C—9a

Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY: DISCHARGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT. SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISCHARGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT ACT, 1915.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave,

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 27th November, 1918. I enclose herewith supplementary statements which have been received from the Commissioners of Crown Lands in regard to the settlement of land by discharged soldiers. The report for the year ended 31st March, 1918, has already been laid before both Houses of the General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 (parliamentary paper C.-9). 1 have, &0., T. N. Brodriok, Under-Secretary for Lands.. The Hon. D. H, Guthrie, Minister of Lands, Wellington.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OK COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. AUCKLAND. Settlement Land. Reynolds Settlement. —Situated near Cambridge. This settlement was opened for selection on the 12th June, 1916, and twelve selections, comprising an area of 693 acres 2 roods 13 perches, were made by discharged soldiers at an annual rental of £660 12s. A certain portion of this settlement was found to be unsuitable for returned soldiers, and in five cases surrenders were accepted. The soldier settlers on this settlement are dairying, the land being admirably suited for this class of farming. The tenants have every opportunity of success. Pakarau Settlement. —Opened for selection on the 18th December, 1916. Situated near Morrinsville. Area, 2,719 acres 1 rood 28 perches. Held by twenty-three tenants at an annual rental of £1,544 15s. The whole of this settlement is selected, and the settlers have made very good headway during their term of occupation. The settlers are dairying, and should succeed in their ventures. As time goes on, and the land is top-dressed and portions l broken up and resown, the carrying-capacity of each section will increase and better results be obtained. Taniwha Settlement. —This settlement is situated near Te Kauwhata. It comprises 474 acres and 20 perches, and is held by nine tenants at a rental of £586 per annum. It was placed on the market on the 18th December, 1916. The land on this settlement is of excellent quality, and well suited for dairying, for which it is being used. Tenants on this settlement were in a position to get a return almost immediately, and should all make a success of their holdings. Tapapa Settlement was opened for selection on the 25th June, 1917. It is held by ten tenants, who hold an area of 1,145 acres 1 rood 11 perches at an annual rental of £729. This settlement is situated near Matamata, and eventually the whole of the settlers will be dairying. The majority of the tenants are now so occupied, but one or two deemed it advisable to break up a considerable portion of their land and sow down in grass. These latter settlers have made excellent progress, and in the meantime have done well with young stock. This is a good settlement, and the tenants have every opportunity of success.