RURAL FREEHOLD LANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 21

RURAL FREEHOLD LANDS.

OWNERS NUMBER 46,922. WHAT THE DOMINION IS WORTH. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 28. A comprehensive return relating to the freehold lands of the Dominion, as thoy are . hold on Ma.rch 31, 1910, was presented to * the House of Representatives this afternoon. Exclusive ■of freeholdings in boroughs and townships, there was an area of 19,575,281 acres, which was held by 46,922 persons. The improved or capital value was £119,097,455, and the unimproved value was £85,111,019. The number of holdings- of from five to 10 acres was 4051, and 4001 owners held areas of from 10 to 20 acres. The largest numhjr of owners in one class was 8865, who held from 100 to 200 acres, aggregating 1,239,932 acres; 5602 owners held blocks of 200 to 320 acres, totalling 1,399,798 acres, and 3712 owners held blooks of 320 to 500 acres, totalling-1,478.097 acres. The laTgest acreage in any one class was 2,487,571 acres, held by 1748 owners of blooks of from 1000 to 2000 acres. Freeholdings exceeding 2000 acres were held as follow:

The following table shows the increases in the number of freeholdings and of the improved value of their lands since 1883: Improved Year. Owners. value."

The total capital values and unimproved values to the nearest million pounds of all land in the Dominion is shown in the following table:

This table shows that in 32 years the value of the employable surface of the Dominion has been nearly trebled.

Total area. Class—Acres. Owners. Acres. 2,000-3,000 ... ... ,.. 564 1,276,0?.2 3,000-4.000 ... ... ... 281 1,975,841 4,000-5,000 ... ... ... 161 714,332 5,000-6.000 ... ..; ... 99 547,077 6,000-7,000 ... 84 533,165 7,000-8,000 ... 51 384,418 8,000-9,000 ... .. ... 40 336,927 9,000-10,000 ... 32 311,494 10,CO0-15 ; O00 ... ... ... 82 993,549 15,000-20,000 ... 39 667,832 20,000-30,000 ... 28 683,368 30,000-40,000 .. 5 175,001 40,000-50,000 ... 6 262,565 50,000-75.000 ... 9 560.250 75,000-100,000 ... 2 166,906

18*3 ... . 30,76* £ 53,350:812 1886 ... . .. ... 34,450 53,658,6S9 1889 . ... 37,432 52,575,203 1892 ... . ... ... 38,935 74,626,682 1906 ... . .. ... 45,068 95,890,533 1910 ... . 46,922 119,097,455

Year of Capital Unimprovod valuation. value. ■ value. 1.878 £63 1882 , ... ... 101 1885 .113 ■ . 1888 . ... ... Ill £ 75 1891 122 V6 1897 ... ... .. 139 84 1902 155 95 1906 ... 218 137 1910 ... . ... ... 278 175