The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1901.

Evening Star, Issue 11666, 28 September 1901, Page 4

The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1901.

Thb report on the Department of Lands and Survey for the twelve months Cn> "»nli* ndß Cnded 0n March 31, 1901, Settlements, contains, as usual, a large amount of interesting ■•• and valuable information as to the progress'of settlement and a variety of matters connected therewith. We would venture to suggest to the Minister of Lands that it would be an improvement, and notably a convenience, if the report in future was issued as a bound volume, boing as it is a work of reference and essentially a library book. Considering the very large cost of production and printing, the admirable illustrations and sketch maps, it is worthy of a more permanent form than a parliamentary paper, which, in so large a bulk, is troublesome to handle and liable to injury in ordinary use. The transactions of the Lands Department for the past year arc stated to have' been fully equal to those of 1899-1900, the actual lands dealt with having been 1,667,744 acres, as against 1.573,823 'acres, and the cash collected £431,338, as against£3B2,943. The new selections Were 2,312, against 2,310. The largest transactions in actual settlement have been in the Auckland district, where 472 settlers took up on leasehold tenure 182,236 acres, chiefly forest lands. Wellington comes next with 149 leasehold settlers on 40,143 acres; Taranaki, 145 on 66,121 acres; Otago, 109 on 25,327 acres. The other districts follow at considerable distances, and make up a total of 1,162 leasehold settlers on 406,932 acres. Sales of rural land for cash were made to 165 selectors of 58,245 acres. One hundred and nmety-nve holders of the old perpetual leases converted their leaseholds, aggregating 67,941 acres, into freehold, and 177 deferredpayment licensees made their final payments on 23,824 acres and became freeholders. The returns again show an increase in the number of selectors who chose the tenure which them a right in future to acquire the freehold; 673 took up their land under the occupation-with-right-of-pur-chase system, against 295 under the lease-m-perpetuity. The inspections made by the Crown lands rangers disclose that on the whole the conditions of lease are well complied with; 6,028 properties, occupied by 5,579 persons, were examined, and the improvements actually made are estimated to be worth £876,363. The forfeitures and surrenders were rather less than in the previous year. There were 310 persons who forfeited either because they would not or could not pay their rent, and 99 leases were surrendered because the rents were considered by the lessees to be too high. Village settlements are not proving a success, and the UnderSecretary for Crown Lands expresses disappointment that many of these settlements have not been so beneficial to the people for whom they were devised as was expected. So long as road works and first operations in the way of settlement, he says, employed the villagers, they were prosperous. Now the settlements are declining or they are pressing for more laud. Under the Land for Settlements Act ten estates were dealt with during the year, the cost of the land being £168,193. Five other estates were purchased, but not in time to put them in the market before the end of the year. Of the ten estates opened for selection, 41,546 acres in 127 farms and two smallgrazing runs in areas varying from 50 to 2,000 acres were leased at a rent of £8,174 per v anmrm—equal to 5 per cent, on the purchase money, administration, survey, and road formation. The prime cost of eightyone estates acquired in all under the Acts, containing 331,128 acres, is £1,710,541, and there was £88,073 expended in incidental and other expenses, making the cost to date £1,798,614. The lands disposed of are let to 1,789 tenants at an annual rental of £82,718, and the lands unlet represent an annual rental of £1,910. The yearly value is therefore £84,628. The arrears of rent due on March 31 was £8,271. Mr Barron (the Under-Secretary) describes the Cheviot Estate as the "prototype of the land for settlements legislation," and is gratified at being able to state that it continues to flourish. This estate, it may be recollected, was not acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts, which were not at the time in force, buj; under the Land Tax Act, the Commissioner and the freeholder disagreeing as to the vaTu.e, and the Government exercising their right of taking the land at the owner's The report of the Canterbury Commissioner of Crown Lands on this estate fully justifies the Under-Secretary's statement that it continues to flourish. Financially and otherwise the Cheviot settlement is indeed a great success. The interest earned on the net cost of the estate at the end of last year was 5.7 per cent., and there was a profit on the transactions of the year of £5,228. Regarding the general condition of the estate and the fulfilment of occupation conditions thereon, the Crown lands ranger reports that all but four of the 222 lessees are resident: one of the absentees is in South Africa, and the other three are temporarily incapacitated by illness, having left their holdings in charge of relatives. The total value of the improvements required to be effected is £46,595, the sixth year of occupation having in nearly all cases expired ; hut the value of improvements actually effected is estimated at £67,461. The holders of the grazing farms, as well as of the larger blocks of mixed agricultural and pastoral lands, have clone well, owing to the high values of stock ; and the medium-sized blocks of argicultural land have also done well. Holders of inferior land or small areas require to supplement their income by the aid of outside employment, which is generally obtainable in sufficient quantity to meet present requirements. Comparatively little cropping is at present being done. A total number of 80,000 sheep are now kept on the estate, besides about 1,600 head of cattle, horses, and other miscellaneous live stock. There has been a good output this year of fat lambs and pbeep. The report further states that an increasing amount of capital is being invested in buildings and freehold. sections in the township of M'Kenzie, and more people pppear'to be settling there than can find employment at present. A great deal of this growth is said to be owing to the expectation that' the construction of tho proposed bridge over the Waiau River will bring to the township a considerable amount of traffic from the country northward of the estate.

Wd learn that the management of Mr Musgrove's Opera Company are quite satistoc. with the resu.es of the Dunedin season so far, and it may be mentioned that our Citv holds the record in the matter of takings, the 'Tannhauser' receipts being in excess of those of any previous night in the colony. Overheard -at a girls' club not many miles from the Octagon : " Have you been to the grand opera?" "No; but I'm going." "What piece do you mean to see?" "Oh, Wagner." "But as you have never been before, I think you would prefer 'Trovatore' or 'Faust.'" "Perhaps; but then it sounds no much better to say that you haw heard high-class music, you know." "'

In honor of the Royal visit Cape Town decorated over twenty miles of road with flags' and poles. Several of the arches cost over £I,OOO each, and £3,000 was spent on fireworks alone. We are advised that the first conference of the Southland and Otago Provinces of the New Zealand Fanners Union will be held at Milton on the first Tuesday and Wednesday in October. The Wakari Rifles wound up their season of festivities in connection with the opening of their new drill hall 'with a ball last night, and the company are to be congratulated on the sneess of their first annual dance. Between seventy and eighty couples stood up for the grand march, and afterwards enjoyed a splendid evening. Among the officers present were lieutenantcolonel Robin, Captains Barclay, Nicolson (Dunedin Engineers) and Stoneham (Highland Rifles), Lieutenant Baron (B Battery) together with the officers of the Waikaris (Captain Washer and Lieutenant Brydone). Ihe ball was pronounced the most successful ever held in the district, and formed a fitting conclusion to the various -entertainments given fo celebrate' the opening of the hall. • Yates brothers' band played the music, and the catering was done to the Committees complete satisfaction.

_ Tho Painters' Union meet on Monday evening. . . '

The Citizens' Band will play at St. Clair to-morrow afternoon. '

iJS? Duned ™ Brass.Band will meet in the Albany street School on Monday evening.

Everyone interested in artistic house decoration should inspect the metal ceilings and wall coverings at Briscpe's.-{Advt."l At Morriington Wesleyan Church to-morrow evening the Rev. J. J. Lewi s ve an address to young men.

The High street School Ladies* Gymnastic Uub give an exhibition and concert in the gymnasium on Wednesday evening. Large variety acetylene lamps; carbide in bulk; nm brakes, free wheels; ladies' bicycles tor hire. Cooke, Howlis'on, and Co.—[Advt."| The presentation of a testimonial to Mrs R Chisholm by the citizens of Dunedin will take place at the Town Hall on Monday afternoon. anniversary services in connection with the Caversham Presbyterian Church will be held to-morrow. Soiree on Wednesday evening.

Otago Labor Day procession, sports, concert, and art union will take place on Wednesday, October 9. Announcements appear in this issue.

Gold F. wire name brooches, bangles, initial pins and rings, best in New Zealand; any name to order. Arcade, one door from Hieh street.—[Advt.l b In another column will be found particulars of a stable, which will be opened on the Ist October, for the safe-keeping of bicycles. No doubt the lovers of the wheel will take advantago of its central position, which is next the Coffee Palace.

A test of strength: The Anglo-Special Cycle forks are now exhibited at tho Anglo-N.Z. Cycle Company, 6 Princes ■ street, under special strength test. There is nothing stronger built.—[Advt.l In connection with tho opera season, the Railway Department announces that a special train will leave Dunedin for Balclutha at 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, and a passenger carriage will be attached to the jroods train leaving Dunedin for Palmerston at 0.35 ajn. on Thursday, October 3. ; Ritchie's, George street, for special reductions in ironmongery, lamps, and lamp fittings.—[Advt.l

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's first show of the season will be held next Wednesday and Thursday. The entries have come in freely, and another treat is in store for lovers of spring flowers; while as to music the Black Family have prepared a special operatic programme for each day. The catering, as usual, will be in the capable hands of Miss Murray.

Ladies are getting great bargains in household ironmongery at Laidlaw and Gray's sale of Ritchie's stock.—[Advt.]

The Central Mission celebrate their Sunday school anniversary to-morrow in the Garrison Hall by special services. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair will conduct services morning and evening. In tho afternoon a children's cantata, "The Lesson of the Lilies,' will be rendered, and solos and recitations will be given by tho children. There will be special hymns at all the services by tho scholars, assisted by the Mission choir and orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr C. D. Ross. The offerings throughout the day will be on behalf of the Sunday* school. James Ritchie's patent open fire grate is to be seen burning daily at bis store, Government Insurance BuiMings (entrance from Rattray street).—[Advt.] On Sunday and Monday next a company of young women, under the direction of Adjutant Garnor, of the Salvation Army, of Christclmrah, will visit our City, and their visit will be a special feature in the services held in Die barracks to-morrow (Sunday). At the afternoon service a number of sacred songs, solos, and choruses will be introduced; in the night meeting, also, the company will take a prcminent part. On Monday night the melodists give a two-hours' programme.

Frank Hyams is more determined than ever to clear his stock, so gives fresh inducements to the public. See the 30s and 60s window display.—[Advt.] * Amongst the questions sent in for Mr Sulley to answer on Sunday next are the fol-lowing:—-If there is no Hell or punishment where was the rich man's soul (Luke xvi. 19-31)? Explain Matthew x., 28; Matthew xxv., 46; Revelation xx., 5; xxi., 8: xiv 13.—[Advt.] ' Mr Morris, photographer, Princes street, Dunedin, finds it is not generally known that his charge is one guinea per dozen for cabinet portraits of children. Any extra charges axe for vignettes, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing.—[Advt.] Wardell Bros, and Co. sell their best tea at 2s. Have you *ried it?—{Advt.]