76

C—l

grass, nil; in white crop, 174 acres ; green crop, 19 acres ; native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £771 14s. 9d. The Ranger reports that this settlement suffered rather severely during the drought. The improvements effected are of a substantial character. The soil is good, and in ordinary seasons the settlers do very well. Greenfield. —Established April, 1905. Area, 22,071 acres, there being forty-one holdings, with a total area of 21,785 acres, at £4,244 lis. Bd. per annum, including one miscellaneous license, over 3 acres, at £1 yearly, and one small-grazing-run lease, over 1,205 acres, at £173 3s. 2d. yearly. There are now forty houses in the settlement, with a population of 132 souls. Sheep number 15,963 ; cattle, 391 ; horses, 237 ; pigs, 54. Area in new grass, 1,566 acres; white crop, 1,716 acres; green crop, 1,941 acres; native grass, &c, 3,885 acres. Value of improvements effected, £11,350 Bs. 6d. With regard to this settlement the Ranger reports as follows : " This settlement is in a very thriving condition. The drought which was felt so seriously by the settlers of north Otago did not appear to affect Greenfield to the same extent. The crops generally were very good, and the yields iv most cases were considered satisfactory. Just when the harvest was secured a splendid rain set in all over the district, the value of which can scarcely be estimated. It established the turnip-crop and brought away the stubble feed, and so secured an abundance of feed for the stock during winter. The improvements effected are very substantial. The settlers appear to be well satisfied, and I think the prospects of the Greenfield Settlenu nt are very bright." Steward. —Established April, 1906. Area, 21,936 acres. There are forty-seven holdings, covering an aggregate area of 21,665 acres, at an annual relital of £4,954 10s. 6d., small grazingruns, over 5,861 acres, at £981 9s. 2d. per annum. There are already forty-one houses on the land, with a total population of 149 souk?. Sheep number 11,698 ; cattle, 313 ; horses, 166 ; pigs, 21. Area in new grass, 680 acres ; in white crop, 2,327 acres ; green crop, 1,998 acres; native grass, &c, 6,960 acres. Value of improvements effected, £12,807 ss. 3d. The Ranger reports as follows: " This settlement, in my opinion, will owe its success to the irrigation-race brought on to the estate. The settlers suffered a good deal the first year through drought and the non-completion of the race, which having been finished, proved a great boon to the settlers during the last dry season. The stock on this settlement had an ample supply of good water, while on other settlements in the same district they were dying for the want of it. The crops this year have been good, and when the branch races are finished the success of the settlement should be assured." Plunket (Corriedale). —Established February, 1907. Area, 6,136 acres. Eighteen holdings, over 6,126 acres, at £2,165 6s. 6d. yearly. Houses, 14 ; population, 51. Sheep, 3,960 ; cattle, 194 ; horses, 52 ; pigs, 28. Area in new grass, 76 acres ; in white crop, 578 acres ; green crop, 282 acres ; in native grass, &c, 2,810 acres. Value of improvements effected, £3,063 Is. The Ranger reports that, notwithstanding the late drought, good progress has been made on this settlement. Already, with one exception, all the settlers are residing, and that one will be resident shortly. Wool-growing and raising fat lambs are the chief occupations of the larger holders, while the smaller holders will become milksuppliers to the creamery as soon as they get their land into new grass. Substantial improvements have been effected, and general satisfaction appears to pervade the settlement. Totara. —Established March, 1907. Area, 3,161 acres. Holdings, 27, with at an annual rental of £2,603 16s. Houses, 25; population, 61. Sheep, 990; 170 ; horses, 81 ; pigs, 38. Area in new grass, 343 acres; in white crop, 1,438 acres; green crop, 281 acres; native grass &c, nil. Value of improvements, £2,572 Is. The Ranger reports, " This new settlement is in a thriving condition. • In most cases the improvements, consisting of buildings and fencing, are very substantial. It is matter for regret that a number of the sections are overrun with Californian thistle, which is a great drawback to begin with. The settlers affected have, however, done a good deal of work in coping with the evil, and are evidently prepared to do their best. Dairying will be one of the chief features of operation on this settlement." Kurow. —Established May, 1907. Area, 963 acres, the area in occupation being 950 acres, in thirteen holdings, at £347 6s. 6d. yearly. Houses, 12; population, 19. Sheep, 150; cattle, 10; horses, 4 ; pigs, 2. Area in new grass, 13 acres ; in white crop, 180 acres ; [green crop, 5 acres ; native grass, &c, nil. Value of improvements, £1,202 ss. The Ranger states that " this small settlement will, without doubt, prove a success. It is situated within one mile of Kurow Township. The land on the flat is of first-class quality, while that on the hill is good grazing-land. The settlers are nearly all residing, and the buildings and fencing are of a substantial character. The crops harvested this year were very good, and have given a favourable start to the settlers, who appear well satisfied with their prospects." Airedale. —Established June, 1907. Area, 2,794 acres, taken up by twelve selectors, whose areas aggregate 2,791 acres, at £1,466 2s. 2d. yearly, including one miscellaneous license over 59 acres at £17 17s. yearly. Already this settlement is making good progress, there being eleven houses, with a population of twenty-eight souls : sheep, 1,582 ; cattle, 80 ; horses, 26 ; pigs, 10. Area in new grass, 60 acres ; in white crop, 241 acres ; in green crop, 71 acres ; in native grass, &c, 680 acres. Value of improvements, £1,441 10s. The Ranger reports as follows : " The settlers have been hard at work since they went into occupation, building and fencing having taken up a good deal of time, and the improvements being of a very substantial character. All the settlers are now residing on the land. They appear to be of the right class, and I think in average seasons will do well." Otekaike. —Established February, 1908, the freehold area acquired being 17,495 acres, to which has been added an area of 33,033 acres of pastoral Crown land, making the aggregate area of the settlement 50,529 acres. There are at present fifty-four holdings under renewable lease and three miscellaneous licenses, the aggregate area occupied being 43,391 acres, at a yearly rental of £4,732 95.; while there is an unlet area of 6,758 acres, of a yearly value of £348 Bs. 4d. This latter area could have been leased but for the Court proceedings pending in connection with the two preference applications