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WESTLAND. Only two estates in this district have been acquired for closer settlement under the Land for Settlements Act, and the present position of both of these reflects great credit on the judgment of those responsible for their acquisition. Very considerable goodwills are offering for any of the leases, but the tenants are showing no disposition to dispose of their holdings, as they are without exception thoroughly bona fide settlers and obtaining highly satisfactory returns. The success in the case of both settlements is to a large extent attributable to the butter-factories which the close settlement of the land brought into existence. The two settlements have been improved to the extent of £16,086 (as against £3,319 required under the leases) and carry a population of ninety-seven souls. There has been a very plentiful supply of feed during the whole of the past year, and the results of the year's work have given general satisfaction. The dairying herds carried are of very good quality, due to the enterprise of the settlers in importing valuable, pedigree stock. H. D. M. Haszard, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

CANTEEBURY. Lands opened for Selection. Five new settlements were opened for selection under renewable-lease tenure during the year. The following are brief particulars regarding the disposal of each : — (1.) Dray ton Settlement, from three-quarters of a mile to two and three-quarter miles from Templeton Railway-station. Opened for selection on the 25th April, 1911. It comprises open level land, varying in quality from good light soil to rich agricultural land. Area offered, 987 acres 1 rood 9 perches in twenty sections of from 10 to 125 acres. The number of applicants admitted to the ballot was thirty-five, and the whole of the sections were disposed of before the end of the year. Three leases were subsequently surrendered, but these have already been reselected. (2.) Allanholme Settlement, two miles from Waihao Forks Railway-station, and ten miles from Waimate. Opened for selection on the 25th April, 1911. It comprises agricultural land, ranging in altitude from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level, in undulating and easy sloping spurs, level terraces, and river flats. Area offered, 1,911 acres 3 roods 4 perches, in eight sections of from 203 to 276 acres. The number of applicants admitted to the ballot was forty-seven, and the whole of the sections were disposed of at the first ballot. (3.) Douglas Settlement, two and a half miles from Waihao Downs Station, and eleven miles from Waimate. Opened for selection on the 13th June, 1911. It comprises first-class agricultural land, ranging in altitude from 500 ft. to 800 ft. above sea-level, being similar in quality and description to the land in the Allanholme Settlement adjoining. Area offered, 3,534 acres 3 roods 28 perches, in thirtythree sections of from sto 418 acres. The number of applicants admitted to the ballot was 109, and the whole of the sections were selected by the end of the year. Two of the small sections were subsequently surrendered. (4.) Scargill Settlement, within a mile of the Scargill Railway-station, fifty-five miles from Christchurch, on the Christchurch-Cheviot Railway. Opened for selection on the 21st February, 1912. It comprises first-class agricultural land, level and undulating, ranging in altitude from 500 ft. to 700 ft. above sea-level. Area offered, 1,641 acres and 38 perches, in eight sections of from 150 to 262 acres. There were only nine applicants for these sections, the result being that, as several applied for the same sections, four remained undisposed-of at the end of the year. (5.) Sherwood Downs Settlement, eight miles from Fairlie Railway-station at its nearest point. Opened for selection on the 20th March, 1912. It comprises the country lying between the north and south branches of the Opuha River, running back to the Two-thumb Range and its easterly offshoot through Fox's Peak. The frontal portion consists of good flat and undulating agricultural country, ranging from 1,400 ft. to 1,800 ft. above sea-level; the back portion of hill and mountain-slopes good summer tussock country. Area offered, 57,638 acres 1 rood, in twenty-six holdings of from 192 to 14,711 acres. The number of applicants admitted to the ballot was 191, and the whole of the sections were disposed of at the first ballot. Lands to be opened during the Year. The settlements to be offered during the ensuing,year will include Timaunga, 5,957 acres, fifteen miles from Timaru, in twenty sections ; Four Peaks, 12,692 acres, south of the Tripp Settlement, about twelve miles from Orari, in eight sections ;*§Valverde, 2,312 acres, near Ashburton, in eleven sections ; Bournedale, 1,575 acres, near Timaru (Makikihi), in seven sections ; Claremont, 2,343 acres, near Timaru, in eleven sections ; Waimate, 1,600 acres, immediately south and west of Waimate, in thirty-eight sections ; Aylesbury, 1,002 acres, near Kirwee, in six sections ; Irwin's, 521 acres, near Mitcham, in two sections ; Low's, 1,300 acres, near Mitcham, in six sections ; Patterson's, Scott's, and Layer's, 2,161 acres, part of Pareora Estate, in six sections ; Winchester, 789 acres, near Temuka, in ten sections ; Avenel, 1,751 acres, near Mitcham, in seventeen sections : total area, 34,003 acres, in 142 sections. Settlements. There are now established in this district sixty-five settlements and a few homestead-sites, &c. These comprise a total occupied area of 386,428 acres, occupied in 1,521 holdings. The total resident population of these lands is 5,280 souls, exclusive of those who will settle on the new settlements within

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