o.—l

1928. NEW ZEALA ND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CONTENTS. Genkral Report :— ra S e APPENDIX II:— Page Review of Past Year .. .. .. 2 Land for Settlements— Legislation .. .. .. ..2 Summary of Settlements established .. 20 Lands for Selection . . . . .. 3 Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Eduoational Endowment . . .. .. 3 Crown Lands— Forfeitures and Surrenders . . .. .. 4 North Auckland .. .. 27 Receipts .. .. .. .. . . 4 Auckland .. .. .. .. 27 Postponements .. .. .. .. 4 Gisborne .. .. .. 28 Arrears .. .. .. .. .. 4 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. 28 Rebates . . .. .. . . . . 4 Taranaki .. .. .. 28 National Endowment .. .. ..4 Wellington .. .. .. ..28 Land-drainage Operations .. .. .. 4 Nelson .. .. .. .. 28 Deteriorated Lands .. . . .. 4 Marlborough .. .. .. .. 29 Special Settlement of Inferior Lands . . 5 Westland .. .. .. 29 Lands reserved for various Purposes .. 5 Canterbury .. .. .. 29 Expenditure .. .. . . .. 6 Otago .. .. .. .. 29 Staff Employment .. .. . . 7 Southland .. .. .. 29 Departmental Changes .. .. . . 7 Reports on Cognate Subjects .. . . 7 APPENDIX III: — Land-drainage Operations .. .. ,'jo Appendix IV :— Hutt Valley Settlement .. .. ..31 Appendix I: — Deteriorated Lands Account:— Settlement of Crown Lands — Balance-sheet .. .. .. 32 North Auckland .. .. .. . . 8 Transactions fo* Year • .. .. 32 Auckland .. .. .. .. 10 Gisborne .. .. .. . . ..11 Tables :— Hawke's Bay .. .. .. ..12 Table I.—Lands of the Dominion, Position of Taranaki .. .. .. ..13 (approximately) .. ..32 Wellington .. .. .. ..It ~ 2.—Selections during the Year .. 33 Nelson .... .. . . 15 „ 3. —All Lands held on Lease .. .. 33 Marlborough .. .. . . 15 „ 4. —Lands-for-sottlement Lands . . 34 Westland . . .. .. .. 16 ~ s.—Endowment Lands leased and adCanterbury .. .. .. 17 ministered by Land Boards .. 34 Otago .. .. • • ■ • 18 ~ 6. —Receipts, Arrears, and PostponeSouthland .. .. . . .. 18 ments .. .. .. 34 Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 30th June, 1928. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended 31st March, 1928, together with a short report on the special settlement of inferior lands. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary.

I—C. 1.