres 2 roods ; 206 acres 3 roo ituted a State forest, and the balance is occupi holding, on which, three son in-crops have been grown on 75 acres, and 405 sown down in English grasses. The stock inoludi d 2 head of cattle and 10 horses. The value of improvements required is £522 3s. 3d., and value effected £571 Is. Id. 35. Puhuka Hamlet (Workmen's Hones at Washdyke, <!t :s■ t.. Tin., m). —Established July. 1901, on a purchased area of 39 acres 2 roods 7 perchi s. The number of hoi. , h possessing his own dwellinghouse, and there are thirty-five persons living in th lue of improvements required is £300, and the value effected £1,740 ss. lid. The re all complying satisfactorily and making good homes; it is a useful settlement and very conveniently situated for workmen's homes. 36. Kaimahi Settlement (situated at Papanui, a Suburb of Christchurch). —Established October, 1901. The area purchased was 100 acres 2 perch, and there are eleven holders, residing on allotments of from sto 10 acres each. ; re held by the local Roi d Bot r.l for a gravel-pit, and 10 acres, originally infested with Calilorniaii thistle, are occupied by the Agricultural Department for experimental purposes. The value of improi I is £404 16s. 9d., and the value effected £3,487 65., and there are forty-four persons residing in tl ate being satisfactorily fulfilled. The stock consists of 22 head of cattle, 9 horses, and 15 pigs. The small crops grown comprised —tomatoes, 2 acres; peas, 3 acres; cai : mangels, 3 acres; cabbage and cauliflowers, 5 acres ; potatoes, 10 acres ; oats, 13 acres ; and there are 11 acres in gardens and orchards. The crops were poor, owing to the dry season. 37. Kapuatohe Hamlet (Workmen's Homes at Belfast, about Six Miles from Christchurch). —Established October, 1901. Area purchased, 49 acr. s 3 roods 37 perches. El tions are residentially occupied, one is h< Id by the local Road 80, are uiis.-lecteii ; eleven dwellinghouses have been erected, in which t\ souls reside. The total value of improvements required is £336, and the value effected £1,520, all the tenants having complied with residential and improvement conditions. The stock owned by the holders consists of 10 cows, 1 horses, and 10 pigs ; but the laud is mostly used foi 38. Rapuwai Settlement (nei I P Pi h it, <!• ber, 1901. .Viva purchased, 2.217 aei slip. niia. which is i to five holdings, on which tweiitytwo persons reside, in five houses. During last season 227 acres were in grain-crops, 251 acres in root and green crops, and 1,607 acres were in cultivated grasses. The stock on the settlement consisted