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It has also been a good season for rye-grass, and moje has been harvested than has been for some years, and it is of a very fairquality, but the price is rather lower ( ban i< has been for some considerable time. Viticulture experts who have visited this district on several occasions have reported that Poverty Bay soil and climate are particularly adapted to the growth of grapes, and Mr. P. Gurschka, one of the Te Arai Settlements tenants, who has had considerable experience in the culture of vines, has in a most practical manner put this theory to the test some years ago by the establishment of a vineyard, 1 acre in extent, which has proved a great success. The Education Board have, as usual, assisted materially in the progress of settlement by the establishment of schools at Ngatapa and Kanakanaia Settlements. The Clydebank settlers, situated on the southern boundary of the district, have only had a fair season. It is a new settlement, and the principal drawback is the distance from freezing-works, but there is every prospect of these being started at Wairoa shortly, so this settlement cannot be otherwise than prosperous. A large portion of the settlement was covered with fern, manuka scrub, bush, and native grass, and the season being dry was very suitable for burning, and has enabled the settlers to clear up and break in a lot of country. The result of the year's inspection of sixteen settlements situated in the southern portion of the Hawke's Bay District is very satisfactory, both as regards improvements effected and an increased population, the number of souls now living in the various settlements being 1,897. The improvements required by law amount to a value of £155,177, and those effected are estimated at £312,062, which cornpa red with total improvements effected last year gives a difference of £34,597, which represents value of improvements effected during the last twelve months. The season has been a very favourable one foi dairying and fruit-culture, which in many instances has been the main sources of income to the settlers. The Hawke's Bay Autumn Show held at Hastings has grown in size and importance from its inception, where the entries numbered some 400, up to the last year, when the exhibits were increased to 7,608 principally in the fruit and produce sections. The success attending the last exhibition indicates the manner in which the fruit industry has developed within the last few years. The Department of Agriculture and many of our settlers contributed largely to the success of the show. The Heretaunga Dairy Company in March last awarded prizes in a butter-fat competition. The first prize was won by a Mahora settler with a herd of thirty-five cows, and at the ruling market price now obtaining- viz.. Is. per pound for butter-fat —represented £1 15s. 9d. per cow per month. During the past year, generally speaking, the condition of the settlements may be said to be very promising. C. R. Pollen, Commissioner i>l Crown Lands.

TARANAKI. The Clandon Settlement is progressing better than was anticipated. Two of the sections are being used entirely for grazing sheep, and show a marked improvement. Other settlers are using small quantities of patent top-dressing, which has done much good. The Huinga Settlement is, generally speaking, in a fairly prosperous condition, though two of the settlers have had to give up milking and graze sheep on their sections with a view of renewing the grass. There has been a considerable amount of sickness among the settlers' families during the past year. Tokaora Settlement still continues its prosperous career, and all the settlers are apparently doing well. There appears very little chance of the grass running out on this settlement for a number of years, and even then it could be easily renewed on account of the flatness of the land, a condition which does not prevail in either Clandon or Huinga. The value of the land in Tokaora Settlement has about doubled since it was selected. The improvement in Spotswood Settlement is most marked, and as there appears to be some prospect of the oil and ironsand industries being a success the future of this settlement is much brighter than it has been for some time. < > >f the settlers stated that his leaving town and going to live at Spotswood had been the making of him, as the saving effected by being able to keep a cow and pig on his increased area had materially helped him in the upbringing of his family. Generally speaking, these settlements are doing well, although there are cases where the settlers are not making the success they should, but this is either owing to lack of funds, insufficient knowledge of farming, or sickness in their families. G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands. WELLINGTON. In the west coast districts the sett lenients are for the most part situated in the vicinities of Feilding, Bull's, and Lower Oroua. The holdings on this side are used principally for dairying, cropping, and fruit-growing. The settlers are doing well, and the progress made is very satisfactory. The settlements are now so well established and developed in this part of the district that little can be added to reports of previous years. The tenants on settlement lands in the east coast division go in for mixed farming, the higher lands being used for grazing and the lower for dairying and agricultural purposes.