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" Thank.- to the home-separator system, the dairy industry baa Ween considerably extended in the district, with the result that there will be a considerable increase in the exports of butter for the season. The quantity of wool sent out also shows a very large increase on last year. " New schools have been opened ai Whenuakura and Waitaanga, and the telephone system extended from Mangaroa .is Ear us Mr. Barnett's residence on the Waitewhenua Road. , ' The Ranger for the central and southern portion 'if tin . Land District reports as follows: — ■' Owing to the very we! weather which has prevailed during the year, the progress of my district lias not been as great as it would have been with moderate seasons. The bush thai was felled during the winter months had no chance fco dry, and bad burns was the general cry. only those settlers who burnt during a short spell of dry weather in the early pari of the season being successful in getting good burns. In the more open country where grass is plentiful, the dairy fanners have done very well, and prosperity seems the order of the daj. Prices tor butter have kept up and are bringing the farmers a good return, though with the increased values placed upon any land suitable for dairy purposes, and the high price that good cows aii , Fetching, it lakes some uf the farmers all their time to make a living. This. I think. will prove n<>t altogether an unmixed blessing, as it will force the farmers to go in for more intense farming bo as to enable the land to cany move stock, and will eventually produce a Farming community who will understand the proper tilling of the soil and bring it up to its greatest producing-power. "The roads other than those thai are metalled have been in a very bad state and in some cases have been almost impassable. The railway-line lias been pushed on and is now very near to Whangamoinona. or about thirty-seven miles from Stratford. This will alleviate the traffic on the Whantramomona Saddle, and will give the load a chance of drying up before the winter seis in. "The lambing :;s my district was dol a great success owing to the cold and wet weather. ■'Through the movement of stock to other districts they have become very scarce; high prices are likely to prevail for all classes of dairy stock. , ' With the extending of the telephone into several outlying places, the addition to or erection of new schools, and the pushing-on of widening of roads, the settlers in the back country are being brought more in touch with civilization every year. Grass-seed. Forty-nine promissory notes given in 1908 by sufferers from bush-fires for grass-seed supplied t'i them matured durum March. 1912, to the total value of US 17 Ja. 3d., and twenty-four of these have been met. the amount paid being £319 18s. Id. The sum of £354 Is. '.Id. has been received during tin year. Arrears ok Rent. The amount owing ii is increased considerably during last year, being more than in any of the past three years. It is possible that the peculiar season we have experienced this year had its effect upon the farming community, the shearing operations being very late, which would consequently delay the returns from the wool-clip. The greater proportion of the amounts due on ordinary Crown land. exclusive of the current instalment, was owing by a few tenants; and the rents of education endowments being in most cases payable at tin- end of a half-year, many of them falling due on the Ist April. the reason for the Large amount appearing in the tables. Expenditure of "Thirds," " Fourths," and "Halves." Thirty-two proposals for expenditure of 17.27 I .".s. Id. were approved by the Land Board, a satisfactory increase on last year's operations. The amount at credit of the Deposit Account of the Receiver of Land Revenue on the 31st March. 1912. was £6,430 Is. sd. Forfeitures and Surrenders. These look place amongst the more recent selections, and unless all applicants for land are subjected to a personal examination as to their fitness and financial resources it is likely that a certain proportion of them will be found unsuitable, belonging to the class who select land in ignorance of the work required to bring it into profit, and more as a venture. Disposal ok Remaining Crown Lands. There is every reason to anticipate that the following blocks, or portions thereof, will be offered during the year 1912-13: In the Mapara and Tangitu Survey Districts, nine sections, 4.101 acres of good forest country. situated from eighi to seventeen miles from Waimiha Railway-station. Whakaihuwaka Ii Block (6,912 acres), in ELaipara and Tua Survey Districts, adjoining the boundary between the Taranaki and Wellington Land Districts, and extending from that boundary to the Rawhitiroa State Forest. Situate about thirty-live miles from Waitotara Railway-station. Part Whakaihuwaka A Block (al)out 13,000 acres), m Taurakawa Survey District, to the southeast of the settled land at the head of the Puniwhakau Valley, and comprising the headwaters of the Waitotara River. Aratawa. Mangapukatea, and Etaoraomouku Blocks (12,334 acres), adjoining the Wanganui River above I'ipiriki. and extending westerly. The stock route to this block will be via Puniwhakau Valley and a road to be constructed round the north side of Mount Humphries. Part Taumatamahoe 2b No. 2a Block (about 7,000 acres), abutting on the Wanganui River, lying along the Whangamomona Valley westward to the settled country in Mahoe Survey District. This