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C—9a,

Cherry Grove Settlement, situated about ten miles from Wanganui and about five from Westmere Railway-station: 579 acres, in three sections varying from 147J to 232f acres, all of which have been occupied since December, 1917. Flat and easy hilly country, well watered, and well adapted for agriculture, dairying, and grazing. Two of the homesteads have been erected, and all fencing has been completed. The settlement is carrying 110 head of cattle (including 30 dairy cows), 2,400 sheep, and 4 horses. Population, four. [Waihora Settlement, situated about twenty-six miles from Masterton, comprises 477 acres, in three sections ranging in area from 104| to 221 acres, all of which have been occupied sinco March, 1918. Flat and undulating to very easy hilly country, most of it in good grass, suitable for dairying, grazing, and agriculture. The stock carried comprises 52 head of cattle (including 47 dairy cows), 5 horses, and 850 sheep. Two of the homesteads have been erected, and all fencing completed. Population, five. Pukenamu Settlement, situated one mile from Te Horo Station on Main Trunk Railway, and about five miles from Otaki : 730 acres, in eight sections ranging'from 73 to 115 acres. Mostly good swamp land and partly sandy downs. Very suitable for fattening, grazing, and dairying, especially for the latter, owing to the fine climate. Three of the sections have been occupied since the Ist April, 1918; the remaining five comprise an extension recently purchased, and were allotted in September, 1918. Three of the settlers have erected their homesteads, and good progress is being made by the new-comers. The stock carried comprises 205 head of cattle (including 145 dairy cows), 8 horses, 20 sheep, and 18 pigs. Population, ten. Gorge Settlement, near Woodville, comprises 2,161 acres, subdivided into three sections varying from 633 to 795 acres. All selected in June and July, 1916. Undulating to hilly bush country, suitable for dairying and grazing. Two of the settlers have erected their homesteads; fencing has been completed. The settlement is carrying 272 head of cattle (including 16 dairy cows), 5 horses, and 700 sheep, which can be greatly increased when further improvements are made. Already an area of 467 acres has been felled, and 543 acres sown in grass. Population, three. Hamua Settlement, about two miles from Hukanui Railway-station and about seven from Eketahuna, comprises two sections of and 67 acres, allotted in July, 1917. Flat and ploughable well-watered grass land, suitable for dairying. One homestead has been erected, and all fencing completed. Stock carried comprise 82 head of cattle (including 54 dairy cows) and 2 horses. Population, three. Two settlements at Owhango and Pirlaka, on. Main Trunk Railway, comprise 2,730 acres, subdivided into sixteen sections varying from 105 to 309 acres, flat, undulating to hilly, milledout bush lands, suitable for dairying and grazing. Selected between January and July, 1916. The settlers are progressing well with their improvements. Twelve homesteads have been erected, and all fencing completed.. An area of about 2,009 acres has been felled, and 1,785 acres have been grassed. The stock, which can be much increased when the sections are further developed, comprise 456 head of cattle (132 of which are dairy cows), 10 horses, 1,065 sheep, and 10 pigs. Population, forty-three. Settlement of 606 acres in Manganui district, subdivided into two sections. Undulating to hilly bush country, most suitable for grazing. Selected in April, 1916. One homestead has been erected; all fencing completed. An area of 246 acres has been felled and 254 acres grassed. Stock carried, 45 head of cattle, 488 sheep, and 3 horses. Population, two. South Waimarmo Block comprises about 40,775 acres, situated close to Wanganui River, at a distance from Wanganui by river of seventy-four to 108 miles. Accessible also from Raurimu and Raetihi, distant respectively thirty-three and thirty-two miles. All virgin bush country with no timber of commercial value; easy to fairly steep hills, which will make good grazing-farms when cleared. Subdivided into forty-eight sections varying from 263 to 1,800 acres, of which thirty-one have already been selected. Most of the selectors have already made progress on their holdings; some of them are improving their financial position by taking contracts for roadmaking in the block. The prices of the sections are low, and exemption from payment of rent and general rates is being allowed for a period of four years. These settlers, if they are industrious, have a bright future before them. Two homesteads have been erected, and most of the settlers are getting some of their bush down. An area of about 1,200 acres has been felled and 423 grassed; a good deal of fencing has been done. Stock comprise 14 head of cattle (including dairy cows), 650 sheep, and 2 horses.. Settlement in Karioi district, near Rangataua, comprising two sections of 216 and 381J acres. Flat millcd-out bush land suitable for grazing. Two homesteads have been erected and fencing completed. An area of 5 acres has been felled and 210 acres grassed. Stock carried comprise 112 head of cattle (including 75 dairy cows) and 5 horses. Population, five. In the Puketoi district three sections, comprising 506 acres of hilly bush country of no milling-value, have been selected, two of them in 1916 and one just recently. The settlers are making fair progress with their bushfelling and fencing. About 130 acres have been felled and 20 acres grassed. In Normandale Settlement, Lower Ilutt, one lot of 858 acres has been selected, comprising undulating to fairly steep hills suitable for grazing purposes. Lessee has erected homestead, wool-shed, and much fencing, and is running about 1,300 sheep and 17 head of cattle. One lot in Watroa comprises 22 acres of flat and undulating grass land, near Waverley. Settler has erected homestead, completed fencing, and, as he takes contracts for farm-work in the vicinity, the purchase-money for a team of draught horses has been advanced to him. He has 3 dairy cows, and keeps poultry. Purchases op Rural Private Properties for Discharged Soldiers under Section 3 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917. About seventeen farms, comprising an area of 2,111 acres, have been acquired for discharged soldiers under the provisions of the above-quoted section of the Act. Six of them are situated in