CROWN LANDS IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 24

CROWN LANDS IN OTAGO.

Mr J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Otago, in his annual report to the Minister, says : —

Apart from tho land opened under the Land for Settlements Act, there were 372,389 acres opened for sale or selection during tho year, being 59.755 acres le o s than during the previous year. Apart from this, an area of 188 acres was disposed of under section 114 of "The Land Act, 1892," an area of 5969 acres under section 15, and 5 acres 2 roods 23 perches under section 117. For the land opened for selection 892 applications were received, 124 of theso being successful. This does not include the applications under the Land for Settlements Acts, which are given in a separate report. As regards the opening of Crown lands in the future, it may not be considered out of place here if I draw attention to the fact that there is now, comparatively speaking, very little land in the Otago district that can be brought into the market for close settlement, especially in the central districts. It is evident beyond question that what has already been taken off the pastoral country has very materially lessened the valuo of the runs for pastoral purposes, and that if any further low country wore taken from them it would certainly result in a very large quantity of inferior land being thrown on the hands of the Crown, also the cost of rabbiting, which would be a heavy charge on the revenues of the colony. Nor do I think, as a, general rule, it is advisable to cut up any of the back pastoral country into small grazing runs, for the experience of the past has shown that, owing to drought and the rabbit pest, small areas of purely pastoral land do not pay, and sooner or later have to be thrown up and reoffered at greatly reduced rentals, and in larger areas where possible. There is a considerable area of expired, surrendered, and forfeited land— approximately, some 6400 acres— in various districts abouo to be reoffered, but the principal new lands in prospect for the present year are as follows:—77o acres, part of Run 334 a, Lower Wanaka district; 2038 acres, block XI V, Rimu district; 1700 acres, at Roys Pemn&ula, Wanaka district; 5500 acres, in blocks VII and X, Tautuku district; 2900 acres of Tain 219, Maniototo. There are also about 35,000 acres of pastoral lands, chiefly in the northern districts, at present held under tern licenses expiring Ist March, I«9J, which will be dealt with before the close of the current financial year, and about 41,UUU Peres of pasioral lands under licenses expiring Ist March, 1900, which will also be dealt with as provided by the Land Act at the end of the present year. With regard to the bush lands in Oatlins, Woodland, and adjoining districts, I regret very much to have to state that the experience of the settlers is showing that m many parts the soil is not what it was expected to be. It has been found that it will not hold the grass that has been laid down, and, this "being almost the only thing the selectors have got to look . to, the faHure in that respect is very disappointing. Bush fern appears to take the placo of tho cleared bush, and to cover the ground, choking everything else out. In consequence of this, coupled with the difficulties in the matter of roads, the "great labour of clearing, and tho wet character of the climate, the prospects of many of the settlers in these localities aro, 1 fear, rather gloomy. That they will bave great difficulty in paying their way and holding on to their sections is a certainty, and ifc will not be surprising if some of them have to succumb. Compared with settlers on open land their lot is a hard one, and every consideration compatible with the interests of the State should be accorded to them.

Tho following is a summary of the totals in respect of tho whole of the estates under the Land for Settlements Act acquired in Otago : The total receipts for the year were £9880 0s od, the total fiom the inception of the system being £L 9,353 30s 4d. The improvements on the land at 31st March are valued at £?9,414 19s Bd, the valuo of those on the land at the date of disposal being £8760 17a 2d. The selectors have therefore effected improvements to the value of £20,654 2s 6d, an average of over £70 for each selector. The following areas have been cultivated during tho year: 5273 acres in oats, 6665 acres for wheat, and 1926 acres for root crops ; making a total of 13,? 64 acres. The houses erected number 222, with 685 souls resident on the estates. From a perusal of these statistics and the detailed returns, Mr Maitland thinks it will be conceded that, upon the whole, the progress made on theso estates is very satisfactory, and that there is in them, taken altogether, the elements of permanent success.

Of the Pomahaka estate Mr Maitland writes: — "The Crown Lands Ranger reports that considerable progress has been made on this estate during the past year in the erection of buildings, fencing, and cultition, and that both cereal and root crops have done remarkably well, notwithstanding the somewhat late and backward character of the season in that part of the district. Up to the present only one selector has threshed out his crop, which has yielded 45 bushels of oats per acre. The ranger also states that with few exceptions the settlers are doing very well. An area of 1039 acres and 21 perches previously abandoned has been reallotted during the year to three selectors, leaving now unlet four sections with an aggregate area of 1225 acres and 12 perches. Three of these sections, however, were withdrawn from sale in order to have portions of them sown with turnips as an exposition of the quality of the land. This resulted in an excollent crop, which was sold by tender, to be eaten off by the end of August, for the sum of £380, equal to a. little over £1 12s an acre — a sum that, with the recovery for tho value of fencing when the land is reopened for selection, will more than cover the expense incurred ; while the test has proved that, with proper management, the Pomahaka Downs estate can be made to yield fair returns, and may be successfully farmed. The four unlet sections are to be reopened for selection in August, with possession on the Ist September, when it is confidently anticipated they will bo all taken up. From the returns it will be seen that the value of improvements effected by lessees has increased by £955, and the total area cultivated by 721 acres. The total receipts for the year were £741 18s lOcl, the total annual rental at the present time being £1013 Is for 6013 acres 3 roods 8 perches, held by 23 selectors, exclusive of 326 acres 1 rood hold under two temporary licenses at £6 per annum. The settlers who are in arrears with their rents are expected to reduce the bulk of their indebtedness as soon as thov lia\e realised upon their crops. It will 1,0 nciif^il tlv.it (h^ro has been an increase in Ihe .ii(3.i nC ies,cr\cs during the year of 11 acres 2 ioccls 4 porches for school and road purposes. Nineteen houses have been erected on the c&latc, and there aro 69 souls resident."

On the 9th inst. over four tons of fish were shipped from the Napier railway station for various townships north and beyond Wanganiri. There arc now five steam trawlers working al Napier, and others are expected