RURAL FREEHOLD LANDS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14161, 29 September 1911, Page 10

RURAL FREEHOLD LANDS.

WHAT THE DOMINION IS WORTH.

(iPECIAL TO ''THE PBESS.")

WELLINGTON, September 28,

A comprehensive return relating to the freehold lands of the Dominion «.s they wcro hold on March 31st, 1910, was presented to the House of Repre-t sentatives this afternoon. Exclusive of frceholdings in. boroughs and townships, there was an area of 19,575,281 acros, which was held by 46,922 persons. Tho improved or capital value was £119,097,455, and tho unimproved value £85,111,019. The number of holdings of from five to ten acres was 4051, and 4COI owners held areas of from 10 to 20 acres. Tho largest number of ownws in one class was Sdtw, who held from 100 to 200 acres aggregating 1,239,982 acres; 5602 owners hold blocks of 200 to 320 acres totalling 1,399,798 acres; aud 3712 owners held blocks of 320 to 500 acres totalling 1,478,097 acres. The largest acreage in any ono class was 2,487,571 acres held by 1743 owners of blocks from 1000 to 2000 acres. Tho following table shows the increas«s in the number of freeholdings and of the improved value of their lands since 1883.— Improved Owners; value. * £ 1883 ... 30,764 ... 53,339,812 1886 ... 34,4.-0 ... 53,6-58,639 1880 ... 37,432 ... 55,275,203. 1892 ... 38,935 ... 74,626,682 1906 ... 45,068 ... 95,890,533 1910 ... 46,922 ... 119,097,4-55 The total capital values and unimproved values to the nearest million pounds of all lands in the Dominion is shown in tlio following table: — Year of Capital Unimproved Viluat-on. Values. Values 1878 ... 100 ... 63 1882 ... 101 ... nit 1885 ... 113 ... "Jl 1888 ... 11l ... 75 1891 ... 122 ... 76 1897 ... 139 ... 84 1902 ... 100 ... 9o 1006 ... 218 ... 137 1910 ... 278 ... 175 ' This table shows that in thirty-two years the value of tho employable surfnco of tho Dominion has been nearly trebled.