C.—i

In addition to the expenditure on blocks set out above, expenditure has been incurred on the roading, survey, &c., of various areas which are being developed by the settlers themselves. The total expenditure —£339,116 —for development, stock, roading, and surveys (apart from roading-costs payable out of Public Works Fund) up to the 31st March, 1935, provides for 592 farms.

(c) and (d) Developed Allotments disposed of.

(e) The Total Amount advanced to Crown Tenants for the Development of their Holdings, the Number of Advances, and the Purpose for which such Advances have been made. Number of settlers assisted.. .. .. .. .. 488 Loans approved— £ Improvements .. .. .. .. .. .. 204 804 Stock ... .. .. .. .. , 5'742 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £210,546 Amounts actually advanced— £ Improvements .. .. .. .. .. , . 151 023 Stock .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,'476 £153,499 Special Settlement op Infeeioe Lands. The following summary of tie lands dealt with during the year is furnished in accordance with the provisions of section 223 (14) of the Land Act, 1924 : — (a) Aggregate area of land set apart: Nil. (b) Number of allotments and aggregate area disposed of : One allotment, 221 acres. The total number of allotments taken up and the area held as at 31st March, 1935, was thirty-four allotments, 7,285 acres. Lands foe Selection. During the year 302,915 acres were taken up on various tenures, the number of selections being 1,036 under all headings. These figures include some 508 sections, comprising altogether an area of 93,617 acres, taken up under miscellaneous leases and licenses, so that the selections on permanent tenures numbered 528 sections, covering a total area of 209,298 acres. The following table gives the selections of Crown lands for the last five years :• — Selections under all Tenures. Year ending Number. , f rea . (Acres). 31st March, 1931 .. .. .. .. 1,639 368,809 31st March, 1932 .. .. .. .. 1,448 406,408 31st March, 1933 .. .. .. .. 1,354 280,518 31st March, 1934 .. .. .. .. 1,118 285,166 31st March, 1935 .. .. .. .. 1,036 302,915 The total of 302,915 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 :—

5

Number of j Rental Annual Rent Block. Allotments Area. j Tenure. Capital or Interest disposed of. Value. receivable. Acres. £ £ s. d. Wharekohe .. .. .. .. 17 996 R.L. 9,595 479 15 0 Te Kauwhata 12 1 735 J 8,325 416 5 0 U 1,7 Jo Dp 61g5 369 ] , g Onepu* .. .. .. .. 13 1,356 R.L. 12,285 614 5 0 Koromatua .. .. .. .. 4 538 R.L. 2,900 145 0 0 Mangatutu .. .. .. .. 5 771 R.L. 4,680 234 0 0 Ngakuru .. .. .. .. 5 756 R.L. 6,366 318 6 0 Total .. .. .. 56 6,152 .. 50,316 2,576 12 6 * In addition, eleven sections selected under small-farms scheme.

Class of Land. Number of Rural Total Area Sections selected. selected. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land . . . , 158 87 272 Settlement land .. .. . . . . . . 37 jg 375 Education reserves, &c. .. .. .. 12 2,510 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 207 106,157