a—s

2

Very great difficulty was experienced in saving the Western Wolths and rye-grass seed, and for a time it was doubtful if it would be worth cutting. The yield, however, for Wolths was 20 bushels, and rye-grass 17 bushels per acre. The former was machine-dressed to 26 lb. per bushel and the latter to 30 lb. per bushel, which should be well worth from Bs. to 9s. per bushel. Oats and barley were only fair crops, but much better than expected. The turnips made little progress until the days shortened, when they came away, and will show quite an average crop. The rape did better, and will fatten a large number of lambs. A portion was sown with Western Wolths, which offers a lot of feed. It is expected to fatten sixteen hundred. A good many lambs have already gone to the works at a good price. One thousand wethers and lambs are now on turnips. The sheep did well, and clipped a fair fleece, which fetched a good price. Lambing was fair. Cattle suffered somewhat. The cows left a fine crop of calves, which, if well wintered and having the spring grass, should be fit to market about July, 1925. Some sixty bullocks were sold at a good price. Should the weather during the coming year be favourable the results will, be very marked, as there will be about 1,000 acres of new grass available, besides 200 acres of rape and 400 acres turnips for winter feeding. The area of old pasture being dealt with this season is 540 acres, which leaves 150 still to be dealt with. 437 acres have been limed at the rate of 1 ton per acre, and 475 acres with 2 cwt. per acre. It is intended to try liming 100 acres of new grass with 1 ton per acre. Last winter 372 acres were drainploughed 5 yards apart. It will hardly be possible to do any drain-ploughing this year, owing to dry weather. The fencing is nearly completed, and the macrocarpa plantation has been most valuable for this purpose. The area proposed to be dealt with this coming season is (say) —400 acres oats, 120 acres barley, 320 acres turnips, 140 acres turnips and grass, 76 acres rape, 130 acres rape and grass, 15 acres chou mollier : total, 1,201 acres ; besides 200 to 300 acres Western Wolths and rye-grass for seed. Appended are the usual tables. John D. Ritchie, Land Purchase Controller.

Table A.—Number of Properties considered during the Year ended 31st March, 1924.*

Table B. —Summary of Estates Acquired up to the 31st March, 1924.

Land District. Number. Area of Estates offered. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 14 1 1 1 Acres. 12.754 64 462 9,284 3 4 2 2,899 6.073 991 Totals 26 32,527 * In addition, areas have also been offered direct to the local Land Pi irohase Boards.

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Nelson. Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 92 60 25 143 20 14 2 172 72 25 Acres. 385,344 301,470 27,628 157,335 223,277 48,821 5,125 447,349 293,185 90,637 £ 1,482,236 2,291,637 369,818 2,226,840 734,665 150,473 8,343 3,444,252 1,779,308 457,786 Totals 625 4,980,171 12,945,358