C—l

Kauri-gum Reserves. These reserveiS, which cover an area of about 223,000 acres, are being inspected by a Royal Commission set up for the purpose of determining what areas' should be retained for gumdigging and the land that can be opened for settlement without interfering with the industry. It is possible that the evidence given will result in the Commission reporting that a great many of the reserves have been so efficiently worked for gum or that the deposits are so small that there is no necessity to retain tho areas as gum. reserves. Should this be the case Steps will have to be taken to utilize Such areas for settlement. Hitherto these reserves have not been looked upon with much favour from a farming point of view, but the demand during the last few years for fruitgrowing areas has brought them into prominence. National-endowment Lands. The area within the endowment at the close of the year was 8,607,000 acres, of which 6,525,034 acres Was held under lease or license, producing an annual rental of £99,600. The gross amount received during the year from the rentals of tho leases and from royalties in respect of timber and coal was £103,271, to bo distributed in accordance with tho statutory provisions governing the endowment. Inspections by Crown Lands Rangers. An area of nearly 4,000,000 acres Was covered by the inspections made by the Rangers attached to the various districts throughout the Dominion. The value of the improvements effected still continues to be well in advance of that required by law. There is a small increase in the number of defaulters over last year's figures, but, generally speaking, the position as disclosed by the following table may be regarded as very satisfactory.

Table D.—Return of Number of Inspections made by the Rangers for the Year ended 31st March, 1914.

* In addition, 1,456 miscellaneous inspsetions were made, covering an area of 442,857 acres. t In addition, 509 miscellaneous inspections were made, covering an area of 125,293 acres. Rebates of Rent. In the rebates granted for the prompt payment of rent 20,947 tenants participated, the total amount being £43,039. The details for each district are given in Table 35 published in the appendix. Postponements op Rent. The provisions of section 13 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1912 (whereby a tenant who is unable, through any natural disaster or other sufficient cause, to pay the rent due may, with the approval of the Land Board and the Minister, obtain postponement), have been"taken advantage of by Some of the Settlors. At the close of the year tho rental remaining postponed .amounted to £10,585, owing by 199 tenants.

VII

Value of Improvements. Numbi ;r ol Defaulters. District. Numbei of Properties visited. Area. Required. Actually made. PR Si ° « Si !i 8 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson .. Maryborough Weatland Canterbury Otago Southland I,096* 633 228 579f 1,142 533 304 2,04+ 1,365 1,383 A. b. p. I £ s. d. 442,801 2 10 i 194,228 10 9 416,237 3 14 364,047 14 3 89,468 3 35 50,236 0 0 140,192 0 0 97,579 13 9 350,449 0 0 99,749 0 0 296,351 3 13 130,928 14 0 52,564 I 9 25,234 15 1 910,990 3 29 : 390,333 0 0 965,553 1 10 289,716 5 0 282,230 3 1 I 112,278 3 8 £ a. d. 431,384 15 7 799,987 19 7 116,506 0 0 261,783 I !. 6 264,072 0 0 322,912 19 10 77,566 16 8 698,955 5 0 533,999 13 10 240,258 3 3 72 52 16 14 07 4 8 142 125 35 110 44 14 75 II!) 24 8 27 63 10 78 16 4 5 2 71 3 9 : .. 15 86 276 100 35 91 287 31 25 270 188 58 13 .. Totals 9.307 3,946,840 2 II 1,754,331 16 6 56') 494 196 106 1,361 1,754,331. 16 6 3,747,427 5 3