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TARANAKI. (G. FT. Rullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The only acquisition by the Crown in this district during the year was the Tututawa Settlement, comprising 726 acres in three sections, situated about four miles from the Douglas Railwaystation on the Stratford Branch line. As, however, the purchase was only completed on the 29th March last, the land will not be on the market until the 22nd May, 1917. It is to bo made available for discharged soldiers only. The old settlements, five in number, are all now well established and in a prosperous condition, the tenants' interests exceeding those of the Crown in most instances. Twenty-two of these holdings, aggregating*2,724 acres, are still under the lcase-in-pcrpetuity tenure, and the tenants' rights to acquire the fee-simple thereto will expire in November, 1918.

WELLINGTON. (G. H. M. McClure, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) On lands which were purchased during previous years two allotments, in Tablelands and Hikawera, 1,231 acres, were disposed of under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, as were also five sections in Longbush and Mahupuku, 2,31.7 acres; one section in Normandale, 857 acres; and three allotments in Hall-Jones, 7 acres. An area of 29 acres 3 roods 17 perches in Bartholomew was taken over by the Agricultural Department for use temporarily as an adjunct to the Weraroa State Farm. The new settlements disposed of during the year were as under: Greystoke, fourteen sections, 1,046 acres; Fairfield, eight sections, 1,020 acres; Makowai, twenty-five sections, 1,450 acres; Tiraumea, twenty-one sections, 10,138 acres. Of these areas, fifty-two sections have been allotted to discharged soldiers, those in Greystoke and Makowai being used as dairy farms; Fairfield, mixed farming and agriculture; and Tiraumea, for sheep and cattle farms. The prospects of all these settlers may be considered as satisfactory.

NELSON. (F. A. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lauds.) Only three estates have been purchased in this district—namely, Braeburn, Lake, and Wangapeka. In all three settlements the principal sources of income of the settlers are dairying and grazing. In the Braeburn and Wangapeka Settlements very satisfactory progress has been made during the year, and large areas of bush have been cleared and brought into profit. Some of the settlers are supplying milk to factories, and these are well satisfied with their prospects. Generally speaking, (Iks settlers are in a very prosperous condition. In the Lake Settlement there are three selectors, one of whom is on active service. Two selections were made during the year, and it is likely that, taking into consideration the access to, locality, and quality of the land, the remaining sections will be readily disposed of. It is considered that in a, few years this settlement will compare favourably with the others in this district.

MARLBOROUGH. (11. I). MoKeli.au, Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands.) There are fourteen settlements in (lie district, comprising 214,903 acres, held by 469 lessees. No new settlements have been acquired during the year. The settlers on the more recently acquired ones, excepting Lynton Downs and a few isolated eases on the others, are satisfied with their holdings. The crops having been good and (he stock fetching high prices, most of the settlers should have had a fairly good year.

WESTLAND. (Thomas Brook, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The two settlements in this district (Kokatahi and Poerua) have been in the occupation of settlers for many years, and the conditions of residence and improvements are being fully complied with. The settlers are engaged almost wholly in dairy-farming, and their holdings being well developed they were in the fortunate position of being able to take full advantage of the favourable season and the high prices realized for produce.

CANTERBURY. (W. 11. Skinner,, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Of the forty-six estates purchased and disposed of in North and Mid Canterbury, nineteen are well established, ten are progressing, eleven comprise suburban workers' homes and marketgarden areas and arc in a satisfactory position, and six are not yet considered as satisfactory. Most of the last-mentioned settlements are lately settled and have not yet. recovered from the recent