RETURN OF LAND IN THE COLONY SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, C-07

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RETURN OF LAND IN THE COLONY SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT IN THE SEVERAL PROVINCES OF NEW ZEALAND.

(Return to tin Order of the House of Representatives, No. 77, of 2'2nd August, 1870.) That there be laid on the Table of this House —" A Return of tho Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the various Provinces of New Zealand, and the County of Westland ; such Eeturn to show tho amount of Land over which the Colonial Government has control, and also the quantity over which the Native Title has not been extinguished." (Mr. Mervyn.)

WELLINGTON. 1871.

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RETURN OF LAND IN THE COLONY SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT.

No. 1. The Hon. W. Gisbobne to the Supebintendents of Provinces. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 24th August, 1870. I have the honor to transmit to you the accompanying copy of an Order of the House of Eepresentatives, No. 77, of the 22nd August, 1870, for a Eeturn of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement, &c, and to request that your Honor will be good enough to furnish me with the information as regards the Province of , in order that a Eeturn may be compiled for the House of Eepresentatives. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, . W. Gisbobne.

No. 77-70. — Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Monday, the 22nd day or August, 1870. Ordered, "That there be laid upon the Table a Eeturn of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the various Provinces of New Zealand, and the County of Westland ; such Eeturn to show the amount of Land over which the Colonial Government has control, and also the quantity over which the Native title has not been extinguished." {On motion [of Mr. Mervyri).

No. 2. Mr. E. 11. Ehodes to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, Sie, — Ist September, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular No. 70-2287, 24th August, 1870, and, in reply, to transmit herewith a Eeturn of the estimated quantity of land suitable for agricultural settlement in this Province, as requested. I have, &c, E. H. Ehodes, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Deputy Superintendent.

Eetukn of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand. 922,233 Acres.

No. 3. Mr. W. W. Tatloh to the Hon. W. Gisboene. Sie, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 7th September, 1870. I have the honor to enclose an Approximate Eeturn of lauds within the Province of Circular 70-2287. Wellington, in reply to an Order of the House of Eepresentatives, No. 77, of the 22nd August, 1870. I have, &c, W. Waeing Tayloe, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Deputy Superintendent.

Enclosure in No.* 3. Approximate Betubn of Lauds within the Province of Wellington. Purchased from Natives ... ... ... ... 2,360,000 acres. In the hands of Natives ... ... ... ... 4,840,000 „ Under the control of the Provincial Government: — Agricultural ... ... ... ... 631,000 „ Pastoral ... ... ... ... 507,000 „ The confiscated lands are not included in this Eeturn. J. G. HoLDSWOETH, Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 3rd Septomber, 1870. Commissioner of Crown Lands. Note. —With the limited information at my command, it is very difficult to estimate the proportion of agricultural lands out of the total still in the hands of the Natives ; one-third would probably be a safe estimate—say for'the whole Province there are, including G-overnment and Native lands, 2,250,000 acres of agricultural lands.-—J.GKH.

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RETURN OP LAND IN THE COLONY

70-2287, 24th Aug., 1870.

No. 4. Mr. A. Greenfield to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 10th September. 1870. In compliance with the request contained in your Circular No. 70-2287, of the 24th ultimo, I have the honor to forward herewith a Eeturn of the estimated quantity of land suitable for agricultural settlement in the Province of Nelson, and at the disposal of the Government; also showing the quantity of land over which the Native title has not been extinguished. I have, &c, Alfred Greenfield, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. For the Deputy Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 4 Retttbn of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in this Province (Nelson), and at the disposal of the Government; also showing the Quantity of Land over which the Native Title has not been extinguished. Acres. Blind Bay ... ... ... ... ... 2,000 Golden Bay ... ... ... ... ... 2,000 Motueka Valley and tributaries ... ... ... ... 2,000 Buller Valley and tributaries ... ... ... ... ... 100,000 Mokihinui ' ... ... ... ... ... 5,000 Karamea ... ... ... ... ... 20,000 Grey Valley and tributaries ... ... ... ... ... 200,000 Amuri ... ... ... ... ... 5,000 Total ... ... ... ... 336,000 Unalienated Native Land ... ... ... ... ... 150,000 H. C. Daniell, Crown Lands Office, Nelson, 9th September, 1870. Commissioner.

No. 5. Mr. W. A. Tolmie to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Province of Otago, N.Z., Sib, — Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 14th September, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, and to furnish a Return of the estimated quantity of land suitable for agricultural settlement, Ac., in the Province of Otago. I have &c, W. A. Tolmie, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Deputy Superintendent.

Enclosure in No. 5. Return of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the Province of Otago, showing the Amount of Land over which the Colonial Government has control, and also iho quantity over which the Native Title has been extinguished. A. B. P. Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement ... ... ... 834,755 2 32 Amount of Land over which the Colonial Government has control ... ... 822,200 0 0 Quantity of land over which the Native Title has not been extinguished ... 12,585 2 32 J. T. Thomson, Ch. Com. W.L.B.

No. 6. Mr. C. Hoos to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Sib, — County Chairmcin's Office, Hokitika, 20th September, 1870. Referring to your letter No. 452 of the 24th ultimo, enclosing an Order of the House of Representatives for a Eeturn of the estimated quantity of land suitable for agricultural settlement, I have the honor to forward herewith the enclosed Return, which has been compiled by the Chief Surveyor of the County. I have, &c, C. Hoos, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman of the County Council.

SUITABLE POR AGRICULTURAL SETTLEMENT.

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Enclosure in. No. 6. Ketubit of the Estimated Quantity of Land in the County of Westland suitable for Agricultural Settlement. Acres. Area of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement still unsold ... 175,000 Area of Land over which Colonial Government has control ... ... Nil. Area of Land over which Native Title has not been extinguished ... Nil. Malcolm Pkasee, 17th September, 1870. Chief Surveyor. Note. —There is a large extent, perhaps 500,000 acres, of timbered terraces and hill sides, which, though land of fair quality, cannot strictly be termed suitable for agriculture.

No. 7. Mr. G. S. Coopee to Mr. "Wemtss. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, Wellington, 18th August, 1871. No. 734. —Please reply by first opportunity to Circular of 24th August, 1870, re agricultural land available for settlement. Provincial Secretary, Blenheim. G. S. Coopee.

No. 8. Mr. "Wemtss to Mr. G. S. Coopek. (Telegram.) Blenheim, 2lst August, 1871. Keplt to 734. —In private hands, 162,000 acres ; Crown Lands, 25,000 acres; Native Keserves, 1,300 acres. Wemtss, Under Secretary. Provincial Secretary.

No. 9. Keturn showing the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the Province of Taranaki. Acres. Under Colonial Government control ... ... ... ... 700,000 Native Title not extinguished ... ... ... ... 700,000 Total ... ... ... ... 1,400,000 Thos. Humpiibies, Survey Office, New Plymouth, 22nd August, 1871. Chief Surveyor.

No. 10. RETtnt>* showing the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the Province of Hawke's Bay. Acres. Agricultural Lands within the Province of Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 1,050,000 Agricultural Lands in the hands of the Government unsold ... ... ... 210,000 Agricultural Land over which the Native Title has not been extinguished ... ... 85,000 Total ... ... ... ... ... 1,345,000 "Wellington, 28th August, 1871. ■

No. 11. Betueit of the Estimated Quantity of Land suitable for Agricultural Settlement in the Province of Auckland ; showing the Area over which the Colonial Government has control, and the quantity over which the Native Title has not been extinguished. Acres. Total Area of the Province of Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 16,650,000 Estimated Area over which Native Title has not been extinguished ... ... ... 10,200,000 Provincial Land available for Settlement (about one-fifth of which is considered suitable for Agricultural Settlement) ... ... ... ... ... 749,061

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RETURN OF LAND IN THE COLONY.

Acres. Land under contral of Colonial Government— Confiscated Lands, Waikato District ... ... ... 541,996 acres „ „ Tauranga District ... ... ... 82,535 „ Bay of Plenty District ... ... ... 183,372 „ „ „ Poverty Bay District ... ... ... 73,598 „ 881,501* Surplus Lands and Hokianga Scrip Claims ... ... ... ... 65,076 Lands purchased out of the sum of £180,000 allocated under the Financial Resolutions of 1856 for the acquisition of Lands in the North Island, but which have not yet been handed over to Provincial administration ... ... ... ... ... 36,667f 983,24-1 Crown Lands Office, D. A. Tole, Auckland, Bth September, 1871. Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands. • Of the Confiscated Lands, probably 108,000 acres in the Waikato District, 20,500 in the Tauranga District, and 183,000 acres in the Bay of Plenty District will be found available for Agricultural Settlement. t This quantity is believed to be much below the actual area, •which cannot, it is found, be ascertained with certainty from the only available source of information at disposal, namely, the Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 22nd June, 1870.