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dairy farms. The benefits derived therefrom have been abundantly manifest, even during a reasonably wet season. A valuable adjunct to the revenue for the year—too frequently neglected by the dairy-farmer—is the breeding and rearing of pigs. Sheep. —Lambing percentages throughout this district were above normal ; but, owing to the vagaries of the season, it was impossible to get the usual number of " fats " to the freezing-works. This factor, combined with a reduction in price, has, naturally, seriously affected this source of revenue. A much more serious setback has been experienced in the price of wool, and it is doubtful if the, average for the district will equal 9d. per pound—a drop of sd. per pound on the previous season's price. The selling-price of all classes of sheep has been steadily declining since January, and by the end of March had reached a figure much below normal. Good prices for fat or store cattle have been the one great standby for the settler. Very substantial improvements have been effected by the settlers on the Waimarama Block, considering that they have barely been a year in possession. One settler sent 900 lambs to the freezing-works, and the others have done, proportionately, equally well. The future of these settlers is practically assured. TARANAKI. (W. D. Armit, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The past year has been most satisfactory from a production standpoint, but to a number of farmers in this district the ruling prices for primary products constitutes a serious setback over the period under review. Climatic conditions have been good generally. Heavy rainfalls during December and January maintained a good grass-growth, although harvesting operations were delayed, and a number of hay crops spoilt through inability to stack. An increased number of farmers saved ensilage partly on account of the weather conditions, and also from a more general appreciation of this class of fodder. A dry spell of weather early in March enabled a considerable quantity of late hay to be saved, and satisfactory winter provision has been made. Artificial manuring continues to increase throughout the district, and it is becoming more evident that dairy-farmers, in particular, consider the application of fertilizers to be a condition of successful farming. Production has been extremely good, and has assisted the dairy-farmer to a marked degree through a difficult season. The sheep-farmer has, of course, suffered from the general slump in wool-values, and a fairly large quantity of wool has been stored in the hope of improved prices later on. The, average price of Taranaki back-country crossbred wool decreased about 50 per cent, on last season's returns, buyers offering in the vicinity of 7d. per pound. Prices paid for breeding-ewes last year were not justified on the season's prospects, and were hard to reconcile with the trade forecasts. The drop in sheepvalues has accordingly been a further serious setback to a number of back-country farmers, and security values have been diminished all. round. The farmer who purchased and farmed old ewes last season has experienced a very meagre return, if not an actual loss. Hoggets did not do very well this season, and some very heavy losses are reported. Cattle, both beef and store, maintained high prices until recent months, when values diminished. A better beef-export price has been evident this season. The rearing of run heifers has continued to be a very payable proposition, good quality in calf two-year-olds returning from £8 to £10. Ragwort has been particularly evident this year throughout portions of the district, due, to a certain extent, to the humid conditions ruling after the commencement of 1930. This weed threatens considerable areas of Taranaki pastures. On Crown lands every effort is made to induce sheep-graziers to use the land for a nominal rental in an endeavour to keep the weed under control. Where ragwort flourishes in fern and scrub country of no grazing-value the problem becomes acute. The only effective remedy is close settlement, and the Land Laws Amendment Act of 1929, empowering financial assistance on undeveloped lands, will, I feel sure, bring about a gradual improvement in this direction. The use of parasitic moths or sprays, although of great assistance on developed farms, has not yet presented a solution of the difficulty of ragwort-control on rough areas of undeveloped land where the weed mostly flourishes. Effective settlement is the, main objective, and this can only be encouraged by the most liberal treatment to genuine selectors who are prepared to assist by putting their energy into the task of breaking-in or reconditioning the, land. Deteriorated Lands Act Operations. —The bulk of cases under this Act have been finally dealt with, and satisfactory reports continue to be received as to the work carried out by Crown tenants to earn the remission of rental payments granted. Road access in the back country is also improving, and thereby diminishing cartage charges on fertilizers. Demonstration Farm, Whangamomona. —Satisfactory progress continues to be maintained on this property. An additional area of 15 acres has been scrubbed and resown. Further subdivisional fencing has been erected, and 10 tons of manure applied to existing pastures. The farm is now self-supporting, and should yield good returns on capital outlay in the future. Coal-prospecting Licenses and Leases on Crown Land. —An event of importance to the district this year was the official opening of Egmont Collieries. Five prospecting licenses for coal, two coalmining leases, and one mineral-oil-prospecting warrant were dealt with during the year. All of these applications but one were, approved, and the leases or licenses issued, the exception being one coalprospecting license.