CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT (REPORT UPON THE, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1883.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, C-01

Cr—lf.

1883. NEW ZEALAND.

CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT (REPORT UPON THE, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1883.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Secketaky for Cbown Lands to the Hon. the Ministee of Lands. Sik, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 30th June, 1883. I have the honour to forward the annual report and returns of the Crown Lands Department for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1883. I have, &c, James McKehbow, The Hon. W. Eolleston, Minister of Lands. Secretary for Crown Lands.

EEPOET. The history of the dealings with the Crown lands for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1883, is similar to that of the last few preceding years, inasmuch as the main object sought has not been so much the raising of revenue as to promote the occupation of the Crown lands by a resident proprietary. The efforts put forth in this direction and the success attained in settling a population on the soil will be detailed hereafter. But, before entering more particularly on this and the other topics of the report, it is gratifying to observe, in the general results of the year, that, although the cash sales have been considerably less than those of the preceding year, there has been little or no falling-off in the number of selectors on the settlement conditions of the rural deferred-payment and agricultural-lease systems. While touching on the more important general transactions of the year, notice must be taken of the several extensive sales of the leases of runs in Otago, Southland, and Nelson. These sales close for a few years any further extensive dealings with the pastoral country. In the tables appended will be found the statistics of the eleven land districts of the colony. Before alluding further to the contents of these tables, it will be convenient to show, under the Various heads enumerated in the following abstract, the aggregate results for the year :— Land sold on immediate payments — a. e. p. Purchasers. Scrip. Cash received. Town lands ... 149 2 4 sold to 289) & s. d. & s. d. Suburban lands ... 1,685 218 ~ 209 4,537 3 3 227,210 17 6 Eural lands ... 164,337 12 „ 1,020J Land sold on deferred payments— a. e. p. Purchasers. Agricultural - ... ... 66,947 1 1 sold to 4841 Pastoral ... ... ... 13,178 015 ~ 16 Village settlement ... ... 314 0 8 ~ 64- 72,376 1 8 Deposits on the above, and instalments from selections current from former years ... ... ... ... ... j Agricultural leases on gold fields— 4,879 acres, leased to 42 selectors. Rents from these and from selec-1 r „,-,„ ~ „ tions current from former years ... ... ... j Homestead— 4,378 acres, selected by 38 persons ... ... ... Nil. Pastoral rents — From 10,969,459 acres held in 1,030 leases ... ... ... 128,463 11 6 Miscellaneous — Coal and mineral leases, royalties, timber licenses, &c. ... ... 5,500 0 0 £439,389 10 8 Land Sold, The cash sales of Crown lands, both in area and receipts, for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1883, are considerably less than in each of the three previous years, in which, singular to say, the areas sold were almost identical, being a little over 197,000 acres for each year. This year the area sold is 166,172 acres, or 31,000 acres less ; while the receipts are £227,211, or £9,288 less than the average of the three years referred to. The first reason which may suggest itself in explanation of this would be the dearness of money during the period in question; that, no doubt, I—C. 1.

C—l

2

had an adverse effect; but a more, efficient cause has been the withholding of about 300,006 acres in the North Island as bonus for railway projects under the Eailways Construction and Land Acts, 1881 and 1882. Of this area, 50,000 acres were in six different localities, surveyed, mapped, and roaded ready for settlement, and which would have been offered and been mostly disposed of within the year but for the reason named. ' Notwithstanding this, however, it would have been easy for the department to have come up to and even considerably exceeded the averages quoted had the object been to show a large revenue return; for in the Forty-Mile Bush alone there are 50,000 acres surveyed and mapped, and 40,000 acres of open, well-grassed agricultural land in Otago, surveyed and mapped, nearly all of which would have sold readily had it been offered. But to offer bush lands for sale before they are opened out by road-clearings and formation is either not to sell at all, or only to sell to those who can invest their money and wait till the general progress of the country brings roads and occupation nearer, enabling them to re-sell at a profit to the actual settler, who is to clear the ground. Open lands of good quality will always sell, whether roaded or not, for in a country of hills and valleys there is ever a strong desire to possess the low-lying arable lands. But the sale of the land in a wholesale manner, and the settlement of a population on it who will increase its productiveness manifold, are two very different matters. The latter can only be assured by taking some guarantee of the purchaser that the Crown grant of the land will only issue on conditions of residence and cultivation being fulfilled. This necessarily implies a limitation of the area to be occupied by each settler, and also that the land should be made accessible by roads before being opened for selection. The disposal of any given area of the Crown lands in this manner promotes the actual settlement of the country far more than the indiscriminate sale of three or four times the area. It is but too patent ■ —indeed it may be said as a rule—that the Crown lands have been pushed too rapidly into the market. The consequence has been the purchase of large areas by individuals and the creation of estates which in many cases are vast and unwieldy relative to the ability of their possessors to cultivate or improve them. A large freehold in such a case, enclosed by a ring fence, in an agricultural district, and held merely for the natural pasture, is almost as great a drawback to that district as though the same area was occupied by a lake or swamp or other natural obstacle ; for there is no population to co-operate in the support of church, school, mill, local tradesmen, and the other conveniences which render success possible to the ordinary settler. It has always been found most difficult to establish settlement in a district of big estates. On the other hand if, by a judicious admixture of land on settlement conditions and for cash, a district once gets a start from a few resident settlers, the subsequent inflow of more settlers comes almost as a matter of course. The settlement of the Waimate Plains is a good illustration of the advantages of first preparing the country by opening of roads through it, and then offering it for selection in sections on the settlement conditions of deferred payment, residence, and cultivation, alternating with sections obtainable on immediate payments. In October, 1881, the first block of 8,500 acres was opened for sale; about one-third of the intervening sections were on deferred payment; a few days after they were allotted the remaining sections were offered for cash. Every few months since block after block has been submitted for selection and sale on the same principle, and up to the 31st March last 360 sections, of an area of 24,328 acres, has been sold on deferred payment for £102,608, or an average of £4 4s. 4d per acre. For cash there has been sold an area of 46,954 acres, realizing £190,751, or £4 Is. 3d per acre ; of town and surburban lands, 526 acres, realizing £15,837 ; or a total of 71,808 acres, and £309,196. It is worthy of note that of the 360 selectors on deferred payment only eleven have forfeited, the cause in several instances being that the selectors never did anything but pay the first deposit. The roading of the land has been kept in advance of the sales. About sixteen miles of road are metalled, thirty miles formed, and over a hundred miles of bush roads felled one chain wide, in some cases two chains, and a cart-way sixteen feet wide cleared in centre of road reserve, with side cuttings and culverts where necessary. The cost of these bush roads through Crown lands and the Native reserves has been £8,465. Mr. G. F. Eobinson, the officer under whoso direction the roading was satisfactorily conducted, and who has recently been over the Wahnate and Parihaka Districts, supplies the following statistics of population, exclusive of Maoris and Armed Constabulary : — T , ~. Stores, Hotels, ni , , "— * sSftl "•■«-»■■ "°PUl"'°"Waimate Plains—■ Manaia Township and the village 94 30 124 460 settlements of Okaiawa and Otakeho Settlers, rural population 122 ... 122 650 Opunake District— Opunake Township... ... 60 23 83 250 Settlers, Parihaka Block ... 30 2 32 95 306 55 361 1,450 An area of 17,500 acres has been fenced into paddocks, and upwards of 5,000 acres of the bush behind the Continuous Eeserve felled and grassed. In travelling over the Waimate Plains and seeing the numerous homesteads which enliven the view, the clumps of young trees already showing up at a few of the homesteads, the numerous enclosures, the cattle and sheep, the flour-mill at Manaia, and the wonderful progress of that place, the intersection of the back bush by a complete network of cleared road-linos, and settlers' clearings in progress everywhere through it, one can scarcely realize that only some two years ago there was none of this, and where these beautiful farms, the pride of their

C—l.

possessors, now add improvement to improvement day by day the wild pig roamed by the hundred in undisputed possession. This district will have a great future expansion, not only in the cultivation of the freeholds now acquired, but in the further opening of Crown and Native lands for settlement. There are upwards of 20,000 acres of excellent level bush land surveyed and now in process of roading, preparatory to being offered for selection. And there is the very valuable estate known as the Continuous Eeserve, of 20,000 acres, the property of the Natives, the greater part of which has been sectionally surveyed, and will be offered for lease for twenty-one years on favourable terms by Mr. Thomas Mackay, the Native Trustee. He has recently leased forty-seven sections, comprising a total of 4,920 acres, at an average of 7s. per acre, and the advertisement of 13,000 acres more for leasing on the Continuous Eeserve is about to be issued. Of the Opunake and Stony Eiver Native Blocks, about 20,000 acres of open land are now under survey, and will also be offered for lease in areas not exceeding 640 acres each. So that, including Crown and Native lands, there will be in all upwards of 60,000 acres of excellent, level, well-watered lands, well-roaded, and convenient to Opunake and New Plymouth, for settlement during the coming season in these districts. Eesebves. 1. For education endowment, 113 sections, comprising 4,627 acres, were selected and set apart by Gazette notice during the year, partly in terms of sections 19 and 20 of " The Education Reserves Act, 1880," and partly in terms of section 144 of " The Land Act, 1877." 2. Twenty-one forest reserves, of a total area of 7,458 acres, were gazetted under section 144 of " The Land Act, 1877." The areas now reserved in the colony for this purpose amount to 589,298 acres. These reserves were made, not because of the value of the timber they may contain, but with a view to conserve the natural covering of bush on the mountain ranges and at the sources of streams. In the appendix to this report will be found the copy of a despatch from the Earl of Derby to the Governor on the subject of forest conservation, and covering " Eeports on Inundations in Northern Italy," ascribed in a great measure to the denuded condition of the mountains in that country. 3. One hundred and seventy reserves, of an aggregate area of 3,480 acres, were gazetted for school sites, recreation-grounds, cemeteries, gravel-pits, and the other public purposes detailed in section 144 of " The Land Act, 1877." 4. In terms of "The Auckland Museum Endowment Act, 1882," 189 town sections, comprising 210 acres 3 roods 37 perches, and 19 rural sections, comprising 16,270 acres 3 roods 27 perches, have been gazetted as an endowment for the Auckland Museum.. Settlement Conditions. The Crown lands disposed of on settlement conditions comprise the various modes of deferred payments, whether of agricultural, pastoral, or village lands ; also, of agricultural lease with right of pre-emption, and the homestead system, in which the only payment is the cost of survey—the land Being given free. In all, with the exception of the Nelson deferred-payment system (section 8, Appendix E, " Land Act, 1877 "), the settler has, either by residence on the land, or by the cultivation of a certain proportion of it, or a compliance with both of these conditions, to show that the land is selected by him for beneficial occupation, and not as a speculation to lie idle and unimproved. At the risk of reiterating what has been stated in former reports, it may again be said that great has been the success of these systems in settling a population on the land, and of causing large areas in many districts of the colony to be occupied and cultivated which, but for the conditions imposed, would certainly not have been done in ordinary course for a long time to come. The thought may occur that, if it is not the interest of people to cultivate and improve the land voluntarily, it is because it cannot be done profitably, and had therefore better not be done at all, and that the land should be sold without restriction, like any other commodity, leaving the purchaser to do with it as he likes. This view at first sight seems very reasonable, but land cannot be manufactured to order like other commodities. It is a fixed quantity in the country, and, if it will only pay to gather the natural produce of the soil in the shape of grazing cattle or sheep, no one for that purpose should get more interest in the agricultural portion than a lease, so that the land may be available for settlement when the time for cultivation comes. The value, especially of the agricultural portion, of the Crown lands keeps increasing, not alone in the ratio of population, of public works, of the refrigerating process, of improved access to the markets of the world, but in the Compound ratio of them all. It is therefore easy to see that, if no restriction was placed on the sale of Crown lands, the prime agricultural portions would immediately be bought up by wealthy individuals and companies, to hold for after-disposal, at a greatly enhanced price, to the settler whose labour is to make the soil reproductive. The future increasing value of land in New Zealand is so well assured that, if the Crown lands were exposed for sale like so much flour or sugar, the powerful organization of capital would push the individual industrious settler aside, who would never have a chance of dealing directly with the Lands Department for an acre of Crown lands. Hence the argument for the disposal of Crown lands on settlement conditions, and the justification of the department in giving so much prominence to that way of dealing with them. The function of the Land Department is not to raise so much revenue : it is to settle the Crown lands in the manner most likely to be mutually beneficial to the settlers and the country, and to prevent as much as possible any middle man coming between the department and the settler. It will therefore be unwise to afford facilities to any one to acquire large areas merely to hold for after-disposal; not that large estates are an evil where the possessor has the capital and employs it in improvement of the land. On the contrary, there are instances in nearly every land district where the drainage and reclamation of swamps and other waste places has been done, and could only be done, on an extensive scale or not at all, in which settlement on the scale of a few hundred acres woiild have been wholly impracticable. But, as a rule, it will best promote the future settlement of the country if the remaining agricultural land is so disposed of as to insure its occupation by a resident population bound

3

C.—l.

4

to cultivate a certain proportion as one of the conditions of holding the land. This principle is by no means new, and hitherto it has had its exemplification in the systems already alluded to. Up to date fully 10,000 persons have selected in all over a million acres. After deducting the area made freehold by fulfilment of conditions, and that forfeited, there remains—3,016 selectors on deferred payments, holding, on the 31st March last, as per Table 9, an area of about 456,861 acres, on which £220,634 had been paid, and a further sum of £603,668 will accrue in future instalments. Of these, 867 selectors, holding 140,909 acres, are in arrear in payment of instalments, £19,273 being very nearly £22 ss. each, or, stated in time, about an average of nine months in arrear of the due dates when the sum stated should have been paid. The law requires prompt payment of instalments every six months. Some of the Land Boards have hitherto assumed a discretion in not pushing settlers for payment under certain circumstances. This clemency has undoubtedly been carried too far in those cases where selectors have been allowed to fall behind two and three years with their payments. The capitalization clauses of " The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1882," by affording a means of relief to settlers, have done pretty well away with any reasonable excuse for not paying. Under this system any selector who has fulfilled the conditions of his license for the first three years may have the future remaining seven years' instalments treated as an annuity, and its present cash value computed, which may be at once paid and the land thereby become freehold; or, the settler may elect to pay 5 per cent, interest on that sum—the principal—with the right to pay it off in sums of £10 and upwards each half-year, until the debt is extinguished. But, instead of having to complete this operation within the original ten years from the date of the license, the Land Act of 1882 has given four years of grace ; so that there is eleven years for payment of principal and interest, or, in all, fourteen years from date of license before final payment of principal need be made. A practical example will show what a boon this mode of payment is to a settler struggling through the first few years of getting his farm in order. A B has 190 acres, for which he agreed to pay £712 10s., in twenty half-yearly instalments. At the end of the first three years, having resided on the land and fulfilled the other prescribed conditions of cultivation and improvement, and paid £213 155., in six instalments, he may capitalize the remaining fourteen half-yearly instalments, viz., £498 155.; this would be £412 7s. 2d., which he can either pay at once and obtain the freehold, or pay yearly £20 12s. 4d., being interest at 5 per cent, on that sum. The annual amount of instalments on deferred payment is £71 55., so that by capitalization the annual burden is lessened by £50 12s. Bd., and time given (eleven years) for the settler to establish himself before he needs pay the principal sum of £412 7s. 2d. Up to the 31st March last the Act had been in force six months, during which time ninety-nine settlers, holding 17,779 acres, availed themselves of the capitalization, as per Table 10 ; and more applications for the same purpose have been made since. Settlers in arrear who either cannot or will not avail themselves of these relief provisions should not be allowed to remain in possession, as it is hopeless to suppose that they could continue to occupy the land with advantage either to themselves or the public if unable to comply with terms which the Legislature had made so easy. Pastobal Defeeeed Payments. This method of disposal of the Crown lands is included under the previous heading of settlement conditions. But, as more land has been offered and purchased under this system during the last few months than what all previous transactions amount to, it will be worth while giving some particulars. The law allows of classified pastoral land being sold by public auction, in sections not exceeding 5,000 acres each, at an upset price of not less than £1 per acre. No purchaser is allowed to acquire more than the above area; he must reside on the land for the first six years; but no improvement or other condition is required of him, except, of course, of paying every six months one-thirtieth of the price of the land, the payments extending over fifteen years from the date of purchase, with the option, however, of completing the transaction at the end of ten years by paying in one sum the then remaining five years' instalments. While nothing but hill-land has been offered on pastoral deferred payment, care has been taken so to subdivide the country classified for that purpose as to secure as far as possible good homestead sites in the several sections. As yet land on this system has only been offered in the Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago Land Districts. On the 7th December, 1882, at Gisborne, in the Auckland Land District, five sections, comprising 5,589 acres, were offered, when three sections, containing 3,205 acres, were sold at the rate of £1 4s. per acre. In Canterbury Land District on the 24th April, 1883, at Christchurch, seventeen sections, containing 34,496 acres, were offered at an average upset of £1 Bs. 2d. per acre ; fourteen sections, containing 30,224 acres, were sold for £57,802, or an average of £1 18s. 3d. per acre. In Otago, on the 28th February, 1883, at Dunedin, thirty-six sections, containing 76,760 acres, were offered for sale, when twentyeight sections, containing 62,716 acres, were sold for £103,678, or £1 13s. Id. per acre. But, as the Land Board thought fit to challenge the trustworthiness of the declarations of ten persons, whose purchases amount to an area of of 25,194 acres, and a sum of £40,259, the licenses to occupy have been refused. One of the purchasers has sought the aid of the law-courts to compel the Board to issue a license to him. As the matter is now before the Supreme Court for decision it would be unseemly to offer any remarks on the subject at present. The Board has since granted licenses to two of the ten refused. Leaving eight purchasers without licenses, who have been omitted from the following enumeration, there will, therefore, be up to date eighty-two holders of 151,710 acres on pastoral deferred payments in the colony, distributed as follows:— Average Annual Instalments No. of Holders. Acres. Average Price per Acre. Payable for 15 Years. Auckland ... 5 ... 5,425 ... £1 4s. sd. ... " Is. 7*d.) . Canterbury ... 14 ... 30,224 ... £1 18s. 3d. ... 2s. 6|d. £ § Otago ... 63 ... 116,061 ... £1 9s. Od. ... Is. lid. *

5

C.—l.

From the experience gained in the disposal of small leasehold runs in Otago it would appear that almost as much annual rent can be got for a lease as the average annual instalment on pastoral deferred-payment purchases, "which become freeholds in fifteen years. Thus, the leases of six small runs near Waikouaiti, Nos. 171, 171a, 171b, 171c, 171d, and 171e, comprising in all an area of 29,310 acres of country inferior to much of that sold on deferred payment, were sold in Dunedin on the 28th February, 1883, and realized an average rent of Is. 9d. per acre. The Otago Museum Endowment of 11,000 acres, on the Taiori side of the Silver Peak Hills, was let a few years ago also at a rent of Is. 9d. per acre. Other similar cases could be quoted illustrative of the fact that about as much can be got in annual rent for blocks of four or five thousand acres as can be got in annual instalments on the pastoral deferred-payment system, which makes the land freehold in fifteen years. It has always seemed an anomaly in the pastoral deferred-payment system that, while residence should be required of the purchaser, he is under no obligation whatever to effect any improvements on the land. It would be impossible in most cases to do much in the way of cultivation, but a house and yards and some fencing will have to be done if the purchaser intends occupying the land for his own use and benefit, as prescribed in the declaration. It would be well, therefore, to have the law amended accordingly. The amendment in the direction indicated would not harass any real settler by imposing unnecessary expense on him, and it would certainly help to deter any irregular or artful arrangements contrived to defeat the spirit of the Act. Lease op Ckown Lands with perpetual Bight of Benewal. This method of disposal of Crown Lands was made law by the passing of '' The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1882." The salient points are, that a lease of agricultural land not exceeding 640 acres in extent may be had for thirty years, with right of renewal, in the following manner : The lease in the first instance is open to public competition by tender, at an upset rental equivalent to 5 per cent, on the capital value, as fixed by the Land Board, of the land proposed to be leased. Towards the end of the thirty years two valuers are appointed, one by the Board and the other by the lessee, to make valuations of the land and also of the improvements made thereon. The lessee has then the option of a renewal of the lease for twenty-one years on agreeing to pay a rent of 5 per cent, on the new valuation of the land, or he may elect to retire from its occupation, in which case the. value of his improvements has to be paid to him by the incoming tenant through the agency of the Eeceiver of Land Eevenue. Should there be no incoming tenant prepared to accept these terms the original lessee has to retain the land at the old rental until an incoming tenant is found to relieve him. The Board has, in such a case, the power of reducing the upset rent, or, in other words, the valuation of the land, so as to induce tenders from outsiders ; but there is no power to reduce the valuations made of the lessee's improvements; so that his interest is very carefully guarded by the law. The lease is renewable in a similar manner from time to time every twentyone years for ever to the original lessee's heirs or assigns, should they choose to hand it down in succession, so that in reality it is as secure as a freehold. The original lessee has, during the first six years of the lease, to fulfil residence and improvement conditions; after that he is under no obligation except paying the rent. Should the land lie outside of a proclaimed gold field the lessee has the right to purchase the land if he exercises the right between the sixth and eleventh years. The manifest advantages this system offers the settler are, that his capital is not sunk in the purchase of the land, but is all available to stock and improve it, while at the same time he enjoys all the security and permanence of tenure that freehold confers. The Act became law on the 15th September, 1882, but no suitable Crown lands were available until March last, when the expiry of the pastoral leases in Otago made a large area available. It was not till last month that any land was offered for selection on this system. On the 29th May, 103 sections, comprising 25,614 acres, of Crown lands, Otago, were open for tender, when and since twelve sections, 2,008 acres, were selected. The Dunedin High School Trustees, in terms of section 50 of the Act of 1882, offered on the sth June, through the Land Department, thirty-two sections of 2,855 acres of their Strath-Taieri Endowment, when seven sections and 971 acres were selected. Similarly, on the 19th June, the Otago School Commissioners had nineteen sections, containing 5,342 acres, of the Waikaia Education Eeserve offered for tender, when fifteen sections, containing 4,125 acres, were selected, there being no less than sixty-nine tenders for these fifteen sections. In the West Coast Land District, in the bush behind the Waimate Plains, Blocks XIII. and XIV., Opunake Survey District, fifteen sections, comprising 2,466 acres, were offered on lease on the 12th June, when and since twelve sections, comprising 1,706 acres, were selected. The tenders were in all the districts a considerable advance on the upset rent. Summarily, these results are as follows :—■ No. of Area No. of Area Average Average Section offered. Sections selected. Upset Price Tendered Rent offered. Acres. selected. Acres. per Aero of Rent, per Acre. Otago Crown lands ... 103 ... 25,614 ... 12 ... 2,908 ... 2s. 7id. ... 3s. 4d. Dunedin High School Endowment, StrathTaieri ... 32 ... 2,855 ... 7 ... 971 ... ss. Bd. ... 6s. Id. Education Eeserve, Waikaia, Otago School Commrs.... 19 ... 5,342 ... 15 ... 4,125 ... 2s. Od. ... 3s. Id. Waimate (Bush) Crown lands* ... 15 ... 2,456 ... 12 ... 1,706 ... 2s. Od. ... 2s. Bd.

♦ Blocks XIII. and XIV., Opunake Survey District,

C.—l

6

It may appear at first sight _s though the introduction of this system, especially in the Otago Crown lands proper, has not been a success; but it has to be explained that these selectors are bound to residence and improvement-conditions, and, as such, they will in most cases be the first to break the solitude of the respective blocks within which their selections lie. Moreover, all these lands lie a long way inland, and will not come within range of the railway-system for years at the earliest. But, as already mentioned, the great point in successful settlement is to get a few hardy pioneers to take root: they are soon followed by others. The introduction of the deferred-payment system in the Middle Island in 1873, as noted in last year's report, had a much less auspicious reception, and yet in ten years it has grown to the great dimensions already detailed. So in like manner will the perpetual-leasing system develop into a great system as its provisions become better known. The men who have the courage to go out and subdue the wilderness do not jump at novelties : they consider well what they are about, and look on all sides; and this system is now under that process of discrimination in the minds of many intending settlers. The mode of obtaining land under the perpetual-leasing system is by public tender, instead of by public auction, so that the selector is free from the excitement of the auction-room, and can calmly and deliberately determine in his own mind what the land is worth to him. Under this mode the selector virtually becomes the assessor of the land he is to occupy. By section 64 of " The Land Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1882," the Land Boards are empowered to apply the system of tender in place of that of auction whenever there is more than one application for the same section on the same day. The Land Board of Otago has adopted the tender-system for deciding contested deferred-payment applications, and has also had experience of it in the perpetual-lease applications. The Commissioner has testified to the satisfaction which the tender-system has given to the public so far as tried. It gives a great deal more office-work, and is attended with delays in the case of sections over-applied for, which would not occur under the auction-system, where the matter is decided in a few minutes by the bids of the interested applicants. But these are very minor objections when set against the advantages claimed for the system of tender. Grown Lands held on Pastoeal Lease oe License. There were several considerable sales of leases of runs during the twelve months ending the 31st March last in the Nelson, Southland, and Otago Land Districts. These sales, together with the more extensive lease sales of the previous year, dispose for a time of any further dealings on a large scale with the pastoral country. The runs sold last year were mostly on high back-lying country, and did not fetch the high rents which the better country brought at the sale of Otago runs in February, 1882. Table No. 5 shows that 160 pastoral licenses (leases) were issued for 1,681,760 acres. Enumerating the principal sales they are as follows : — Number Area Number Area -n i i of in of in BentalBuns offered. Acres. Runs sold. Acres. Nelson— & s. d. May 31, 1882 20 ... 171,900 ... 19 ... 156,400 ... 1,453 3 4, or 2|d. an acre. Southland— June 14, 1882 23... 182,627 ... 23 ... 182,627... 1,608 0 0, or 2£d. an acre. Dec. 20, 1882 21... 128,238 ... 17 ... 113,630... 1,033 0 0, or 2jd. an acre. Feb. 28, 1883 5... 26,408... 1 ... 6,550... 54 11 8, or 2d. an acre. Otago— Aug. 31, 1882 7 ... 74,170... 7 ... 74,170... 787 12 6, or 2|d. an acre. „ 31, „ 3... 37,308... 3... 37;308 ... 2,410 0 0, or 15|d. an acre.* „ 31, ~ 10... 195,440 ... 10 ... 195,440... 5,595 0 0, or 7d. an acre.t Jan. 19, 1883 1... 53,480... 1... 53,480... 25 0 0, or Id. an acre. Feb. 27, 1883 67 ... 1,508,720 ... 50 ... 1,033,370 ... 17,340 0 0, or 4d. an acre. Apr. 24, 1883 — ... — 8... 228,690... 1,389 0 0, or ljd. an acre. Tne large area of 475,350 acres was passed in at the sale in Otago on the 27th February, and again the same area was passed in at the sale of the 24th April. All this country is to the west of the lakes, and much of it is above the bush-line, running back into the snov^ and ice-fields. It was originally taken up in some cases by the adjacent runholders as a precaution against any one coming in behind them, and, in other cases, to have the excellent summer-pasture for a few months to work in with the lower country; but the severe losses in stock from unexpected snow-storms, the difficulties of mustering, and the liability under the Eabbit Act, have caused the abandonment for the present of this large area. Another evil, which some of the runholders in the Lake District complain of, is the attacks of the kea or mountain-parrot on their flocks. The bird is said to fasten on to the back of the sheep, and with its bill peck through the skin to the kidney-fat. Very few of the sheep attacked survive this operation, and the losses in some flocks in a year from this cause alone are stated at from 5 to 10 per cent. . Notwithstanding these drawbacks the country to a considerable extent will be taken up again, probably in larger areas than before, and for a term of fourteen, or twenty-one years. It would also much promote the disposal of this country if, after it had once been offered by auction, it remained open for application at the upset price. Under the law as it now is it can only be purchased at auction after thirty days' notice. The consequence is that, after a failure to sell, the Board usually allows some months to elapse before offering the country again. In this way the opportunities of taking up the country are uncertain, few and far between. So much vacant country imposes a heavy responsibility on the'Government in poisoning the rabbits along the margin abutting on occupied country. Fortunately a good deal of it is so shut in by lakes and fiords and bush that it can be left alone to the unmolested occupation of nature's tenants without a grudge.

* Dunedin Higli School Endowment, Strath-Taieri, and Wyndham. Otago Scliool Commissioners, Waikaia, Te Anau, and Wairaki Districts,

7

C.-l

The totai receipts from rents of runs last year was £128,463, being £54,417 less than the receipts of the former year. The discrepancy is entirely due to the large sum paid as advance rent in that year for leases which only began on the Ist March last, and from which no rent is in this year's returns. Similarly, the runs sold this year have paid in advance the rent for next year, so that it will be the Ist March, 1885, before all the runs have got back into the normal condition of paying rent for the then current year. The rental will then be according to leases now current, and to begin on the Ist March, 1884, £176,000 for 11,000,000 acres, or an average very nearly of id. an acre. Of that rental from Crown lands the Otago Land District will contribute fully £106,000; and if the rents from the runs let by educational and other public institutions in that district be added, the total income from the natural pastures of the Crown and public lands of the colony will be close on £200,000 a year from the Ist March, 1885. The pastoral area of New Zealand seems insignificant when compared with the almost continental areas of pastoral country of such colonies as New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia; but in the matter of rental none of these or the other Australian Colonies draw such a revenue from their pastoral estate as New Zealand. In a recent report by Messrs. Morris and Eanken on the Crown lands system of New South Wales, and issued by the Government of that colony, it is stated that the greatest annual revenue ever derived from 82,000,000 acres of pastoral country was £110,000, or about acre, over an area equal in extent to one and a quarter that of the entire area of New Zealand. The great increase of the revenue of the pastoral estate from the time, twenty-six years ago, when the country went a begging at Id. a sheep, till now, when the country is eagerly competed for at a rent equivalent to 2s. a sheep, is one of the most convincing testimonies of the great progress the colony has made meanwhile in the confidence of settlers. This pastoral estate, so well grassed, so well watered and healthy for stock, has in the steady export of its products been really the main basis of the colony's stability and steady progress. It is capable of still greater development, and a very effective step towards that end was the passing of section 66 of the Act of last session, extending the term of leases by empowering the Land Boards to grant leases of. runs for a term not exceeding twenty-one years, instead of for a term not exceeding ten years, as was formerly the law. (See section 121 of " The Land Act, 1877.") Commonages, Small Euns. Throughout the Otago gold fields very considerable areas, ranging from seven to twenty thousand acres each, were set apart many years ago with the object of affording grazing privileges to the farmers and others on the gold fields. Their utility in this respect has never, from various causes, come up to expectation. There is no revenue derived from them by the Government, nor would that matter much if they were really a benefit to the settlers in general, whi6h they are not. They are in charge of the County Councils for the most part, and fees are collected for grazing rights which are absorbed in expenses of management, leaving nothing for eradication of rabbitpest, the expense of which devolves on the Government. In addition to the commonages there are still larger areas withheld from occupation for various reasons, at present on the gold fields. The Government has been paying as much as 4d. per acre for the poisoning of rabbits on some of these areas, with the unpleasant foreknowledge that the same will have to be done every year while the land is commonage. A system is wanted that will enable the agricultural settlers in the plains and valleys to have an opportunity of combining grazing with agriculture, and at the same time place the country under a tenure that will make the occupant responsible and induce him to improve the country as far as practicable. The commonage system fails in both respects. The pastoral deferred-payment system in the residence condition debars an agricultural settler from occupying land under it unless he is prepared to forego his already-established home for a time, and go through an enforced residence on the land merely to comply with the letter of the law. It is very undesirable to either force or tempt settlers into such a course. It would meet the case were it enacted that there was power to let small runs not exceeding a certain area on the under-mentioned conditions : (1.) That no one should be allowed to lease more than one small run. (2.) That improvements, either in erecting houses, yards, fences, or grassing or planting, to a value bearing a certain proportion to the rent should be made during the first few years of the tenancy. (3.) That residence would be imperative for five years after the first twelve months unless the lessee resided on and farmed at least fifty acres within a given distance of the hill-land leased. (4.) That the term of lease should be not less than fourteen nor more than twenty-one years. (5.) That full valuation for improvements should be allowed at the end of the lease, the incoming tenant paying the same, unless the Government resumed the land, in which case Government would be liable. There are many areas in both Islands suitable for small runs and that would work very well in with an arable farm. In the inland districts of the colony remote from markets it may be laid down as an axiom that, to be successful, the settler must have a certain amount of grazing land, and that his main resource will be the stock he can raise. Foeest Tkees Plantations. Under the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Acts of 1871 and 1872 four land orders were issued in the Canterbury Land District, of a value of £2,434, being a bonus of £4 per acre on 608J acres planted and grown according to regulations. In the Otago Land District one land order, of a value of £237 165., was issued for 59 acres 1 rood 32 perches planted. Adding these to what was formerly reported, the total area planted, for which the bonus has been granted, is 1,928 acres 1 rood 16 perches. This work is divided among three districts, of which Canterbury has twenty orders and 1,443-J acres planted; Otago, nine orders and 360 acres 3 roods 16 perches planted; and Hawke'a Bay, one order and 124 acres planted. In the matter of planting forest trees Canterbury is greatly in advance of the other districts of the colony, for, in addition to the above results, the Planting Board of Canterbury continues its good

CM

8

work with undiminished vigour and success, as Mr. Marshmau's report in the Appendix will show. An area of 909 acres fenced, ploughed, and sown in a number of blocks in four years, at a cost of about £2 an acre, is a work well worthy of record. As explained in former reports, the Board has 18,493^ acres of planting-reserves to administer. By leasing all that is not under planting operations the funds are derived to go on from year to year with the sowing of fresh areas. The Domain Board at Christchurch has also distributed 763,034 trees since 1869, as will be seen in return furnished by Mr. J. P. Armstrong, in Appendix. From a very interesting report on the State Forest Administration of South Australia, by Mr. J. Edwin Brown, Conservator of State Forests, 1881-82, it appears that the Government of that colony has in operation a system somewhat analogous to that in Canterbury, inasmuch as the revenue —about £5,500 —derived from 239,336 acres of forest reserves is devoted to enclosing and planting parts of the reserves. An area of 4,042 acres in a number of blocks in different districts had been enclosed at date of report, and planted with several varieties of eucalypti and pines, the Eucalyptus globulus, or Tasmanian blue gum, and the Pinus insignis predominating. In the Canterbury operations the varieties sown have been blue, red, and peppermint gums, stringybark, ironbark, and wattle. In South Australia the prime object sought in these plantations is a mitigation of drought. New Zealand is fortunately free from any great apprehension in that respect, although the plains of Canterbury, as the district of least rainfall in New Zealand, could with advantage take more rain and less wind. In the treeless interior of Otago very little has as yet been done towards planting ; but about four years ago a nursery was established in Cardrona Valley, Lake County, by the County Council, and a large number of different varieties of trees have been grown very successfully, as will be seen on reference to an extract from Mr. E. McDougall's report in the Appendix. The trees distributed from the Cardrona Nursery will in a few years, as they grow up around the homesteads, add fresh charms to the attractions of a district already famous for its great natural beauty. Encouraged by the success of the Lake County Nursery the adjacent County of Maniototo applied for and obtained, about twelve months ago, 100 acres of Crown lands for the purpose of establishing a nursery. Operations have been begun on the Maniototo Plains, near the end of Eough Eidge, at an altitude of about 1,700 feet above sea-level. By growing the trees from seed, as is intended, plants will be produced acclimatized to the natural conditions of the district. The success already attained in growing trees for many years at Naseby, 1,800 feet above sea-level, is an assurance of the future of the nursery. It will be a great advantage to the settlers on the Maniototo Plains to have the shade and shelter which the growing of belts and clumps of trees will afford. Any planting on a large scale is at present beyond the means of the two counties referred to; and even if it were otherwise, ft would be better to proceed as at present, in a small way, gathering experience. It is gratifying to observe that all these public efforts in the colony, and others not enumerated, have their origin and impulse in the public spirit of local gentlemen, who render their services gratuitously. There is no department of woods and forests in New Zealand, nor is such really required in the interests of the public estate. There are no arid rainless regions forbidding the approach of the settler, and requiring an organized effort to precede him in the attempt to increase and to conserve the natural water-supply. Here the great object is to penetrate the country with roads, so that the settler may find his way in among well-watered fertile hills and valleys, long ready for his occupation if he could only get to them. It is quite proper, however, that the Government should supplement local efforts by the grant of sites for nurseries and plantations, and in some cases by money grants, always subject, however, to the condition that the local, efforts and contributions are much greater, or, in other words, that the settlers are in earnest in the matter. Whatever amelioration the climate of New Zealand may require from planting of trees can well await the effects of private and local efforts in that direction. The plantations now made and being made, more especially in the Ashburton and Selwyn Counties, and the admirable system of water-race supply through the plains there, both show how well these things are done when managed by those directly interested in them. Olive, Mulbekby, and Silk Cultube. Arrangements have been made to send between 400 and 500 young olive plants, which have been raised by Mr Armstrong, in the Public Domain at Christchurch, from truncheons imported from South Australia in October, 1881, to the Domain at Auckland, for further propagation and distribution amongst settlers in the north who take an interest in the industry of olive cultivation. The olive-tree is grown in gardens at Akaroa, Wellington, and Napier, but it is believed that it will do better in the northern part of New Zealand ; and that it is to that locality that the greatest efforts should be directed to propagate it. As bearing on the suitability of that district for the culture of the olive the following letter from Sir George Grey is copied from the Auckland Evening Star of the 3rd May, 1883 : —" To the Editor. —Sir, I have thought it might interest those who are fond of agriculture to see a part of the produce of three or four young olive-trees, and that you would allow them to be shown in the Evening Star office. A box of olives has therefore been forwarded to you. They ought to have been separated into three classes : Green olives for pickles ; small parcel olives, ripe and fit for crushing for oil; larger Spanish olives, ripe and fit for crushing for oil. But there has not been time for thus separating them. You will see, from the specimens sent, how abundantly the trees bear, and what a valuable product olives will be for this part of New Zealand. The boughs of one tree were nearly broken by the weight of fruit.—l have, &c, G. Gkey.—Kawau, 2nd May, 1883." The successful efforts of Mr. Federli, at Christchurch, in rearing silkworms has induced a considerable number of persons in that locality and in other parts of the colony to turn their attention to the subject. It has been made abundantly clear that, so far as the climate and

9

C—l

other natural conditions are concerned, New Zealand is very well adapted for this industry. Before any great development of it can take place the white mulberry (Mortis alba) will have to be extensively grown to supply the leaves, the food of the silkworm. ■ Meanwhile, as another step towards the object of establishing the produce of this industry as an export of the country, Mr. Federli was instructed to prepare a consignment of silkworm-eggs (grain) for transmission to the Agent-General in London, in order to obtain the opinion of skilled persons in Prance and Italy, and to test the healthiness of worms from the grain of New Zealand. As is well known, a disease has for many years so affected the silkworms in Europe that it is necessary to import fresh eggs from Japan every year to the value of £3,000,000 sterling. New Zealand seeks to share in this trade, and the report from the Agent-General of the outcome of the grain sent in the refrigerating chamber of the steamer "British King" in April last for the above purpose is waited for with some interest. Correspondence on the subject is in the Appendix. As it was from Japan that the department obtained the grain from which the worms were hatched by Mr. Fedeiii, the visit of the Japanese war steamer " Eiujio " to "Wellington in February last was availed of to send a parcel of cocoons and raw silk to Japan, with the request that a report might be obtained from an expert as to how the New Zealand produce compared with that of Japan. Captain Ito, who kindly undertook the commission, promised to have the parcel reported on by a skilled person in Japan, and to send back samples of silk from there. Mr. Pope, Inspector of Native Schools, is of opinion that the industry might be followed by the Natives. At his suggestion 300 mulberry plants were sent north and distributed among thirty-four Native schools. A short treatise, compiled by Mr. Federli, containing practical hints as to the growth of the mulberry and the rearing of silkworms, has been also furnished to the teachers of the schools. It is hoped that through these and other efforts the industry may be successfully introduced in the colony. It ought also to be mentioned that the Government has offered a bonus of 50 per cent, on the value realized for the first £1,000 worth of cocoons of the silkworm, or silkworm-eggs, produced in the colony. (See Neio Zealand Gazette No. 56, 21st June, 1883.) MINEEALS ON CeOWN LANDS. There are workings of coal, manganese, antimony, copper, and marble on the Crown lands; none of them, however, except coal, are of any extent. The coal deposits of the colony are of great value and extent. Large areas of coal-bearing country have become private property, but nearly all the steam and smithy coals are on Crown lands. Those of the west coast, Middle Island, by far the most valuable, whether for quality or extent, are entirely Crown property. A large amount both of public and private moneys have been expended in opening these fields, and the output, although considerable, is as yet far below what it will be once the preparatory works now in progress are completed. From statistics of the coal trade compiled by Mr. Wakefield, Under-Secretary, Mines Department, it appears that, while in 1878 the output of New Zealand coal mines was 162,218 tons, it had risen by steady progress every year to 378,172 tons in 1882. In this rapid increase the Crown lands mines maintained their position of contributing in the ratio of three-fifths of the whole ; and in point of value a much higher ratio, of course, as possessing the most of the bituminous coals. The import of coal to New Zealand for the same period, 1878-82, fell from 174,148 tons to 129,582 tons, showing clearly that, although there was a great increase in the consumption, the quantity raised in the colony more than met it, and reduced the amount imported very materially as well. leonsand. By the application of a process of treatment first tried in America it is found that the ironsand of Taranaki and Onehunga, which has hitherto baffled all attempts at successful treatment on a working scale, can be reduced directly to the puddling stage without being cast into pigs ; and that the saving thereby effected in the cost of manufacture of malleable iron will enable iron of a superior quality to be turned out on the commercial scale at a profit. An application has been received from Mr. John Chambers for a lease of about six miles of the foreshore at the north and south heads of the Manukau Harbour, and also for permission to reclaim an area of about six acres within the limits of the harbour itself for the purpose of erecting works in connection with the operations which he is now carrying on for the production of iron from the sand. In both cases the proposed leases have received the approval of the Land Board of Auckland for a period of sixty years. Owing however to the provisions of " The Harbours Act, 1878," there is no power to grant the application, as the leasing of foreshores is prohibited by that Act. It is understood, however, that application will be made to the Legislature to amend the law in this respect. The foreshore at Taranaki from Waitara for a distance of about twenty-two miles south has, in accordance with the powers conferred by "The New Plymouth Harbour Board Act, 1875," and "The Harbours Act, 1878," been granted to the Harbour Board at New Plymouth. Three leases, comprising an area of 1,120 acres, for twenty-one years, have been granted by the Harbour Board for the purpose of working the ironsand in that locality. EOADS TO OPEN UP LANDS BEFOBE SALE. This, as the heading implies, is the rendering of Crown lands accessible before offering them for disposal either by cash sale or on settlement conditions. It becomes more and more necessary to do this as the lands for selection get farther back in the bush or among the hills. There are still, after deducting useless country, about twenty-four million acres of Crown lands to deal with ; but, until opened out by the exploration and formation of road-lines and tracks, vast blocks of this area will remain sealed to any occupation or settlement whatever. The principal road-lines which require opening for the next two years are detailed in the Immigration and Public Works Appropriations 1882-83, Class V., Eoads Vote, No. 104. The progress made during the year on such of these works 2-c, i,

C.-l

10

as have been entered on will be detailed in the Survey Report up to the 30fch June. But in anticipation of that a short sketch will be given here of the works in the several districts. Auckland.— North of Auckland. —There are about one million acres of Crown lands in this district. The main work under the Crown lands votes has been the formation and exploration of road from Okaihu to Victoria Valley. It is now under contract to the Waihou, at the head of Hokianga Harbour. This is an important line running across the peninsula diagonally from Kawakawa to Awanui. The line from Kaihu over Maunganui Bluff is nearly completed. This line runs through a large area of Crown lands, surveyed and mapped, and which would in ordinary course have been offered during the year for settlement, but they are now withheld as a bonus for the construction of the Kaihu Railway, under the Railways and Land Acts of 1881 and 1882. There is a block of 40,000 acres of Crown lands lying between the main Whangarei to Kawakawa Road and the coast line at Helena and Sandy Bays. A road has been run across the block from the main road, with branches to these bays. Helensville to Kaipatiki. — The river was bridged about half a mile from railway-station, Helensville, and the road is now being ditched and formed through the flats, so as to give the deferred-payment settlers a chance of going out and in to their sections. Tauranga to Te Puke and Matata. —This is part of the future main coach-line from the Bay of Plenty to Opotiki and Gisborne. It has been formed for coach-traffic to intersection with Maketu to Rotorua Road, and the formation continues on through the Pukeroa Block of Crown lands, 16,000 acres, which has been surveyed and mapped for more than a year, but is now withheld, along with all the Crown lands in the same district, for the Tauranga-Rotorua Railway. Opotiki to Waiotahi, and .Opotiki to Ormond. —This is the other and east part of the road, Bay of Plenty to Gisborne. The formation of road from Opotiki to Waiotahi is now in progress :it had been long delayed pending arrangements for taking it through private property. From Opotiki to Ormond the line has from the Ormond end been felled a chain wide, and the old track repaired to a stream about six miles beyond the Motu Bridge. Two clearings of about five acres each have been made about ten miles apart, and both they and the road have been sown in grass, to serve as feeding and camping grounds for cattle being driven through. The old sloppy track through Whitikau flats has still to be taken, as there are yet eight or nine miles of Crapp's new line unformed. The ten miles of the new line formed are of no use for through traffic until the other eight or nine are formed also. Instructions have been given to push the road through. When this is done the surveyed block at Motu Bridge should be opened for selection, and encouragement given to the establishment of an accommodation-house for travellers. Ormond to Waiapu —ls being formed from both ends as a bridle-track, and cross lines ai road have been surveyed in from Tolago Bay and one or two other points to intersection with main line. In this way the large tract of country behind the East Cape and Gisborne is being steadily opened up, despite Native obstruction. Gisborne to Waimata. —Completed to Waimata River, and settlement of block well begun. Gisborne to Wairoa. —Formed for dray-traffic from the Gisborne end to the Waihau Lakes. The rest of the line under formation, excepting the part in the middle, about five or six miles, between the lakes and Te Reinga, which is soon to be surveyed for construction. When this line is opened throughout it will allow of coach-traffic between Gisborne and Wairoa, and will render accessible several large blocks of Crown lands which at present are completely shut out from access. Buakituri Block. —This valuable block of 40,000 acres has been opened up by a road from Te Reinga up the Ruakituri Valley, and by one from the main road, near Fletcher's, running along the main ridge through the block. There are also one or two cross-roads connecting these lines now in course of formation. The block has been surveyed and will be ready for disposal in the spring. Taupo via Botoaira, dc. —This road is being formed between Taupo and Tokano around the east side of the lake : it is part of the future main road of the North Island, between Rotorua, Taupo, and the West Coast. Huihuitaha to Patetere. —Road completed for some time. Block of 11,000 acres surveyed and mapped, but withheld for bonus for proposed Thaines-Rotorua Railway. Taeanaki.—The roading in this district has been confined to the bush-blocks behind the Waimate Plains, and to the blocks of the Continuous Reserve, the property of the Natives. The felling and clearing are now proceeding over 20,000 acres of surveyed bush-lands, which will be offered for disposal as soon as the roads are cleared. Hawke's Bay.—The principal road-line under attention in this district is Tahoraite to Tautane. The exploration of the road through a hilly bush-country was completed a few months ago. It opens up an entirely new district, and runs across from Tahoraite to the coast, a distance of about forty miles. At the Tautane end, where there is a block of 59,000 acres of Crown lands, ten miles of the road are now being felled, cleared, and formed into the middle of the above area. The Puketitiri Bush has been rendered accessible by road. The Ahuturanga and Maharahara Blocks near Woodville have been opened out by road-forma-tions. These blocks have been disposed of principally on the deferred-payment system. Mohaka and Waitara Road-line is now under engineering survey. Wellington.— Otamakapua Block. —Now explored, but it is not proposed to do more at present than extend Kimbolton Road through Waitapu Block (about six miles) to the border of Otamakapua. Momahaki Block. —Roads formed, and a number of settlers on the ground. Toko-maru Block. —Main road-lines through the block formed, and most of the land opened on deferred payment, selected. Wanganui to Murimotu. —Road opened out on Field's line, from Mason's to Murimotu, for horse-traffic. Is now being widened and improved. Marion to Murimotu. —Road widened from Hunterville to Crown lands, Otairi Block, about six miles. It is intended to continue improvements on towards Murimotu.

11

C—l

Wangaehu No. 2 Block. —Eoad opened to it from district road, near Mackenzie's. The land advertised for sale on the 10th and 12th July, 1883. Mauriceville Block. —Eoad formed from main coach-road into centre of block. Land offered for selection and sale at Masterton on the 10th and 12th July, 1883. Nelson. — Gobdcn to Seventeen-Mile Diggings. —The road has been opened through Coal Creek Valley and around the Ten-Mile Bluff for pack-horses. Grey Valley to Teremakau. —Line surveyed to Kopura and via Bell Hill towards Poerua Lake and Teremakau. A track for pack-horses has been formed from Hatter's Terrace to the swamp, near Bell Hill, and a mile has been formed at Lake Poerua. Hampden to Manda. —An excellent horse pack-track, twenty-five miles in length, has been formed through this bush-district, occupied by settlers engaged in cattle-farming and mining. The track is a great boon to a good but back-lying district. Tadmor and Sherry to Buller. —Eoad-line surveyed and first four miles of formation let; other contracts being got ready. Eoad will be formed over low saddle of Mount Owen into Hope Valley, thence to the main Buller Valley. Baton to Karamea. —Work in hands of County Council. Takaka to Karamea,. —Survey of road in progress to Salisbury open. Oronoko to Bosedale. —Work in hands of Eoad Board. Mablbobough.— Aivatere Valley Boad. —The road was formed through the Shearing Eeserve, and is now being continued farther up the valley to a junction with road from Jolly's Pass. Westland. — Mapourika to Gillespie's. —Eight miles formed and about seven miles in progress. Mahitahi to Haast. —The last six miles of this line are now under contract and nearly finished; when completed there will be a good inland track from Mahitahi to the mouth of the Waita. This and the former road are parts of the future main road-line from Hokitika to Jackson's Bay, and to Wanaka (Otago) via Haast Pass. The line is entirely through Crown lands, mostly bush, which but for this opening by horse-track would be for ever hopelessly shut against the settler and miner. Mathias Pass Boad. —This line has been carefully surveyed and graded across the dividing range. On the Westland side it has been benched, and as yet is only fit for foot. On the Canterbury side the track from the pass down to the "Upper Eakaia Valley has had more done to it, but it also is only as yet fit for foot-traffic. Kumara to Beach. —This work is in the hands of the County Council. About two miles of clearing and formation have been let. Other two miles would take the road to the beach. Canterbury.— Upper Ashley over Kuku Pass. —This road is being opened out by the Ashley Eoad Board. Its course is along a series of narrow well-grassed valleys, which command a large area of good pastoral country, all on Crown lands. Oxford Bush to Upper Ashley. —This road penetrates the Oxford Bush, and crosses by a low saddle into the Upper Ashley. Clearing and formation of a little over throe miles let, in six small contracts, by the Eoad Board. When this and Kuku Pass Eoad meet they will form a through loop-line behind the front range of the Canterbury Plains. Teviotdale and Waikari. —Eoads .in these two districts were laid out to give access to the pastoral deferred-payment sections (sold the 24th April) from the main roads and railway-system. The works have been in progress since last summer, and are now well forward. Village and Deferred-payment Blocks. —Several minor works have been done in opening these blocks by the Eoad Boards of the districts in which they are situated. Otago.— Beaumont to Miller's Flat. —Eoad-works well advanced. A considerable amount of rock-cutting has had to be done, or the road might have been opened throughout. Eoads through Blocks VIII. and X., Benger, to Bun No. 106, now all settled with deferredpayment settlers, and Kelso to Block XIII., Greenvale, also settled, have all been completed. Tapanui Railway to Bun No. 140. —This run was disposed of on pastoral deferred payment, a road having previously been contoured and formed over the dividing ridge to the surveyed sections. A further sum of £500 is now being expended in the formation of the end of the road next the rail-way-line. To open up Otago and Southland Runs.- —The principal works have been in the Strath-Taieri and Nenthorn Districts. A suspension-bridge of one span, costing £3,000, is now in course of erection over the rocky gorge of the Taieri Eiver, lower end of Strath-Taieri, immediately opposite the new Government Township of Sutton, through which the Otago Central Eailway is pegged off. From this bridge a road has been lined out, graded, and formed to Moonlight Flat, thereby connecting with the Macrae's Eoad. Another road has been lined out through Eun 39a to the Nenthorn Stream, where another bridge, with suitable graded approaches, disposes of that rocky gorge, and gives access by a good dray-road to 8,000 acres of good agricultural land near Mount Stoker, sectionally surveyed, and now being mapped preparatory to disposal. These bridges and roads link together a great basin of country, which by their means concentrates on the future railway-station at Sutton ■ —a point that will be only thirty-five miles by rail from Dunedin. At present Sutton is fifty-two miles from Dunedin, by a long, dreary, toilsome road up and down steep hills to Outrain, which utterly precludes the idea of sending agricultural produce to market. The opening of the railway to Sutton will bring the Strath-Taieri District within forty miles of Dunedin, almost as near as the Tokomairiro Plain. Further up the Taieri and above Hyde a road is now in course of formation through what was a part of Eun 210, but since surveyed into pastoral deferred-payment sections, and sold on the 28th February at from £1 15s. to £3 2s. 6d. per acre. A road of four miles has been made from Cromwell Bridge up the east bank of the Clutha Eiver to the flat country up the valley. The formation of this line keeps open the through communication to the settlements of the Upper Clutha Valley independently of the bridges. Through Buns 177 and 257. —This country, known as the Waikawa Buns, contains 30,000 acres of open well-grassed valleys, at present shut in by bush and hills. The soil is good, and the country well adapted for settlers on the ordinary farming-scale. The leases fell in last year, but the greater

&:—i

12

part of the country was again let for two years, so as to give time to open roads into it. At present a road is under formation up the Tokanui Valley, which opens up the first block of 5,000 acres reserved for settlement. This road is to run on to Waikawa Harbour, a well-known inlet on the coast in the early days of saw-mills, and which will again come into prominence as an excellent harbour for coasters as soon as the surrounding country is roaded and opened for settlement. The Tokanui Eoad also runs through the Otara District to Fortrose. Through Runs 171 and 171a. —These are the Waikouaiti Buns, which under the old leases contained together an area of 37,000 acres; about 7,500 acres were reserved for disposal on sale and settlement-conditions, and are now under subdivisioual survey. The balance of 29,310 acres were re-leased in six small runs at an average rent of Is. 9d. per acre for fourteen years. The country, although close to the trunk-line of railway, is very difficult of access, the deep gorge of the Waikouaiti Biver barring approach. With careful examination a very fair road has been selected, the steepest grade 1 in 6, but that only for a short distance, the rest of the lino much easier. A bridle-track is to be formed throughout the block of 7,500 acres. The land will be ready for disposal in the spring. Education Reserves. —The Waikaia Education Beserve, of 208,000 acres, is a very valuable compact block of excellent well-grassed hill and plain. Fifty thousand acres have been reserved from the runs for settlement, of which 5,034 acres were recently offered on terms of deferred payment, and 5,342 on perpetual lease, when both classes were eagerly competed for, and nearly all taken up the first day of application and of tender. Side cuttings, culverts, and formation on the road-lines are now in hand by the Southland County Council. Southland.—Seaward Forest to Coast. —This is a flat swampy district, of 60,000 acres, long thought to be worthless, but three years ago, by fascining across the tongues of swamp, cutting drains, and road-formation, a few thousand acres behind Woodend were found to be habitable. The land was surveyed and rapidly taken up on deferred payments. The gravelling of seven miles of road-formation was finished during the year. Forest Hill Tramway. —Five and a half miles constructed by the Public Works Department for horse-traffic and light wagons'. It has been opened for some time, and is in charge of the County Council. Tenders are called for its farther extension into the Forest Hill District. Orepuhi to Wct/iau. —Five miles of road formed from terminus of railway-line to the banks of the Waiau Biver ; and 3,000 acres of Crown lands surveyed along road-line. Branch Boad to Forest Hill. —Seven miles formed and ditched at the lower end of the district, which lies into railway-station at Wilson's Crossing. Tomogalak Creek to Deferred-payment Land. —This is to give access to 2,000 acres of alluvial flat on banks of Mataura Biver, at present cut off by bluffs. Side cuttings and formation in hand, and about half done ; length of road, four miles. Land is to be opened on deferred payments. Bay Road to Otara Bush. —This is a road to the bush, situated on the opposite shore of New Biver Harbour from Invercargill. The bush was cut over by the saw-mills, and has since been sub j divided into sections of small area ; but until it is opened up by a road it would be unreasonable to offer any of the sections on settlement-conditions. Bush-clearing, ditching, and formation of two miles well forward. Bush Land East of Makareiva. —This is another area that has been cut over and then subdivided into sections for village-settlements. Bush fallen on roads, and clearing in progress. Port William to Half-Moon Bay. —The formation of a track between these two places is as much to enable the sparse population to co-operate in the matter of school and other social matters as to open the Crown lands. The work is being done in several small contracts. Genbeal and Departmental. The department has nearly 500,000 acres surveyed and mapped, and now before the public for selection and purchase under the various settlement-conditions, and for cash. An additional 150,000 acres is being mapped, and will be ready for disposal within the next two or three months; and the pioneer-roading in the different stages of exploratory surveys or actual formation is in course with regard to other blocks in each of the eleven land districts. The work has got into such a train that, if the essential work of roading is allowed to proceed as at present, there will be a constant supply of Crown lands kept up ready for settlement. During the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1883, the area of Crown lands was augmented by the proclamation of 42,918 acres of purchased Native lands, of which 3,092 acres were in the Auckland District, and 39,826 acres in the Wellington District. There are one or two other Native blocks in the latter district, the purchase of which is nearly completed, and when proclaimed will Work in very well with adjacent Crown lands. Boads have been explored in anticipation through some of these Native and Crown lands, and they can be opened out quickly whenever the time Comes. The various Crown land Sales have been well advertised in the local newspapers, and the more important have been made known throughout the colony by means of posters and plans exhibited at the post-offices and on the Crown lands advertisement-boards at the principal railway-stations. For places beyond the colony " The Crown Lands Guide " has been found to be a very effective means of making known the land-system of the colony, and of attracting attention to it. " The Crown Lands Guide " No. 4 wasissued in May, 1882, and No. sin February, 1883. Of each, 3,500 copies were printed and 1,200 copies distributed by the head office, one copy being sent to each of all the public reading-rooms of New Zealand and of the Australian Colonies, to the clubs and military stations of India, to the boats of the Union Steam Shipping Company, also to the Orient steamers, and the Peninsula and Oriental steamers trading to Australian ports, and a supply to the AgentGeneral in London, the remainder being used in the colony. The department has had, through the Australian Press and from private sources, ample assurance that the Guide has made the landsystem of New Zealand widely known.

C—l;

The office-work has proceeded in the usual routine, with an increase of correspondence with the head office and in those district offices where there is much doing in the disposal of land on settle-ment-conditions, as at Dunedin and Patea. It is a pleasure again to acknowledge the cordial co-operation of Mr. Eliott, of the Commissioners, and of the other officers in advancing the work of the Crown Lands Department. J. MoKeeeow;

APPENDICES. No. 1. Eepoet of the Canteebuey Plantation Boaed for Ten Months ending 31st January, 1883. The last report, to the 31st March, 1882, stated that the total area fenced and sown with gum-seeds to that date was,- —■ In the Ashburton County ... ... ... ... 313 acres. In the Selwyn County ' ... ... ... ... 378 „ Total ... ... ... ... 691 acres. The season's work of 1882 comprises a further area of,— In the Ashburton County ... ... ... ... 45 acres. In the Selwyn County ... ... ... ... 173 „ Total ... ... ... ~, 218 acres, Grand total to date ... ... ... 909 acres. The Selwyn County work consists of 123 acres at Eacecourse Hill, and fifty acres at Bankside, on the northern terrace of the Eakaia. Half the cost of fencing the Eacecourse Hill Block was paid by Messrs. Maxwell and Mathias, in consideration of their having had the use of the land for one season for a crop of turnips. The Board's outlay for fencing, ploughing, sowing, and seed was £165 75., or about £1 7s. an acre. The fifty acres at Bankside cost about £2 6s-. per acre, and the forty-five acres of new work near Ashburton a little under £2 an acre. We shall not be able to see for some little time what the results are of this year's sowing, but the seed went in well, and the season has been unusually favourable. In one of the blocks sown in 1881 (Eeserve 1780, Ashburton) the seed failed almost entirely, owing no doubt to its having been sown rather late, and the weather after the sowing being for two or three months very dry. This block, containing forty-eight acres, has been ploughed again this spring and resown. The Ashburton County Council advised that it should be done, but the success of the operation is doubtful. John Maeshman, The Secretary for Crown Lands. Chairman.

No. 2. List of Tbees Distributed Feee to Public Institutions from the Domain Nurseries, Christ* church, since 1869. 1870 ... ... 4,437 1877 ... ... 184,265 1871 ... .., 9,050 1878 ... ... 105,673 1872 '.., .., 11,250 1879 ... ... 75,520 1873 ... ... 13,353 1880 ... ... 36,319 1874 ~. ... 27,430 1881 ... ... 63,944 1875 ... ... 33,585 1882 ... ... 70,062 1876 ... ~. 128,146 Total for 13 years 763,034 Public Gardens, Christchurch, March 26, 1883. J. F< Abmstbong.

No. 3. Extract from the Forest Committee's Annual Eepoet on Fobest Nueseey, County of hake, Pembroke, Lake Wanaka, 28th April, 1883. Cubing the season of 1882, 18,000 seedling tree-plants were transplanted into nursery-lines and are now fit for distribution among the settlers. They consist of—Pinus insignis, 7,000; Pinus muricata, 4,500; Pinus maritima, 700; Pinus tuberculata, 300; Pinus torreyana, 50; Pinus sabiniana, 50; Cupressus macrocarpa, 2,500; Cupressus sempervirens, 70; Cupressus lawsoniana, 30; Douglas spruce, 200; Wellingtonia gigantea, 100; sycamore, 1,000; wattle, 500; ash, 400: total, 18,000. Of white-thorn seedling quicks, 100,000 superior and 40,000 smaller-sized are also ready for distribution. Bight thousand tree-plants were distributed during the season 1882, besides those absorbed (2,000) in planting permanently three additional acres of the reserve; the latter are thriving well. Five acres more have been worked into condition for permanently planting on, and the committee recommend that it be proceeded with at once. The seed-beds contain 26,000 tree-plants, the bulk of which will be shifted into nursery-lines during the present season. They consist of—Pinus insignis, 6,000; Pinus muricata, 6,000; Pinus maritima, 3,000; Pinus austriaca, 3,500; Pinus corsicana, 750; Pinus laricio, 600; Pinus pinea,

13

C—l

14

Pinus torreyana, and Pinus sabiniana, 250; larch (European), 2,000; Cupressus macrocarpa, 2,000; Cupressus lawsoniana, 150; Abies (Norway spruce), 500; Abies douglasii, 1,000; Welliiigtonia gigantea, 250: total, 26,000. This number, though considerable, is very much smaller than it should be, the cause being the large percentage of worthless seeds contained in those purchased from the dealers. Your approval of the committee's suggestion to supply free grants of trees to the local governing bodies of the public schools, hospitals, and police-quarters within the county has been made known to them. The Municipal Corporations of Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Cromwell, and the church committees within Lake County and the Clutha Valley, extending as far as Clyde, have been advised that they may obtain tree-plants at the very nominal cost of 3s. to ss. per 100 plants. This liberality on the part of the Council should at least have the twofold effect of assisting in the preservation of the buildings in charge of the bodies alluded to, and of educating public taste in the knowledge and spread of forestry. All the plants enumerated are in excellent condition, and clearly prove the fitness of the district for their growth. I have, &c, EOBERT McDoUGALL, Chairman, Forest Committee.

No. 4. The Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Sir, — Downing Street, 26th December, 1882. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, copies of two despatches from Her Majesty's Consul-General at Florence to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, respecting the recent inundations in North Italy, and the necessity for remedial measures to prevent damage caused thereby. As the subject of forest conservation is at present attracting much attention, your Government will probably find this report useful. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. Derby. Enclosure 1 in No. 4. Consul-General Colnaghi to Earl Granville.—(Eeceived 23rd October.) My Lord,— Florence, 20th October, 1882. It is impossible, at the present time, to estimate the damage done to the Venetian provinces by the recent inundations, some idea of the extent of which may be derived from the statement that two-thirds of Venetia are or have been under water. During the first ten days of the month of September the weather was fine, with occasional refreshing rain. The official reports of the state of the country, including the provinces, which were shortly to be so heavily tried, were satisfactory, the vintage promised well, and it was thought that the year 1882, if not among the most fortunate, might fairly be considered as good. In the second decade of the month, however, a change came; there was a heavy continuous rainfall, the amount of which, for Venetia and the Lombard Provinces of Brescia and Mantua, is noted below :— Number of Days' Eainfall Bain. in Millimetres. Vicenza ... ... ... 10 ... 312-7 Belluno ... ... ... 9 ... 395 Udine ... ... ... 10 ... 191-9 Treviso ... 10 ... 219-3 Padua ... ... ... 10 ... 113-6 Eovigo ... ... ... 9 ... 127-5 Mantua ... ... ... 8 ... 136-7 Brescia ... ... ... 9 ... 121-8 On the 13th and 14th September snow fell on the St. Gothard and on the mountains about Lugano, Castasegna, Santis, Domodossola, &c. The average temperature in North Italy was between 14 and 18 degrees centigrade. From the data obtained as to the quantity of rain on the North-eastern Alps, where the greatest fall occurred, the height of water may be estimated at 500 millimetres, equal to one cubic metre of water for every two square metres of superficial area. If to this be added the snow, which, rapidly melting under the influence of the prevailing southern currents, would have been alone sufficient on some points, especially in the absence of forests on the mountains, to produce floods, it is not astonishing that the inundations were of almost unexampled severity, exceeding those which occurred on previous occasions during the present century, particularly in 1801, 1823, 1868, 1872, and 1879. The present floods are said to bear the greatest resemblance to those of 1801. The Adige began to rise on the 15th September; by the 17th the City of Verona was, in great part, under water. The Venetian plains are covered with a network of rivers, torrents, and canals, in almost every instance raised above the level of the plain, which is protected from ordinary floods by embankments (" argini")' between which the waters flow. These embankments for some of the principal rivers rise to the average height of six metres above the river-bed, though at certain points they are much higher, and are from 15 to 20 metres thick. The sudden rush of water from the hills proved too much for the works of defence ; the embankments of the Adige were broken down in four separate places; elsewhere the rivers, torrents, and canals overflowed their banks, while in certain cases the dykes had to be cut, to avoid the more terrible consequences of the sudden inroad of an overwhelming body of water; railway and other communication was interrupted; bridges, houses, crops, and doubtless cattle, with, in happily but few instances, human beings, were

a—i.

swept away in helpless confusion; while the unhappy peasantry in thousands sought shelter on the embankments, or fled to the neighbouring towns and villages which still held their heads above water. The distress occasioned by this disaster is very great, and cannot be considered as temporary only. Public assistance and private charity in Italy have come in aid of the sufferers, but much still remains to be done to heal the wounds that the floods have inflicted, and foreign help would, doubtless, be most gratefully received. The sanitary condition of the inundated provinces may also give cause for anxiety. In the midst of the sudden confusion caused by the inundations, the authorities of every grade appear to have done their duty, the conduct of the army being especially deserving of praise. Wherever life and property had to be saved, where provisions had to be carried, or where the embankments had to be defended, there the troops were to be found working with courage and abnegation under the command of their officers. I have, &c, D. E. Colnaghi,

Enclosure 2 in No. 4. Consul-General Colnaghi to Earl Gkanville. —(Eeceived 26th October.) My Loed,— Florence, 23rd October, 1882. In continuation of my despatch of the 20th instant, relating to the recent inundations in North Italy, I have the honour to add some observations taken from an Italian periodical, " The Bulletin of the Triennial Society for the promotion of Silviculture in Italy,"* on the augmentation of floods since the mountains have been disforested. The society of which this "Bulletin" is the organ was founded by the Senator Torelli, author of the great map of the malaria in Italy; and it has at its head, as honorary president, Signor Quintino Sella, the well-known Italian statesman. I have endeavoured to summarize, as briefly as possible, the writer's remarks, which he has to preface with the confession that the society has failed to interest the Italian public in its object. " The 'Bulletin' was founded for the purpose of attracting, if possible, public attention to one of the great causes of inundations, the inconsiderate destruction of woods and forests. With this view a few gentlemen formed an experimental society to last for three years only, hoping to constitute later a permanent association. The experiment has unfortunately failed, and the Society will cease to exist in the month of April next. " The immediate cause of the recent inundations, the disastrous consequences of which will be felt for many years to come, was the heavy rains that fell on the North-eastern Alps during the second and third decades of September last, but their effect was greatly aggravated by the denuded condition of the mountains. From a well-wooded mountainous area the same mass of water would not have been precipitated to the plain with equal velocity as was the case from an area bare of trees. It is evident that, where woods exist, a certain quantity of water must be absorbed by the vegetation, while the larger portion, though it indeed descends, does so gradually, thus making an important difference in the volume of the floods. Paleocapa, the distinguished Venetian engineer, placed this truth in evidence, as far back as 1845, in a lecture delivered at the Venetian Institute of Sciences, Literature, and Art, on the diminished carrying capacity (' portata') of rivers. Citing as examples the Venetian rivers Sila and Brent a, he proved that their carrying capacity was diminished, and that the floods were higher and the average flow lower than formerly, which he unhesitatingly attributed to inconsiderate disforesting on the mountains. " Another Italian celebrity, Lombardini, has furnished almost mathematical proofs of the same fact in his studies on the Lake of Como. The Como basin, containing a superficial area of about 70 square kilometres, receives eight-tenths of its waters from the great valley of the Adda, which extends for more than 100 kilometres from Colico, near which place the river discharges its waters into the lake, to Bormio, where it has its source. The Adda has more than fifty tributary streams, between rivers and torrents, and, through its long course, varies from a minimum; discharging into the lake 14,000 cubic metres in the twenty-four hours, to a maximum, discharging 70,000 cubic metres within the same period. Numerous small torrents, which, in ordinary times, are almost always dry, become rapidly swollen after heavy rains even of short duration, and the Adda as suddenly rises. Lombardini proved that the floods of the Lake of Como were in strict relation to the cutting down of the woods, which was effected in the valley of the Adda between 1825 and 1850. He showed that in the early part of that period there was only flood every three and a half years; then, every two years; later on the average period between each flood was only eighteen months ; and so, in gradation, with the disappearance of the woods the floods became more frequent. Paleocapa's observations in Venetia pointed, to a similar conclusion. The same quantity of water was distributed in a different manner; it accumulated with greater rapidity, and, in consequence, the floods recurred oftener and were more dangerous in character than when the woods existed. " While, however, Italy is still blind to the danger arising from this denudation, such is not the case with her neighbours. Austria, Switzerland, and France have turned their serious attention to the reforesting of the bare mountain-slopes, and, it would appear, not without success." In proof that the benefits arising from reforesting are real, the example of the small Town of Varazze, on the Eiviera di Ponente, an honourable exception to the general indifference in Italy, is cited by the writer in the "Bulletin." The mountains above Varazze in 1854 were entirely denuded of vegetation, as the neighbouring heights still remain. The territory belonged to the commune, but, although covering a superficial area of some 4,000 hectares, it yielded little or no revenue. Every heavy downpour of rain caused the torrent Toira, which traverses Varazze, to swell, and on more than one occasion the very existence of the town was threatened. The communal authorities at length determined to dispose of their property in numerous small lots, in part on perpetual leases,

* " Bolettino della Societa Triennale Promotrice della Silvicoltura in Italia." Anno 111., Num. 56-57. Roma, Ottobre, 1882.

15

C.—l

16

to the no small advantage of their finances. But the principal benefit that has accrued is that the mountain-slopes are now covered with woods of stone-pines (Pino marittimo), that the rains no longer cause the Toira to swell, and that the town of Varazze is safe from inundations. The Italian Alpine Club has made several partial efforts towards reforesting various points of the Alps and the Apennines, the merit of the initiative in the matter being in great part due to Mr. E. H. Budden, an English gentleman, President of the Florentine section of the club. But, however deserving of praise private efforts in this direction may be, they cannot cure an evil which has grown to such dimensions as to demand a remedy of a national character. I have, &c, D. E. Colnaghi.

No. 5. The Hon. Mr. Dick to the Agent-General. Sie, — Wellington, 27th January, 1883. For some time past an Italian gentleman named Federli (who is an officer of the Survey Department) has been engaged on behalf of the Government in promoting the cultivation of the mulberry tree and the industry of silk-culture. I enclose for your information copies of two letters from that gentleman on the subject. The samples of silk to which Mr. Federli refers are forwarded to your address by book-post, and I shall be obliged if you will act on the suggestion that one sample should be forwarded to Paris, and the other retained for exhibition in London. I have, &c, Thomas Dick. The Agent-General for New Zealand. (For the Minister of Lands and Immigration,) Enclosure 1 in No. 5. Mr. Federli to the Under-Secretaey, Crown Lands. Sie, — Survey Office, Christchurch, 23rd January, 1883. I have the honour to forward to you by post a parcel (tin box) containing samples of cocoons and raw silk, some of the produce of this season, which Mr. McKerrow desired me to prepare for transmission to London. The three different samples of raw silk are—the Italian variety, two skeins, under letter A; the Japanese, two skeins, under B ; and two skeins Indian, under C. I send only one kind of cocoons—the sort which I destine to become the stock of New Zealand for grain exportation. In March next a sample of grain will follow, leaving Lyttelton in the refrigerating chamber of the steamer " British King," and which is expected to reach London about the 10th May. In furtherance of this I beg to suggest—(l.) That the samples of silk may be shown in London to silk-merchants and weavers especially, pointing out that the article will be further improved as the mulberry trees grow older, and when proper appliances would be available for reeling, thus obtaining more softness and gloss. (2.) That the person whom the Government may commission to take in hand this matter be requested, to find without delay some one in France who would test the sample of grain and report on the result. The French Academician, M. Pasteur, of Paris, takes a lively interest in these matters, and I am sure he would gladly undertake the trouble of placing it with some known silk-grower if he were communicated with. (3.) That the samples of cocoons be transmitted to the same person in France to give an idea of the breed of which he will receive grain, informing him also that the grain will be artificially hibernated on the voyage, and so will be ready for hatching on arrival. I have, &c, G. B. Fedebli.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5. Mr. Federli to the Under-Seceetaey, Crown Lands. Sie, —■ Survey Office, Christchurch, 23rd January, 1883. It is with much pleasure that I have the honour to report the success attained in this season by the several breeders of silkworms, both in Christchurch and the Peninsula, notwithstanding the exceptionally late and sharp frost, which destroyed almost entirely the leaves when the silkworms were already hatched. In support of my assertion, I beg to enclose one of the many letters which I have received on the subject. At the late show in Akaroa two prizes were given for cocoons and one for mulberry leaves, and I was told that competition was very keen. I have also the honour to forward you by post a parcel containing four boxes, with specimens of cocoons and raw silk of this season. One box is marked for the Auckland Museum, and the other three lam sure Mr. Eolleston will cause to be advantageously distributed. I have, &c, G. B. Federli.

No. 6. The Undee-Seceetaby, Immigration, to the Agent-General. Memorandum for the Agent-General. Immigration Office, "Wellington, 6th April, 1883. Refeebing to Mr. Dick's letter No. 16, of the 27th January last, transmitting copies of correspondence relative to sericulture in New Zealand, the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. Federli, reporting the shipment of a parcel of silkworm eggs by the steamer " British King," is transmitted for the information of the Agent-General, who is requested to be good enough to cause it to be dis-

17

c.-a

posed of in the manner suggested by Mr. Federli in the correspondence forwarded with the letterabove quoted. H. J. H. Eliott, U nder- Seer etary.

Enclosure in No. 6. Mr. Fedeeli to the Undee-Seceetaey, Crown Lands. Sir,— Survey Office, Christchurch, 28th March, 1883. Adverting to my letter of the 23rd January, I have the honour to inform you that yesterday I proceeded to Lyttelton with the object of making arrangements with the engineer in charge of the refrigerator on board the steamship " British Queen " for the transmission of the grain (silkworm eggs) to London. The engineer, Mr. Scott, very kindly offered all his attention in taking the grain to London in the most satisfactory condition. He thinks that he can manage to keep the grain at the desired temperature of about 32° Fahr., and tolerably dry. As the grain will arrive in London at a rather warm season it would be prudent that care be taken not to expose the grain to a sudden rise of temperature, but if circumstances permit to a gradual one. Of course, the grain on arrival in London must be without any delay sent on to the person who has undertaken the task of hatching and rearing the worms. I beg you will let me know to whom I have to address the parcel containing the grain, &c, for the 2nd of April next, on which day I have to deliver it on board the " British King." I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. G. B. Federli.

No. 7. The Undee-Secretary, Immigration, to the Agent-General. Memorandum for the Agent-General. Immigration Office, Wellington, 11th April, 1883. Eefereing to Memorandum No. 52, of the 6th instant, the accompanying copies of correspondence relative to the silkworm grain shipped from Lyttelton by the "British King," are forwarded for the information of the Agent-General. H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary. Enclosure 1 in No. 7. Mr. Fedebli to the Undee-Seceetary, Crown Lands. :Sie, — Survey Office, Christchurch, 7th April, 1883. In compliance with your telegram of the 3rd instant, I have delivered on board the steamer •"British King" a box containing three cards of silkworm eggs (two cards of annuals and one of bivoltine), addressed to the Agent-General for New Zealand in London. I hope that my letter to the Agent-General, of which I have the honour to enclose a copy, has not passed the limits of your instructions. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Crown Lands, Wellington. G. B. Federli.

Enclosure 2 in No. 7. Mr. Fbdekli to the Agent-Genekal. Bib,— Survey Office, Christchurch, 7th April, 1883. I am directed by the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, Wellington, to forward to you by the steamship " British King" a box containing grain (silkworm eggs), Bombyx mori, according to advice in previous correspondence. The box of grain, for which I beg to enclose the bill of lading, is in the special care of Mr. Scott, engineer in charge of the refrigerating machinery in the abovenamed vessel. I beg you to forward, with as little delay as possible, the grain to the person who has been engaged to undertake the hatching and rearing of the silkworms, and it is desirable that special care be taken of the box from the time that it leaves the refrigerating chamber until it reaches the hands of the sericulturist, that it is kept in a pretty cool atmosphere and dry. The object of sending a sample of New Zealand grain to Europe (taking advantage of the refrigerating appliances now available) is to see if it would answer in years to come for an export in larger quantities. Scientific experiments have shown that silkworm eggs can be hatched at any time if, a few weeks after they have been laid by the moths, the temperature is brought down to freezing point, and kept so for at least forty days; whereas, in ordinary course, the eggs could not be brought to hatch until the following season, or by means of electricity, which cannot always be relied on. Our grain, being ready in January, could go through the required forty days' artificial hibernating in the refrigerating chambers of the steamers during the voyage, and so arrive before spring in Europe ready for hatching. My experiments during the last two years lead me to the conclusion that some parts of New Zealand, for soil and climate, are exceptionally adapted for sericulture, and that the industry can be made profitable from its infancy. You are aware that the European silk-growing countries are, for the last twenty-five years, to a very great extent dependent for the production of raw silk to the Japanese grain, which in late years has not given entire satisfaction. If the colonists are in earnest, as they appear to be, I venture to say that in a few years New Zealand can export grain of a quality and health unsurpassed, and which must command the highest price. Bearing silkworms for the sake of grain gives a return, at the current prices, of about five times larger to that obtained for cocoons for silk. From this you will perceive the importance that this first sample should, if possible, be carefully treated, and I hope to be justified in begging you that the observations, results, and suggestions of the sericulturist be in due time communicated to the Government for future guidance. I have, &c, G. B. Federl

3—C. 1.

"ft—li

No. 2.—Summary of Extent of Crown Lands absolutely disposed of for Cash, Scrip, or in any other manner, during the Year ending 31st March, 1883,

No. 1.—Summary of Lands disposed of from the Foundation of the Colony, with Total Cash received, &c., for the Year ending 31st March, 1883.

18

Land District. Total Area sold. Total Area granted or reserved under Acts. Total Area sold or Otherwise disposed of from the Foundation of the Colony. Total Cash received. Total Area open for Selection. Total Area remaining for Future Disposal, exclusive of Area in preceding Column and of Native Lands. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki West Coast (North Island).. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago Southland A. a. p. 1,553,714 1 4 994,789 3 8 211,406 2 13 50,356 0 21 1,620,589 1 11 1,036,144 0 0 780,654 0 17 2,961,332 0 32 50,858 1 29 2,142,191 0 39 996,411 1 0 A. B. p. 2,076,684 0 16 149,369 1 11 41,567 1 36 63,212 2 10 597,936 1 12 13,524 0 0 153,776 3 18 559,841 1 19 72,436 3 7 803,602 1 0 288,471 0 10 A. B. P. 3,630,398 1 20 1,114,159 0 19 252,974 0 9 113,568 2 31 2,097,781 3 31 1,049,668 0 0 934,430 3 35 3,521,173 2 11 123,295 0 36 2,945,793 1 39 1,284,882 1 10 £ s. d. 474,484 4 10 468,478 4 8 225,487 19 8 198,727 6 8 814,654 2 9 365,455 0 0 274,039 7 11 5,924,184 7 4 59,305 7 1 2,278,014 7 7 1,107,839 7 4 A. E. P. 144,831 0 0 3,264 1 29 12,711 2 34 14,037 3 25 56,807 2 20 5,836,332 0 0 566,000 0 0 4,371,987 1 29 254,151 2 2 180,263 0 0 1,495,709 3 30 A. B. P. 2,883,507 0 0 235,230 0 0 540,735 2 7 208,476 0 0 1,233,564 0 12 1,052,200 0 0 781,628 1 29 2,668,313 1 2 10,214,574 0 0 Totals 12,398,447 1 14 4,820,422 0 19 17,068,125 3 1 12,190,669 15 10 12,936,096 2 9 19,818,228 1 10

Lands sold. Land District. Number of Acres. Bate per Acre. Considi sration. Lands Disposed of Without Sale by Grants or in any other Manner. Town. Number of Purchases. Suburban. Number of Purchases. Country. Number of Purchases. Town. Suburban. Country. Cash. Scrip. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki West Coast (North Island) Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago Southland A. B. P. 7 2 39 A. E. P. 440 0 35 80 3 10 87 1 29 285 2 12 46 3 8 5S 4 4 33 4 A. B. P. 52,981 1 20 4,794 0 16 1,450 2 13 18,315 2 19 20,223 2 24 4,191 3 31 3,584 2 1 16,759 1 29 584 0 14 33,944 1 6 7,507 2 29 142 22 28 183 77 31 6 207 17 266 41 £ s. d. 23 11 2 £ s. d. | 6 10 10 2 17 6 3 13 6 8 0 0 4 17 10 £ s. d. 0 12 7 12 1 2 0 5 3 10 0 15 1 0 12 1 0 10 6 2 0 1 111 15 2 12 5 £ s. d. 33,329 19 8 5,206 2 6 4,522 17 8 65,175 1 10 21,761 11 2 2,870 15 7 2,060 14 0 t36,635 16 6 729 4 8 44,249 19 0 10,668 14 11 £ s. d. A. B. P. •65,016 2 5 3,045 2 27 22,265 0 36 51,333 3 32 22,527 1 10 278 3 22 11 0 29 982 0 6 25 2 37 531 1 0 4 1 31 15 3 4 54 1 4 5 3 16 8 2 39 5 0 22 17 3 6 1 2 37 29 3 0 2 2 37 9 65 10 4 20 10 0 40 0 0 38 16 0 30 11 2 131 3 10 60 0 0 30 14 8 35 18 2 j 317 17 0 29 96 2 30 6 60 5 43 9 14 0 1 65 1 30 8 0 13 129 1 23 527 3 17 1 17 2 14 78 0 17 1 10 0 9 5 0 0 4 7 2 4 13 4,219 6 3 Totals 149 2 4 1,020 289 1,685 2 18 209 164,337 1 2 • • 227,210 17 6 4,537 3 3 166,022 0 35 * Including 48,736 acres 3 roods 37 perches omitted from last year's return, t £9,972 9s. 9d. refunded on account of 4,985 a acres 2 roods 15 perches defii :ient upon surveys.

D.—l.

No. 3.—Land selected up to 31st March, 1883.

19

Nature of Selections— whether Agricultural Lease, deferred Payments, or as the case may be. No. of _ T Appli- Nocations a P". made. Proved Area selected. Average to each Selection. Fees payable Yearly. Land in Occupation under Previous Transactions. Bents paid. Total Land granted for Conditions fulfilled up to Date. Total Land forfeited for Breach of Conditions up to Date. Selected up to 31st March, 1882. Auckland — Homestead Agricultural lease Deferred payments Hawke's Bay— Deferred payments Immigrants Land Act.. Taranaki — Deferred payments West Coast (North Island) — Deferred payments Wellington— Deferred payments Nelson — Leasing Acts 10-per-eent. clauses Beserves under 500 acres Mineral leases Marlborough— Deferred payments Immigrants Land Act.. Canterbury— Deferred payments Westland — Deferred payments Homestead Otago— Deferred-payment licenses Agricultural lease Southland — Deferred payments 364 212 183 521 8 619 716 402 364 112 110 509 8 493 272 348 f 240 J 311 16 { 27 A. B. P. 61,145 1 0 5,526 3 2 17,109 1 15 44,574 2 38 235 2 26 45,577 0 37 24,520 3 21 70,408 0 5 38,536 1 37 31,576 1 5 385 1 4 8,055 3 36 A. B. p. 168 0 0 49 1 10 156 0 0 87 2 11 29 1 33 92 1 32 90 1 0 202 0 0 160 0 0 101 0 0 24 0 0 298 0 0 £ s. d. 277 0 0 8,935 3 4 8,803 18 8 4,341 17 9 783 1 7 2,442 10 7 84 1 0 1,514 0 0 £ s. d. l,028"ll 0 3,585 11 4 23,683 5 2 20,758 17 7 13,909 13 1 58,641 1 1 A. E. P. 4,647 0 0 13,836 2 18 142 0 0 2,768 2 7 50,312 1 19 20,637 0 4 152 0 0 A. B. P. 3,335 2 0 1,250 0 0 981 0 10 3,876 3 1 42 0 0 2,348 0 0 449 0 12 203 3 39 27,C61 2 3 2,282 3 11 2,413 4,685 3 18 18 2 18 2 1,736 2 36 34 0 0 96 1 37 17 0 0 198 2 0 10 0 118 12 0 17 0 0 49 0 0 17 0 0 323 323 4,192 1 4 12 3 36 3,310 8 4 4,842 5 5 535 3 28 43 8 43 8 2,701 2 17 940 0 0 62 3 0 117 2 0 360 18 10 983 12 2 195 2 0 5,476 5,831 1,665 3,991 267,603 0 2 261,174 1 27 141 0 0 65 1 30 41,559 16 10J 4,478 10 6 120,053 17 3 109,657 3 1 63,651 0 3 141,086 1 3 40,033 1 19 84,327 0 17 1,146 761 101,281 1 9 133 0 14 52,972 10 10 17,239 3 28 7,640 1 22 Totals 18,285 9,621 987,315 1 1 77,090 9 5J 410,035 1 0 314,741 1 2 179,119 1 29 Selected during the Year ended the Slst March, 1883. Auckland— Homestead Agricultural lease Agricultural deferred payments Pastoral deferred payments Hawke's Bay— Deferred payments Immigrants Land Act Taranaki— Deferred payments West Coast (North Island)— Deferred payments Wellington— Deferred payments Nelson— Leasing Acts 10-per-cent. clauses Eeserves Mineral leases Marlborough— Deferred payments Canterbury— Deferred payments Westland — Homestead Deferred payments Agricultural leases Otago— Deferred payments Pastoral deferred payments Deferred payment, exchange .. ,, suburban .. Village settlement Agricultural lease Southland— Deferred payments 36 8 7 3 22 51 406 33 201 I 36 4 6 3 22 43 98 33 ■ 8 75 2 . 10 4,278 0 0 200 0 0 1,334 3 32 3,206 0 0 3,851 0 39 3,640 1 8 8,734 1 20 5,905 0 28 2,472 0 38 7,530 0 3 8 0 8 2,640 1 38 118 0 0 50 0 0 222 1 15 1,068 2 27 175 0 9 84 2 25 89 0 20 178 3 31 309 0 4 100 1 25 4 0 4 264 0 7 io"o o I 412 4 6 270 7 5 803 17 4 4,008 18 11 886 3 10 47 6 6 542 2 6 2 0 0 160 4 C 185'12 0 2,241 0 1 2,908 12 1 7,868 2 2 10,262 16 2 2,599 7 8 2,918 7 7 200 0 0 200 0 C 7,728 0 20 51 2 26 3,615 3 15 7,567 3 9 3,553 3 21 558 0 7 100 0 0 338 0 16 251 1 10 386 3 17 354 1 0 639 0 0 616 2 14 0 2 28 636 1 i 9 9 575 1 18 63 3 28 63 6 0 193 2 0 54 54 546 3 20 10 0 20 524 19 4 3,452 13 7 180 3 26 56 2 24 2 7 3 2 7 3 100 0 0 440 0 0 111 1 19 50 0 0 62 3 17 37 0 19 81 0 8 13 17 6 289 7 4 164 *13 5 2 14 67 60 13 K 1 13 35 17,197 1 18 9,972 0 15 681 2 14 4 1 24 120 2 24 4,568 0 12 286 2 19 767 0 13 136 1 11 4 1 24 9 14 130 2 2 4,172 8 0 1,322 14 1 102 12 0 3 19 2 96 14 10 573 12 6 14,686 10 10 5,724 14 5 1,605 6 0 129 9 4 18 17 2 4,159 0 6 5,721 1 5 3,109 3 0 4,099 3 20 2,667 0 26 12 2 14 10,788 3 29 1,385 0 35 187 112 14,218 2 15 126 3 32 2,458 13 2 13,133 14 9 2,879 0 3 1,926 2 24 Totals Totals under previous transactions 1,294 18,285 654 9,021 92,337 0 33 987,315 1 1 16,557 2 9 77,090 9 6| 72,376 1 8 410,035 1 0 45,712 2 27 314,741 1 2 13,913 3 8 179,119 1 29 Totals 19,579 10,275 1,079,652 1 34 93,047 12 21 482,411 2 8 360,183 3 29 193,033 1 17 * Area taken up in February, 1883, 73,000 iCres, lot included in this return. because the Land Board hi ,s refused to issue licenses.

C—l.

No. 4.—Particulars of Applications to exchange Agricultural Leases for Leases on deferred Payments, and to convert Leaseholds into Freeholds, during the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1883.

No. 5.—Number and Area of Pastoral Licenses issued during the Year ending 31st March, 1883.

No. 6.—Lands held under Pastoral License or Lease on 31st March, 1883.

20

To exchange Agricultural Leases for Leases on deferred Payments. To convert Leaseholi [s into Freehi ilds. iand Districts. No. of Applications. Extent. Land Districts. No. of Applications. Extent. Value of Improvements. Extent cultivated. 'Nelson * Otago Southland .. 1 5 a. B. p. 78 0 0 681 2 14 I Nelson Otago (agricultural leases) Otago (deferred payments) Southland 23 75 8J 35 a. r. p. 4,111 3 28 10,260 3 38 8,664 3 39 2,879 0 3 £ s. a. * * 4,687' 0 0 A. R. P. * * 437*0 0 Totals 759 2 14 Totals.. 214 25,916 3 28 4,687 0 0 437 0 0 * No informatio: regarding value of improv< jments or exti snt cultivated.

Laud Districts. Number of Holders. Area. Number of Stock. Rent. License Fees (if any). Total Rent per Acre. mckland lawke's Bay .. 1 2 A. B. P. 20,000 0 0 20,663 3 0 £ s. d. 53 0 0 185 0 0 £ s. d. 6 *6 0 id. 2d. 8,000 acres at Jd. 867 acres at 3d. 154,802 acres at 2Jd. 157 acres at 8d. 5,480 acres at 3|d. 3,185 acres at 4Jd. Id. to 5Jd. *d. 4-7d. 2-12d. lelson 27 172,491 3 30 1,634 14 0 45 0 0-j 21 0 0 larlborough .. Vestland )tago louthland 9 i 73 44 10,038 0 0 57,000 0 0 1,073,809 0 0 327,758 0 0 2,076 69 14 4 60 0 0 16,893 10 0 2,896 7 5 34o'.'o 0 Totals 2,076 160 11,681,760 2 30 21,792 5 9 412 6 0

Land Districts. o Area Approximately. Average Area to each. Stock depastured. Eent paid. License Pees. Total Payments. Average per Acre. a. E. p. 110,435 0 0 82,075 3 0 500 0 0 689,259 3 30 1,051,748 0 0 2,791,628 0 0 577,000 0 0 A. B. P. 6,135 0 0 10,259 2 0 £ s. d. 203 10 0 394 8 6 52 0 0 7,904 10 5 11,202 11 8 52,159 4 4 492 18 2 s b. a. £ s. a. 1 203 10 0 400 14 6, 52 0 0 !s. a. 0 oj 0 1 2 1 0 2| 1.91 4J-7J 0 0| Auckland Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland "Otago— Under Land Act, 18G6 Under Land Act, 1877 18 9 1 109 86 365 47 " 35,000 800 6 6 0 12,089 0 0 7,648 0 0 12,273 0 0 147,000 sheep 21 '6 0 18 1 0, 11,223 11 8 52,177 5 4 54 1,559,215 0 0 28,874 0 0 :l 20,685 14 0 0 3 281 3,666,793 0 0 13,049 0 0 16,671 17 0 0 5J Southland CO 440,805 0 0 7,346 0 0 fl4,702 0 0 3,994 17 5 340 '6 0 4,334' 17 5 0 4 2.17 Totals 10,969,459 2 30 128,463 11 6 385 7 0 68,391 18 11 1,030 * The area of rm arc not included. t This is rent pa: 1884, is in I id twe! Education Beservi Ive months in adi )s, Clutha Bi 'ance on 973,( rer Trust, am 129 acres, the Oaniaru Har] 66 new lease: iour Trus; of whicl ;, about 430,01 : begin on Is1 )0 acres, March,

21

C.—l

No. 7. —Number and Area of Leases and Licenses, other than Agricultural and Pastoral, issued during the Year ending 31st March, 1883, and Revenue therefrom.

No. 8.—Number of Licenses revoked during the Year ending 31st March, 1883.

4—C. 1.

1181 ;rici >jec; :or wl L1C. .easei jea .easei lent. aickland Kauri gum, coal, timber, quarry, and other licenses A. B. P. 38,045 3 27 £ s. d. 527 3 0 lawke's Bay Vellington felson Coal and antimony, timber, prospecting, and other licenses 4S0 0 0 5 0 0 2,640 1 38 10 0 0 8 0 0 1,293 17 2 Timber, firewood, and other licenses 150 0 0 150 0 0 29 0 0 150 0 0 10 0 0 200 0 0 1 200 0 0 j 100 0 0 200 0 0 10 0 0 100 0 0 15 0 15 0 10 0 0 A tithe of 6d. per 100 ft. of timber cut. A tithe of Is. per cord of firewood cut. A tithe of 6d. per 100 ft. of timber cut. £5 ) and a tithe of 6d. per 100 ft. £10 J cut, which merges in rent. 6d. per cord of firewood cut. £5, and a tithe of 6d. per 100 ft. of timber cut, which merges in rent. Firev/ood, 6d. per cord; fencing, 2s. per 100 ; post piles, 4s. per 100 ft.; shingles, Is. 6d. per 1,000. larlborough 147 1 24 Coal, &c. 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 480 0 0 300 0 0 510 0 0 40 0 0 80 0 0 301 3 0 t A tithe of £6 per 100 ft. of timber J cut. 2 0 0 15 0 2 2 G 10 0 5 0 0 37 15 0 and a royalty of 6d. per ton on coal. 94 5 0 33 12 G 16 0 0 7 10 0 2 10 0 2 0 0 483 4 10 Canterbury iVestland I Timber licenses (10s. per month) Cattle licenses (grazing) Saw-mill sites.. Mineral leases (3) (1) Eeserves Timber, lignite, quarry, mineral, and other licenses Timber, lignite, quarry, mineral, and other licenses 7 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 40 0 0 17,618 2 26 )tago .. Southland 6,029 0 23 2,335 8 7 Totals 68,994 1 18 4,875 3 7

District. Description of License forfeited or revoked. At Licensee's Request. For Nonpayment of Pees. Noncompliance with and Violation of Conditions. Total Number. Extent. A. It. P. Auckland Hawke's Bay t Faranaki West Coast, N.I... Wellington Nelson .. Marlborough Canterbury I 3tago Southland Deferred-payment licenses Pastoral licenses Deferred-payment licenses I> M l 3 2 2 11 2 2 3 5 2 2 14 4 1 2 18 JO 20 20 338 0 18 5,101 0 0 251 1 10 835 3 29 354 1 0 40 0 0 216 2 37 61,857 0 0 56 0 0 7,222 0 34 1,926 2 24 Timber license Pastoral run licenses Deferred payments Deferred-payment licenses 1 13 6 1 4 20 >j >i Totals .. 40 40 93 78,199 0 32

C.—l

22

No. 9.—Statement of Amounts due to the Crown on the 31st March, 1883, on account of Crown Land held under any System of deferred Payment.

No. 10.—Capitalization.

No. 11. —Return of Crown Grants, Schedules, Certificates of Title, Amount of Land granted, &c., from 1st April, 1882, to 31st March, 1883.

By Authority : Geoegb Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

Seleeti irs still holding. Select. ira in Arrear the 31st March, 1883. District and Nature of Holding. Acreage held. Amount to Accrue in Future Instalments. Total Payments made to the 31st March. •a Amount of Arrears. Area held. Auckland—■ Deferred payments, rural .. ,, suburban ,, pastoral Village settlement Hawke's Bay— Deferred payments, rural .. Village settlement Taranaki — Deferred payments, rural and village settlement West Coast, North Island— Deferred payments, rural .. „ suburban Village settlement Wellington— Deferred payments, rural .. Nelson — Agricultural lease .. Marlborough— Deferred payments, rural .. Canterbury— Deferred payments, rural .. Village settlement Westland— Deferred payments, rural .. Otago— Deferred payments, agricultural, pastoral, and village Southland — Deferred payments, rural .. ,, suburban Village settlement A. E. P. 15,161 0 14 67 - 3 11 5,434 0 0 6 1 12 £ s. d. 19,789 5 9 338 3 4 5,978 13 2 94 19 0 £ s. d. 5,083 11 9 213 8 8 451 8 6 78 2 6 £ S. d. A. E. P. H I 754 6 ,0 6,083 3 38 |lS7J 14,791 0 20 106 0 6 I 12,461 14 7 f 4,593 1 5 \ 114 16 8 } ■' 11 13 6 200 0 0 519 46,645 2 31 46,705 15 11 28,626 19 9 23 394 4 0 2,283 1 32 }™( ■81,266 2 34 41 1 25 1,947 0 22 [ 102,320 13 2 (21,615 8 11 \ 27 8 1 [ 2,529 12 3 [ 25 776 10 3 2,820 0 0 127 18,133 2 24 27,907 14 8 5,430 19 3 8 *142 15 3 1,046 3 12 376 37,700 1 20 31,206 0 0 9,455 8 1 tlCO 2,020 0 0 26,670 0 0 27 2,283 0 14 2,107 11 9 556 7 0 }35l( 3,074 2 35 890 3 32 I 16,421 2 0 f 5,506 9 1 1 2,788 9 11 | 120 547 4 0 1,416 0 0 40 3,141 2 17 2,806 16 6 1,273 0 6 18 348 G 10 912 1 0 808 190,355 3 29 232,568 7 10 93,410 2 0 405 12,845 4 6 82,457 3 39 410 102 121 82,358 2 26 1,048 0 21 2,407 0 20 95,718 12 11 2,704 1 4 4,538 9 11 34,143 12 0 3,503 10 6 1,232 19 7 172 29 32 3,197 0 7 131 10 6 124 17- 2 42,151 1 4 334 0 38 803 0 31 Totals 3,016 456,861 2 19 603,668 1 10 220,634 16 11 867 19,273 18 G 140,909 0 34 * £68 13s. paid since 31st Ml t Section 8, Appendix E., "'. jdded up in totals. iroh. jand ,-£16 17s. 6d. license cancelled Lot, 1877." These selectors hi iince 31st Man <ve to 30th Jui sh. ie to p: ijj up, and are therefore not

Number of Applications made to the Board. Number of Applications granted by the Board. District. Area. Amount due under the Deferred-payment System. Number, i Area. Amount rlue unde: the Deferred-payment System. Amount dueunde; Capitalization System. Number. A. B. P. £ s. d. A. B. P. £ s. a. £ s. d. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki West Coast (N.I.) .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago Southland "t 1,033' 0 25 1,487 17 4 6 910 2 25 1,212 12 4 1,016 8 0 1 4 74 14 320 0 0 538 1 33 13,317 3 7 2,691 3 29 570 0 0 543 5 3 20,336 2 1 5,154 15 4 1 4 74 320 0 0 538 1 13 13,317 3 7 2,691 3 29 576 0 0 543 5 3 20,336 2 1 5,154 15 4 487 4 0 430 12 6 17,248 11 4 4,324 15 1 Totals 100 17,901 1 14 28,098 0 0 17,778 2 34 27,822 15 0 23,527 10 11 99

Number of 'oliedules. Area granted in Schedules. Area granted by Crown Grant. Total Area. Numbei of Number of Certificates. Corrected Grants. Antevested Grants. Cancelled Grants. Duplicate Grants. Grants. A. B. P. A. E. P. A. E. P. 444,731 0 0 29G.982 0 0 741,713 0 0 8G2 1,306 1,900 30 10