VI

0.-1

Crown Land remaining for Future Disposal. The area of Crown land suitable for settlement remaining for future disposal at the 31st March, 1912, was approximately 4,272,735 acres. This does not include an area of 1,242,473 acres open for selection in the Land Guide. The total area available is therefore 5,515,208 acres, and this, at the same rate of settlement, will last only a few more years. The greater portion of this area must be classified as second- and third-class land ; that which can be considered as first class will not exceed a quarter of a million acres. Advantage is also taken of subdividing, wherever possible, pastoral country upon the termination of the current leases; but, as this process has now been in operation for some years, it is not considered that there arc many more of the large runs that can be profitably dealt with in this manner. National-endowment Area. The total area now within the national endowment, in terms of section 258 of the Land Act. 1908, is 8,343,700 acres. This leaves a balance of 656,300 acres still to he provided before the statutory limit of 9,000,000 acres is reached. An area of 6,287,533 acres has been leased, bringing in an annual rental of £88,451. Improved-farm Settlement Lands. In Appendix I, the Commissioners of Crown Lands describe the progress that has been made by the settlers upon these lands. The following table gives a summary of the tenants in each district, and the area occupied : — T ,„. , . . Number of Land District. Selectors Area hel(1 - - ' I A. E. P. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. j 120 16.828 032 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 16 1 ,825 120 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. 364 51.147 2 7 Wellington .. .. .. .. 281 36,422 0 38 Southland .. .. .. .. .. 41 4,273 2 8 Totals .. .. .. .. 822 110,496 3 25 Inspections by Crown Lands Rangers. The Rangers have made 9,777 inspections during the year. These are necessary to see that compliance with conditions of leases are observed. The area of holdings inspected was 4,140.922 acres, and the Rangers report that the value of the improvements effected is greater to the extent of nearly £2,000,000 than is demanded by the Act. It must be remembered that bona fide settlers find it advantageous to improve their lands beyond the minimum imposed by the Act. There are some defaulters, both as regards residence conditions and for insufficient improvements, and their cases are brought before the Land Board for consideration. The following table gives particulars relative to each land district:—

Table E.—Return showing Number of Inspections made by the Rangers for the Year ended 31st March, 1912.

Value ol Improvements. Number of Defaulters. District. Number of Properties visited, Area, Required. Actuallj made. 44 I a «> x .8 >s oa-3 a oi g« S r4 ■j.- ra'2 4 a o s £ . 5 03 o«4S OT3 O'OrH fc rM H 4- * £ Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson . . Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 1,365 943 358 1,697 580 492 484 2,027 1,290 541 A. K. P. £ s. d. £ s. d. 424,363 0 0 187,018 0 0 417,358 0 0 411,024 0 0 261,652 0 0 758,728 1 4 183,195 2 20 85,907 0 0 179,289 17 6 396,531 0 0 109,841 0 0 393,206 0 0 178,008 1 17 43.419 n « 77,153 7 6 2117,522 O 28 106,685 11 7 240,419 15 8 51,822 3 15 ! 20,890 10 1 83,184 0 0 1,429,232 0 0 434,487 7 2 801,223 16 7 764,382 0 3 ; 241,703 17 7 404,445 15 8 94,841 1 26 i 75,299 2 9 133,426 14 3 76 28 23 50 30 3 34 83 105 28 174 81 28 52 57 25 21 20 62 13 99 2 4 37 3 3 8 9 | .. 349 1 110 53 106 124 31 58 33 136 1 75 M 34 1,192 Totals 9,777 4,140,922 1 29 1,566,903 18 10 3,488,435 8 6 460 533 165