C—s

Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Section 85 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908.

The Land Purchase Controller to the Minister op Lands. Sir,— Wellington, 3rd August, 1923. I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ended the 31st March, 1923. During the period practically no purchases have been made. There were, however, twentyeight properties, of an area of 49,535 acres, offered, besides a few others direct to the local Land Purchase Boards. There is a fair area of land changing hands at prices which, so far, do not show any great reduction for the bettor lands upon those ruling during the war. No doubt the high prices for our products have had a steadying effect. The whole question of soldier settlements is now being dealt with and there are many points from which this must be looked at before any satisfactory decision can be arrived at. Clifton Settlement. The operations on this property were commenced in January of last year, and since then over 1,200 acres have been ploughed, cultivated, and cropped with quite satisfactory results. The work, however, was greatly interfered with owing to the continuous bad weather. The property had been lying unoccupied for some considerable time, and what had been cultivated was left without being sown down. It was nearly all covered, with a thick covering of agrostis and other poor grasses, and to get rid of these, digger-ploughs had to be used to bury the roughage. The deep ploughing has proved the excellent quality of the soil, there being little or no sign of clay. A paddock of thirty-year-old lea, with a lot of gorse growing all over, was ploughed with a furrow 10 in. by 20 in. with the swamp-plough. It is now in Western Wolths grass, and is an excellent sward considering. It is proposed to cut it for seed this season. The property has so far been dealt with as follows : — 49 acres fallow sown with turnips in February, 1922 (quite a fair crop); later with barley and permanent grass (very good crop). 151-J acres old lea in rape and ryegrass. Rape, and grass eaten off with 1,220 lambs, and the ryegrass will be cut later on for seed. 22 acres rye. 122 acres oats, autumn-sown, for chaff. Fair crop. Weather too wet and cold. 92 acres oats and rye. Feeding down. 248 acres turnips. Large proportion ridged, which have done well. Part not ridged not nearly so good. 79 acres after turnips (badly poached by cattle when eating off) sown with Crown oats and permanent grass. Excellent crop of«J)oth. Oats being sold for seed. 54 acres fallow sown in permanent grass. Limed. Very good results. 122 acres Western Wolths. Will be cut later for seed. This is the paddock referred to above. 120 acres old lea, Limed, sown with turnips and ryegrass for seed. Will be cut later on for seed. 105 acres oats and a few acres rye. The autumn-sown oats did not do well, the long wet spell being against the growth. The Crown oats sown in spring were a really fine crop, and this oat appears very suitable to the district. A large area will be sown in the spring. Barley also proved a good average crop, and is very suitable for sowing with, grass. It is intended to cut a large area of ryegrass and Western Wolths for seed. The turnips will be fed off by 4,000 young ewes from Teviot and station ewes. Contracts for the ploughing and cultivation have been let for a further large area. This is considered the best part of the property. It is also proposed to drain-plough and lime several paddocks. It is anticipated the drain-ploughing will show remarkable results.

I—C. 5.