LANDS AND SURVEY REPORT.

Southland Times, Issue 19185, 24 October 1903, Page 4

LANDS AND SURVEY REPORT.

The Report of tho Department of JLands and Surveys for 1903 is now to hand, -ihd' contains a mass of interesting information, from which wo make i, a ' briefl selection. During the year there were 403 selectors of land oh the system of occupation with tho right "of purchase, while 706 chose the lease in perpetuity. The total area either purchased or leased from the Crown was considerably over a million and a half acres. The number of selections or transactions made during the year totalled 2247, which is au increase of 88 on tho previous ye"a>, while the total area dealt with shows an increase ot nearly half a Million acres ; the average area of the holdings taken up was greatly in excess of the previous yefir's average, being 707 acres against 507. It is remarked in tho course of tho Report that in the previous year's report it had been pointed out that there was a fallingoff in % the number of selections and revenue under some of the systems oi land tenure, and that this was duo to the fact that suitable land had become' scarce. It will be readily •understood that this argument has even greater force as regards tho operations of the last financial year, and it will be accepted as a gratifying and reassuring circumstance that in the face of the disadvantages of remoteness and inaccessibility of the lands thrown open, the people arv? as eager and determined as ever tb acquire holdings for settlement and utilisation; The humber of leasehold tenants "on the books .of the Department has increased steadily from 12,735 in 1892 to 19,594: in 1903," and the amount of revenue collected last year exceeds that of any of the preceding eleven years, totalling as it did £448,380. These figures demonstrated the satisfactory nature of tho past year's transactions. The operations of the last live years under the three systems of land tenure may be tabulated as follows : — Occupation with right of, purchase.

It will be observed that the system of occupation with, the right of purchase is the most popular of tho three. The cosh sales show a decided decrease,' fpw people being now willing to pay for the land right out rind wait until they have effected the required improvements within the prescribed seven years before .• securing the title- Anyway, the only opportunity afforded the public of directly acquiring the freehold of Crown lands .occurs when town, suburban, and village lands are sulj-. mitted to competition by auction foi sale for cash ■; or iv cases whero email areas of rural lands are allowed to be acquired under special circumstances recommended ;by the Lam! Board aud approved by the Minister; co* where advantage is taken of exercising the right of selection on the cash tenure from amongst areas opened under the optional system of tho Land Act of 1892. The grand total .area of Crown lands which have been converted into freehold by sale since the foundation of the colony iy twenty-four and a half million acres. Of the Village Settlements system the Report states that it has received more attention and prohabljaroused greater interest than any other, and when in former years the Crown was possessed of land adapted by quality and situation for the purpose, villages were established throughout the length and breadth of the colony. They were formed under the various tenures, and those j tinder the village homestead, perpet- j ual lease, and lease in perpetuity j Systems are subject to periodical inspection and report. Last year there were 92 transactions, covering an area of 2119 acres. The total number of holdings is 1889, with an area of 35,554 acres and an annual rental of £5579. The CJ-overnment extended assistance to the village-set-tlement holders, advancing them over £15,000 to enable them to erect dwellings and bring their lots into cultivation. The total value of improvements effected is said to bo £168.000, and the system as a whole stands as an achievement of industry e^xd thrift. In the early part of this year the Government decided to throw open a certain area of suitable land for co-operative workmen on improved-farm-settlement conditions. In the provinces of Wellington, Taranaki, and Auckland suitable land was chosen, and it is now being allocated amongst the cooperative workers, provision having been made for 253 holdings. During the year the Land Purchase Board handed over to the Lands and Survey Department 16 estates, > comprising^* an area of 91,000 acres. Of these estates 12 were opened foi selection, together with 10 other estates not previously ready; the total making an area of 78,000 acres. The bulk of these areas were disposed of among settlers o,n lease. In Ota-go the Windsor Park, comprising 6000 acres, was all taken up by 48 selectors, who pay an annual rental of £2500. Of the work carried out in the Magnetic Observatory. Christchurch, the Report speaks in complimentary terms. The Observatory is working in conjunction* with the expedition of the Discovery, now near the South Pole.. JScientific societies at Homo . and abroad commend the work accomplished by the Observatory and express admiration of the public spirit and appreciation of scientiiic work manifested I>y "the Government in constructing and maintaining the institution. In the Southland district there aro stated to be 1725 settlers on Crown lands, holding 1,760,000 acres, and paying annually £20,390. During the coming year the Chief Surveyor expects to open 9500 acres for settlement in the Waiau and Long-wojbd • districts, and about 2000 acres in the Alton, 'and Lillburn districts. On Stewart Island a few thousand acres may. be .opened, ; if the land .isrfpund suitable. The whole of the area, to hie opened is bush land. The Chief Surveyor also contemplates reserving the whole of t h e Sounds district as a national park. Though the proposed reservation is an extensive one, it is tc* he noted that the country is excessively rugged .- and unfit for pastoral jDniirposes owing to its high altitude aiwi inaccessibility, it is proposed to stock it with, a big game for tho benefit of tourist's, "lrom which source a considerable revenue is expected.. In tho Southland district there are five settlements purchased by the Government under the Lands for Settlement Acts. Of tho Merrivale settlement tho Reportstates that the future prospects aro excellent, and" a similar remark applies to the I'M ngwny estate. Tho prospects of the Otnbu settlers are not regarded as at aU encouraging, and the conditions and prospects of •the Beaumont selectors are classed us

poor. Tho Glenhain settlement's prospects are reported as fairly good, and they will be considerably better when more selections are taken up.

The State Forest branch continues to- do good work in the planting of trees. Tho provisions made by Die Department to supply the place of the timber that is being removed in such quantities from our forests are of the. highest importance. The Chief Forester draws attention to tho necessity of taking steps to preservo the colony's scenic beauties, which ■suffer annually through tho ravages of stock and fire. The House is at present taking this question up, and doubtless the Scenery Conservation Bill will meet the requirements of the situation- It may bo remarked in conclusion that the Report is embellished with some handsome- "process" illustrations of New Zealand scenery.

Jfear. Number of Area in , selectors. fccres. 1899 458 109,949 1900 395 117.771 1901 673 "262J729 1902 447 12.8?893 1903 403 118J557 Lease in perpetuity (excluding sufr division of land for settlement. Year. Number of Area in , ' ' selectors. acres., 1899 362 99,262 1900 " 348 111,108 1901 295 97,138 1902 211 65.468 1903 285 108,065 ' Purchased for Cash. Year. Number of Area in purchasers. acres. 1899 114 17.824 1900 95 16,r>10 1901 127 37,862 1902 237 2(5,739 1903 79 15,348