o.—l.

Inspection by Crown Lands Rangers. The answer to the question as to whether the improvement-conditions of all classes of settlement are being fulfilled lies in the reports of the Crown Lands Rangers. It is true that it is often stated that these reports give an exaggerated value to such improvements, and that they should be heavily discounted. lam glad to say that close inquiry does not substantiate this accusation, but, on the other hand, goes to show that our Crown Lands Rangers are singularly accurate in their estimates of such values. Throughout the Dominion the Crown Rangers number twenty-nine, and their work is faithfully done. The subjoined Table C gives the results of the inspections for the past year.

Table C. — Return of Number of Inspections made by the Rangers for the Year ended 31st March, 1909.

Note.—The above figures do not include miscellaneous inspections where improvement and other conditions were not involved. The Forest-fires of Last Year. In last year's report a table was given on page 7 showing the amount of grass-seed granted to 714 settlers, and its value. Below I give particulars of additional assistance rendered, which was not brought to account in the previous year's return. I have also shown the amount of advances repaid up to the 31st March, 1909. Value of additional grass-seed supplied to settlers .. .. .. 1,539 Value of seed sown on Crown lands .. .. .. .. .. 1,851 Amount repaid by settlers up to the 31st March, 1909 .. .. .. 3,179 Revenue. The total amount received as revenue from all sources amounts to £696,375, or £37,581 more than last year, and has exceeded the estimated revenue for this year by £32,713, a most gratifying result. The territorial revenue (which this year excludes all lands within the national endowment schedules, and also all lands selected during the year under renewable lease) amounted to £224,526, whilst non-terri-torial (inclusive of national endowment lands) realised £471,849. Table D, below, gives the details :

Table D. — Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1909.

It will be noticed that the revenues received from the Auckland and Otago Districts are almost equal. lam glad to say that the estimated amount to be received from national endowment—viz., £73,547 —was more than realised, the actual receipts being £76,510.

4

Value of It tprovements. Numbi sr of Def; tu Iters. District. Number of Properties visited. Area. Required. Actually made. is! J» IN 'I £ *r"3 a 8 .5 " fr 01 O "o g 2. oi Is >r I £ S c H Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington 'Nelsonjj*:.. Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 1,416 488 284 1,297 492 504 440 1,699 981 378 A. E. P. 483,221 0 0 305,105 0 7 107,658 1 27 236,900 3 6 195,615 0 0 253,841 0 0 65,850 0 0 386,088 1 20 446,111 0 0 83,328 0 35 £ s. d. 121,867 0 0 136,948 13 5 29,395 0 0 77,537 1 8 23,688 0 0 91,310 0 0 23,618 15 0 281,918 2 2 123,680 0 5 42,073 13 3 £ s. d. 325,309 0 0 530,847 14 8 74,509 0 0 241,828 1 1 44,671 0 0 211,841 0 0 66,522 10 0 509,378 3 7 243,794 11 4 97,069 3 6 97 31 18 12 111 11 2 64 57 2 179 77 22 55 29 57 40 16 12 5 119 4 11 10 8 3 7 3 1 395 115 44 70 151 79 50 83 69 10 3 Totals 7,979 2,563,718 3 15 952,036 5 11 2,345,770 4 2 405 492 158 11 1,066

District. Territorial Revenue. Non-territorial Revenue. Total Revenue. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. £ 50,233 22,925 12,077 31,660 8,298 9,577 2,720 29,079 46,107 11,850 £ 74,243 55,028 13,877 55,940 25,123 24,914 12,488 112,066 77,979 20,191 £ 124,476 77,953 25,954 87,600 33,421 34,491 15,208 141,145 124,086 32,041 Totals 224,526 471,849 696,375