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generally good, the yields comparing favourably with those of past years. The percentage of lambs has been high, and good prices have been obtained for freezers. Turnips have come away well since the late rains, and the prospects for winter feed are encouraging. The settlers are in a sound position, and are well satisfied." Puketapu. —Established March, 1896. Area, 509 acres. Eleven holdings, over 496 acres, at £189 os. 10d., per annum. Houses, 10; population, 34. Sheep, 50; cattle, 118; horses, 27; pigs, 34. Area in new grass, 97 acres ; in white crop, 100 acres ; green crop, 41 acres ; native grasses, &c, 94 acres. Value of improvements effected, £1,585 Bs. 6d. The Ranger states that this small settlement continues in a satisfactory position. The settlers complain somewhat of the small size of the holdings, but the soil is good and the settlement is well situated close to Palmerston and the dairy factory. This compensates for the smallness of the sections. The crops have been good : one crop of oats threshed out at the rate of 100 bushels per acre. The settlers are satisfied with their prospects. Ardgouan. — Established May, 1896. Area, 4,268 acres. Holdings, 66, over 4,170 acres, at £1,897 ss. 4d. yearly, inclusive of two miscellaneous licenses, over 11 acres, at £5 lis. 6d. per annum. Houses, 50; population, 219. Sheep, 1,260; cattle, 890; horses, 182; pigs, 175. Area in newgrass, nil; in white crop, 734 acres ; green crop, 307 acres ; native grass, &c, 220 acres. Value of improvements effected, £14,079. The Ranger reports, " This is another of the earliest-established settlements in North Otago, which from the first has been continuously prosperous, the dairy industry, with the creamery in the centre of the settlement, being one the chief factors that have contributed to its prosperity." Makareao and Makareao Extension. —Established in June, 1896, and April, 1897, respectively. Total area, 4,973 acres, there being in all thirty-four holdings, with an aggregate area of 4,862 acres, at an annual rental of £721 35., including three miscellaneous licenses and lease of limestone quarry over 208 acres, at a yearly rental of £61 ss. 6d. ; also three small grazing-runs, over 3,667 acres, at £401 18s. lOd. per annum. Houses, 23; population, 84. Sheep, 3,010; cattle, 255 ; horses, 75; pigs, 41. Area in new grass, 123 acres; in white crop, 223 acres; green crop, 276 acres; native grass, &c, 2,962 acres. Value of improvements effected, £6,241 lis. 9d. The lessee of the limestone quarry and works is making every effort to insure success, and there are reasonable hopes that he will not be disappointed. The Ranger reports as follows: " This settlement is making steady progress in every way. The larger holdings carry a good many sheep. Wool and fat lambs are the principal sources of income, while the dairy industry is accountable for much of the present prosperity of the occupiers of the smaller holdings." Momona. —Established May, 1897. Area, 224 acres 1 rood 16 perches. Holdings, 14, with an area of 219 acres 1 rood 16 perches, at £185 Is. 2d. per annum. Houses, 13 ; population, 51. Sheep, nil; cattle, 128 ; horses, 24 ; pigs, 41. Area in new grass, 24 acres ;in white crop, 31J acres ; green crop, 32J acres ; native grass, &c, 11 acres. Value of improvements effected, £2,297. The Ranger's report is as follows : " Momona has had an excellent year. The dryness and heat of the past season gave the settlers an abundance of grass, and, being all milk-suppliers, they obtained excellent returns. The settlement has a dairy practically on the ground, and it has good roads. The land is of the very finest quality, and the settlers generally are industrious and persevering. Their greatest danger is a wet season, because, owing to the level nature of the surrounding country, there is no fall to take away the surface water. Until some comprehensive drainage scheme is adopted, this estate and the large area of adjoining land will always be subject to flooding, which in the case of dairy farms does an incalculable amount of damage. The Momona settlers have made good progress, and under the circumstances prevailing during the past season their prospects are good. Tokarahi. —Establish M v. 1897. Area 11,260 acres there being seventy-nine holdings, with an aggregate area of 10,978 acres, at an annual rental of £4,068 Bs. 6r1., including twenty-seven miscellaneous licenses, over an area of 194 acres, at £16 14s. lOd. per annum. Houses, 46 ; population, 194. Sheep, 5,700 ; cattle, 548 ; horses, 284 ; pigs, 70. Area in new grass, 444 acres ; in white crop, 2,727 acres ; in green crop, 927 acres ; in native grass, &c, 2,085 acres. Value of improvements effected, £20,864 6s. lOd. The following is the Ranger's report: " This settlement is also progressing very steadily. The improvements made are of a solid and substantial kind. The settlers on the larger sections go in for wool-growing and raising fat lambs, while the smaller holders patronise the dairy factory. The latter industry has proved a great boon to the small man —in fact, if it were not for the dairy factory he would have a hard time. There are many things which make for the success of this settlement. It is well situated as regards the railway, and is splendidly roaded, well watered, and the soil is of first-class quality. The settlers are doing well and are satisfied with their prospects." Janefield. —Established September, 1899. Area, 147 acres and 2 perches. There are twenty-one holdings, covering 143 acres 2 roods 37 perches, at £258 6s. 2d., per annum, inclusive of one miscellaneous license, over 10 acres, at £35 13s. 2d. per annum. Houses, 19 ; population, 83. Sheep, nil ; cattle, 48 ; horses, 29 ; pigs, 21. Area in new grass, 8 acres ; in white crop, 15 acres ; green crop, 21£ acres ; native grass, &c, 18 acres. Value of improvements effected, £3,691. The Ranger reports as follows : " Janefield is chiefly occupied by persons working in and about Mosgiel. Good progress has been made during the past season. Formerly the land was overrun with weeds of all kinds, but a much better state of things is now being established. There are quite a number of comfortable homes on the settlement, and the lease-conditions have been well complied with. The settlers have no grievances and their prospects are good. No grain is grown except an acre or so for settlers' own use, but root-crops and vegetables for the Dunedin market are largely produced. Owing to the drought of last summer these crops have not been up to the usual standard, but in ordinary years Janefield settlers can do very well." Elderslie. —Established March, 1900. Area, 11,619 acres, there being thirty-four holdings, with a total area of 11,507 acres, at an annual rental of £4,126 19s. 4d., inclusive of eight miscellaneous