LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 35

L AND FOR SETTLEMENT.

(From Our Own Correspondent^ WELLINGTON, July 18.

Tho report on the- Land for Settlements Act states that 51 estatea were offered during tlie year, the total area of the land boing 534,682 acres. Of that 47,192 acres were declined, not recommended, or withdrawn, leaving 487,490 acres, of which an area of. 271,905 is under consideration and an area of 215,580 acres was recommended for purchase, including with this area part of the land pffored in the previous year. Twenty-four estates were recommended for purchase, with the result that the offers were accepted for 13,. or an aggregate area of 102,204 acres for th» sum of £582,115. Of the other 11 estates, the owners of throo declined tho prices offered, the owners of five have the- offers made them, under consideration, and in the case "of thre& estates no offers have been made. The names of the estates purchased are: — Karapiro, Willow?, Mahora, Starborough, Richmond Brook, part of Flaxbourne, Waikakahi, Tamai, R.S, 20184, R.S. 2682, U.S. 36228, R.S. 36469, and part of Elderslie. With the exoep* lion of Richmond Brook, Tamai, and Elderslie, now under survey, possession of all was given within tho year under review.

The total purchases under the Land for Settlements Act since its commencement are 62 estates, containing an area of 256,829 acres at a cost of £1,250,647 for land, and £53,862 for road formations, Burveys, and administration, in all a total of £1,304,509. The limit; of "appropriation fixed by the statute, which expires on 31st March, 19CMV is £2,000,000. There is, therefore, a balance of £695,491 available for additional purchases up to that" date, after which no new business can be entered upon. Recently there have been several large estates offered, which, if purchased, will, together with the price to be paid for tha Hatuina estate, and the offers to purchase now under consideration by several land owners, if accepted, absorb the greater portion of the above sum. The areas offered in the different provinces were as follows:—' Auckland, 145,710 acres ; Hawke's Bay, 2914 ;| Wellington, 16,336; Marlborough, 14,231; Westland, 627; Canterbury, 222,316; Otago t 114,267; Southland, 18,281.— Grand total, 534,682 acres. A report from, the Surveyor-general is appended. Mr Percy Smith says it appear* that there have been 35 selections in the es tates acquired prior to March, 1898. Of tlv. four estates at that date which showed tht largest amount of unselected land — viz., Okania, Pomahaka, Otahu, and Beaumoni (total 12,896 acres), 7592 acres have been se lecled during the year, which,- together with other selections, only leaves in the hands or the Government 4759 acres. The forfeiture* for non-compliance with the conditions of tlu leases, together with surrenders, amounted to 30, the area bo forfeited being 2643 acres, let for a rental of £463. ,Most of the forfeited sections have been re-let. The arrears of rent on. 31st March amounted to £2938, owing by 134 lessees." On the 31st March there wer« 3077 persons residing on 4 the estates purchased, the number of houses being 813, while the value of improvements on the estates amounted* to £129,133. The annual rental receivable is £57,747. If the whole of the lands were let the rentals would- bring in a return of 5.17 per cent, on the capital invested. The rentaU of land actually let are bringing in a return of 4.8 per cent, on the amount invested. Aa much of the land unlet at 31st March has.since been disposed of, the rentals at the present are actually bringing in 5 per cent, on the capital sunk in them.

Mr George Brookman has made a gift of £10,000 towards the erection of a new and) separate building for the School of Mines and Industries at Adelaide.

Three boys who were arrested at Melbourne recently for the alleged .theft of worth of engineers' tools made an extraordinary statement to the police. One of tha lads, aged nine years, made a confession to the effect that they intended stealing* tha hor3e and cart of a blacksmith, then clear ouia his hen-roost, and having raised money by selling the tools, bolt to Gippsland. and take UQt a selection for farmino.