■o.—l.

Run-classification. Special notice should be taken of the work under this heading. During the year upwards of a million and a quarter acres had to be inspected and dealt with, either by auction as pastoral runs or reserved for small grazing-runs or closer settlement. All the members of the Board were at various times engaged with me at this, and for the extensive area expeditious and good work was accomplished. Approximately half the area classified was dealt with under the pastorallicense system, and when offered at auction sold at satisfactory rentals; the remaining half is now under survey, and if a sufficient number of surveyors are available should be offered early in the ensuing year. The following return will be of interest, as showing how the classification works out: —

Renewable Leases. The area held under this system has been increased during the year by the selection of 3,003 acres, at an annual rental of £67 10s. Bd., all of which comes under the provisions of the National Endowment Act. The Meadowbank and Kauroo Hill Settlements, acquired under the Land for Settlements Act, were opened for selection under this tenure. The total number of selectors of renewable leases Settlement Lands on the books is 106, holding 76,146 acres, at a total annual rental of £13,487 18s. 4d. National Endowment Lands. The following table shows the areas of land at present held under the National Endowment clauses of " The Land Act, 1908." The aggregate area brought under the provisions of this part of the Act in this district is 2,217,030 acres 2 roods 35 perches : —

, j . 9 Inspections and Ranger's Reports. The value of the improvements effected by selectors, as shown by the reports of the Crown Lands Rangers, is still largely in excess of the amount required under the conditions on which the lands are held. A reference to the tables will show that at the date of the last inspections the excess over actual requirements in respect to the holdings inspected amounted to no less a sum than £120,114, which must be regarded as eminently satisfactory. As regards the progress of settlement generally, it is pleasing to be able to state that on the whole the year's operations have been of a favourable and successfulcharacter.

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Name or Number of Run. Area for Pastoral Lease. Area for Settlement. Total Present Area. Kawarau Eun 354 Cowan's Eun Morven Hills Linburn .. .. Ida Valley .. .. Matakanui Euns 331 and 331a 204e .. Euns 204b, d, f, 205h, 306, 171d, c, g, 121 a, and k 96, 97, 98 95 and 430a Table Hill sections 5 of C .. 26 and 27 Acres. 66,000 29,130 21,600 90,000 16,000 Acres. 143,420 15,550 12,364 238,000 65,200 72,296 53,985 13,570 Acres. 209,420 44,680 33,964 328,000 81,200 72,296 53,985 45,480 2,382 46,884 31,910 2,382 46,884 132,600 49,200 375 2,000 58,060 10,400 66,600 24,600 132,800 49,200 375 2,000 58,060 10,400 66,600 24,600 8 12, 12a, and 18 .. 433 .. .. 647,741 614,385 1,262,126

No. Area. Annual Rental. )rdinary renewable lease tillage-homestead renewable lease Small grazing-runs 'astoral runs 16 5 210 54 3,098 54 528,443 1,682,422 R. P. 0 25 0 36 3 23 0 18 £ s. d. 70 2 0 2 14 0 10,204 10 6 13,241 19 6 Totals 285 2,214,018 1 22 23,519 6 0