C.—l.

Lands fob Selection. During the year 406,408 acres were taken up on various tenures, the number of selections being 1,448 under all headings. These figures include some 623 sections, comprising altogether an area of 103,719 acres, taken up under miscellaneous leases and licenses, so that the selections on permanent tenures numbered 825 sections, covering a total area of 302,689 acres. The following table gives the selections of Crown lands for the last five years : — Selections under all Tenures. Year ending Number. Acres. 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. 1,913 460,590 31st March, 1929 .. .. .. 1,911 462,563 31st March, 1930 . . .. . . 2,091 402,900 31st March, 1931 .. .. .. 1,639 368,809 31st March, 1932 .. .. .. 1,448 406,408 Only one estate was opened for general application during the year under the Land for Settlements Act—viz., the Wairakau Settlement in the Auckland Land District —comprising fourteen sections of a total area of 2,001 acres. The following group settlements under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928, were allotted during the year

The total of 406,408 acres selected during the year includes lands taken up under both permanent and temporary tenures, and also town and suburban lands. The 'permanent, selections of rural lands only were as follows : —

The lands dealt with above comprise both areas offered for the first time and areas which became available for reoflering through various reasons. The figures for entirely new rural areas selected during the year are as follows : —

The demand for land has on the whole been well maintained, particularly for medium-sized areas of unimproved and partially improved land.

5

Land District. Name of Settlement. Number of Holdings] Area. Acres. North Auckland .. .. Tauraroa .. .. 2 1,142 Auckland .. .. .. Te Poi .. .. .. 2 177 Auckland .. .. . . Hannon .. .. . . 2 292 Auckland .. .. .. Norwegians .. .. 3 308 Gisborne .. .. .. Rere .. .. .. 2 171 Wellington .. . . . . Bryce .. .. .. 3 395 Southland .. .. .. McCallum .. .. 4 285 Totals .... ... 18 2,770

Class of Land. Sections selected! Total Area selected. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land .. .. 361 123,647 Settlement land .. .. .. .. 73 15,981 Education reserves, &c. . . . . .. .. 22 3,038 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 456 142,666

f T 1 Number of New Rural Total Area selected for lass ot Sections selected. the First Time. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land .. .. 166 38,574 Settlement land .. .. . . .. . . 43 6,547 Education reserves, &c. .. .. .. .. 7 688 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 216 45,809