DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1893 Session I, C-01

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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

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

COIsTTEHsTTS.

Page General Report by the Surveyor-General— Work of the Department .. • • •• 1 Special-settlement Associations and ViUage-nome-stead Lands . ■ • • • • "a Settlement Conditions, Forfeitures, &e. .. .. 4 Pastoral Runs.. .. • • • • "2 Arrears .. • • ■ • • • 5 Selectors' Land Revaluation .. .. •> Naval and Military Settlers .. • • ° State Forests .. • • • ■ • • ' * 2 Lands for Settlement .. .. • • " i Thermal Springs, &c. .. .. •• " q Cost of Surveys .. • • • • ° Triangulation and Topography Settlement Surveys .. • • • • "a Native Land Court Surveys .. . • » Gold and other Mining Surveys .. .. 9 • Road and Bailway Surveys .. •• •• 9 Miscellaneous Work .. .. • • » Conference of Surveyors in Melbourne .. 9 Constructive Works, Roads, Bridges, &c. .. 9 Statement showing Blocks of Land proclaimed, &c, under " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, 1891" .. . ■ "Hi Departmental and General .. .. " ii Head Office—Reports of Officers .. " ~ Statement of Litho. Printing and Photographing .. 14 Table No. 1.—Surveyors employed .. • ■ 15 2.—Crown Grants and other Instruments of Title prepared .. .. .. 15 3.—Plans placed on Crown Grants, &c. .. 15 " 4.—Land Transfer Act—Work done .. 15 " 5. Work done for other Departments and Local Bodies .. . ■ .. 16 Appendix No. 1— Administration — Reports of Commissioners of Crown Lands — Auckland .. .. • ■ • • " ,2 Taranaki .. .. ■ • • • "J? Hawke's Bay .. • • • • "5 Wellington .. •■ •• •• j± Marlborough .. • • • • " ol Nelson .. .. •• •■ " fl Canterbury .. • • • • "on Westland .. ■• •• •• °® Otago 31 Southland .. •• •• .. oi Appendix No. 2— Reports of Chief SurveyorsAuckland .. .. • ■ ■• "2? Taranaki .. . • • • • • "ft Hawke's Bay .. • • • • • • f5 Wellington .. .. •• •• •• °« Nelson .. ■• •■ •• • • 38

Page Appendix No. 2 — continued. Beports of Chief Surveyors— continued. Marlborough .. .. .. .. 39 Westland .. .. .. •• ..39 Canterbury .. .. .. • • .. 39 Otago .. .. .. •• ..40 Southland .. .. .. •• ..41 Topographical Plan of Will's "Valley (to face p. 40). Photo-litho. Map of Wills Valley (to follow above). Photo-litho. Map of Wills Valley in Upper Gorge (to follow above). Appendix No. 3— Reconnaissance Survey, Wills River .. .. 41 Reconnaissance Survey, Macfarlane River .. 42 Copland River Explorations (Mr. C. E. Douglas's Report) .. .. .. •• ..42 Topographical Plan of Macfarlane River (to face p. 42). Topographical Plan of Copland Country (to follow above). Geological Formation of Copland Country (to follow above). Section Plan of Copland River-bed (to follow above). Photo-litho. of Lyttle's Peak (to follow above). Photo-litho. of "The Sierras " (to face p. 43). Photo-litho. of Mount Cook and Baker's Saddle (to face p. 44). Photo-litho. of Cuttance Glacier (to follow above). Photo-litho. of Copland Valley (to face p. 46). Photo-lithos. of Lower Gorge, Copland Eiver; and Lower Gorge of the Twain (to follow above). Appendix No. 4— Reports on Roads—• Auckland .. .. •• •• ..47 By Mr. Hursthouse .. .. .. 49 By Mr. G. T. Murray .. .. .. 49 Taranaki .. .. •• •• ..52 Hawke's Bay ..' .. •• ..53 Wellington (Mr. Reaney) .. .. .. 53 (Captain Turner) .. .. .. 55 Marlborough .. .. • • .. 56 (Mr. N. Marchant) .. • • .. 56 Nelson .. .. • • • • .. 57 Westland .. .. •■ •• ..58 Canterbury .. .. .. • • .. 60 Otago .. .. .. •• ..61 Southland .. .. •• •• ..64 Schedule of Roads constructed (Otago) .. .. 63 Appendix No. 5— Thermal Springs— Rotorua (Mr. Malfroy) .. .. .. 65 Hanmer Plains (Mr. Rogers) .. .. .. 67

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Pago Appendix No. 6— Report on Village Settlements .. ~ .. 68 Table A.—Summary of Lands taken up .. 71 „ B.—Analysis of Holdings .. .. .. 71 C.—Crown Lands sold .. .. .. 71 „ D.—Deferred-payment Lands .. .. 72 „ E.—Perpetual-lease and Small Grazing-runs.. 72 „ P.—Lease-in-perpetuity Lands .. ..73 „ G.—Occupation-with-Right-of-Purchase Lands 73 „ H.—Agricultural-lease Lands .. 74 I.—Village-Settlement Lands disposed of for Cash .. .. .. .. 74 J.—Village-Settlement Lands disposed of on Deferred Payment .. .. .. 75 „ X. —Village-settlement Lands disposed of on Perpetual Lease .. .. .. 75 „ L.—Return of Selectors under Village-home-stead Special-settlement Regulations .. 77 „ M.—Return of Special-settlement Associations 78 Blocks selected .. .. .. 78 „ N.—Return of Homestead Lands taken up .. 79 O.—Return of Small Grazing-runs taken up .. 79 „ P.—Number and Area of Pastoral Licenses .. 80 „ Q.—Return of Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses .. ~ .. .. 80 R.—Return of Land and Territorial Revenue 81 S.—Summary of Arrears .. .. .. 82 T.—Return of Lands reserved .. ..82 „ U.—Statement of Number of Selectors on Books of Department • • .. .. 82

Page Table V.—Comparative Statement of Selectors and Lands .. .. .. .. 83 „ W.—Endowments—Lands taken up during the Year .. .. .. 84 » X.—Endowments—Return of Revenue received during the Year .. .. .. 84 Table No. G.—Return of Field-work executed by Staff and Contract Surveyors— Auckland .. .. .. .. ..85 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 85 Taranaki .. .. .. .. 86 Wellington .. .. .. .. ..86 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. 87 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 87 Westland .. .. .. .. .. 87 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 87 Otago .. .. .. .. .. 88 Southland .. .. .. .. .. 88 Summary of Field-work executed .. .. 88 Table No. 7.—Statement showing Expenditure and Work done on Roads .. 89 „ B.—Statement showing Payments to Local Bodies from "Thirds "and "Fourths" 100 „ 9.—Summary showing Position of Villagehomestead Special Settlements in the various Districts .. .. .. 103 Specimen Map showing Roads to open up Crown Lands for Sale. Specimen Map showing State of Public Surveys.

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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

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

The Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 24th June, 1893. I have the honour to transmit herewith the annual reports on the operations of the Lands and Survey Department for the period ending the 31st March, 1893. I have, &c, The Hon. John McKenzie, S. Perc* Smith, Minister of Lands. Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General.

LANDS. The year which closed on the 31st March, 1893, witnessed the introduction of new land-laws, those contained in "The Land Act, 1892," which came into force on the Ist November of that year. For the first time in the history of the colony a uniform system of administering the lands has become possible, the various systems hitherto peculiar to several of the land districts having been swept away by the repeal of "The Land Act, 1885," and its amendments. These different methods of dealing with the public lands were the remnants of provincialism, the necessity for which no longer exists. Immediately on the passing of the Act in November, 1892, the whole of the lands which were then open for selection under the previous Acts were prepared for readvertising under the new Act, a proceeding which entailed a considerable amount of work, as all the prices had to be recalculated on a new basis. The first sales, or selections, took place in the middle of December, 1892. Under the powers contained in the Act, instructions to applicants for special-settlement associations have been drawn up, and were gazetted on the 3rd February, 1893. These modify previous regulations by bringing them into conformity with the new Act. The principal change taking place was the substitution of a lease-in-perpetuity tenure for that of the perpetual lease ; or, in other words, the introduction of 999-year leases, based on a 4-per-cent. rental without periodical revaluations, in place of thirty-year leases, on a 5-per-cent. rental with recurring valuations, which had hitherto been the law. The instructions further provide, as a guarantee of the bona fides of the applicants, that the costs of survey shall be deposited with the applications, a provision which was not required under those previously in force. The regulations for village homestead and other systems have been published, as usual, from time to time. The principal alteration in the Land Act which affects the village homestead selections is the substitution of 100 acres for 50 acres as the limit of the size of the sections. On the acquisition of the Cheviot Estate by the Crown it was found more convenient that the lands comprised therein should be administered from Christchurch rather than from Nelson, within which district the estate was situated. In consequence, an Order in Council under the 22nd section of " The Land Act, 1892," was published in the Gazette of the 21st February, 1893, p. 273, altering the boundaries of the two land districts by adding Cheviot to the Canterbury District. It will be obvious from the fact of " The Land Act, 1892," having only come into operation on the Ist of November last that its operations are practically confined to the quarter of the year ending on the 31st March last. The returns for this year are therefore in great measure a continuation of similar transactions to those of previous years, the new transactions under the Act of 1892 being in some degree overshadowed by those under the previous Acts. The continuation of transactions under the repealed Acts must of necessity be a feature of these reports for some years, until the particular tenures held under those Acts are either worked out or exchanged. No very fruitful comparisons can therefore be instituted between the old and new Acts until the latter has had time to develop its particular features, I—C. 1.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

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With a view of bringing into one common focus the whole of the transactions of the past year, the following table has been compiled from the more detailed ones given in the Appendix hereto:—

Table V., at the end of this report, shows the systems of tenure which have been in force for the previous ten years, a glance at which will demonstrate those which have been most popular with the public. It is noticeable how much the cash and deferred-payment systems have gradually decreased in popularity, and, on the other hand, how the perpetual or other leasing systems have gained thereby. The cash sales are now about one-sixth of what they were ten years ago, whilst the perpetual-lease and lease-in-perpetuity taken together have increased thirty-nine fold in the nine years since the first of these systems was introduced. This is no doubt due in a great measure to the easy terms on which leases are obtained, and the great advantages they offer to the selector by enabling him to devote his capital to the improvement of his property, rather than to investing it in the freehold, which had frequently to be done by means of capital borrowed at a high rate of interest. Classifying the selectors under the principal headings in the tables, the results for the past three years will come out as follows : —

The cash purchasers have varied but little during the three past years, but out of those shown in this year's returns 227 have been buyers of small sections, averaging a little over 2 acres each. The deferred-payment selectors still show the same decline in number which has marked that system of selection for some years past; but this is partly due to the fact that the system itself has disappeared from the statute-book, excepting in the case of lands selected under the 114 th section of the Act of 1892, which provides that settlers already holding lands under any tenure may select adjacent lands on the same tenure up to 640 acres, inclusive of the lands they hold at the time. This clause has been taken advantage of to a certain extent, more especially in Otago, both in the case of deferred-payment and perpetual-lease selections. The total amount received for perpetual leases made freehold under the Act of 1887 was £28,992 Bs., and for deferred payments, £14,679. The new system of lease-in-perpetuity shows the greatest increase of any system, which is greatly due to the fact that in the special-settlement associations the selectors have chosen this tenure. The totals are also increased by including in them transactions which were initiated during the previous year, but which, for want of the necessary surveys, could not be entered in the previous returns, the lands not having been at that time selected in individual sections, though many of the blocks had been chosen. This same cause will operate again this year. Of the lands thrown open for optional selection, 126 selectors took up an area of 55,320 acres on the lease-in-perpetuity system. As tested by the number of selectors, Southland appears to be the district in which this system of tenure is at present most popular, whilst Auckland is close behind it. The occupation-with-right-of-purchase system was made use of by 161 selectors, who took up 54,271 acres, being thirty-five more in number than the selectors of lease-in-perpetuity, whilst the area selected is nearly the same. This appears to be the popular tenure in Auckland, for more than half the total number of selections in the colony under this system were made in that district. The comparison thus made between the two systems seems to show that the possibility of obtaining

No. of Purchasers. Area. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. A. B. P. ■ 71 2 11 469 3 6 35,785 1 2 21,084 0 7 122,557 3 7 55,320 2 1 54,271 1 30 193 3 32 528 1 13 390 3 7 2,635 2 4 4 0 10 493 3 0 157,381 0 33 £ s. d. Town lands Suburban lands Rural lands Deferred payment Perpetual lease and small areas Lease in perpetuity Occupation with right of purchase Agricultural lease Village settlement, cash deferred payment „ perpetual lease „ lease in perpetuity Village homestead special settlement Special-settlement associations, lease in perpetuity (balloted for) Homestead Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs 136 91 325 169 385 126 161 4 75 29 164 2 33 838 24,537 11 7 50,000 6 5 41,353 17 9 519 19 1 567 4 0 202 15 1 1,322 16 0 1,963 15 4 1,281 11 5 0 16 2 2,196 7 0 1 39 80 38 0 0 92,926 2 36 1,011,297 0 36 17,761 8 5 112,613 13 4

1891. 1802. 1893. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. Cash Deferred payments Perpetual lease Occupation lease with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity.. Pastoral 661 315 852 Acres. 100,222 35,081 238,904 581 246 854 Acres. 40,930 40,649 290,248 627 198 549 161 Acres. 36,852 21,474 125,192 54,271 195 1,682,761 206 1,004,410 964 119 212,701 1,104,226

EBB ATA. In table on page 2 classifying the results for the past three years, opposite the system of perpetual lease for year 1891, read—No. 854 ; area, 290,248 : and for year 1892, read—No. 1036 ; area, 287,664.

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the freehold still weighs with the public, notwithstanding that the rent in this case is 1 per cent, higher than is the case of leases in perpetuity. The two systems have been in force for so short a time, however, that such a comparison can have no great weight attached to it. If the small holdings are excluded, and only those selections taken which may be said to represent farms, it will be found that the average sized holding selected during the past year— including cash, deferred payment, perpetual lease, occupation with right of purchase, and lease-in-perpetuity, but excluding special-settlement associations—will come out as 247 acres per holding, or a decrease of 27 acres compared with the average of last year. If, however, the special-settlement associations are included (the mean area in each settlement cannot exceed 200 acres), then the mean sized farm selected during the year comes out at 222 acres. If we take all classes of lands selected, excepting pastoral and small grazing-runs and town lands, the average size of the selections •will come out as 190 acres per selector. Increase in the size of holdings is likely to become the rule, rather than the contrary, wherever the optional or free selection system is adopted, from the simple reason that the lands left in the hands of the Crown are mostly suitable for fairly large holdings. This arises from the broken nature of the remaining Crown lands, which are not suitable generally for agriculture, but rather for pastoral and dairying purposes. It was pointed out in last year's report, and it cannot be insisted on too strongly, that the lands the Crown still holds are practically pastoral land, much broken, bush-covered, and difficult of access. The want of agricultural lands, even if bush-covered, is daily felt throughout the colony. The number of selectors of Crown lands during the past twelve months, taking all classes excepting pastoral lands, but including small grazing-runs, was 2,588 ; but including pastoral licenses and miscellaneous leases, the total is 3,071. Confining the comparison to the first of the above figures, it will be seen that the number of selectors was 634 more than for the previous year. This increase is due largely to the number of selections in special-settlement associations. Had it been possible to hurry on the surveys at greater speed this number would have been larger, for, although a number of association blocks were completed so far as survey was concerned at the end of the year, the ballots could not take place in time for the results to be included in this year's report, but they will appear in next year's. The average price at which the rural lands have been disposed of for the past year, excluding some suburban and village settlements, is—for cash lands, about 16s. per acre; perpetual-lease land, about 12s. per acre; deferred-payment lands, about £1 2s. per acre (or without the 25 per cent, added, about 16s. per acre) ; lease in perpetuity, about 17s. per acre; and occupation with right of purchase, about 15s. per acre. The area of land which was thrown open for selection during the year was as follows: — New lands offered for the first time ... ... ... 501,412 acres. Lands previously open, but readvertised under the Act of 1892 878,162 „ Pastoral lands ' ... ... ... ... ... 1,138,970 „ The area of land surveyed into sections for settlement amounted to 612,469 acres, out of which 284,406 acres were land thrown open for selection previous to complete survey. This area includes lands previously alienated, the surveys of which were on hand at the date of last report. On the 31st March last the area then open for selection, either as surveyed or unsurveyed land, was 904,737 acres, as follows :— Surveyed. Unsurveyed. Total. Acres. Acres. Acres. Auckland 119,150 235,590 354,749 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 4,718 15,230 19,948 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 13,606 26,111 39,777 Wellington ... ... ... 8,668 22,566 31,234 Marlborough ... ... ... 383 1,105 1,488 Nelson ... ... ... ... 41,074 200,733 241,807 Canterbury ... ... ... 5,065 8,703 13,768 Westland ... ... ... ... 12,032 84,810 96,842 Otago ... ... ... ... 6,844 ... 6,844 Southland ... ... ... ... 97,800 480 98,280 Much of this land is of inferior quality, and will only be absorbed gradually when the supply of better lands fail, or otherwise from time to time as settlers wish to increase their holdings near which these lands may be. It is difficult to form an exact estimate of the Crown lands remaining for future dealings for close settlement purposes. Whilst the total estate, exclusive of purely pastoral land, is about four million acres, there is probably not more than half that amount that may be considered as settlement lands—that is, country suitable for holdings up to 2,000 acres, and where the soil is tolerably fair as to quality. Of purely agricultural lands, the Crown owns very little. The land selected by the Midland Eailway Company up to the 31st March, in accordance with the terms of the contract, was 48,192 acres, which, added to the amount selected prior to the 31st March, 1892 —140,491 acres —makes a total of 188,583 acres. In addition to this is the land held in trust under clause 28 of the contract, which amounts to 84,262 acres. The following lands were reserved for public purposes during the past year:— Eecreation ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,770 acres. Domain (Wanganui Eiver-banks)... ... ... ... 33,033 „ Primary education ... ... ... ... ... 5,486 „ Forests ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,504 „ Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,022 „ Endowment under Act ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 „ The islands of Lloyd, Anxiety, Secretary, and others in the West Coast sounds, were also reserved,

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for the purpose of preservation of the native fauna and flora. The reservation for domain purposes comprises a beh of a mile wide along the Wanganui Eiver wherever there are Crown lands. The purpose of this reservation is to preserve the beautiful scenery of that river for ever. The following figures show the transactions under the head of endowments which have been dealt with by the department:— No. of , Consideration Purchasers. ' (Past and Current). Acres. £ Cash lands ... ... ... ... 9 20,104 308 Deferred payment ... ... ... Nil Nil 5,713 Perpetual lease ... ... ... 2 642 1,496 Lease in perpetuity .. ... ... 1 1,419 21 Village homestead ... ... ... Nil Nil 4 Small grazing-runs ... ... ... 7 10,780 443 Pastoral runs ... ... ... Nil Nil 1,063 Coal and mineral and other leases ... ... ... 10,584 Timber and other leases ... ... ... ... 1,350 Rent of reserves ... . . ... ... ... 355 £21,353 The revenue collected by the department is shown in detail in Table R. The following is the summary:—■ £ Land revenue ... ... ... ... ... ... 114,717 Territorial revenue ... ... ... ... ... ... 188,137 Other revenue, deposits, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 7,668 Endowments ... ... ... ... ... ... 21,353 £332,100 The Treasury figures, after taking into account refunds,, endowments, deposits, &c, are—Land revenue, £110,355 ; territorial, £190,319. Special-settlement Associations and Village Homestead Lands. It will be remembered that last year's report stated that a large number of applications had been received from associations of persons desirous of taking up lands together under the regulations then existing, but that, owing to the surveys not having been then completed, the particulars could not be shown in the year's return. Since then a good many of the blocks have been allotted to the settlers, whilst in other cases the lands have been surveyed, but not in time for the result of the ballots to be returned prior to the 31st March. The number of selections that were completed and lands allotted up to the 31st March was 838, the area selected being 157,381 acres. Twentytwo of these association blocks are in the Wellington, five in Taranaki, and one in Hawke's Bay Districts. There were twenty-nine association blocks in addition, covering an area of 192,440 acres, proclaimed during the past twelve months, the surveys of the most of which are in hand, but the details will only appear in next year's returns. These selections average 200 acres each. Some of the settlers are already on their sections and have commenced clearing, others are engaged in roadworks leading to their lands. It is anticipated that a considerable area of bush will be felled this season on these association blocks. The older special settlements, particulars of which will also be found in Table M, call for for no special remark. Great progress has been made in many of them, but barely one-fifth of those who took up lands in these settlements are residing at the present time ; residence can be avoided if double the amount of improvements are made. Reference should be made to the report of the Superintendent of Village Settlements, given in the Appendix hereto, for particulars as to the progress of the village homestead selectors. The number of new selectors during the year was forty-two, who took up 541 acres, or an average of twelve acres each ; at the same time, the holdings of thirty-five settlers were forfeited for non-compliance with the conditions. The total number of these selectors is now 900, holding 22,677 acres, on which a sum of £24,625 has been advanced, or a little over £1 an acre on the total area. Some interesting remarks as to this class of settlement will be found in the extracts from the Commissioners' reports attached. Considering the character of the country which remains in the hands of the Crown, the increase in the size of holding authorised by the Act of 1892, which may now be selected under this system—100 acres instead of 50 —is likely to prove beneficial in many parts of the colony. Settlement Conditions, Forfeitures, etc. A reference to Table U at the end of this report will show that there are 13,225 selectors on the books of the department holding Crown lands, out of which 11,214 are selectors whose holdings have to be inspected from time to time to insure that the conditions under which the lands are held are complied with. In order that this work may be accomplished, the department employs nineteen officers—Crown Land Rangers and Forest Rangers, with occasional assistance from other officers— and in most of the districts the work of inspection is well up to date. This has not been the case for some time past, owing principally to the extra work thrown on the Rangers by the Selectors Lands Revaluation Acts. The Commissioners' reports give satisfactory evidence that the amount of improvements are very generally far in excess of the amount demanded by law. The law relating to improvements was considerably simplified by the Act of 1892, and it will be found in future practice that several advantages and a considerable saving of time will result therefrom, the more so as improvements under all tenures except small grazing-runs are now identical. The forfeitures for breach of conditions (in which are included a few surrenders) amounted to 194 selections, containing 31,989 acres, being thirty-eight in number, and 10,393 acres in area, less

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than for the previous period. To the above should be added seven small grazing-runs, having an area of 18,364 acres, which were also forfeited. Lands forfeited are again thrown open for selection as soon as possible, and are very generally taken up again directly. The number of forfeitures cannot be considered large as compared to the number of selectors on the books. As inspection becomes more thorough, as it will do now that arrears are working off, forfeitures will become less. Pastoral Euns. As stated in last year's reports, the leases of a considerable number of runs fell in during the year just past, many of which have yet to be dealt with. A considerable area of country was reserved out of these runs for settlement purposes, some of which has been dealt with, whilst a good deal will come in for settlement during this year. The area of resumed runs in Otago was over 270,000 acres, the whole of which could not be prepared for close settlement during the year, but most of that not so prepared is still held under temporary license until it can be otherwise dealt with. The total number of pastoral runs let for the year was eighty, containing 1,011,897 acres, the greater area being in Otago, and the greater number in Nelson. These runs were let for varying terms of years under the Act of 1892. A number of leases expired in Nelson during this year, which have been classified under the Act of 1892, and boundaries suggested by the Commissioners. In the meantime, as the leases of some of the runs expire during 1893, temporary licenses have been offered to the present tenants, with a view to a comprehensive rearrangement of boundaries when the adjoining leases fall in. Most of the Marlborough pastoral leases will fall in in 1896, and will have to be classified before being offered again. A topographical survey will have to be made of the country to allow of a better adjustment of boundaries. Many of the runs which expired and were resumed in Otago last year have been subdivided and let or disposed of under the Act of 1892; and a further quantity will come into the next year's returns both in that district and in Southland. There have been 39 runs, having an area of 92,926 acres, let on the small-grazing-run system, which makes the total number for the whole colony up to 401 runs, a large proportion of which are held in Otago. Arrears. The arrears of rents and instalments this year show an increase over last year, the cause of which is somewhat difficult to assign, but it is partly due, no doubt, to the expectation of revaluations under the Act of 1892. The following figures show the state of arrears for the past few years, in which are included all classes of tenure excepting miscellaneous leases : — 31st March, 1889 ... ... ... 3,862 selectors, owing £44,533 1890 ... ... ... 3,755 „ „ £52,891 1891 ... ... ... 3,548 „ „ £37,341 1892 ... ... ... 2,612 „ „ £25,256 1893 ... ... ... 3,382 „ „ £28,875 The greatest increase has taken place in the perpetual-lease holders of Otago and Wellington. The arrears on the year's transactions are very small, only £194; the rest of the sum being arrears due on account of past transactions, of various periods. It has been frequently pointed out that, as most of the rents are due on the first days of January and July in each year, and as they have to be paid in advance, the selectors do not consider themselves in arrear if their dues are paid within that six months. Again, pastoral rents and those of small grazing-runs are due on the first days of March and September each year, and consequently many of them are only one month in arrear at the date the returns are made up— i.e., the 31st March. Be valuation. '•' The Selectors' Land Eevaluation Act, 1892," provides that the time within which applications under the previous Act of 1889 might be made shall be extended to the Ist January, 1894, and it is further made to include the following tenures to which the previous Act did not apply, viz : Agricultural leases, pastoral deferred-payment licenses, small grazing-runs, and farm-homestead selections entered into prior to the 28th February, 1888. No valuations have, however, as yet been approved under this Act; possibly the necessity of depositing a fee has had a deterrent effect. Owing to pressure of other duties the Bangers could not complete all the revaluations under the Act of 1889 previous to the 31st March, 1892; the following, therefore, are the cases held over, and which were approved during the year ending 31st March, 1893 :—

Deferred Pa; 'ment. Perpetual Lease. Total. District. No. Area. Loss in Capital Value. No. Area. Loss in Annual Kent. No. Area. Loss in Capital Value and llent. .uckland lanterbury it ago Vestland 4 2 5 A. E. P. 764 1 0 600 0 0 685 3 18 240 0 0 £ s. d.l 417 8 6 601 5 0 450 13 9 135 0 0 **8 A. B. P. 1,440* 1 0 £ s. d. 22**14 10 41 2] 13 2 A. B. P. 764 1 0 600 0 0 2,126 0 0 240 0 0 £ s. a. 417 8 6 601 5 0 905 10 5 135 0 0 Total, 1892-93 Previous years 13 2,290 0 18 1,343 210,974 1 29 1,604 7 8 153,334 2 Oi 8 ;5C5 1,440 1 0 1 69,960 2 21 22 14 10 1,789 5 S 21 1,908 3,730 1 0) 280,935 0 io! 2,059 3 11 ! 155,123 7 9 Total hidowments, i from last year's L reports ) 11,356 213,264 2 7 5ll 13,179 0 0 154,938 9 3 573 71,400 3 21 |l,812 0 7 1,929 284,665 1 10 H57,182 11 8 13,190 11 8 33 7,477 1 17 228 10 8 84 20,656 1 17 13,424 2 4 • I Total to date.. 1,407 226,463 2 7 168,134 0 11 606 78,877 4 38 2,040 11 3 2,013 305,321 2 27 170,626 14 0

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£ s. d

Total loss on deferred payments ... ... ... ... 168,134 011 Total loss on perpetual lease (rent £2,040 lis. 3d., capitalised at 5 percent.) ..\ ... ' ... ... .. ... 40,811 5 0 £208,945 5 11 The above figures are only an approximation, for some payments had, of course, been made on perpetual leases at their full values, which would tend to reduce the above amounts—how much it ; would take some time to work out. The Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteers' Land Acts, 1891 and 1892. Last session an amendment of the first of the above Acts was made by Parliament, which authorised the continuance and extension of the previous Act. As, however, the time for receiving claims only expired on the 31st March last, a number of them have not yet been reported on by the Commissioners. The number of claims which have been received and reported on up to date is : Auckland, 181; Nelson, 6 ; Westland, 3; Canterbury, 42 : total, 232; and there are many more to follow. The results will appear in next year's report. Up to the 31st March last no applications had been received, under clause 8 of the Act of 1892, to have blocks of land set aside in order that applicants might settle together in one place, but one such application from a few individuals has come in since. The following table summarises the transactions up to the 31st March, 1893, under the Acts quoted : — Under Act of Under Act of 1891. 1892. - Lotal - Auckland District ... ... ... ... 210 45 255 Taranaki District ... ... ... ... 48 1 49 Hawke's Bay District ... ... ... 74 34 108 Wellington District ... .... ... ... 183 42 225 Marlborough District ... ... ... 11 3 14 Nelson District ... ... ... ... 4 10 14 Canterbury District ... ... ... ... 9 3 12 Otago District ... ... ... ... 62 9 71 Southland District ... ... ... ... 16 10 26 Westland District ... ... 11 12 23 628 169 797 The money-value of these 797 remission-certificates is £31,246 10s. Of these certificates, fiftyfive have been exercised in the purchase of land, representing a value of £2,315. Three hundred and fifty-seven certificates have been surrendered in exchange for debentures in accordance with the provisions of section 9 (1) of the Act of 1892, representing a money-value of £11,735 10s. The complete lists of names of claimants under the Acts of 1891 and 1892 have already been published, the former in a return to an order of the House of Eepresentatives (H.-36), dated the 13th July, 1892, and the latter in a return presented by command of His Excellency (H.-36a.). H.-36c. furnishes the names of claimants to whom cash-payment has been made for scrip, amounting to £4,685 10s. Applications under the Act of 1892, other than those whose names appear in the schedule to the Act, having been dealt with subsequent to the 31st March, 1892, do not appear in this return. State Forests. The State forests include all classes of forest reservations, whether for timber, climatic, or other purposes. The area that has been reserved is considerable, but still not enough for the future wants of the colony, especially for milling timber. The time is not so very far distant when a real difficulty will be experienced in obtaining marketable timber within reasonable distance of the towns, owing to the rapid destruction of the forests that is going forward through settlement operations. It is in the nature of things that the finest timber grows, as a rule, on the lands best suited for settlement, and hence it is the first to disappear under the process of clearing. It has often been stated that the most valuable crop the land ever bears is the timber growing on it in a state of nature, and this will be forcibly brought home to any one who travels through the country along the new road from Hunterville to Karioi, and thence to Pipiriki, on the Wanganui Eiver. It is grievous to think that the splendid pine-forests in these localities will, in a few years disappear under the axe and fire without producing any return from the trees themselves. The total area of State forests at the date of last return was 1,318,933 acres. Since then the following areas have been resumed for settlement purposes in accordance with law : Hawke's Bay, 18,100 acres; Marlborough, 185 acres; Southland (Stewart Island), 143,950 acres; Southland, 25,735 acres; whilst 4,504 acres, have been added to the forests. This leaves the total area of forest reserves —timber, climatic, and other purposes—at present as 1,136,467 acres. The reservation of the banks of the Wanganui Eiver and the wooded islands in the Sounds, although reserved for other purposes, has the effect of increasing the forest areas that have been preserved. The department has at the present time three officers whose duties are more especially concerned in the protection of the northern kauri-forests from fire and depredations, whilst at the same time they assist in ordinary Sanger's duties. No fires have been reported during the year. That portion of the Puhipuhi Forest which was burnt some five or six years ago has been sown with grass, and 2,479 acres of it let for'depasturing purposes, at a rental of £47. The amount received for kauri-gum licenses during the year was £99 10s. The present system of collecting the fees is very unsatisfactory, and it is hoped that the Commissioners now inquiring into this subject may be able to make some practical recommendation in regard thereto.

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It will prove of interest to place on record the areas of the colony still under forest at the present time. This is shown approximately in the following tables, in which Crown, private, and Native lands are included :— Auckland Land District, north of Auckland ... ... 1,800,000 acres. south „ ... ... .. 3,420,000 „ Taranaki „ 1,850,000 „ Hawke's Bay „ ... 1,900,000 „ Wellington „ 3,400,000 „ Marlborough „ ... ... ... ... ... 400,000 „ Nelson „ 3,240,000 „ Westland „ 2,394,000 „ Canterbury „ 492,000 „ Otago „ 1,182,000 „ Southland „ 500,000 „ Total 20,578,000 „ The areas can only be an approximation, for without special inspection the exact amount of clearing made by settlers in the process of bringing the land into grass can only be guessed at. " Lands for Settlement Act, 1892." Under this Act, the Crown has the power to acquire lands for settlement purposes from private individuals, and the intention of the Legislature appears to be that lands so acquired shall be in localities where there is a demand for farms, and where the soil and other circumstances render the prospects of such settlement likely to be successful. There are many districts in the colony where such a demand exists, where settlement is likely to be successful if the lands were divided into small holdings, and in localities where the holders of such small farms could obtain employment for part of their time. Offers of land were invited by advertisement in Canterbury and Otago, and in response thereto, and including all others, sixty-seven offers of land were received, covering an area of 169,266 acres, in various parts of the colony. The Board of Land-purchase Commissioners, to whom most of these offers were referred, held four meetings at which these offers were fully considered, and many of the properties visited by some members of the Board, whilst others were reported on by the Crown Lands Eangers. The lands offered were of varied character, town, suburban, rural, and pastoral all being included; the greater portion of which the Commissioners did not feel themselves justified in recommending to the Government for purchase. Up to the 31st March the Commissioners reported against the purchase of 56,493 acres which had been offered, leaving an area of 114,573 acres about which information was deficient or which it was not considered necessary to refer to the Board. The actual amount of land which the Board recommended for purchase was 1,026 acres, in southern Canterbury, which lands are of first-class quality, and offered at a price which, after adding the necessary expenses for administration, can be disposed of without loss. Thermal Springs, etc. The reports given in the Appendix from the officers in charge of the sanitoria at Eotorua and at Hanmer Plains give details of the state of those establishments at the close of the year. From them may be summarised the following particulars as to baths taken, &c. : —•

At the Hanmer Plains Springs considerable improvements have been made during the year by way of increasing the bath-accommodation; two new tiled baths having been built, and the hot swimming-pool enlarged and concreted, which has had the effect of increasing the temperature of the water. This has become a very popular portion of the establishment, and relieves the pressure on the enclosed single baths. A comfortable waiting-room has also been added, to the great convenience of those visiting the baths. The grounds have also been much improved, and three new paddocks enclosed, and a good deal of planting done, all of which greatly improve the appearance of the place and make it more attractive to visitors. At Eotorua six new dressing-rooms have been added, besides a new douche bath, and the sanatorium grounds have been much improved by the clearing of avenues through the scrub and the planting of trees. The grounds and gardens around the santorium, from the growth of the trees and flowers, now present a fine appearance, and are much used by the people of Eotorua. In the warm pool, in front of the hospital, Mr. Malfroy has succeeded in making a hot-water geyser, which throws the water up from 10ft. to 15ft., accompanied by clouds of steam. The growth of the trees in and around the santorium grounds is remarkable, and has added greatly to the attractions of the place. In view of the near approach of the completion of the railway from Auckland, provision should be made for the influx of visitors, which is sure to be very great, and for whom there will not be .sufficient bath-accommodation in the present establishment.

1891. No. of Baths. Pees. 1892. No. of Baths. Pees. 1893. No. of Baths. Pees. Eotorua 10,442 6,437 £ s. 227 2 228 12 d. 0 Eotorua ... 17,521 6 Hanmer ... 7,311 £ s. d. 277 13 0 258 17 8 Eotorua Hanmer i £ s. d. ... 17,838 288 7 0 ... 7,530 242 19 2 Hanmer

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The provisions contained in "The Land Act, 1892," authorising the disposal of the land within the Eotorua Town and Eural Block, will enable the Government to offer leases to the public, which will no doubt be freely taken advantage of, for building purposes. The expected increase in the number of visitors, so soon as the railway is opened, will require a good deal more accommodation than is at present to be found at Eotorua.

SURVEYS. The tables appended give full information as to the surveys conducted during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1893, which may be conveniently summarised in the following table :— Area. Cost per Acre. Total Cost. & s. d. £ s. d. Minor triangulation ... ... ... ... 501,340 acres 0 0 1-92 4,014 11 7 Topographical surveys ... ... ... ... 297,906 „ 0 0 1-04 1,297 11 2 Topographical surveys for selection ... ... 306,086 „ 0 0 4-2 5,368 0 0 Eural and suburban section surveys (2,608 sections) 621,938 „ 0 1 1-8 34,205 0 8 Town section surveys (922 sections) ... ... 731 „ 014 6-0 669 5 2 Native Land Court surveys (62 blocks) ... ... 251,352 „ 0 0 2-1 2,206 1 9 Mining surveys (100 sections) ... ... ... 2,262 „ 0 7 8-6 874 0 4 Boads, &c. (624-32 miles) per mile ... ... ... 13 9 0 8,397 13 5 Miscellaneous work, detention, &c. ... ... ... ... 6,198 4 3 Total cost of field-work completed during the twelve months ... £63,230 8 4 The most important item in this year's expenditure, as in all others, is that connected with the section surveys ; the process by which the Crown estate is divided up into farms for occupation by the settlers. The last year's output of this description of work was large, owing to a greater number of surveyors having been engaged in the work. The cost |per acre for this class of survey, so far as field-work is concerned, varies little from year to year, as the following figures will show : 1889, cost Is. l-4d. per acre ; 1890, Is. 3 - 7 d. per acre; 1891, Is. o'22d. per acre; 1892, Is. 0-3 d. per acre ; and for the period just ended, Is. L2d. per acre. The average size of the sections surveyed was 238 acres, but in these figures are included some small grazing-runs with areas running up to about 2,500 acres, which tends to reduce the cost per acre. Taking into consideration the " Topographical surveys for selection " and the " Trigonometrical surveys," both of which should be included in the costs of section surveys, it may be said that this class of surveys cost about Is. 7d. per acre—so far as field-work and the preparation of the original working-plans are concerned. Triangulation and Topographical Surveys. Together, the two areas which come under these headings sum up to 799,246 acres: most of it lies in the Auckland, Wellington, and Otago Districts, and it consisted principally in filling up gaps left over from previous years. The country over which the triangulation has to be carried now-a-days is generally forest-clad and rough, and frequently a large amount of clearing has to be done before sights can be obtained—the cost, therefore, must be considered very moderate. In Otago, a great deal of the topographical work was rendered necessary by the subdivision of pastoral runs into small grazing-runs ; more complete information than existed being required before determining the boundaries. Included in this total is a considerable area in Westland, which was executed in connection with the exploration of the head-waters of the Copeland and other rivers, to ascertain if a practicable route could be obtained across the Southern Alps from that river to the Hermitage, near Mount Cook. A report on, and map of, this country will be found attached. Settlement Surveys. Little comment on this class of survey is necessary. It included the ordinary work of subdivision for farms, a total of 2,608 sections having been completed, the greatest number and largest area being in Auckland; Southland coming next —the small grazing-runs having in this district been a distinguishing feature in the year's work. A large portion of the 71,287 acres laid off in Wellington consisted of association blocks, in which the areas average 200 acres, and nearly the whole of it lay in very rough bush country where the road-lines are difficult to define, and will be costly to make. In Otago considerable progress has been made in the dense forest country near Catlin's Eiver, by preparing the country for settlement, and, in addition, a large area in the open interior was, at the same time, subdivided for small grazing-runs. The difficulties the department has tc contend with, in the matter of providing practicable road-lines to the country which is still left for subdivision, is very great; and when laid out, the cost of forming such lines will amount to a large sum. It may be said that the great want of the present time is a large extension of road formation, to give access to the Crown lands, for selection has advanced beyond the facilities of access, and in many districts settlement is delayed by want of roads. Probably in no former period has the want of roads been so urgent as at present. The Crown lands are mostly situated in remote districts, far from railways and main roads, and often without anything better than a foot-track or surveyors' line by which they may be reached. This want of roads acts as a deterrent to settlement, and is frequently used by selectors as an excuse for the non-fulfilment of the improvement conditions under which they hold their lands. The department has on hand at the present time about 900,000 acres which are being prepared by survey for settlement purposes, in which is included the Cheviot Estate. During the year the staff was augmented by employing a large number of the authorised surveyors, who have turned out a considerable amount of work.

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Native Land Court Surveys. The area surveyed by the staff, or by surveyors employed by the Government, during the year was 251,352 acres, in sixty-two blocks, or less than half the amount for the previous year. This is in great measure due to the falling-off in the purchases of Native lands by private individuals, and no doubt, also, to the easy terms on which lands can be acquired from the Government. Outside of the area shown, however, there is a considerable number of blocks that have been surveyed for Native Land Court purposes by surveyors who are engaged by the Natives themselves, and whose work does not appear in these returns, though all the instructions for survey, and the checking of the plans, pass through the department. Gold and other Mining Surveys. There is a falling-off in the area surveyed last year as compared with the previous period, the figures being: 1892, 78 claims, containing 2,727 acres ; 1893, 100 claims, containing 2,262 acres. This decrease has been going on for some years now. More than half the number of claims surveyed were in Auckland, some of them being at the new silver finds in the Great Barrier Island. Eoad and Eailway Surveys, &c. The mileage of road, &c, surveyed last year shows a considerable increase, the figures being: for 1892, 333 miles, at a cost of £12 9s. sd. per mile ; and for 1893, 624 miles, at a cost of £13 9s. per mile. The largest amount done was in the Wellington District—2BB miles—-most of which was executed in the exercise of reserved road-rights and in the legalisation of existing roads. None of this considerable mileage of roads is included in the section work, but is outside it, and generally represents roads which traverse properties not acquired directly from the Crown, but which are just as necessary as in the case of lands subdivided under ordinary settlement conditions. A large amount of this work remains to be done, and, as the time is limited within which the rights may be exercised, it is to be feared that many road-rights will lapse for want of the necessary means to exercise them. Miscellaneous Work. Under this heading are grouped the different descriptions of work performed by the Survey Department which do not find a place under other headings. It consists principally of the cost of inspection of field surveys, odd surveys connected with boundaries, reports by surveyors, explorations, and innumerable other small services of various kinds. Conference of Surveyors in Melbourne. For some years past a feeling has been growing up that surveyors' licenses issued by the authorities in the different Australasian Colonies should be made available throughout every colony, without the necessity of further examination. The consideration of this, and other matters pertaining to the surveyors' profession generally, gradually came to a head, when steps were taken by the Surveyor-General of Queensland to test the feeling in the different colonies, and, on favourable responses being received, a conference was decided on with the approval of the respective Governments, at which representatives from all were to meet. This Conference was held in Melbourne in November last, when all the Australasian Colonies, except Tasmania, were represented. The delegates chosen were the Surveyors-General of the colonies and members representing the Surveyors' Institutes. As you are aware, Sir, the coming into operation of " The Land Act, 1892," just at that time prevented my attendance, but, with your sanction, Mr. A.O' N. O'Donahoo—the delegate of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors —represented the views of the New Zealand Survey Department. The Conference, after mature deliberation, passed a series of resolutions covering the questions which came before them, the principal of which may be summarised as follows, the full particulars being given in the Appendix hereto: The principle of the desirability of reciprocity of licenses was affirmed, and also that all examinations of surveyors should be conducted by a Board constituted by Act of Parliament; that such Board should be composed of members nominated, one-half by the Government and one-half by the Institute of Surveyors ; that the regulations for examinations should be common to all the colonies; that the examinations should be simultaneous; besides further recommendations as to the obviating of examinations in certain cases. There are other recommendations of the Conference which do not call for notice here. It is hoped that the general principles laid down above will be introduced into this colony, perhaps with some modifications to meet the peculiar conditions met with here, all of which is brought under your notice in a separate memorandum. During the year, also, a communication has been received from the Surveyors' Institute of Great Britain, through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, announcing the amended conditions on which colonial surveyors in the service of the Government will be admitted to membership of that Institute. Constructive Works, Eoads, Bridges, &c. The past season has been a very busy one in connection with this branch of the department; for, with the more dispersive character of the settlement surveys, and the isolation of some of the blocks, the roads of access must necessarily increase in length. A great number of works have been carried on by the Chief Surveyors, and by the road surveyors attached to the Head Office, besides which, the aid of many County Councils and Eoad Boards has been given, where the works could not conveniently be undertaken by the department. Details of these operations will be found 2—C. 1.

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in the reports from each district as given in the Appendices ; but the totals of the work performed may be briefly given here : — Dray-roads constructed ... ... ... ... ... 229 miles Dray-roads improved... ... ... ... ... ... 74 „ Dray-roads maintained ... ... ... ... ... 848 „ Bridle-roads constructed ... ... ... ... ... 93 „ Bridle-roads improved ... ... ... ... ... 6 „ Bridle-roads maintained ... ... ... ... ... 197 „ Bridges built, twenty-seven : of a total length of 2,438 ft. In addition to roads especially designed for the purpose of opening up the Crown lands for settlement, the department has under its charge a great mileage of main roads running through parts of the country where the population is sparse, and, consequently, where no rates can be levied for their repair. The following comprise the principal of such roads : Oxford to Eotorua ; Eotorua to Tauranga County boundary; Eotorua to Maketu (in part); Eotorua to Wairoa; Eotorua to Galatea, via Waiotapu; Eotorua to Taupo, and the branch to Maungaiti on the Lichfield Eoad; Taupo to Pohue, on the Napier Eoad ; Taupo to Tokaanu ; Tokaanu to Okahukura; Tokaanu to Waioru (the junction with the Napier-Karioi Eoad); tunnel to Ohakune via Taumarunui; Alexandra to Kawhia ; the north end of the Stratford route ; Waitomo Caves Eoad ; Pipiriki to Karioi; Karioi to Moawhango, on the Napier-Karioi Eoad; Makohine (eight miles from Hunterville) to Turangarere; Field's Track from Karioi to Mason's ; the south end of the Stratford route, in part; and Orrnond to Opotiki (in part). In the South Island : the main road from Kowhai to near Kuinara vid the Otira Gorge; the Haast Pass Eoad ; part of the Waikawa-Catlin's Eoad; and other minor works. The West Coast counties were subsidised towards maintenance of the main road from the Eailway terminus at Belgrove to Hokitika and Westport. In addition to the above, the local bodies in various parts of the colony have been assisted by funds to maintain and repair a number of roads. That portion of the main road which runs from Hunterville through the centre of the North Island vid Lake Taupo, which was in hand at the date of last report, was completed in May, so that coach connection can now be maintained in the summer between Hunterville and Taupo. It is expected that this new route will be a good deal used in the summer time, as it leads through a picturesque district, and affords the most direct route from Wellington to the Thermal Springs District. A considerable length of this road is being metalled at the present time; and when the Awarua County comes in for settlement, it will be greatly used. The Stratford route, which is eventually to connect Auckland with Taranaki, has advanced at both ends ; but at the southern end the contractors have had very great difficulties to contend with in the extraordinarily bad weather experienced all through the season. At the present time a length of six miles is under formation by co-operative contracts at the south end, and a like amount at the north end; in which locality also six miles have been widened out into a cart road. The line has now been located within narrow limits for the whole distance from Ongaruhe —where it branches off from the Main Trunk Eailway line—to Stratford, though all the detail surveys are not complete. The acquisition by the Crown of some considerable areas of land along this road points to the desirability of pushing on the works as quickly as possible, for much of the country is available for settlement, and will be taken up so soon as access is provided. The Pipiriki-Karioi Eoad has also advanced towards completion during the year; and as there is a large number of men engaged on co-operative works on it, the road will probably be finished by next summer, and thus open a large extent of country for settlement. Progress has also been made on the Catlin's-Waikawa Eoad, in Otago, which forms another important main road leading through a great extent of Crown land. On its completion, a considerable extension of settlement should take place within that district. At the present time there is a number of co-operative contracts in hand. Of the various works to open up Crown lands it is needless to speak here, but full details will be found in the reports of the Chief Surveyors. The amount of this sort of work the department has on hand at the present time—taking into consideration the scattered localities in which it lies—■ is probably greater than has been the case for many years past, and it is scarcely likely to decrease. From the nature of the country in which most of the work lies, it is to be expected that the cost per mile of the roads must increase—many things tend towards this result. The assistance of the local bodies, in directing and forming many of the roads mentioned in the tables, has been availed of, and in such cases nearly all the detail work is subject to the supervision of the departmental officers. Over and above this, the Chief Surveyors have to approve of the proposed expenditure by the local bodies of all sums derived from "thirds" of deferred-payment, perpetual-lease, lease-in-perpetuity, occupation-with-right-of-purchase; and "fourths" of small grazing-runs—work which entails a large amount of care and expenditure of time. During the year, a large proportion of the road works have been executed by co-operative contracts, which have absorbed a considerable number of men, as illustrated by the following table, the numbers being the average for each month: — 1892. April ... ... ... 90 men. 1892. October ... . ... 349 men. May ... ... ... 82 „ November... ... 321 „ June ... ... ... 147 ~ December... ... 399 „ July ... ... ... 197 „ 1893. January ... ... 377 „ August ... ... ... 268 „ February ... .. 391 „ September ... ... 339 „ March ... ... 396 „ The following table shows the sums of money borrowed from the Treasury under " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, 1891," on the security of the blocks mentioned therein. A great many road-works have been undertaken in connection with the opening of these blocks, and a great deal is still in hand. The system has greatly increased the work of the clerical and account-keeping branches of the department, and great care is necessary to see that the accounts are properly kept.

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Statement showing the Blocks of Land which have been proclaimed under "The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, 1891," and the Report of the Surveyor-General on the Value of such Blocks, and on the necessary Works, and the Estimated Cost of the Works, and of the Moneys expended in respect of such Blocks out of Moneys borrowed under the said Act.

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(ia; letted. Surveyor-General's Beport. ;penditur( Name of Block. Area of Block. No. Page. Date. Works Estimated Valua- reauu . r 6dt o Cost tionof P™P 08e(1 Block. ope S," 1 ',! iUC£l to be Block. Borrowed. April 1, 1891, to March 31, 1892. April 1, 1892, to March 31, 1893. Total to Mar. 31, 1893. Proclaimed prior to 31st March, 1892. Tauhoa, Sections 184 to 201 Mangamingi Oroua Coal Creek Acres. 4,069 6,000 0,000 15 336 18 Feb., 1892 £ 1,075" 9,040!6,440 Road-works £ 449 4,286 1,050 J 1,000 ( 6,837 3,990 2,625 4,950 5,000 500 300 500 2,000 600 600 500 2,475 20,875" 2,000 750' £ £ 300 1,020 456 £ 300 1,020 456 1,000 135 3,731 108 4,950 5,000 125 100 170 878 275 395 Waimarino i'ooo 135 3,731 108 4,950 20,900 16,880 North-east Puketoi Mount Baker Blocks II., VIII., V., VI., Woodlands Maruwenua (part) Maungataniwha Takahue Manganuiowae Waoku Motatau .. .. .. ... Mareretu Ahuroa Motu East Puketoi Maruwenua Block XVII., Longwood 13,300° 9,200 13,400 13,000 4,000 1,900 5,000 22,804" 5,000 5,000 4,000 33,000 83,500 36,090 4,000 23 479 18 Mar., "„ 10,455 9,600 11,225 10,000 1,500 712 2,500 10,000 1,875 2,500 2,500 14,025 83,500 49,200 2,420 5,000 125 100 170 878 275 395 2*000 2*177 4,815 2,177 4,815 2,000 Proclaimed from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March. 1893. Ruapekapeka Akaaka Swamp Waimate Reserve No. 1126 Waimate Reserve No. 1128 Waimate Reserve No. 1178 Huiroa Mangaehu Kaimanuka Momahaki Ngarara West Blocks VII., X., XL, Woodlands Hautapu-Ruahine Block I., Tautuku .. Takaka and Mount Arthur Lillburn, Monowai, and Alton Nuhaka .. Otau Liberal Maioro Swamp Tanner Blocks XVI. and I., Longwood Oxford Upper Waitara Glenomaru, Blocks.III., IV., V., VII., IX., X. 11,900 2,935 634 516 157 6,433 492 9,987 626 8,729 1,693 28,600 3,850 26,000 30,745 9,577 18,510 2,800 722 5,200 5,659 4,000 840 77 72 74 77 74 83 80 71 83 80 78 90 4 13 f 95 1 13 f 13 -I 102 I . I 13 { 102 21 23 1345 1273 1297 1346 1298 1389 1365 1255 1388 1385 1301 1529 23 240 1600 240 246 1742 1745 246 1744 374 412 413 6 Oct., 1892 15 Sept., „ 22 Sept., "„ 4,462 2,093 6,269 7,268 2,193 5,318 604 5,350 550 9,751 1,384 21,000 2,800 7,800 23,059 4,664 6,941 2,900 451 5,950 2,829 3,550 1,914 Road-works Drainage .. Road-works 500 950 300 25 25 2,093 301 2,665 275 704 307 7,000 555 1,825 8,000 568 2,350 400 225 1,780 1,400 1,200 126 497 300 25 25 90 2*605 156 307 ' 868 555 497 300 25 25 90 2*665 156 307 868 555 6 Oct., 22 Sept., „ 20 Oct., 13 Oct., 8 Sept., „ 20 Oct., 13 Oct., 10 Oct., 11 Nov., „ 12 Jan., 1893 23 Feb., 8 Dec, 1892 23 Feb., 1893 Drainage .. Road-works *998 420 *998 420 I 1,495 ] 946 [ 1,681 | 409 237 237 237 Tuapeka West, Blocks I., II., III., IV., VII., VIII. I 2,545 29 Dec, 1892 367 Rankleburn, Block VI. Milsom Opuawhanga No. 1 Waiwera .. .. .. .'. Kakariki Waiau Ngatimaru, Blocks V., IX., XIII. .. Block I., Paterson Mokoreta .. .. Waikawa-Otara Waikawa 544 0,680 5,000 3,900 5,000 8,831 4,580 633 7,400 31,000 6,000 23 Feb., 1893 29 Dec, 1892 23 Mar., 1893 30 Mar., 1893 136 1,750 500 1,460 1,500 1,405 2,000e 158 1,850 7,750 1,500 136 136 6,237 1,875 4,101 5,786 5,021 4,762 316 3,700 15,500 3,000 *265 *265 412 411 56 235 110 158 180 415 1,500 56 235 110 158 180 415 1,500 412 Totals 554,382 435,081 115,474 8,000 29,833 37,833 a The valuation of this block was originally £1,666, b The valuation of this block was originally £9,002 ] c The area of this block was reduced to 12,600 acres ti The area of this block is now found to bo 22,804 ac e The first application re East Puketoi Block was expended £1,535; making the total expenditure f The application for this loan has since been cane g This loan has been reduced from £2,000 to £1,917. and is r 18s., and t. :ow found to be £1,675. The loan was reduced from £456 to £449. . is now found to be £9,040 8s. t. cres. for £i: 3 £4,815. celled. 1,600, of which was expended £3,280: the second application was for £9,270, of which was

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Appended hereto are extracts from the reports of the Commissioners of Crown Lands, Chief Surveyors, and other officers of the department, which give the details of the various operations carried on by the department. The strength of the department consists now of 236 officers, at head-quarters, and scattered through various parts of the colony, besides a number of extra officers who have been employed from time to time. The increase of the work in all branches is very noticeable ; each new departure in dealing with the lands, &c, brings increased work and responsibilities, which, it is pleasant to say, are cheerfully borne by the officers of the department. It is right to add that many of them are overworked, and, in consequence, cannot give the attention to detail so necessary to the proper working of a large department. The expenditure by the department during the year has been : — On lands and surveys ... ... ... ... ... ...£133,618 On roads and constructive works ... ... ... ... 116,236 £249,854 In conclusion, it is again desired to bring under your notice the urgent necessity for better accommodation for the photo-lithographic establishment. This branch is worked at present under very discouraging circumstances, and its usefulness greatly impaired. The buildings wherein the work is at present carried on are such as no private firm would tolerate, and the annual loss caused thereby is very considerable. Departmental and General. With new tenures of land running concurrently with the old, changes of one tenure to another, revaluations, inquiries into old soldiers' claims, inspections, and numerous other calls. upon the officers of the department, the work increases largely from year to year. The correspondence with associations alone amounts to a very large quantity, in addition to the ordinary work of the department. The systems of tenure under which the lands are now held will necessitate the retention of a considerable staff of officers, even if there are no more Crown lands to deal with; these tenures imply a large amount of book- and account-keeping, which will last as long as the systems last. During the year another edition of the "Crown Lands Guide," Vol. xii., was issued, and, as usual, distributed far and wide. HEAD OFFICE. Mr. Short, Chief Clerk, reports : — I have the honour to report the following as the w r ork done in the Chief Clerk's branch of the department during the twelve months ended 31st March last:— Twelve thousand letters and telegrams were received and recorded, besides numerous reports and other papers, and 10,200 letters and telegrams were dispatched. The press copies of these latter occupied nine letter-books of about nine hundred pages each, and a very large proportion of the letters were type-written. There were also forty-two official circulars, embracing about nine hundred copies, issued, and 3,540 new subjects were recorded. Under " The Land Act, 1885," forty-eight warrants opening lands for optional selection were issued, and under "The Land Act, 1892," seventy were gazetted, including seventeen relating to land that had previously been in the market. Eighteen Proclamations, setting apart small grazingruns, twenty relating to village settlements, and forty-one warrants dealing with reserves were also issued. Eighty-nine Orders in Council, Proclamations, and warrants dealing with domains, cemeteries, and miscellaneous matters were also issued; besides which many other certificates, warrants, and formal papers relating to the administration of Crown lands and public reserves were prepared. During the year, new Land Guides were issued as follows : Auckland, 1,000; Hawke's Bay, 500; Taranaki, 500; Wellington, 1,300; Nelson, 500; Marlborough, 250; Canterbury, 1,000; Otago, 2,000; Westland, 500; Southland, 1,000; in addition to which 2,000 copies of the general Crown Lands Guide were printed and widely circulated in the neighbouring colonies and in other places; and, immediately after the new Land Act was passed, a digest of the land-laws, " Our Crown Lands," was issued. Under " The Public Works Act, 1882," and amendments, twenty-eight Proclamations and Orders in Council relating to roads and bridges were issued. Apart altogether from the Public Works Acts, twenty-eight warrants authorising the taking of land for roads in pursuance of the Native Land Court and other Acts, were prepared and sent out, and seventeen Gazette notices of the taking of similar lands were published. Under the Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteer Land-claims Acts, 169 remission certificates were issued, the value of scrip being £4,835 : 265 applications were received for debentures in exchange for remission certificates; and applications were made to the Treasury Department for the conversion of scrip into debentures to the amount of £10,595 10s. A large number of offers of land under " The Lands for Settlement Act, 1892," were recorded, and special books were opened in connection therewith. Thirty-six blocks of Government land were brought under the provisions of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, in respect of loans required for roads, amounting in all to £34,068; and the usual certificates, schedules, and other documents for Treasury and Audit in connection therewith, and relating to previous loans, were prepared. Special-settlement Associations: There has been much labour and correspondence involved under this heading. The lands granted to thirty-five associations were gazetted, and forty-five new applications were received and dealt with. As regards the issue of titles to land from the Crown: 212 warrants and eighty-eight Crown grants were sent forward for Governor's signature. These represented a total area of 284,793 acres.

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There were also 1,797 grants and certificates of title under the Land Transfer Act received and recorded. The work on the whole has been severe and increasing, owing to several Acts having come into active operation during the year. The change consequent upon the passing of the new Land Act, and the ever-increasing number of small-farm associations, also helped to swell the volume of work, and it has only been kept under by the constant application of all the officers, and by much overtime on the part of several of them. Accounts. Mr. H. J. Knowles, Chief Accountant, states : — The number of payment-vouchers which have been entered (twice), charged, and authorised for payment during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1893, is as follows : — 6,487 charged to Consolidated Fund, covering gross expenditure of £133,618 3,874 charged to Public Works Fund, covering gross expenditure of 116,236 Total 10,361 Total £249,854 This number represents as nearly as possible one-sixth of the total number of payment-vouchers dealt with by the Treasury—namely, 64,071. In addition, the following vouchers, &c, have been dealt with: 315 refunds of deposits ; 557 applications for imprests, entered, and authorised for payment; 166 credit-vouchers prepared and entered; 379 authorities for expenditure issued ; 108 agreements prepared in duplicate, representing grants to local bodies of £20,388. (the payments made to local bodies under grants amount to £20,388) ; 781 letters, memoranda, returns, and vouchers prepared and copied. A statement (consisting of twenty-six sheets), has been prepared monthly, showing the amount voted, expenditure, liabilities, unspent balances, and balances of votes unauthorised, for each of 252 appropriations under the control of this department, together with a statement of the position of Government loans to local bodies. The entries for the year in the expenditure and authorities ledgers have been checked, and the totals and balances arrived at.

Mr. F. W. Flanagan, Chief Draughtsman, reports:— The work done in the Draughting and Lithographic Printing Branches (Head Office) of the Lands and Survey Department during the year ended 31st March, 1893, was as follows : — Maps of Waimarama, Oero, Christchurch, Sumner, Glenomaru, Woodlands, and Eock and Pillar Districts were drawn, lithographed, and published on the 80-chain scale. The original sheets of Kidnapper, Carlyle, Mata, Waipiro, Heretaunga, Clive, and Waimate Districts were revised, and will be republished at an early date. The following are in an advanced stage of progress : 80-chain maps of Halswell, Catlin's, Waipukurau, Opaku, Makuri, Mangahao, Mangaone, and Tararua Districts. The unprecedented amount of drawing and printing required for Parliamentary papers delayed the completion of many of these maps, the time of three draughtsmen being occupied for nearly three months in reproducing Sir John Coode's plans relating to New Plymouth Harbour, and various plans in connection with the proposed North Island Main Trunk Eailway. Of large maps the following were published, viz.: East Taupo County, on a scale of four miles to an inch, showing Native land subdivisions; Eden County, on scale of 10 chains to an inch, in six sheets, showing all registered subdivisions of original sections and allotments ; Kawhia, West Taupo, and part of Clifton Counties, on scales of four miles and eight miles to an inch, in two sheets, showing the most recent topographical information and Native Land Court subdivisions; Macdonald's map of the North Island, on scales of four miles and sixteen miles to an inch, printed in three colours ; and Sheet 5, Auckland, on scale of four miles to an inch. The last-mentioned map completes the Auckland series, and affords valuable information as to Crown and Native lands in the neighbourhood of Poverty Bay and East Coast Districts. The four-mile map of Taranaki was revised and republished, and small plans of Stratford Town Extension, Town of Clifden, Block 1., Alton, and Block 11., Lillburn, were lithographed. A new geographical map of Wellington and Hawke's Bay Districts is in hand, but making slow progress, owing to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary data. Of maps drawn for other departments, the principal are : Railway map for the Commissioners, Post and Telegraph map, and map showing the chief industries in New Zealand. The preparation of lithographic plans for land-sale purposes, which devolved almost wholly on the Head Office staff, entailed a lot of work: 193 plans were issued—viz.: Of Auckland, 62; of Hawke's Bay, 13; of Wellington, 13; of Taranaki, 18 ; of Nelson, 7; of Marlborough, 7; of Westland, 4 ; of Canterbury, 27 ; of Otago, 21; and of Southland, 21. A total of 87,450 copies were printed, and freely distributed in each land district. In addition, thero were printed 5,000 copies of general map, showing lands open for selection in the land districts ; and 6,150 copies of provisional maps, showing the subdivisional schemes of special-settlement blocks. Of tourist-maps, and illustrations designed to advertise the scenic attractions and sanatoria of New Zealand, there were published the following—viz.: 10,000 maps of Cook's tourist routes ; 10,000 maps of side trips from Eotorua; 17,000 maps of coach and railway routes ; 3,000 maps of lakes and sounds, Western Otago, and route to Sutherland Falls; 3,500 maps of Westland tourists' route ; 3,000 maps of " Grand tour; " 3,000 maps showing the trout streams ; 5,000 copies of large pictorial poster of Hanmer Springs country, in four printings; 3,000 photo-engravings of Hanmer Swimming-pool; besides diagrams for Malfroy's pamphlet on the Hot Springs, and numerous illustrations for guide-books. A guide-book to Taranaki, profusely illustrated, is in the press, and will be issued shortly.

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Plans and specifications of three miles and a half of roads were prepared and issued; 92 copies of these plans were hand-coloured. Drawings of four bridges were made ; and the quantities per chain for one mile and a half of Kaikoura-Clarence Boad were computed. The work in hand for the Eepresentation Commission at the date of last year's annual report was completed. It consisted of 198 hand-coloured maps of electoral districts for Eegistrars of Electors and others ; also 3,500 copies of the general maps, showing electoral divisions, were printed. One hundred and one plans, and 93 descriptions or schedules of lands taken for roads, &c, under the Public Works Act, and the Native Lands Acts, were examined and recorded. The describing and recording of the boundaries of Eesident Magistrates' districts, Supreme Court districts, licensing districts, road districts, factory districts, boroughs, ridings; births, marriage, and deaths districts ; special-settlement blocks, and blocks brought under the provisions of the Loans to Local Bodies Act, necessitated the writing of 264 descriptions. Seventeen schedules for Local Bills Committee, House of Eepresentatives, were revised. The work of recording lands disposed of on the county maps has been kept up to date; but much of the information shown on these maps will have to be reproduced in the near future, as through age and constant wear the old records are becoming obliterated. There were five drawings made on stone, one being a chart of the principal stars. During the year corrections and additions were made on 449 stones ; and 1,155 maps and tracings were mounted. The two litho.-printing machines were kept at work constantly, except during a period of five days while repairs to the machinery were being effected. The output for the year is 526,183 copies, of 1,542 separate printings, or 903,616 pulls. The hand-presses are to be credited with 34,256 copies of this result. Printing was executed for nineteen departments of the Service; and 1,011 jobs were undertaken. Mr. Boss has taken 784 plates for photo.-lithographs, made 6 silver prints, and 732 bromide prints. As the work in the photo.-lithograph gallery and printing-office increases, one becomes more sensible of the imperfection of their appointments, and of the loss sustained by being housed in unsuitable buildings. To these drawbacks may be attributed the slow progress made in perfecting the half-tone engraving process of Mr. Eoss, which opens up a path of usefulness by means of which the scenery of the colony may be cheaply and effectively illustrated. Specimens of this process are being produced to accompany the annual report. The pictures are from sketches made by Mr. C. E. Douglas during his exploration trip, and reflect credit on Mr. Sturtevant and Mr. D. Eoss.

Lithographic Printing and Photographing from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893.

Abstract of Lithographs printed during the twelve months : — At the Head Office ... ... ... ... ... 903,616 impressions. Auckland „ ... ... .. ... ... 4,050 „ Canterbury „ ... ... ... ... ... 250 „ Otago ... ... ... ... 4,250 Southland „ ... ... ... ... ... 300 Total ... ... ... ... 912,466 Maps mounted at Head Office, 1,155; maps mounted at Wellington District Office, 285..

Number of Separate Printings. Number of impressions. Department. Number of Plates. Bromide Prints. Bromide Enlargements. By Machine. By Hand. Lands and Survey Public Works Mines Marine Colonial SecretaryJustice Eegistrar-General New Zealand Institute ... Customs Postal and Telegraph ... Agricultural and Stock ... Defence Education Land- and Income-tax ... Bail ways Government Insurance ... Labour 1,114 58 50 35 5 21 12 36 2 9 16 12 16 4 55 2 .4 2 89 454,800 14,800 78,370 12,800 23,683 2,644 66 823 25 1,650 612 18 33 2 216 6 516 27,300 18,940 500 15,200 21,300 6,200 8,900 8,000 117,150 2,000 3,150 4,000 75,950 65 1 100 580 141 3,303 2 767 100 18 13 6 10 11 24 1 Treasury Legislative 1 305 36 Totals ... 1,542 869,360 34,256 784 732

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Table No. 1.—Showing Surveyors employed and of the Work on Hand on 1st April, 1893.

Table No. 2.—Crown Grants and other Instruments of Title from the Crown prepared, from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893.

Table No. 3.—Plans placed on Crown Grants and other Instruments of Title from the Crown, from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893.

Table No. 4. —Work done under Land Transfer Act from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893.

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'able No. 1.—Showing Sueveyoes employed and of the Woek on Hand on 1st April, 1893. Surveyors employed. Wor] on Hand. Chief Surveyors. Staff. Temporary. Trig. Settlement. Native Eoads, rn,,,,,,. Blocks, &c. &c. iowl1 - District. 1 Mining and Mineral Leases. G. Mueller T. Humphries S. Wcetman J. H. Baker J. S. Browning .. H. G. Clark J. Strauchon J. W. A. Marchant C. W. Adams G. W. Williams .. 14 5 4 9 6 1 2 3 6 2 12 2 1 15 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. Sq. Mis. 95 47 50 300 272 Acres. 105,330 130,150 86,000 231,490 56,124 3,450 13,985 293,099 20,840 07,330 Acres. 268,900 37,000 Miles. 201 34 18 350 Acres. Acres. 1J600 324 5 3 5 132 147 65 '320 229 6 '±50 122 Totals 52 43 1,108 1,007,798 306,220 838 1,150 446 Table No. 2.—Ceown Geants from ] and other '. st April, 189: .nsteum: I, to 31: 3NTS of Title f: ;t March, 1893. ■om the Ceo' 'N prepared, Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland .. 18 'l4 456 234 145 2 45 738 435 34 1,047 £ s. d. 132 12 0 62 8 9 1 14 0 63 5 0 "5 4 4 135 12 22 405 2 0 0 7 14 1 58 10 0 Totals 493 5G9 2,693 328 3 10 Table No. 3. —Plans placed 0 Ceown, fi 1 Ceown G11 ■0111 1st April. iants and other Insteu: , 1892, to 31st March, li cients of Tr o93. 'le from the Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. . Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland '.. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 4 1 150 79 143 912 37 067 169 93 111 15 58 2,317 666 565 2,157 74 45 174 162 294 33 £ s. d. 242 12 6 39 0 6 41 6 0 63 5 0 9 7 10 6 8 0 18 0 0 24 15 6 93 13 0 1 13 0 130 .5 'io 68 '51 11 Totals 540 1 4 140 1,411 1,175 6,487 Table No. 1. —Work done mder Land 1 Marc! BANSFEE a, 1893. ct from 1st April, 1892, to 31st District. Deeds No. of and Plans other Inpassed, struments passed. No. of Plans placed on Certificates of ' «,_ , lltle - laneoue Plans, Sinelv. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. &c . Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 108 69 66 206 128 11 32 08 145 42 3 341 333 1,150 149 30 25 1,022 353 295 1 143 131 70 25 16 288 212 1 26 69 22 4 £ s. d. 358 9 6 217 6 9 213 19 6 570 5 6 481 6 0 27 3 0 18 11 0 330 12 0 243 12 0 131 3 0 579 1,028 44 9 1 Totals .. 905 1,607 I 44 3,701 285 733 2,592 8 9

'able No. 1.—Showing Sueveyoes employed and of the Woek on Hand on 1st April, 1893. Surveyors employed. Wor] on Hand. Chief Surveyors. Staff. Temporary. Trig. Settlement. Native Eoads, rn,,,,,,. Blocks, &c. &c. iowl1 - District. 1 Mining and Mineral Leases. G. Mueller T. Humphries S. Wcetman J. H. Baker J. S. Browning .. H. G. Clark J. Strauchon J. W. A. Marchant C. W. Adams G. W. Williams .. 14 5 4 9 6 1 2 3 6 2 12 2 1 15 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. Sq. Mis. 95 47 50 300 272 Acres. 105,330 130,150 86,000 231,490 56,124 3,450 13,985 293,099 20,840 07,330 Acres. 268,900 37,000 Miles. 201 34 18 350 Acres. Acres. 1J600 324 5 3 5 132 147 65 '320 229 6 '±50 122 Totals 52 43 1,108 1,007,798 306,220 838 1,150 446 Table No. 2.—Ceown Geants from ] and other '. st April, 189: .nsteum: I, to 31: 3NTS of Title f: ;t March, 1893. ■om the Ceo' 'N prepared, Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland .. 18 'l4 456 234 145 2 45 738 435 34 1,047 £ s. d. 132 12 0 62 8 9 1 14 0 63 5 0 "5 4 4 135 12 22 405 2 0 0 7 14 1 58 10 0 Totals 493 5G9 2,693 328 3 10 Table No. 3.—Plans placed 0 Ceown, fi 1 Ceown G11 ■0111 1st April. iants and other Insteu: , 1892, to 31st March, li cients of Tr o93. 'le from the Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. . Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland '.. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 4 1 150 79 143 912 37 067 169 93 111 15 58 2,317 666 565 2,157 74 45 174 162 294 33 £ s. d. 242 12 6 39 0 6 41 6 0 63 5 0 9 7 10 6 8 0 18 0 0 24 15 6 93 13 0 1 13 0 130 .5 'io 68 '51 11 Totals 540 1 4 140 1,411 1,175 6,487 Table No. 1.—Work done mder Land 1 Marc! BANSFEE a, 1893. ct from 1st April, 1892, to 31st District. Deeds No. of and Plans other Inpassed, struments passed. No. of Plans placed on Certificates of ' «,_ , lltle - laneoue Plans, Sinelv. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. &c . Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 108 69 66 206 128 11 32 08 145 42 3 341 333 1,150 149 30 25 1,022 353 295 1 143 131 70 25 16 288 212 1 26 69 22 4 £ s. d. 358 9 6 217 6 9 213 19 6 570 5 6 481 6 0 27 3 0 18 11 0 330 12 0 243 12 0 131 3 0 579 1,028 44 9 1 Totals .. 905 1,607 I 44 3,701 285 733 2,592 8 9

'able No. 1.—Showing Sueveyoes employed and of the Woek on Hand on 1st April, 1893. Surveyors employed. Wor] on Hand. Chief Surveyors. Staff. Temporary. Trig. Settlement. Native Eoads, rn,,,,,,. Blocks, &c. &c. iowl1 - District. 1 Mining and Mineral Leases. G. Mueller T. Humphries S. Wcetman J. H. Baker J. S. Browning .. H. G. Clark J. Strauchon J. W. A. Marchant C. W. Adams G. W. Williams .. 14 5 4 9 6 1 2 3 6 2 12 2 1 15 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. Sq. Mis. 95 47 50 300 272 Acres. 105,330 130,150 86,000 231,490 56,124 3,450 13,985 293,099 20,840 07,330 Acres. 268,900 37,000 Miles. 201 34 18 350 Acres. Acres. 1J600 324 5 3 5 132 147 65 '320 229 6 '±50 122 Totals 52 43 1,108 1,007,798 306,220 838 1,150 446 Table No. 2.—Ceown Geants from ] and other '. st April, 189: .nsteum: I, to 31: 3NTS of Title f: ;t March, 1893. ■om the Ceo' 'N prepared, Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland .. 18 'l4 456 234 145 2 45 738 435 34 1,047 £ s. d. 132 12 0 62 8 9 1 14 0 63 5 0 "5 4 4 135 12 22 405 2 0 0 7 14 1 58 10 0 Totals 493 5G9 2,693 328 3 10 Table No. 3.—Plans placed 0 Ceown, fi 1 Ceown G11 ■0111 1st April. iants and other Insteu: , 1892, to 31st March, li cients of Tr o93. 'le from the Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. . Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland '.. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 4 1 150 79 143 912 37 067 169 93 111 15 58 2,317 666 565 2,157 74 45 174 162 294 33 £ s. d. 242 12 6 39 0 6 41 6 0 63 5 0 9 7 10 6 8 0 18 0 0 24 15 6 93 13 0 1 13 0 130 .5 'io 68 '51 11 Totals 540 1 4 140 1,411 1,175 6,487 Table No. 1.—Work done mder Land 1 Marc! BANSFEE a, 1893. ct from 1st April, 1892, to 31st District. Deeds No. of and Plans other Inpassed, struments passed. No. of Plans placed on Certificates of ' «,_ , lltle - laneoue Plans, Sinelv. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. &c . Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 108 69 66 206 128 11 32 08 145 42 3 341 333 1,150 149 30 25 1,022 353 295 1 143 131 70 25 16 288 212 1 26 69 22 4 £ s. d. 358 9 6 217 6 9 213 19 6 570 5 6 481 6 0 27 3 0 18 11 0 330 12 0 243 12 0 131 3 0 579 1,028 44 9 1 Totals .. 905 1,607 I 44 3,701 285 733 2,592 8 9

'able No. 1.—Showing Sueveyoes employed and of the Woek on Hand on 1st April, 1893. Surveyors employed. Wor] on Hand. Chief Surveyors. Staff. Temporary. Trig. Settlement. Native Eoads, rn,,,,,,. Blocks, &c. &c. iowl1 - District. 1 Mining and Mineral Leases. G. Mueller T. Humphries S. Wcetman J. H. Baker J. S. Browning .. H. G. Clark J. Strauchon J. W. A. Marchant C. W. Adams G. W. Williams .. 14 5 4 9 6 1 2 3 6 2 12 2 1 15 Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. Sq. Mis. 95 47 50 300 272 Acres. 105,330 130,150 86,000 231,490 56,124 3,450 13,985 293,099 20,840 07,330 Acres. 268,900 37,000 Miles. 201 34 18 350 Acres. Acres. 1J600 324 5 3 5 132 147 65 '320 229 6 '±50 122 Totals 52 43 1,108 1,007,798 306,220 838 1,150 446 Table No. 2.—Ceown Geants from ] and other '. st April, 189: .nsteum: I, to 31: 3NTS of Title f: ;t March, 1893. ■om the Ceo' 'N prepared, Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland .. 18 'l4 456 234 145 2 45 738 435 34 1,047 £ s. d. 132 12 0 62 8 9 1 14 0 63 5 0 "5 4 4 135 12 22 405 2 0 0 7 14 1 58 10 0 Totals 493 5G9 2,693 328 3 10 Table No. 3.—Plans placed 0 Ceown, fi 1 Ceown G11 ■0111 1st April. iants and other Insteu: , 1892, to 31st March, li cients of Tr o93. 'le from the Number. District. Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Total Copies. . Auckland .. Taranaki .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland '.. Canterbury Otago Southland .. 4 1 150 79 143 912 37 067 169 93 111 15 58 2,317 666 565 2,157 74 45 174 162 294 33 £ s. d. 242 12 6 39 0 6 41 6 0 63 5 0 9 7 10 6 8 0 18 0 0 24 15 6 93 13 0 1 13 0 130 .5 'io 68 '51 11 Totals 540 1 4 140 1,411 1,175 6,487 Table No. 1.—Work done mder Land 1 Marc! BANSFEE a, 1893. ct from 1st April, 1892, to 31st District. Deeds No. of and Plans other Inpassed, struments passed. No. of Plans placed on Certificates of ' «,_ , lltle - laneoue Plans, Sinelv. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. &c . Cost. Singly. In Duplicate. In Triplicate. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 108 69 66 206 128 11 32 08 145 42 3 341 333 1,150 149 30 25 1,022 353 295 1 143 131 70 25 16 288 212 1 26 69 22 4 £ s. d. 358 9 6 217 6 9 213 19 6 570 5 6 481 6 0 27 3 0 18 11 0 330 12 0 243 12 0 131 3 0 579 1,028 44 9 1 Totals .. 905 1,607 I 44 3,701 285 733 2,592 8 9

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Table No. 5. —Statement of Work done for other Departments and for Local Bodies during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX No. I.—ADMINISTEATION. EXTEACTS FEOM THE EEPOETS OE THE COMMISSIONEES OF CEOWN LANDS ON SETTLEMENT OPEEATIONS DUEING THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MAECH, 1893. AUCKLAND. Starting with the Summary of Transactions, Table A, it will be seen that the area disposed of is 115,453 acres, or, adding the land taken up by the North Island Land Association of Canterbury at Matata, gives a total of 135,453 acres; whilst the total of all selectors (including forty-three for the above-mentioned association) is 672, or, deducting those, as not yet actually settled upon the land, we have a total of 629 selectors. Out of this total of 115,453 acres, only some 13,937 acres have been sold for cash, to 260 selectors, being an average of 53-J- acres to each selector, at an average price of nearly 13s. per acre. Table C shows also that for the cash lands the rural purchasers have only been 180, for 13,672 acres, equal to about 76 acres, to each selector. The Deferred-payment Lands, as shown by Table D, being only for seven months of the year, had sixty selectors —6,160 acres, or an average of 102|- acres to each selector. The forfeitures for non-fulfilment of conditions have been twelve, of an area of 646 acres. The total area now held under this condition is 66,498 acres, by 491 selectors, the yearly instalment due being £5,644, the total freehold applied for and granted from the commencement being 7,393 acres, by fifty-two selectors. The selectors, however, in arrears are fifty-nine, owing £333 6s. 5d., and occupying an area of 5,422 acres. Table E, being Perpetual Lease and small areas, shows a total of land selected of 63,266 acres, by 194 selectors, or an average of 326 acres for each selector. The forfeitures and surrenders have been forty-one in number, with an area of 6,167 acres. The total number of selectors now on the books is 1,001, holding an area of 260,233 acres, or an average of 260 acres for each selector, the total made freehold from the commencement being only 3,824 acres. There are, however, 153 selectors in arrears, owing £670, and occupying 33,381 acres. Table E, being Lease in Perpetuity, has found favour, as for the four months following its opening there have been thirty-one selectors, for a total of 4,948 acres, or an average of 159|- acres for each selector ; and I think the coming year will show a large area selected under this heading, and also for perpetual lease converted into this tenure. Table G, being Occupation with Plight of Purchase, has also found still greater favour, as for the four months during which it has been legal there are seventy-three selectors, for a total area of 12,120 acres, or an average of 192 acres for each selection. The Village Homestead Special Settlements, shown on Table L, will require to have the remarks which I made in last year's report again repeated—namely, that they are holding their own, but that is all. This, of course, only refers to the settlers still holding under this system, and does not necessarily imply that the settlements themselves are decreasing, because the areas originally laid out for this class are being selected by other settlers, or by the sons of original village homestead settlers, under other tenures. The total number of settlers, including endowment lands-, are now only 274, holding an area of 11,395 acres, paying an annual rental of £830, including interest upon advances. The forfeitures have been twenty-two, of an area of 978 acres 1 rood 9 perches. The arrears of payment are still very considerable, there being £1,456 13s. 9d. owed, by 257 selectors, for rent and interest. The Village Steward's report, herewith enclosed, will give still further particulars.

District. Cost. District Cost. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson .. Marlborough £ s. d. 1,061 1 2 311 16 9 228 0 0 1,063 6 5 34 15 8 9 14 0 Brought forward Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Wellington, Head Office £ s. d. 2,708 14 0 522 11 7 651 17 3 324 13 11 7 14 0 576 12 7 Carried forward.. 2,708 14 0 Totals 4,792 3 4

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The Special-settlement Associations, as shown by Table M, consisting of Gordon, near Te Aroha; Tuakau, in Eaglan County; Canterbury, at Hokianga; and North Island Land Association, near Matata, Bay of Plenty, are in operation, The first three settlements have together sixty-one selectors residing on their sections, and holding an area of 5,666 acres; of this number some fifty-three selectors are still owing £515. The last association— i.e., the North Island Land Association—consisting of forty-three members, have commenced operations upon 20,000 acres of swamp-land near Matata, and are engaged in running the necessary drains. Table N, Homestead Lands : There is little to mention, as only 38 acres were selected during the year, but out of areas granted in past years the selections of five selectors, containing 600 acres, have been forfeited for non-fulfilment of residential conditions, the total area row held being 12,870 acres, occupied by ninety-eight selectors, and who will receive Crown grants as their conditions of settlement become fulfilled. This year we have a return of Small Grazing-runs, as shown by Table O, mostly held in the Bay of Plenty District. There are four additional holders, occupying 14,658 acres, or an average of 3,664 acres each holder; the total area of small grazing-runs in this land district being 57,803 acres, held by seventeen persons. Table Q need only be referred to as showing the discovery of silver-lodes at the Great Barrier Island, and the issue by the Land Board of eleven mining leases, covering an area of 270 acres. Whether the lodes or reefs are sufficiently large enough and rich enough to pay for crushing has yet to be proved. There is only one more table which I need mention—viz., Table S, which treats of arrears. A glance at it shows that there are 274 settlers in arrears, owing £1,621. Visiting of sections by the Eangers, in order to ascertain that the improvement conditions are being carried out in accordance with the law, now involves a very large amount of travelling, when it is borne in mind that the total holders under improvement conditions now number some 2,082 holdings, containing 433,309 acres of land, scattered all over this extensive district, with means of access generally of the worst description. However, lam glad to say that this branch of the work is now being kept well in hand, and the general result of nearly all inspections goes to show that the value of the work done is in excess of requirements. I take this opportunity of testifying to the value of Mr. Hill's (the late Sanger's) services, and to regret that age and growing infirmities alone prevented him from being able to cope with the work of inspection now carried on by Mr. Bayly, his successor. State Forests. —These forests, all North of Auckland, are carefully looked after by Messrs. H. J. Wilson and J. Maxwell, who also make report upon sectional improvements as well. Out of the burnt portion of the Pupipuhi Forest which was sown with grass last year, some 2,479 acres have been leased for seven years, in four sections, bringing in an annual rental of £47. Sundry kauri-trees and other items have brought in a revenue of £142 in addition to the above. The Waerenga Plantation has been handed over to the Agricultural Department, who are now continuing operations. Before concluding, I will briefly summarise the land available for future settlement, and commence by saying that there are now open for selection all over the district 1,317 sections of surveyed land, containing 119,150 acres, all of which is quite fit for pastoral purposes, and a good deal of it for agricultural. There are also some 235,600 acres open for selection as " unsurveyed," all of which is fit for settlement, but mostly of a pastoral character. In addition to this land there are fit for settlement the following areas as noted below, with general description, arranged in geographical order : —■ Mangonui County. —Takahue Survey District, Parish of Maungataniwha, &c, say, 31,460 acres, chiefly forest-land of good quality and fairly accessible. Bay of Islands County. —Euapekapeka Parish, &c, say, 25,000 acres forest- and fern-land of good quality, mostly fit for pastoral purposes. Hokianga County. —Whangape Survey District, 9,000 acres, all good forest-land; also, between Hokianga and Dargaville and down to Mangakahia Stream, some 200,000 acres of available good land, all fit for settlement. Whangarei County. —Opuawhanga Survey District, also Parishes of Tauraroa, Waikiekie, Waipu, &c, 20,000 acres, all fairly good forest-land. Otamatea County. —Takatoka Swamp, 18,000 acres; also, Parish of Omaru, of rich swamp- and forest-land. Bodney County. —Pakiri and sundry other parishes, say, 5,000 acres of available forest-land. Waitemata County. —There are some 20,000 acres left, which can be made available for pastoral purposes, but it will only be taken up in small areas, being generally poor quality. Manuhau County. —Parish of Otau, about 18,000 acres of broken forest-land of fair quality, now being surveyed into sections; will probably all be taken up. Waikato County. —About 10,000 acres in Parish of Taupiri, good fern- and forest-land, between Matahuru and Mangawhara Streams. Baglan County.— Awaroa Survey District, also Parishes of Waipa, Karamu, and Pirongia, say, 13,000 acres of good forest-land though broken. Coromandel County. —Parish of Mahakirau, &c, 13,000 acres of good forest-land, 5,000 acres of which has been subdivided and will be shortly offered. Ohinemuri Comity. —There are fully 30,000 acres of available land, but, being mostly swampy, it is not advisable to throw it open just yet. Jfyhakatane County. —About 50,000 acres of broken forest-land can be made immediately available, but, being so far back and broken, will certainly not be inquired for yet. Botorua County. —About 7,000 acres along the railway and road-line of good forest-land could be at once subdivided, and doubtless would all be taken up for grazing. The above summary gives a total of 805,000 acres still available in the immediate future for extension of settlement in this district; but it may not be out of place to point out that in many 3—C. 1

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counties large areas of unused Native lands really contain the very best land for settlement, and that in the interest of would-be settlers it is very advisable to acquire these lands by purchase at as early a date as possible. In conclusion, 1 would point out that, with some 1,600 letters received inwards per month, and the daily-increasing number of settlers, all the energies of the office to keep pace with the work are taxed to the uttermost. Gerhard Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Special Settlements. The number of selections relinquished or abandoned during the year is twenty-two, representing 978 acres. This leaves the total number of settlers now remaining as 274. Fifteen of the present village settlers have added to their holdings, by selecting under ordinary settlement conditions twenty-one sections, containing 734 acres. The total amount of advances on improvements made during the year is £441 12s. 6d. This amount does not represent the value of the improvements effected, as many of the settlers manage to do without full advances on their improvements : in fact, they do not wish to burden themselves with the 5 per cent, interest payable thereon if they can possibly avoid it. Notwithstanding the loss of twenty-two settlers during the twelve months, there is a decided increase in the number of stock, and the amount of substantial improvements effected in the settlements generally, the figures now showing: Horses, 322; cows, 668; sheep, 1,146; pigs, 487; poultry, 2,601; calves, 628; working bullocks, 66; chains of fencing, 5,190; area in grass, 2,891 acres; and area in garden and orchards, 92 acres. The settlers, especially those in the northern settlements, have had a hard struggle, owing to the late continuously wet season rendering the roads almost impassable. In addition to this very serious disadvantage, most of the northern settlements are wholly surrounded by unoccupied forest lands, and the settlers are therefore unable to obtain employment; some of them have of necessity to take to the only means of earning a livelihood—viz., the gumfields, which in most cases are situated at considerable distances from their homes. The loss of time and additional cost of living on the gumfield and keeping a wife and family on the selection renders it very difficult for the settler to improve his holding and make both ends meet. Many of the original village settlers have relinquished their selections and taken up other lands near gumfields, but they are labouring under so many disadvantages that those who struggle with the initial difficulties and hold on to their selections will in the end be most successful. Under the circumstances, I consider that the remaining settlers have done exceedingly well to hold their own.

Number of Horses, Cows, Calves, Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, and Working Bullocks, with Chains of Fencing, in various Village Settlements; also, Acres in Grass, and Approximate Area in Gardens, Orchard, &c., to 31st March, 1893.

H. P. Kavanagh, Village Steward.

TAEANAKI. Table A. —The area which was open for ordinary selection at the beginning of the year was 2,311 acres, which, added to the area which has been opened during the year—viz., 46,513 acres— made a total of 48,824 acres. Of this area 26,564 acres have been disposed of, leaving open at the end of the year 22,260 acres.

Name of Settlement. GO Ol o C O 0) O 00 03 s r< o PM zrj Jr "a O *o lab 9.9 d o a § .9 O o o £r§ CO en rH O _g «! CJ H O 1313 cj-S ■S3 n S3 H Whananaki Motukaraka Omaha Te Aroha Komakorau Firewood Creek Karaka Swanson and Waitakerei Waimamaku Pern Flat Hukerenui Motatau Pataua Herekino Takahue Punakitere 23 20 15 36 5 12 2 5 13 10 66 15 16 46 12 26 47 104 56 89 8 30 10 11 29 9 105 19 32 53 11 55 71 502 20 "30 20 23 13 37 7 8 1 6 13 5 93 10 9 229 144 153 487 310 88 36 70 105 235 52 307 92 84 291 57 96 54 58 10 8 6 5 28 4 99 21 34 79 10 59 563 710 509 625 44 122 120 238 99 75 899 121 224 289 102 450 5 11 4 5 200 506 274 285 14 102 26 34 191 159 319 63 116 256 178 168 11 13 10 6-5 2 3-5 1 5 7 1-5 11 2 3 4 3 9 105 "58 41 219 141 53 147 322 668 1,146 487 2,601 628 5,190 66 2,891 92-5

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Of the apparently large area taken vp —115,864 acres—B9,3oo acres have been selected by farm homestead associations, leaving the comparatively small area already quoted, of 26,564 acres (or less than half the area taken up last year), as having been selected under the optional system. The total number of selectors, including farm homestead associations, was 678. The only land open for selection at present is a few large sections in the Kapara Survey District, up the Waitotara Eiver, and some broken country opened as unsurveyed land behind Waverley. This is the first experiment of the kind made in this district; and, although 18,530 acres were offered on the 16th March, only 2,840 acres were selected. Table B. —The large number of purchasers for cash is accounted for by forty out of the fortyfour having purchased town and suburban lands at auction. As in previous years, it will be noticed that under the optional system the perpetual-lease tenure was again the favourite, the number of selectors having more than trebled any of those under the other systems. It is rather premature to predict which will be the favourite tenure under the new Act; but, so far, the occupation with right to purchase takes the lead. Table C. —The land sold for cash during the year has been confined almost entirely to town land at Stratford, and suburban sections at Kaponga and Tarata, the average price per acre for the former being £57 18s. 6d., as against £73 ss. 9d. last year. Out of 350 Stratford town sections, offered, only sixty-two were sold, and very few realised more than the upset price. Table D. —The area of deferred-payment land selected was considerably less than half what it was last year, but the revenue has not suffered in proportion, since an area of 12,377 acres was made freehold, as against 13,349 acres last year, the cash received being only £777 less than last year. Of course, this revenue is now a vanishing quantity; and, as we have only 633 selectors left on the books, at the rate at which freeholds have been acquired during the past two or three years, they will all be bought out in about six years. One section only was forfeited. Table E. —Although the area taken up under perpetual lease and small areas—l3,9l6 acres—is three times as much as that under deferred-payment system, it is only about a third of what was taken up last year. Twenty-three selectors, representing 6,820 acres, have acquired their freeholds during the year, as against ten last year, leaving now 439 selectors, holding 110,039 acres, which may be made freehold. As the desire to acquire the freeholds, dependent, of course, upon the general prosperity of the district, is steadily on the increase, it is probable that in seven or eight years all the land held under this tenure will be bought out. There were eight changes of tenure— six to deferred payment and two to lease in perpetuity. The revenue received during the year was £10,147 7s. 7d. (including £5,245 received for freeholds), as against £7,240 4s. lid. last year. Nine sections were forfeited. Table F. —So far, there have only been six selectors under lease in perpetuity, and two others have changed their tenure from perpetual lease. It is premature to predict the future of this system. Table G. —As before remarked, so far, the tenure of occupation with right of purchase is the favourite under the new Act, there having been ten selectors, as against six under lease in perpetuity. Table I. —Only three village sections for cash, of 1 acre each, all in Tarata, were taken up. This system has never been a popular one in this district, and it is more than probable that the balance of sections in Tarata open at present will be withdrawn and offered as ordinary town lands. Table J. —The village settlements on deferred payments are all old transactions. Three out of the thirteen selectors have acquired their freeholds, leaving now ten selectors, holding 341 acres. Table M. —Fourteen farm homestead association blocks have been taken up in different parts of the district, the most northern one being the Moanatairi, at the head of the Waitara Eiver, and the most southern those in the Kaitangiwhenua Block, inland from Patea. They cover a net area of 89,300 acres, and include 449 members, with an average area of 198 acres per member. The Milsom, Tanner, Oxford, Gatton, and Lepperton Blocks have been surveyed. Three of the Lepperton members have felled about 120 acres, and probably 50 acres have been felled on the Milsom Block. Several members of both the Milsom and Tanner Blocks have contracts on the Junction Eoad, which runs through these blocks. Nine blocks yet remain to be surveyed. Of the blocks selected before the passing of " The Land Act, 1892," it is believed that all the members will elect to accept the lease in perpetuity in preference to the perpetual lease. Table O. —The only new transactions in small grazing-runs was the disposal of 246 acres, in two sections, of some barren sand-covered land on the West Coast, between Hawera and Patea, which the adjoining proprietors wished to acquire and plant with sand-grass, &c, to protect their freeholds. The Land Board could see no other way of letting them have the land on a reasonable lease than by offering it as small grazing-runs at 3d. per acre rental. As all the land opened under this system has been taken up it may be considered advisable to open up a further area on the Whenuakura and Patea Eivers. Table Q. — Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses. —Two timber-cutting licenses in the Ngaire Block are still in force, the amount received having been £116 Bs. 2d., which will in some measure recoup the Crown for the annual rental of £200 paid to the Natives for the lease of this block, which lease has such a short time to run (about fourteen years), and the power to renew it appears to be so doubtful, that the Land Board has been unable to devise any feasible scheme to insure settlement on the land. The only logical way out of the difficulty appears to be to acquire the freehold. The miscellaneous leases consist, as hitherto, principally of reserves leased for fourteen, ten, and seven years ; also unoccupied pieces of Crown land which it is undesirable to sell, and which have not yet been reserved for any special purpose ; also vacant town sections let on yearly tenancies, terminable by three months' notice. There are seventy-six lessees, holding 839 acres, and bringing in an annual rental amounting to £232 18s. 4d. Table B. —The total revenue received during the year amounts to £28,294 19s. 9d., or £2,545 in excess of last year's. The largest surplus was on the cash sale, £6,289 4s. Id., including per-

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petual leases made freehold, which realised £5,245, as against £1,000 estimated. The other items, with one exception, are in excess of the estimates, but to so small an extent that they do not call for special mention. Table S. —The arrears, as hitherto, consist in the main of payments due on the Ist January, 1893. There are in all 518 selectors in arrear, owing £3,500, as against 560 selectors, owing £4,000 last year. Table T. —The area reserved during the year has very largely exceeded that of the previous year, being 3,659 acres 1 rood 20 perches, as against 206 acres. The area alienated by Act— 18,068 acres 2 roods 24 perches—is also in excess of last year—l7,o63 acres. It has been the practice in this district to include all Native land granted, whether required by the Crown or not; but lam not sure whether all such come strictly within the term. The total area alienated during the year was 21,728 acres and 4 perches. It is to be hoped that the Land Board will continue to recommend the reservation of large areas of forest in different parts of the district, notably along the summit of the Matemateonga Eange, towards Mount Humphries. Table U.- —The total number of selectors on the books is 1,308, as against 1,171 last year. Apart from farm-homestead associations, there were only sixty-nine new selectors, as against 116 who acquired freeholds, or a falling-off in number of forty-seven. Table W. —The balance of the university reserve, inland from Patea, was subdivided into eleven sections, comprising 7,222 acres, and were offered by auction on thirty years' lease in October, at an upset rent of 6d. per acre. The competition was very spirited, the prices realised ranging from Bd. to 3s. 2d. per acre, bringing in an annual rental of £559 Bs. I append a summary of the Crown Lands Eangers' reports for the year, from which it will be noticed that there have been inspected 213 sections of deferred-payment lands of the first, second, fourth, and sixth years, comprising an area of 30,837 acres; thirty-four of the selectors are in partial default, and twelve total default, while sixty-three are non-resident. Of these, however, twentyfive have made double improvements in lieu of residence. Of perpetual-lease lands, 209 sections, comprising an area of 46,657 acres, were reported on. Forty-five of the selectors have made partial default, six are in total default; but it will be observed that these are in their first year; the difficulty of access will account for this. Ninety-one are absent from their holdings ; this may be accounted for from the fact that a large proportion of the selectors are young men with small means, who have to seek work elsewhere to enable them to live during a portion of the year on their holdings; of these, thirty have made double improvements in lieu of residence. Of the two small grazingruns inspected, the improvements were sufficient for the requirements, but one of the selectors was non-resident. A large number of special inspections for the purposes of transfer and completion of purchase were made, and the usual schedules of expenditure of " thirds," submitted by the local bodies, were reported on, &c. Taking into consideration the circumstances of difficulty of access, want of means with many of the selectors, and the unusually wet season, it may fairly be said that the progress of the district is exceedingly satisfactory. As to the probable future of Crown lands in this district, the area at present available for settlement is, in round numbers, 400,000 acres. Making deductions for reserves, roads, &c, this will be reduced to 360,000 acres, and, assuming that 60,000 acres will be taken up annually—which I think is a low estimate —in six years' time it will all have been disposed of. In addition to the above, there are the Taumatamahoe, Whitianga, and Maraekowhai Blocks, which, I believe, are being acquired by the Crown. These will add an area of about 200,000 acres, exclusive of roads and reserves. Some of the land —notably, the Wangamomona Valley —is of excellent quality. As to the rate at which settlement will progress, I think it depends mainly upon the means at the disposal of the Government for pushing on the formation of roads. The unavoidable delays which occur from various causes in the expenditure of the loans raised upon the land is a hindrance to settlement to a certain extent. I append a schedule of Crown lands available for settlement. Sidney Weetman, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Summary of Crown Lands Rangers' Reports, 1892-93.

Report. Number of Sections. Area. Partial Default. Total Default. Absent. Double Improvements in Lieu of Residence. First, deferred payment Second, „ Fourth, Final, 33 66 54 60 Acres. 6,494 10,783 6,320 7,240 5 4 .11 14 2 5 5 10 3G 3 14 3 13 6 3 Total 213 30,837 :>! il! 63 25 First, perpetual lease Second, „ Fourth, „ Final, 66 60 4y 18,828 15,730 6,258 5,841 M 12 8 11 6 13 54 17 7 11 12 6 1 Total 209 46,657 45 91 30 Small grazing-runs 3,S54 Total deferred payment, perpetual lease, and small grazing-runs 424 81,348 79 18 155 55

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Area of Crown Lands available for Settlement, 31st March, 1893. (First Class valued at £1, Second Class at 10s., and Third Class at 5s. per Acre.)

NAPIEE. An area of 49,831 acres has been taken up on purely settlement conditions by ninety selectors, as against 36,007 by sixty-three selectors during last year. The average area of the holdings is 553 acres, which is attributable to the class of land now remaining in the hands of the Crown in this district, being generally of a nature that will only admit of its being profitably worked in moderately-sized holdings. Cash Sales. —These have been fourteen in number, nine of which were of rural lands in different parts of the district. Deferred Payment. —Only one deferred-payment selection has been made, and that of a small section of 117 acres. Thirty-nine licensees have acquired the freehold of their holdings, and one surrendered his license, which leaves 132 now holding 1.7,944 acres. As selection under this system is abolished, in a few years, through effluxion of time and freeholds otherwise made, holdings under this tenure will be a thing of the past. Perpetual Lease. —Twenty-six selections, comprising 13,541 acres, have been made, and, singularly, the same number have been converted into freehold. The surrenders, forfeitures, and exchanges, numbering nine in all, reduce the number of lessees on the books from 312 in 1892 to 303 at the present time. Lease in Perpettdty and Occupation with Bight of Purchase. —The first land thrown open under " The Land Act, 1892," was in December last; and of the twenty-eight selections made since that date nineteen have been on lease in perpetuity, and nine occupation with right of purchase. The former appears to be the favourite tenure, as, of forty-two applications received under the optional system, the proportion is the same. Three perpetual-lease holders have availed themselves of the right to change the tenure to lease in perpetuity, and there is a prospect of a large number following their example. Village Settlement. —There have been four cash selections, and one small farm on deferred payment. Of the fifty-four of the latter class on the books on the 31st March, 1892, eleven have been made freehold during the year, and one forfeited. Village Homestead Special Settlements. —There is little to add to what was reported last year. The two settlements are Woodville and Puketitiri, numbering thirty-one settlers, with an average holding of 6J acres. As stated in a previous report to you, the Woodville Settlement is a particularly successful one, and is, without question, fulfilling the most sanguine expectations. The regularity of the payments of rent and interest is in itself an indication of prosperity, only three settlers in both settlements being in arrears with their payments of rent and interest, to the inconsiderable amount of £4 7s. 2d. And when it is taken into account that road or other works are not provided for them, but that they are entirely self-supporting, it must be considered eminently satisfactory. Last year the Government was liable for advances to the amount of £214 18s. 6d. ; but as the five years has now elapsed during which the privilege lasted, no claims can now be recognised, though there remains a liability of £70 through one application having been made within the specified time, but not yet dealt with. There are circumstances, however, which make it doubtful if it will be granted. Special-settlement Association. —The Waipawa and Danevirke Settlements, which practically form one, being separated only by a road, continue to do well, and, though twenty-four have acquired the freehold, it is gratifying to find no tendency to the aggregation of large areas which has unfortunately occurred in so many instances in the past. The other settlement is that of the Liberal Small-farm Association, near Danevirke, balloted for in January last. It consists of fourteen selectors, with 200 acres each. Being entirely forest country, and the felling season not commenced, no improvements have yet been made. Small Grazing-runs and Pastoral Licenses. —These stand, in regard to number, the same as last year, no new ones having been offered; but improvements have been steadily going on.

lality of Land. Name of Block or Locality. Second Third Class. Class. Totals. Name of County within which Lands are situated. First Class. Within confiscation boundary.. 5,000 rr Ann 5,000 7,000 127,000 36,000 9,580 9,200 107,600 15,400 58,800 5,000 192,800 36,000 26,940 13,200 107,600 15,400 Stratford County. Clifton County. Patea County. Clifton County. Stratford County. Patea County. Waitotara County. 7,000 )utside confiscation boundary.. 2,000 o ftrtrt 2*000 2,000 15,360 2,000 2,000 Totals .. .. 16,000 304,780 76,160 j 396,940 Valued at £187,430. Native La: ;ds bei: G ACQUIRED BY 'he Crown. tfarekowai Block .. .. 3,000 tVhitianga BJock .. .. 2,000 Paumatamahoe Block .. 12,000 11,500 10,000 45,000 42,500 [ 57,000 19,000 31,000 89,000 146,000 17,000 acres in Clifton County; 40,000 acres in Stratford County. Stratford County. 122,000 acres in Stratford County; 24,000 acres in Waitotara County. Totals 17,000 66,500 150,500 234,000 Valued at £87,875.

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Bevenue. —The total revenue for the year amounts to £23,858 4s. 5d., nearly half received on account of deferred payment and perpetual leases made freehold, on which there has been a particularly heavy run. The reason generally given is, to raise money on mortgage, to stock and further improve the land. Arrears of Payments. —The arrears are slightly in excess of last year, but not formidable, the amount being £813 18s. 3d., owing by 101 tenants, which, with five exceptions, represent the payments due, in advance, for the current half-year. The total number of defaulters throughout the district on the 31st December was only six, owing £25 15s. 9d., which must be regarded as very satisfactory, and a sign of general prosperity throughout the settlements. Improvement Conditions. —lnspections have been made of 351 holdings of all classes of tenure (other than pastoral licenses), comprising 231,430 acres, with the result that, whereas the amount of improvements required was of a value of £34,900, it was found that no less than one hundred and thirteen thousand four hundred and seventy-five pounds' worth was effected, about treble the amount required, and of an average of about 10s. an acre over the whole area. Sixty-three selectors of deferred-payment and perpetual-lease lands are in arrears. The value of the improvements done is £4,100, instead of £6,900, as required by the conditions, but this deficiency is largely due to the insistence of double improvements where the residence conditions have not fully been carried out. On the forty-eight small grazing-runs, of an area of 120,565 acres, improvements to a value of over £30,000 have been made, about twelve times the amount that could be insisted upon. - It is estimated that 15,000 acres have been felled during the year, and a very large extent of country laid down in grass. The settlers in some localities have been particularly unfortunate in their burns, for the season has been anything but favourable, and considerable loss has been sustained in consequence, and the utilisation of the land thrown back at the least a year. As in last year's report a full and detailed account was given of all the Crown lands available for future disposal in this district, it will be unnecessary to again refer to it, further than to say the only alteration to be made will be a reduction on account of the 49,831 acres disposed of this year, and no fresh blocks have been proclaimed waste lands of the Crown. There are at present 40,000 acres, chiefly second-class land, open for selection in different parts of the district, about twothirds as "unsurveyed." Several other blocks will be offered during the coming year, but all second-class land, as of first-class Crown land suitable for small holdings there is practically none left; and, until some of the excellent land now in the hands of the Natives lying unimproved and unproductive is acquired, or land obtained by other means, I regret to say that there will be little opening for intending settlers with small means. Thomas Humphries, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

WELLINGTON. Table A is a summary of the total area disposed of during the year—viz., 156,296 acres 3 roods 32 perches, being 73,986 acres in excess of that of last year, but this is owing to the larger ar ea —127,656 acres —taken up by farm homestead associations. Of the area selected, cash lands are very small in area, being only 1,787 acres and 7 perches, purchased by sixty-two persons, of whom fifty-six bought town or village sections, and only six purchased rural sections over 50 acres in extent, the average selections all over being just under 33 acres. Table D, Deferred-payment Lands, shows that only 1,041 acres were selected on this system during the year, by three selectors, an average of 347 acres, as against 7,569 acres taken up last year by twenty-six selectors. This system was being rapidly superseded by the perpetual-lease system in this district, and has, of course, now ceased entirely owing to the coming into operation, on the Ist November last, of " The Land Act, 1892." This accounts for the great falling-off in the number and area of selections during recent years. There are 200 selectors still on the books, holding an area of 42,477 acres 2 roods 25 perches, the yearly payments for which amount to £5,807 15s. 2d. Forty-nine persons completed their titles during the year, to an area of 9,170 acres 2 roods 19 perches. Only one selector's interest was forfeited during the year for non-compliance with the conditions of the Act. Table B, Perpetual Lease. —Under this heading, 7,976 acres were leased by twenty-five people, as against 54,028 acres by 129 persons last year, the average selection being 319 acres. This large decrease is owing to the small area of land available for selection on this system during the first seven months of the year, and the coming into operation of " The Land Act, 1892," on the Ist November last. There are 763 selectors on the books, holding an area of 298,552 acres 3 roods 33 perches, the annual rental being £14,797 6s. lOd. There were thirty-eight titles acquired during the year, for an area of 10,305 acres 2 roods 27 perches, the capital value being £11,969 6s. sd. There have been eleven forfeitures during the year, covering an area of 3,888 acres 2 roods, for noncompliance with the conditions of the Act. Table F, Lease in Perpetuity. —This is one of the new systems introduced by the new Land Act, and during the five months it has been in operation there have been thirteen selections, of 5,578 acres, an average of 429 acres. Table G, Occupation with Bight of Purchase. —This is another new system brought in by the new Land Act, and there have been twenty-eight selections, of 10,730 acres, an average of 383 acres, or about double the number on the last-mentioned system, which probably has not yet been fully understood by the public.

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Table J, Village Settlements, Deferred Payment, is the next table requiring any mention. There were no selections during the year, the total area held being 645 acres 1 rood 31 perches, by sixty-eight persons, the annual instalments being £485 3s. lOd. One forfeiture of 3 acres took place, and eleven freeholds, of an area of 76 acres and 13 perches, were acquired during the year. Table X, Village Settlements, Perpetual Lease. —There were also no selectors under this system during the year, the total area held being 132 acres and 12 perches, by fourteen people, the amount of rental being £8 4s. 2d. Eight selectors obtained their titles to 112 acres and 21 perches. Table L, Village Homestead Special Settlements. —There were fourteen selectors, of 98 acres 2 roods 7 perches, an average of 7 acres and 23 perches, during the year, the total area held being 2,747 acres and 19 perches, by 218 selectors. Advances to the amount of £347 ss. for houses, bushfelling, &c, were made during the year, the total amount advanced to date being £6,295 19s. lid., the annual payments of rental and interest on advances being £491 10s. There were three forfeitures of 30 acres during the year. Table M, Special - settlement Associations. —This table comprises two systems—viz., those selected on deferred payments under the special-settlement regulations of the sth December, 1885, which have since been repealed, and farm homestead associations taken up on lease under the regulations of the 15th December, 1892. Under the former system there are 582 selectors, holding 58,308 acres 1 rood 31 perches. The number of selectors residing on the land is 212, representing an area of 18,981 acres and 12 perches. One hundred and eighteen selectors took out their titles, for 11,858 acres 2 roods 13 perches, and five holdings, of 508 acres 2 roods 33 perches, were forfeited during the year. Under the latter system twenty-three association blocks have been surveyed, and the sections balloted for and registered on the books, although as yet the prices of the sections have not been finally fixed, but it is anticipated that the average will be about £1 2s. 6d. per acre. These associations comprise 671 selectors, holding 127,656 acres 1 rood 10 perches, an average of 194 acres each. In addition to these there are fifteen associations, aggregating 660 members for 130,890 acres, the survey of which was not sufficiently advanced to allow of the ballots taking place in time to get them recorded in the books, and consequently they could not be included in the returns of lands disposed of. One of these has since been balloted for, and the preliminary surveys of five of the others are sufficiently advanced to allow of the ballots taking place as soon as I can arrange to hold them. Table O, Small Grazing-runs. —Only one selection, of 1,430 acres, was taken up under this system during the year, the total area now held being 85,559 acres and 30 perches, by eighty-nine lessees, the annual rental being £2,238 15s. One forfeiture took place during the year, of an area of 1,035 acres 2 roods. Table P, Pastoral Licenses. —One selection, of 14,000 acres, being all that was offered for selection, was made during the year. There are twenty-four selectors, holding 41,196 acres, now on the books, the annual rental being £411 16s. 2d. Table E, Revenue. —The total amount of revenue collected during the year was £52,092 18s. 9d. These amounts agreed fairly well with the estimates, but a close agreement cannot, of course, be expected, owing to the alteration in the tenures by the new Land Act, and the great difficulty in estimating how much will be received on account of deferred-payment and perpetual-lease sections made freehold, the only item requiring special mention being cash £14,523 19s. 7d., of which the large sum of £11,969 6s. sd. represents money received in the purchase of the freehold of land selected on perpetual lease. Table S, Arrears. —These amount to £8,347 2s. Bd. owing by 1,028 selectors, being principally the payments due on the Ist January last, as against £4,005 12s. lid. owing by 529 selectors on the Ist April last year. This large increase was caused through the notices to selectors of payments due on the Ist January last being delayed, but, judging from the large number of payments which came in during March, it is anticipated that the arrears will be as small as usual by the end of June. Neiv Land opened for Sale Last Year. —The principal blocks opened for sale were the Mangoira Coal Creek, Otamakapua-Mangawharariki, Otaranoho, and Wharita Blocks. The area of land offered for sale during the year was 63,597 acres. Of this, new land not previously offered amounted to 33,089 acres, the area disposed of aggregating 22,579 acres. The area disposed of on all systems during the year was 170,296 acres, showing an excess over last year of 87,839 acres. This is accounted for by the large area—viz., 127,656 acres —taken up by farm homestead associations. The number of selectors during the year was 818, and the average area selected was 212 acres. The number of freeholds acquired was 224, and the area of the whole amounted to 31,423 acres and 10 perches. Town-land Sale. —l held a most successful sale at Wanganui of the Eaetihi and Ohakune Townships, in the Waimarino Block, eighty quarter-acre sections in the former township fetching from £7 to £60 per allotment, the sale realising £1,600. Land to be offered for Sale during Next Year. —The Otamakapua-Eangitikei Block, containing 7,600 acres, has had roads graded and laid out through it, and will be offered for sale at an early date. It is fairly good land, and will be eagerly competed for. Lithographs are also now being prepared of the Kaitangata, Te Mara, and Kaiparoro Blocks, containing 58,700 acres of second-class pastoral land lying west of Carterton, Mauriceville, and Eketahuna, and although a good deal of it will not sell at present, as it is only second-class pastoral country, yet there is some demand for portions adjoining the present settlements, and a portion of it will be taken up. The balance of the Fruit Growers' Association Block, containing about 4,000 acres, at Waikanae, will also be ready to put in the market shortly, and, though it is only pastoral land, most of it will be readily taken up. I also propose to get the open country in the Kerikau and Eetaruke Blocks, adjoining the

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Waimarino country, subdivided into suitable blocks as small grazing-runs, and having the boundaries marked on the ground, as I am informed the country would bo applied for if the holdings could be identified on the ground. I also propose to have the rest of the Waimarino Block explored to see whether a suitable block cannot be opened for selection on the optional system. There is a very great demand for good bush-country, and a large quantity could be easily disposed of under the existing land regulations, but until further purchases have been made from the Natives we have not got the Crown land necessary to supply the evergrowing demand for it. A new village homestead settlement has been laid out at Mangamahu, and can be disposed of as soon as the plans are lithographed, and several other small blocks can be cut up for this purpose. Now the great press for getting the farm homestead associations blocks ready for settlement will be somewhat relaxed, and allow of my taking one of the surveyors off the work to get the other surveys completed. Bangers' Beports on Improvements. —As the present Crown Lands Bangers in this district—Mr. Lundius, at Feilding, on the West Coast; Mr. Tone, at Pahiatua ; and Mr. McKerrow, at Bketahuna, in the Forty-mile Bush—have now for the first time fairly overtaken the arrears of inspections necessary to see whether the improvements had been effected which are required under the various systems upon which land has been taken up under the previous Land Acts, I append a table compiled from their reports showing the results of their inspections for this year. The result can but be considered most highly satisfactory, for though there are a few defaulters, who from various causes are somewhat behind with their improvements, a great deal of it is owing to the laxity of the inspection in the past, owing to the one Inspector being unable to overtake the work, the lessees believing it was immaterial when the improvements were made, and in hundreds of cases not knowing what improvements they were required to make, or when they had to be done, to comply with the provisions of the Land Act. This has now been remedied by sending particulars of the improvements required of them to comply with the conditions of their lease or license. The holdings inspected during the year only include those in which the improvements were overdue, or of those who had applied to purchase their land, inspections taking place, as near as can be arranged, sixty days after the improvements should have been effected, as provided by the Land Act. Thus, the improvements reported are really less than now actually exist, as those inspected in the early part of the year have by this time further improvements effected on their holdings. I only point this out to show that, great as the value of the improvements is shown to be, they must be less than now actually exist on the ground. The inspections made this year do not, of course, include the whole of the land under occupation, because in some cases the inspection —say, for the fourth or sixth year —does not fall due till next summer, so they are not included ; but the year's inspection includes at least one-half of the laud taken up under the various systems, and the result obtained will probably closely approximate what will be found to be the result when the rest of the holdings are again inspected next year, except in the case of the special-settlement holdings of which this year's inspection cannot be held to give a fair average of what the final result may be, because most of the inspections for the sixth year's improvements of lands held under this system are now falling due, and they will be included in next year's report, only comparatively few coming within this year's operations, except those who are behindhand with their fourth year's improvements, and who having been called on by the Land Board to effect further improvements were re-inspected to see whether they had now made sufficient improvements to comply with the conditions of their leases. Thus, many defaulters come within the year's operations without including those who have effected more than the' improvements required. In taking the country lands, deferred-payment, perpetual-lease, and special-settlement lands, I find the gross area required to be mltivated of those inspected was 27,577 acres, whilst the area actually cultivated was d0ub1e—55,323 acres. The other improvements required amounted to £30,893, whilst those effected amounted to no less than £179,806. Under second-class land, perpetual leases and small grazing-runs, the improvements required are of money value only, and under the old Act are comparatively small, amounting to £9,737; but the value of the improvement effected is £40,887, or over four times the amount required. Against this the whole of the defaulters under the four systems are only 3,703 acres short in the area of the cultivated land required, and £2,207 in other improvements, a mere nothing in comparison with the excess of improvements shown by those who have carried out more improvements than were required under the Act. Of the 1,033 sections inspected, 338 were occupied by the lessees. In the other cases double improvements are being effected; 286 were holding by transfers from the original applicant, and 129 had been made into freehold. In the 264 village-settlement holdings inspected the area required to be cultivated amounted to 1,110 acres ; that found to exist was 2,275 acres, just double the amount required. The value of other improvements required was £2,259; those effected amounted to £21,238, or nearly ten times the amount required by the conditions of their leases. In the village homestead special settlements where residence is compulsory 132 out of the 211 inspected were found to be residing, but a large number of the rest wore inspections to see whether the first year's bushfalling had been done, residence not being compulsory until after the first burn. In the other village settlements under the ordinary deferred-payment and perpetual-lease conditions double improvements are allowed in lieu of residence, as provided by the Land Act. In the village homestead special settlement seventy-seven transfers have been effected, but in the ordinary village settlements very few transfers have been applied for, but seventeen (being one-third of those inspected) have been made freehold. Forfeitures. —The following is a table showing the forfeitures that have taken place during the year for non-fulfilment of the conditions under which the land was held: —

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System. Number. A p Perpetual lease ... ... ... ... 11 ... 3,888 2 0 Village homestead special settlement ... ... 3 ... 30 0 0 Small grazing-runs ... ... ... ... 1 ... 1,035 2 0 Special settlement ... ... ... ... 5 ... 508 233 Total 20 ... 5,462 2 33 Farm Homestead Associations. —Twenty-two ballots for sections in these associations have taken place. I attended and personally conducted seventeen of them. One was held under the supervision of the Commissioner at Christchurch, two under the Postmasters in, the places where they were held, and in the other two cases the sections were schemed out and allotted at the time the blocks were granted. When conducting the ballots I saw a large number of the members, and was glad to find the members in those associations formed in the country were, as a rule, a good stamp of men, and likely to prove as genuine settlers as one could expect to get. I, however, noticed those formed in the larger centres of population consisted to a certain extent of people following trades and occupations, who would probably not make such good settlers as the others for want of experience. It is yet too early for the Eangers to report on what bushfalling has taken place, but I hear from the surveyors that in some of the associations a good deal of bush will be felled this winter, as in the Salisbury Association, although the ballot was only held in October last, several members went on to the ground immediately, and have already felled and grassed sufficient areas on their sections for homestead sites, and to give them feed for their horses whilst felling this winter. Three hundred claims under "The Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteers' Land Act, 1891," were received and examined, and evidence taken in 190 cases. Courts of inquiry were held at Wellington, Palmerston North, Marton, Wanganui, and Masterton. The correspondence in connection with these claims has entailed a considerable amount of work upon myself and the office. John H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

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WELLINGTON— continued. Summary of Improvements effected by Lessees and Licensees holding under "The Land Act, 1885," inspected during the Year 1892-93.

First-class Land. Second-class Land or Small Runs. Defaulters. Holding. o CO Improvements effected. 5 C ' CD o Improvements effected. Area or Amount in OJ O - CD a = oi> CD r. CD cd a CJ r? - Improvements required by Land Act. Cultivated. Other provements^ Sg r^tf-l CD eg . Cultivated. at .i.:i(jLLi. System held under. Area. Otner Improvements. I . ago; sea M go 5 oH o a Culti- Other vated prove . Area - ments. Area. Value. Value. Value. r Q o a S-S Area "Value. Value Total value. Yalue. ja CD - -i ■- iO cd CD Coun: try Lands. Deferred payment Perpetual lease Special settlement Small grazing-runs A. P.. P., 19,627 3 5 167,272 0 17 28,674 2 9 28,621 0 39 Acres. 113 3,864 473 14,551 286 9,162 31, .. £ 7,830 14,709 8,354 Acres. 9,310 32,608 13,405 £ 21,158 71,633 31,608 £ I £ I £ 8, 43 29,901 28, 0 91100,225 35,764; 18, 72, 49,680 590 55,406' 179, 806 36,354' 8, i 9, £ Acres. 8,751 11,351 986, 6 j 254 9,737; 17,605 £ ,75 OS ,73 £ £ . 21*741 8*331 : 8,447, 2*398 i 30,188, 10,729 £ 1 Acres. 430 30,042 2,218 .. I l,055i 10,845 40,887; 3,703 J £ 1 685, 47 878 184 560 90 84 17 2,207 338 36 104 141 5 24 66 42 40' 289 39 65! 196 31 .. j 14 55 129] 565 37 Acres. 174 354 100 923 " - I j 244,195 2 28J 903' 27,5771 I 30,893j J55, 323 1 |l24,399J , ! 2861 ' 270 Village homestead, special settlement Village settlement, deferred payment Village settlement, perpetual lease 2,693 2 29 211] 897 442 2 34 48j 183 79 1 36 5' 30 3,215 3 19 264 1,110 1,816 i 385 741 I 2,275£ VlLL, age Lands. :: :: 25J .. j 26f .. 182) 800 25| 800 158 79 63 ; 13 23 52; 1 4 4 20 17 106 60 1 ! I 1 2*085 I 174 I, 2,259 4,184 909 177 : 13,711! 17,894 i 2,139| 3,049 117, 295 ! I 15,967 21,238 I 1 !j T :< 1 j 13 9 16 5,27( 8; 12

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MAELBOBOUGH. Cash Lands. —This area represents 775 acres 2 roods 29 perches purchased at auction, one section of 102 acres pre-emptive right, and 580 acres and 1 perch taken up under the optional system. Deferred Payment. —Of the three holdings taken up during the year, one is at Kaikoura and two in the Pelorus. One holding of 50 acres has been transferred, and one forfeited. Perpetual Lease. —The two holdings taken up this year, averaging 525 acres each, are in different bays in the Pelorus Sound, and were selected by the owners of the adjoining lands. Lease in Perpetuity and Occupation with Right of Purchase. —Three holdings in three different localities (one lease in perpetuity and two occupation with right of purchase) have been actually taken up, but as the leases have not yet been issued they are not included in this year's tables. Special-settlement Associations. —A block of 3,000 acres has been surveyed for the Bonga Valley Special-settlement Association of fifteen members, formed under the regulations of the 15th February, 1891; but the sections have not been ballotted for at present, pending the approval of the valuation of the land ; consequently this table is a nil one. Small Grazing-runs. —Of the seven runs taken up this year, six are in the Pelorus Sound and one in the Waitohi Valley. Four runs, containing 2,707 acres, were transferred during the year. Pastoral Runs. —The return shows only one run as having been taken up. Nine other runs have been applied for and approved of, but have not yet been submitted to auction. Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses. —The small rents (£4 10s.) set down for the fourteen licenses issued during the year is accounted for by the fact that twelve of these licenses were for timber and flax-cutting, the revenue being derived from tithes and royalties. The remaining two are leases of reserves, one in the Town of Picton, and one in the Waitohi Valley. Arrears. —Of the £81 4s. 3d. of arrears, £17 15s. Id. has since been paid, and I anticipate getting the greater portion of the balance shortly. Reserves, &c. —Of the 50 acres 1 rood reserved, 12 acres 1 rood, in the Town of Havelock, was reserved for a quarry, and 38 acres was reserved at Kaikoura for a public recreation-ground, and vested in the Mount Fyffe Domain Board. Settlement Conditions. —The Banger's report shows that the deferred-payment and perpetuallease settlers, with very few exceptions, have far exceeded the improvements required, and all are making the best use of their holdings. In the Pelorus Sound, where the land was set apart specially for them, the deferred-payment regulations have been most successful, the settlers being indebted to them for the comfortable homes they now possess. The settlers generally in other parts of the district are also in advance with their improvements. The land at Kaikoura taken up under these regulations is capable of very little improvement, being chiefly the sections left after the land was picked over by cash-purchasers. With regard to the small grazing-runs, the clearing of the land goes on with increased rapidity, and the demand for land under this tenure during last year was largely in excess of any previous year, and continues to increase. This appears to be due to the easy terms on which the runs are held, and to the fact that the department bears the cost of survey. As regards the probable future of the lands in this district, there remains about 630,000 acres of Crown land still to be dealt with, inclusive of mountain-tops. About two-thirds of this consist of bush-clad hills and narrow valleys in the Sounds, and the northern part of the district. In addition, there are about 900,000 acres of pastoral runs, the leases of most of which will expire in 1896. This is practically all open pastoral country, lying in the middle and southern part of the district, and will have to be dealt with by the department as the runs fall in. Over a large portion of this country the topographical information at hand is so meagre that no definite conclusion can be arrived at at present as to the probable area likely to be available for settlement in future. Henry G. Clark, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

NELSON. Summary. —The land disposed of during the year amounts to 17,797 acres 1 rood 5 perches, showing an increase of 4,805 acres over last year, and a continually-increasing area since the year 1889-90, when it stood at 9,322 acres. The area open for selection on the 31st March was 241,807 acres of Crown lands outside the Midland Eailway Company's area of selection. It is entirely second-class lands, mountainous, and covered almost entirely with birch forest, which, when cleared, burnt, and the soil sown with grasses, makes good pasturage. The number of selectors was 125, an increase of thirty-six this year. Lands sold for Cash. —The business done is slightly increased in area over last year, the number of selectors being thirty-seven; amount purchased, 7,007 acres 2 roods 29 perches; the average size of areas, 189 acres. Lands sold under Deferred Payments. —The number of selectors in this class shows an increase, the area taken up amounting to 6,761 acres 3 roods 30 perches, by sixty-two selectors. Six leases were cancelled by the Land Board for non-payment of rent. The selections made were principally under Appendix Cof "The Land Act, 1885." Previously to the coming into operation of "The Land Act, 1892," on the Ist November of that year, the above form of deferred-payment lease, with Crown grant after fourteen yearly payments, and no improvement conditions, was for some years the tenure under which most of the Nelson lands were disposed of, being mountainous bush-lands of poor quality, the timber being principally birch, excepting in limestone country. During the past five months, in which the Land Act of 1892 has been in operation, there has not been sufficient time to say how the new conditions of tenure under the present Act will affect settlement. Under the Act of 1885 in operation, together with Appendix C regulations, up to the

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Ist November last year preference seems to have been given to cash-purchasers, and applications under the perpetual-lease tenure began to come in freely. Owing to the mountainous character of the present available lands left in the Nelson District, the Land Board will require to exercise very great care in dispensing with personal residence under the tenure of the present Act. Village Homestead Special Settlements. —Nine selections of 5 acres each, being portions of an endowment, have been taken up in the Mokihinui Settlement. Advances of £10 each have been made to two occupiers who have erected houses, and bush-clearing is generally proceeded with. Some of the settlers obtained work, found by the Government, in clearing bush for the formation of roads to the settlement. Pastoral Occupation Licenses. — Sixteen of these were granted for areas over 500 acres, amounting to 186,821 acres of mountainous back country. A large area of this was let at a peppercorn rent for the destruction of rabbits. Sixteen licenses for small areas under 500 acres were granted, amounting to 2,013 acres. A number of pastoral licenses expired on the 28th February last, having been let for a term of ten years. Before dealing with these, having in view the large increase of rabbits in the district, the position of the lines of rabbit-proof fences erected by the Hurunui Babbit Board, and other matters, the Land Board resolved to request the Government to appoint a Commission for the classification of these lands under clause 189 of the Land Act. The Commission was duly appointed on the 14th March, and consisted of the Chief Surveyor, also Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Messrs. W. Scaife and B. Kerr, who personally examined the country. They had not returned on the 31st March, consequently their report is not yet available. Midland Railway Company's Lands. —During the year the company selected, under clause 16 of their contract, an area of 1,914 acres 2 roods 13 perches, contained in coal leases on Blackball and Ford's Creek, Grey District, subject to all existing rights affecting the same; also Block 127 of schedule, containing 44,002 acres. Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses. —One flax and four prospecting licenses on lands outside mining districts have been granted during the year, under the regulations of "The Mining Act, 1891." The output of coal and royalties received from mines held under Acts previous to " The Coalmines Act, 1891," is as follows, viz.:—

Revenue. —The revenue from Crown lands during the year amounts to £19,522 14s. Id., and that from endowments to Harbour Boards and other bodies to £11,613 lis. Id., making a total of £31,136 ss. 2d. John S. Browning, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

CANTEBBUBY. Having in my last annual report submitted for your consideration full particulars of the then existing condition not only of the Crown lands but of all areas held under the various systems of the Land and cognate Acts, it may suffice if this year's report touches upon such matters only as call for special notice. Lands opened for Selection. —Owing to the limited area of lands suitable for settlement, the utmost efforts of the Land Board and this office only resulted in the following lands being opened for sale or selection. To supplement as far as possible the foregoing area, the Crown gave notice to the pastoral tenants that Bans Nos. 20, 22, 24, 26, and 37, known as Three Springs, Bollesby, Albury, Opawa, and Cannington, would be reserved for settlement purposes on the 31st March, 1893. In pursuance of this notification the whole area of 16,820 acres has been subdivided into thirteen blocks, and will be submitted for selection on the 17th May, 1893, under the optional clauses of "The Land Act, 1892." Taking advantage of the provisions of section 107 of the same Act, Mr. David McMillan and I inspected the Lake Ellesmere lands, and, with the concurrence of the Land Board, proposals dated the 7th February last were submitted to you for dealing with 24,890 acres of the Lake Ellesmere Eeserve lands under the lease-in-perpetuity system. The adoption of these proposals will meet what I believe to be a pressing demand for settlement-lands in that part of the district. Lands disposed of. —Of the area of Crown lands disposed of during the year, 12,777 acres were taken up under the cash and settlement conditions, and 76,277 acres as pastoral runs. The former comprised, under heading " Cash," 790 acres, in four perpetual-lease areas, made freehold; 293 acres of excess areas on fifteen prior applications; the balance of 500 acres being made up of small sections sold as lands of special value or selected in ordinary course. As a matter of fact, the cash-sales proper amount only to the latter area of 500 acres. The deferred-payment selections were in Eeserve No. 288, Bakaia. The lease in perpetuity, which is evidently appreciated, includes selections in various districts. The perpetual-lease selections are also scattered. The village - settlement

Mines. Output. Royalty, 6d. Less Dead-rent n ,. • -, ■ -,.-, i Koyalty received, paid in advance. J J I Grey Coal Eeserve — Brunner Mine Coal-pit Heath Buller Coal Eeserve— Westport Coal Company Collingwood Coal Company ... Tons cwt. 81,419 4 96,825 0 £ s. d. 2,035 9 6 2,420 12 6 £ 480 250 s. d. 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 1,555 9 6 2,170 12 6 198,377 0 1,961 10 4,959 8 6 620 112 0 0 0 0 4,339 8 6

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perpetual leases are nearly all situated at Waimate and Studholme Junction, in the former Educational Eeserves Nos. 1126, 1128, and 1178, now named Wainono and Nukuroa Village Settlements, and which reserves were secured in exchange for Pastoral Bun No. 5 under the provisions of " The Educational Endowments and Eeserves Act, 1891." The village homestead special-settlement selections comprise areas in the Leeston, Springs, Orari, Geraldine, and Waitaki Survey Districts. The special-settlement association sections were allotted as extensions to the Hinds village settlers, except one section at Medbury. The small grazing-runs include two at Mount Somers and one at Alford Forest. The pastoral runs comprise areas at the head of Lake Wanaka, runs in the Midland Eailway Company's area, and a run near Lake Heron. Lands held on Settlement Conditions. —From the foregoing it will be gathered that the sales and selections during the year were very limited ; but it is satisfactory to note, notwithstanding, that the number of new holdings reached the respectable total of 171, the number of selectors on the registers being 823, exclusive of a large number of miscellaneous leases and licenses, particulars of which will be found in last year's report, where, also, I have recorded my opinions on the then existing conditions of the settlers, and the manner in which the conditions of the Land Acts were being carried out. The position of matters in these respects at this time last year caused much anxiety and trouble by reason of the excessive number of inspections in arrear, and the unsatisfactory way in which many of the selectors were working their holdings; but now I am in a position to advise you that the Banger's reports disclose a healthier and more satisfactory state of affairs. The arrears of inspections have been overtaken. Mr. Mussen, in North Canterbury, has furnished a report on every holding in his district. He reports that the selections, as regards conditions of occupation and improvements, "are in a very satisfactory state, there being very few evasions of the Land Act, and nothing like a case of dummyism has come under my notice." He made on an average at least two inspections of each village homestead perpetual-lease selection; 131 special inspections; he reported on 148 cash holdings ; and made, in addition, a large number of inspections in the Bangitata District in reference to the water-supply grants. The following summary is taken from Mr. Mussen's reports : Deferred-payment sections— Fifty-six settlers; area, 3,713 acres ; cultivated area, 2,533 acres ; value of buildings, £2,580; value of fencing, £1,826; value of grass, &c, £1,076; horses, 95; cattle, 99; sheep, 1,650; pigs, 36. Perpetual-lease sections—l4o settlers ; area, 25,755 acres; cultivated area, 8,804 acres; value of buildings, £3,085 ; value of fencing, £6,531; grass and other improvements, £2,992 ; horses, 308; cattle, 260 ; sheep, 10,230 ; pigs, 32. The general result shows that the 196 holdings comprise 29,468 acres ; the cultivated area is 11,337 acres ; the improvements are valued at 12s. 3d. per acre ; and the gross live-stock amounts to 403 horses, 359 cattle, 11,880 sheep, and 68 pigs. Mr. Mussen comments most favourably on the village settlements : 105 villagers hold 3,725 acres, of which 3,123 acres are cultivated; the buildings are valued at £3,707, fencing at £1,993, cultivation at £1,096 ; the settlers possess 180 horses, 321 cattle, 995 sheep, and 98 pigs. Mr. Mussen remarks on the inferior character of the lands in many instances, of their isolation and remoteness, the scarcity of work, of the smallness of the holdings, tendency to overcrop, of the boon conferred by the water-supply paid for by the Government at Chertsey, Mayfield, and Bakaia, of the industry and general fitness of the great majority of the selectors. Mr. Mussen insists strongly on the. necessity for extension of holdings, and of the great advantages which would accrue to the settlements in the event of creameries being established. Notwithstanding all the drawbacks and difficulties, he reports as to the general success of the village settlements. In South Canterbury, Mr. Fussell, who retired, after long and faithful service, was succeeded last January by Mr. A. P. O'Callaghan. The latter and Mr. March, who also kindly gave much time and attention to the duty, have overtaken the arrears of inspections. Mr. O'Callaghan reports that, on considering the reports of all inspections made during the year, the conditions of settlements appear generally very satisfactory. Only eight deferredpayment selectors had not complied with the requirements of the Act. Of the perpetuallease holders, only twenty-nine had not complied : many under this head could not do so in consequence of the unsuitable character of the lands. Selectors are generally anxious to cultivate all available lands. He reports generally favourably on small grazing-runs. He is fully convinced of the success of the village homestead special-settlement system in South Canterbury. Most of the settlers are carrying out the requirements of their leases in»a very satisfactory manner, as instanced by the large amount of improvements, and the fact that only £257 arrears are due by sixty-six selectors. There are, he states, but few instances of failure. In regard to the Waimate and Studholme Junction Settlements, Mr. O'Callaghan reports that good progress has been made, and that the settlers are now displaying much energy in improving their holdings. We may safely conclude from this additional testimony that the village-settlement scheme is an inestimable boon to the community. lam of opinion that the system should be extended, even though the extension should result in apparent loss to the Government. There is nothing to add to last year's report in regard to pastoral and miscellaneous licenses. Arrears of Payments. —Special and continuous attention has been devoted to the collection of arrears of payments, and I am in a position to report that the results, as may be gathered from the tables, are most satisfactory. Revenue. —The estimate of revenue has been amply realised. Cheviot. —The acquisition of the Cheviot Estate under the Land and Income Assessment Acts, and the inclusion thereof in the Canterbury Land District, adds a fine block of 85,000 acres to the area of settlement-lands. Surveyors are now at work upon the settlement surveys, in view of the proposal to open 37,000 acres for selection in the spring, and the balance of the estate next autumn. The business connected with the taking-over of the property and making arrangements for its temporary occupation has necessitated a good deal of attention, and involved much labour and active supervision.

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The opening of Cheviot lands for selection is eagerly looked forward to by a large number of persons who are desirous of acquiring lands for actual occupation. The whole area, divided into nine blocks (exclusive of a certain paddock), has been let on pasturage licenses, and the buildings and excluded paddock have also been leased temporarily at moderate rentals. Grown Lands for disposal. —Until the run leases fall in, or the Midland Eailway Company's right of selection is waived, there remains but a limited area of land in Canterbury suitable for settlement, the chief blocks being the Cheviot Estate, portions of the Lake Ellesmere Eeserve lands, and the lands already notified for settlement near Burkes Pass. Departmental. —There was no abatement of work during the year. The arrears previously reported could not be materially reduced with our small staff, which was unable to do more than attend to the current business. The recent appointment of another clerk is very acceptable, and I trust that the registers of selectors will now be constructed and completed. I have again the pleasure of recording my obligations to Mr. David McMillan for his co-operation in inspection and advice in land matters, and to the staff for much valuable assistance afforded me. J. W. A. Marchant, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

WESTLAND. The Midland Eailway reservation area covers the most populous portions of Westland District, and prevents our land-transactions from bulking anything like so largely as they would otherwise do, for although we have many and frequent inquiries for both land and timber areas, being unable to deal directly with the applicants, the difficulties and vexatious delays caused by the triangular references between Hokitika, Wellington, and Christchurch, together with the enhanced value placed on the lands, &c, by the company, generally results in the matter falling through, and in the applicant going elsewhere. This reservation, within which our very liberal Land Act is virtually a dead-letter, extends from the Arnold Eiver in the north to the Waiho Eiver in the south, and covering, with the exception of the blocks now reserved for mining purposes, all the available lands between the sea and the main range, or, in other words, if you wish to select land under the Land Act, you must first go ninety miles south of Hokitika before you can begin to look for it. When found you have no dray-road available, and steam communication once in three months, wind, weather, and the state of the barharbours permitting. Another strong factor against settlement under the Midland Eailway contract and Land Acts is the facility with which what are called occupation licenses, for agricultural, horticultural, and dairy purposes, of areas not exceeding 100 acres, can be obtained under section 230 of " The Mines Act, 1891." Certainly the tenure is insecure, being subject to resumption at any time on three months' notice without compensation, and the rent must not exceed Is. per acre. These licenses appear to be granted indiscriminately, and irrespective of whether the lands in question are on a mining block, Midland Eailway area, ordinary Crown lands, or Crown lands held under .pastoral lease. lam doubtful of the legality of granting them on runs, but the Warden thinks it quite within his powers; if he is right, then the land and mining Acts clash, for the former most assuredly grants to the runholder the exclusive right of pasturage, which he certainly cannot have if the other man can legally occupy his hundred acres for any of the purposes mentioned. I quite admit that such licenses can be granted, but the usual twelve months' notice must first be given the runholder. Great abuses are possible under this system. Most of the tables explain themselves, and it is needless to refer to more than a few of them in detail. Table D. —Three holdings of deferred-payment lands have been capitalised, two of them being sections that have been revalued under former Acts, two more have been revalued under the provisions of Selectors' Eevaluation, &c, Act, 1892, and three have been made freehold during the year. Improvements are generally well up to requirements, but rent, instalment, and interest payments are considerably in arrear, although the amount is not large, the principal offenders being the holders of land in the far south, in and around the former Jackson's Bay Settlement. They plead poverty, through isolation and the difficulty and expense of getting their stock and produce to market. This, they claim (and reasonably so), reduces very considerably the prairie value of their selections, and I am given to understand that they intend applying in a body for a revaluation under the Selectors' Eevaluation Act. Tables F and G. —Selections under the tenures leases in perpetuity and occupation with right of purchase were practically only made during the last month of the financial year, and several, in consequence of overlapping and simultaneous application, had to be held over by the Board for further consideration, otherwise this table would have made a better show. Table H. —All dealings with agricultural-lease lands have now been transferred from the Land to the Mines Department, but, so far as we have been able to learn from Wardens, none have been granted during the past year. Tables I, J, and X.— No lands in this district have ever befen set apart for settlement under any of the village-settlement tenures, although some six or seven years ago two or three blocks were laid off expressly for such selection and occupation, but these were swallowed up in the Midland Eailway reservation. Table N. —No selections under the homestead system were made during the early part of the year, and, of course, since the coming into operation of "The Land Act, 1892," none can be made. Table 0. —No selections under the small grazing-run tenure have ever been made in this district, the rents being considered too high for the class of pastoral lands we have to offer.

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Table P. —The new runs disposed of cover an area of 44,000 acres. Another 130,000 acres have been applied for, but the area was not put in the market during this year. Table Q. —Miscellaneous leases show a considerable decrease both in revenue and number of holdings, principally caused by the transference made from this to the Mines Department under the amended Mining Act. Table S (Summary of Arrears due to the Crown, and referred to in Notes concerning Table D). —Advantage will doubtless be taken of provisions of " The Selectors' Lands Eevaluation Act, 1892," to considerably reduce the amounts owing, and in some cases I was requested to stay further proceedings for recovery to enable this to be done. It has now, however, been determined to bring matters to a point one way or the other, and they must come under the Eevaluation Act, pay up, or forfeit. In the miscellaneous leases the bulk of arrears is on mineral-lease rents on Eangitoto (£120). Table T shows the lands reserved, alienated by Acts or scrip, &c. The area granted under the Acts has this year been an unusally heavy one for this district —viz., 20,015 acres, comprising, as it does, the grants (under sections 31 to 33 of contract) of Blocks 26 and 28 B 1 to, and the smaller areas disposed of by, the Midland Eailway Company under latter section. The lower and accessible portions of Westland are for the most part covered with dense forest, and as those on the East Coast are rapidly being cut out, this district is destined in the not distant future to assume a place in the front rank of the timber trade. The want of railway communication south of Greymouth has hitherto greatly hindered the development of this important industry ; but this will soon be partly remedied when the line to Hokitika (now nearly completed) is opened. At the present time there are twelve saw-mills within the Westland District working on freehold land— one on Grey Coal Eeserve, and eight on the mining blocks; some are very small, and a good few of them do not run regularly. The mills on mining blocks have cut 1,644,119 superficial feet, and odd cutters 12,000 superficial feet, or, in all, 1,656,119 superficial feet, the royalties on which amount to £261 14s. 2d. On the Grey Coal Eeserve, 41,300 ft. were cut; royalty, £8 ss; whilst on the Midland Eailway reservation area, royalty has been paid op 1,137,185 superficial feet, amounting to £223 2s. 7d. Gross timber cutting passed through our books during year, 2,834,604 superficial feet; gross royalties, £493 Is. 9d. The royalties on all timber cut on mining blocks, and now also on Grey Coal Eeserve, are payable to the Beceivers of Gold Bevenue, and form a portion of county revenue. On these blocks all timber licenses are granted by the Warden, but the cutting is done under supervision of our Crown Lands Banger, who has been duly appointed by each Warden as his agent or inspector for the purposes of the mining regulations, in so far as they relate to timber matters. The Banger sees that no illegal cutting goes on, that all necessary returns are made, and books duly kept by the mills, and also that the royalties are paid. On certain of the education reserves that are surrounded by these mining blocks he also supervises the timber cutting, and collects the royalties for the Education Board, which duly appointed him for that purpose, and for this work we charge these bodies (Board and County Council) 15 per cent, on royalties collected through Banger's instrumentality. There is a large amount of timber cut in Westland for mining purposes which does not pass through our, or any other, books, as all holders of a miner's right can cut what timber they require for mining, fencing, and domestic purposes free of charge. On State forest reserves royalty was also collected to the amount of £18. I have no means of arriving at the quantity of timber cut by mills on private lands, but it must be very considerable. Several of them put out far more than any of those on the mining blocks. John Strauchon, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

OTAGO. The transactions during the year as a whole do not call for any special remark. It may be observed, however, that they did not equal the expectations formed at the commencement of the year, owing to the inability, from unforeseen contingencies, of getting into the market so large a portion of the lately-resumed runs for settlement as was anticipated. This fact will, of course, tend to augment the sales of the current year. Among the unforeseen contingencies referred to may be mentioned the temporary suspension incident to the bringing into operation of the new Land Act, and of completing the necessary surveys and preparatory details for the notification of the blocks intended for settlement. These blocks embrace portions of Galloway, Beaumont, Teviot, Highfield, Blackstone, Kyeburn, Lander, Ben Lomond, and other runs, the preparation of which is now well in hand, and it is hoped the notifications will shortly appear. " The Land Act, 1892," having so recently come into operation, it is premature to declare as to how the new systems of occupation with right of purchase and lease in perpetuity are regarded by selectors generally, or in what relative proportion they will eventually be taken advantage of; but, so far as present experience shows, where the choice is left distinctly to the option of the selectors, the number of applicants under each are about equal. A large number of applications have been made by settlers desirous of increasing their holdings Under sections 114 and 115 of the Act, the dealing with which has caused a considerable amount of work and trouble. As you are aware, two Commissioners were appointed to visit the localities of most of the lands applied for, and upon their report a considerable number of applications were rejected, but up to the present time thirty have been granted, comprising an area of upwards of 7,000 acres, taken up on various systems, including cash, deferred payment, perpetual lease, and lease in perpetuity. Qp to the present date more than a hundred of these applications have been received.

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The special-settlement block of 3,000 acres at Swinburn is being surveyed into fifteen allotments, which were duly balloted for in February last by the members of the Swinburn Farm Homestead Association, who, it is expected, will proceed to reside on the land as soon as the survey is completed. With regard to the land held on settlement conditions, I gather from the reports of the Banger that, while there are some few exceptions, as a general rule the selectors under all systems are steadily and satisfactorily carrying out the requirements of the Acts and regulations under which they respectively hold their lands, both as to residence, cultivation, and other improvements. A few cases in which there was manifest default were recently brought before the Land Board, and on notice being sent to the defaulters to the effect that the required improvements must be effected within a given time or cause shown why their leases or licenses should not be declared forfeited, immediate steps were taken to overtake the arrears, and a good all-round effect was produced in consequence of the Board's action in this matter. I am assurred by the Bangers that the total average of the improvements effected throughout the whole district on lands held on settlement conditions is considerably in excess of the actual requirements of the Acts and regulations under which the lands are held. The payments of rents and instalments have, generally speaking, been well up to time, and the arrears under this head, as will be seen from the returns, are more nominal than real, the greater proportion of payments due being for the current half-year. The process of summoning for arrears has not yet been resorted to, or even found necessary, here. Cases of arrears are from time to time reported to the Board, and a specified time fixed for payment, failing which the leases or licenses are declared forfeited ; and, with few exceptions, the lessees or licensees whose titles have thus been treated pay up and have the forfeitures rescinded. This course has been found to work well, and answer ail purposes, without incurring the expense of litigation. I may state, in conclusion, that the departmental staff has been very fully occupied during the past year—so much so, indeed, that, unless many extra hours had been devoted to it, the work would not have been overtaken. J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

SOCTHLAND. Lease in Perpetuity.— So far as present experience goes, this appears to be the favourite tenure, many applications having been made to exchange the ordinary perpetual lease for this. Occupation with Right of Purchase. —So far, this tenure comes next in order of preference to the lease in perpetuity. Village Settlements on Perpetual Lease. —The number of selections made during the year was considerable. It may be remarked that more selections would have been made under all the village systems if all the unselected lands had been open for the whole year, but these lands were temporarily withdrawn when the present Land Act came into force. There is a constant tendency at work for people who have taken up these small areas in the past to endeavour to acquire more small lots, and thus to chafe against limitations of number and area of lots prescribed under the statutes and regulations. Village Homestead Special Settlements. —On the whole, the position of these settlements may be regarded as satisfactory so far as improvements go. Small Grazing-runs. —Until within the last few weeks there have been no transactions under this system, but, as a number of these runs will shortly be offered, the system will be on its trial here for the first time during the coming year. Pastoral Licenses show a considerable shrinkage on previous years, owing to the large area which fell in, in March last, and which have not yet been re-let under the same system, but have been subdivided for settlement and small-run purposes, in accordance with the advice of the Classification Commissioners. Revenue. —This is considerably less than for last year, and it is partly accounted for by the withdrawal of such a large area of pastoral licenses. Arrears. —The amount is not satisfactory, and could be materially reduced; but this is purely a question of having a sufficient staff in the office to keep selectors up to their engagements. Selectors on the Books. —These now number 1,313, an increase on last year, when the number stood at 1,288. Section 114 "Land Act, 1892." —A few applications have been made under this section, but, as the only case yet dealt with under its terms has created some dissatisfaction, it is not thought that it will be extensively applied here. Moreover, as most of the Crown land still available is forest, there would be trouble in providing road-access suitable to general conditions when surveying isolated pieces. Residential and Improvement Conditions. —The Banger has made 363 formal inspections of holdings, and reports that ninety-seven deferred-payment selectors who selected between the years 1887 and 1891 cultivated 2,244 acres, and made improvements to the value of £11,000; and 266 perpetuallease holders who took up land between the same periods cultivated 14,666 acres, and improved to the value of £55,221. About 200 selectors are not residing, but this is generally either because they are living on adjoining lands or because residence is not compulsory ; altogether there are not more than ten or twelve cases where selectors have failed to comply with the statutory conditions. The large area of land which remains locked up under mining regulations, particularly in the western district between Biverton and Orepuki, is a serious bar to permanent settlement, and I am now in communication with the Warden to see whether it would not be possible and expedient to

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release a considerable area of this, but, so far, those engaged in mining pursuits do not seem disposed to surrender any of their privileges, although I believe the bulk of the people wish to see settlement advance, and meanwhile constant applications are being made to the Board to obtain land in the locality referred to. The following lands are available for future settlement: — Two thousand acres in Lillburn, Monowai, &c, districts, already surveyed: this is partly agricultural and partly pastoral land, principally open, with native and a sprinkling of English grasses. About 40,000 acres in Waikawa District, mostly undulating to hilly forest, but good land, situated between Fortrose and Waikawa Harbour. About 12,800 acres of forest-land along the Waikawa-Catlin's Eoad; some of this is high land, but generally of good quality. 11,000 acres in Mokoreta District, accessible by Wyndham Valley Eoad; about 3,000 acres open tussock, second-class land, remainder forest of fair quality; at present held under pastoral license as Bun 257. 2,500 acres surveyed land in Mokoreta District, half forest, half open, without present roadaccess. 6,200 acres in Oteramiki District, surveyed; nearly all open, but extremely poor land, but, as it is tolerably accessible and settled round about, it will probably be taken up in time. 5,500 acres in Seaward Bush, 2,500 acres of which are surveyed; all forest-land; from its proximity to Invercargill and the railway it will probably go off gradually. About 2,500 acres at East Winton, of which about 500 acres are surveyed into small sections; all forest-land, but would require some expenditure on roads. 3,600 acres in Hokonui District, all surveyed; principally hilly, tussock, and second-class country; moderately accessible by rail and road. 6,000 acres of small grazing-runs in same district; high open country, carrying scanty tussock and other native herbage. 3,000 acres in Eyre District; a small grazing-run ; description same as foregoing, and accessible by Kingston Eailway. 21,700 acres in Wairaki District, subdivided into seven small grazing-runs; description same as foregoing; fairly accessible by road. 42,500 acres, surveyed into twelve grazing-runs, in Takitimo and Centre Hill districts; undulating to hilly, with fairly good tussock and other herbage; accessible by Mossburn-Te Anau Boad. About 20,000 acres in Stewart Island, about 2,000 acres of which are surveyed ; mostly hilly forest country, and will be taken up gradually. There are some 30,000 acres between Jacob's and Waiau Bivers, much of which would be available for settlement, but it is at present for the most part either forest reserve or under mining regulations. It may therefore be said that, including the miscellaneous and scattered lands and small areas now appearing in the Land Guide, there are fully a quarter of a million acres available for future disposal in this land district. The demand for land continues to be active, and will undoubtedly increase. G. W. Williams, Commissioner of Crown Lauds.

APPENDIX No. 2.—SUEVEYS. EXTEACTS FEOM THE EEPOETS OF CHIEF SUEVEYOES IN CHAEGE OF DISTEICTS FOE THE YEAE ENDING THE 31st MAECH, 1893.

AUCKLAND. Minor Triangulation with Topography .—The work undertaken under this head has been principally for the purpose of governing sectional work, being a breaking-down of major work, and also a reduction by ray-trace system from major sides, the total area being 147,400 acres, or 230 square miles, at a cost of o'9d. per acre, undertaken by the following surveyors: i.e., 23,000 acres by Mr. Cussen for purposes of checking survey of 10,000 acres University endowment for subdivision into small grazing-runs; 45,670 acres by Mr. Wheeler, at Whangaroa; and 11,100 acres by Mr. Warner in the Bussell Survey District. Topographical Survey for Purpose of Selection under " The Land Act, 1892."— Under this heading, Mr. W. C. Spencer completed the Survey of 18,000 acres in the Mangakahia district, and explored for roads at a cost of 2T5d. per acre in very rough and broken forest country. Rural and Suburban. —The return for the year is very satisfactory, being a total of 837 sections with an area of 155,349 acres, costing £10,027 6s. 5d., or a mean cost of l'Ss. per acre—all the surveys being in a rough and broken forest country. Analysing the returns, it will be seen that, out of the total area mentioned, the staff have subdivided 95,839 acres into 678 sections, at a cost of £6,197 4s. 10d., or a mean of L3s. per acre, whilst authorised surveyors have subdivided 59,510 acres into 159 sections, at a cost of £3,830 Is. 7d., or a similar mean of l-3s. per acre; but the size of the sections in the latter case is very much larger. Glancing at the work by authorised surveyors, we find that the survey of 38,416 acres of " unsurveyed " land, the costs of which are deposited by applicants, has averaged l-3s. per acre; that 6,711 acres of "isolated" schedule surveys have cost 2s. per acre; whilst 13,764 acres let by contract have cost o'7ls. per acre, and 593 acres of homestead surveys have cost 2-ss. per acre. The mean acreage for all sections, both by staff and authorised surveyors, is 186 acres for each section. Town Section Survey. —The only work under this heading has been two village sections—one at junction of Maketu roads, and the other at Eotorua, at junction of the Oxford and Tauranga roads, being together 61 acres, subdivivided into seventy-five lots, at a cost of 275. per lot. Under town-section work is included a standard survey of the Borough of Cambridge, by Mr. J. I. Philips, towards which the town authorities contributed a portion of the cost. This work has been lithographed, and made available for future Land Transfer and alignment surveys. 5—C. I.

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Native Land Court Surveys. —Under this heading there have been surveyed by authorised surveyors for Native Land Court and Government Native-land purchase purposes, fifty-one blocks, of an area of 175,221 acres, costing £1,449 lis. 9d., which gives a mean of about 2d. per acre; but, as the final balances are not all paid upon these blocks, the mean cost will be a little higher. All of this work has been paid for at mileage rates, being all subdivisions of periphery surveys in the Bohepotae District, and a cutting-out of Government interests, or of land under negotiations by the Crown. In addition to the above area, there have also been received for examination plans of some sixty-six blocks, containing an area of 100,853 acres, the cost of which is paid by Native owners under private agreement with the surveyors. This gives a grand total of Native Land Court surveys, plans received and passed during the year, of 117 blocks, containing 276,074 acres. During the year there has been a very large number of Native Land Court sittings gazetted, the work of preparing and forwarding the plans for which all falls upon this office. Gold-mining Surveys. —The surveys for mining purposes have not been many. Owing to the continued depression in the mining industry only some fifty-three sections have been received, covering an area of 1,232 acres, and costing £545 18s. 9d., or a mean of B'B6s. per acre. Of this amount, Mr. Allom has surveyed ten silver leases at the Great Barrier, covering 148 acres, at a cost of Bs. an acre. Roads, Railways, and Watercourses. —A considerable mileage has been surveyed, totalling 99-1- miles, of which mileage the staff have surveyed nearly 92 miles, at a cost of £1,285 ss. lid., or some £14 per mile ; and authorised surveyors 7f miles, at a cost of nearly £11 per mile. Considering that the above includes cost of grading in rough forest country, I think it certainly is a low rate. All these roads have been surveyed either in exercise of road-rights reserved through Native lands or for the purpose of giving access to settled lands unprovided with roads. Other Work. —A total of £863 is entered under this head, and, .as shown by the detailed statement, is made up of cost of inspection of Native Land Court surveys, taking levels of swamps for proposed drainage, repegging old sections disposed of without resurvey, inspection of sections by surveyors instead of Banger, the counting of kauri trees and valuation for sale, &c. Summarising the work done and the work to be done, it shows as follows : — Completed during In Hands of Year. Surveyors, Minor trig, with topography ... ... 147,400 acres. 60,000 acres. Topographical, for purposes of selection ... 18,000 „ Eural and suburban ... ... ... 155,349 „ 105,330 acres. Native Land Court blocks ... ... 276,074 „ 516,900 „ Eoads ... ... ... ... 99 miles. 201 miles. In addition to work in hands of the surveyors, I have some 37,000 acres for which instructions have not been issued as yet. Land Transfer Work. —During the past year 108 plans have been passed, representing a total area of 41,785 acres. There are not many properties being brought under the Land Transfer Act or subdividing at the present time, and therefore the return is small. Native Obstruction. —There have been three serious cases of obstruction this past year: one obstruction at Kawakawa, in which determined opposition was shown to Mr. Wright, Government Eoad Engineer, in carrying out a road-warrant, but which was eventually settled by Mr. Bishop, 8.M., and myself, after the Natives had been summoned. The second case was near Mangonui, in which the surveyor, Mr. Campbell, was forcibly prevented from carrying on his survey of Crown sections, and the obstructionists had to be summoned and heavily fined before the surveyor was allowed to go on with his work. The third and last is the case of Mr. Creagh, who was obstructed whilst carrying out Native surveys at Buatoke, in which the Natives had to be arrested and imprisoned before the survey could be continued. The firm stand taken by the Government in all these cases has had a very good effect upon the Native mind. Work for Ensuing Season. —At present the thirteen staff surveyors and twelve authorised surveyors employed at schedule rates have only some 105,330 acres of rural lands, and 268,900 acres of Native Land Court surveys for land-purchase purposes on hand; but this has been supplemented by large additions this month. The authorised surveyors have in their hands, to be paid for privately by Native owners, an additional 248,000 acres. The additional lands now being roaded and subdivided under " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1891," will tax the whole of the energies of the staff of surveyors to the utmost. Gerhard Mueller, Chief Surveyor.

TAEANAKI. Minor Triangulation without Topography. —ln conjunction with the sectional survey an area of 23,300 acres has been covered by minor triangulation, at a mean cost of 2-09 d. per acre. Topographical Survey for Selection under " The Land Act, 1887," including Roads. —A block of 18,620 acres has been prepared for settlement in the Opaku District by Mr. John Annabell, at a cost of 4 - sd. per acre. The land is very broken, and only fit for settlement in large areas. Rural and Suburban. —An area of 47,465 acres has been subdivided into 189 sections, varying in size from 100 to 1,070 acres, at a mean cost of l-ss. per acre. The least expensive of the staff surveys was Mr. Dalziell's, and of the contract surveys, Mr. Davies's, both being at the rate of l'3s. per acre. Mr. Finnerty's subdivision of Mangaere is apparently lower, at B'sd. per acre, but the roads had been previously surveyed on magnetic meridian. Town Section Survey. —The only work executed has been the subdivision of 52 acres into eighty-six sections, being a portion of a township reserve situate at the junction of the Makuri and Douglas Eoads, in the Huiroa District. The cost was at the rate of 14-425. per allotment.

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Native Land Court Surveys. —The survey of Mohakatino-Parininihi No. 3 Block, 483 acres, immediately north of the White Cliffs, and tho extension of the confiscation boundary as far as the Tongaporutu Eiver, was considered sufficient for the compilation of a plan of the MohakatinoParininihi No. 1 Block, 62,843 acres, for the purposes of the Native Land Court. This was done on contract by Mr. T. K. Skinner at a cost of £180. Boads, Railways, dC. —A length of 4835 miles of road has been graded and surveyed—namely, 3-6 miles by Mr. Buckeridge through the Huiakama Block, at £15-72 per mile; 24J miles by Mr. Bullard, under warrant through the Huiakama, Toko, and Matematoonga Blocks, at £32 per mile; and 20J miles by Mr. A. C. Turner up the Whenuakura Valley and well into the Kaitangiwhenua Block, at £274 per mile. The apparently heavy cost of the last two items was caused by the very broken nature of the country, necessitating a great deal of exploration. Other Work. —This includes harbour soundings and scattered surveys by Mr. W. H. Skinner, of the office staff; inspection and report by Mr. Skeet on Mr. Donkin's line from Urenui to the Moki, &c. Field Inspection. —l regret to say that, owing to the increasing office-work, particularly in connection with the Crown lands branch, I have not been able to devote much time to field inspection. I examined a few Land Transfer surveys about Stratford and Hawera, and spent a few days with Mr. Bullard going through the Matemateonga Block and into the Kaitangiwhenua Block, as far as the head waters of the Whenuakura Eiver. I had fully intended to devote the greater part of the month of March to outdoor work, especially a visit to the Eawhitiroa country; but the protracted Land Board inquiries and my subsequent visit to Wellington in connection therewith prevented my doing so. Work for Next Year. —Although I shall not have the honour and privilege of directing the operations for the ensuing year, I think it is most probable that the major part of the work will consist of the survey of farm-homestead association blocks, which amount in area at the present time to 79,500 acres, and 16,000 acres under survey by Messrs. Skeet and Murcott for ordinary selection. As under the new regulations the associations can nominate their own surveyors, it is probable, and, I think, desirable, that at least two of the staff should devote their energies to the preparation of blocks for ordinary selection after survey. I am inclined to think that the introduction of the " unsurveyed land " system, which is new to this district, will to some extent lessen the keen competition which has characterized the land-sales during the past three years, and will also result in the land being taken up in scattered sections. There are some township sites —notably in the Mimi, Mangaire, and Mangamingi Blocks— which will probably be cut up, or portions of them: but I think it would be wise to have them felled and grassed beforehand. Boad-lines to be Surveyed. —Mr. Bullard is at present exploring for a line across the centre of the Kaitangiwhenua Block from the Matemateonga Eange, to connect, if possible, with one of Mr. Friths lines in Eawhitiroa, which will eventually no doubt be continued easterly to Pipiriki. Mr. Bullard will at present make a magnetic traverse, marking the line well, so that the section surveyors may afterwards complete the survey. During the worst part of the winter Mr. Bullard will probably complete the survey of the Wingrove Eoad through the Pukengahu Block, and also lay off one or more roads under warrant through the Tutaeariari Block. It will also be probably desirable to continue the Mimi road northwards into the Tongaporutu Valley, and down that stream to the present crossing of the main north road. As this is probably the last occasion upon which I shall have the honour of forwarding a report from this district, I may be pardoned perhaps for expressing my deep sense of the loyal and able support in the discharge of my duties which I have always received from both the field and office staff, and also from the private members of the profession when engaged upon work for the department. Sidney Weetman, Chief Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. Minor Triangulation. —The minor triangulation this year has been limited principally to the reobservation of 35,000 acres of very old work in the Patoka Survey District, which was proved to be totally unreliable, and in its uncorrected condition unfit for the control of traverse-work, as its rate of error was in places greater than is permitted in the class of work it is intended to govern. The minor work of over a million of acres has been recomputed by the methods of polygon and ray-trace, the obviously faulty work discarded, and the remainder brought into systematic harmony. There is now over the area but one value for each station and side, in the place of sometimes three and four different ones as heretofore, which has been the cause of great confusion and loss of time. Topographical Survey for Selection under Act of 1887. —This method of preparing lands for selection has been found to be well suited for the outlying part of this district, and has for this reason been generally adopted during the past few years. Thirty thousand acres in the Motu and Nuhaka-North Survey Districts have been, by the laying-off of roads and survey of the exterior boundaries, prepared for selection this year, at a cost of sd. an acre. It has since been thrown open, and the greater part taken up in holdings from 300 to 2,000 acres; and the sectional work is now proceeding. Rural and Suburban. —Of the 15,027 acres completed this year, 9,000 represents the Pohue Block, in sections varying from 150 acres to 900 acres, and the Liberal Small-farm Association Block, situated not far from Danevirke, on the lower slopes of the Euahine Bango. This was divided into sections of 200 acres each ; and, owing to bad weather having been experienced throughout, the cost of survey has been slightly higher than usual. The balance is the marking-off of "unsurveyed selections" in the Motu and Nuhaka Survey Districts,

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The cost of this particular work has averaged 9d. an acre, to which has to be added 4id. for previous expenditure on topographical survey for selection, making a total cost at the rate of Is. l|d. an acre. Native Land Court Surveys. —The survey of four blocks, comprising 8,023 acres, for which Government has advanced the cost, has been made —one by a staff surveyor, the other three by contract, at a cost of 9-Bd. per acre; but thirty-seven others, with a total area of 171,143 acres, have been surveyed by private surveyors for the owners, under the direction and supervision of the department. Seventy-seven applications for surveys have been received and dealt with, and there is a certainty of a far greater number being made during the coming year, as there are evidences of an increasing desire on the part of the Natives to bring their lands before the Land Court. Roads, &c. —Maps of 1143 miles of newly-surveyed roads in different parts of the district have been received, checked, and passed. They for the most part represent roads taken under the Governor's warrant through Native blocks, in the exercise of road-rights under the Native Land Court Acts, which in some cases were on the eve of lapsing. One road in particular was a deviation of nine miles from the originally-surveyed line for the Inland Waiapu Boad, which has been abandoned on account of the great expense necessary to construct it. Another nine miles was a connecting-link on the Gisborne-Mahia Boad through the Paritu and other blocks. The contract for the complete engineering surveys of 54 miles of the Frasertown-Waikare-moana and Wairoa-Mahia Eoads has been finished, and the county authorities have since, at a very large expenditure, formed nearly the whole length. Native Obstruction. —Though the difficulties at the East Cape extended over several weeks, the actual cost to the department was not heavy, as the survey party affected was, during the time the obstruction lasted, engaged on other work close at hand, to which no opposition wds made. After the salutary lesson the obstructionists have had, and their completely changed mood, it is highly improbable that there will be any repetition of such offences. Other Work. —The amount of £289 10s. 7d., shown as the cost of other work, is made up of items that do not come under any of the other heads: such are standard survey of Napier Borough, inspections of surveys and roads, and redefining boundaries of old sections recently selected. The following is a summary of the work completed during the year, and of that in progress : — Completed 1892-93. In hand. Minor triangulation ... ... ... 54,060 acres 30,000 acres. Topographical surveys for selection ... 30,540 „ 99,000 „ Eural and suburban ... ... ... 15,027 „ 31,150 „ Native Land Court, by department ... 8,023 „ 22,000 „ Native Land Court, by authorised surveyors 171,143 „ 15,000 „ Eoads ... ... ... ... 114 miles. 34 miles. Operations for Ensuing Year. —ln the summary already given it will be seen that a considerable amount of survey is now in hand, settlement work especially. The late selections of unsurveyed land in the Motu and Nuhaka-North Districts, on which two surveyors are now engaged, amount to 18,200 acres. There is a large block at Hangaroa now being surveyed into small grazing-runs, and such parts of it as are found adapted, into sections from 1,000 to 2,000 acres each. In the Motu District additional land should be prepared by the laying-out of roads from being thrown open as unsurveyed lands, as the rapidity with which a block in that locality lately offered was taken up would appear to warrant extension of surveys in that direction. I propose placing a surveyor there for that purpose in the spring. , There will be a considerable amount of Native Land Court work for both staff and authorised surveyors, as there seems to be an increasing desire on the part of the owners to bring their claims before the Court for investigation, especially near the East Cape, where hitherto so much reluctance —in fact, direct opposition—has been displayed. It is to be hoped that some of the Native-land purchases now in course will be completed, and, as some of the lands are admirably suited for settlement, we may possibly be called upon to make sectional surveys of them. The length of road-surveys requiring to be done at present is thirty-four miles; but other cases will be almost certain to arise where it will be found necessary to make further surveys in the exercise of lapsing rights under Native Land Court and other Acts. Thomas Humphries, Chief Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. Minor Triangulation. —Awarua Native Block: Mr. W. D. B. Murray has returned 124,500 acres mapped with topographical plans. A much larger area is in hand, but progress is slow, owing to a large number of stations having to be entirely cleared in heavy bush-country. It will take at least another season to complete this block, but the work is sufficiently advanced to allow the sectional surveyors to start work as soon as the purchase of any blocks is completed. Sectional Surveyors. —Six of the staff and fourteen temporary staff surveyors have been engaged nearly the whole of their time in grading and laying out roads and pegging sections in the farm homestead association blocks, in areas ranging from 100 to 320 acres each. Seven of the association blocks, containing 35,449 acres, have been finally completed, and the plans have been received. In twentyone others, containing 134,790 acres, the roads have been pegged and a preliminary scheme of the sections sent in sufficient to allow of the ballots taking place, and since then, in a considerable portion of these blocks the sections have been pegged, and in many cases the settlers are already felling bush on them. Four other association blocks are in progress, and I expect to receive the preliminary plans of three of them in time to allow of the ballot for the land taking place, and

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permit of some bushfelling being done this winter. In addition to this, the survey of nearly all the land taken up by selection before survey has been completed or is in progress, so, with the exception of a few isolated sections, the survey of all the land taken up in this manner is now finished in the field or is in course of being done. During the year plans have been sent in of 71,287 acres, completed at an average cost of Is. 4f d. per acre. As stated, preliminary plans have been, sent in of a large area of farm homestead association blocks sufficiently advanced to allow of the sections being balloted for, or, if to be opened for selection on the optional system, to allow of their being placed in the market. It has been difficult to ascertain the proportional part of the cost of the preliminary survey, as in some cases, to allow of the land being balloted for as soon as possible, only a compass traverse was made of the roads after they had been graded, and in other blocks parts of the roads were properly traversed and part only compass traversed, so I have charged from 4d. to 6d. per acre, according to the nature of the survey, charged to the preliminary survey. There have been 5,336 acres of sectional surveys executed by contract, at a cost of 9fd. per acre. This is for pegging the section and partially cutting the back boundary-lines, and does not include the cost of the preliminary survey and roadwork, which had been previously done by the staff surveyors. Road Surveys. —Mr. F. A. Thompson has sent in plans of a hundred and one miles of road surveys in the South Wairarapa County, partly completed in the field last year and partly the previous year, the average cost being £9 13s. Id. per mile. This, considering the careful manner in which Mr. Thompson executes his work, and the great attention he gives to all the complicated details of many of his surveys, is a very moderate cost per mile, and he deserve every credit for his excellent work. Mr. A. Simpson has also sent in plans of fifty-two miles and a half of road surveys in the North Wairarapa County, executed at a cost of £10 13s. 4d. per mile. I trust one more season will enable Mr. Thompson to finish the road surveys required in the South Wairarapa County, and we shall be able to get these roads, some of which have been in existence over tw r enty years without being surveyed, finally mapped and recorded on the county plans. Mr. J. B. Annabell sent in plans of thirty miles and a half of roads laid out in the Bangitatau, Mangaporau, Mangapapa, and other blocks, the average cost being £16 4s. per mile, but it was heavy bush-country, and a very great proportion of the work lay a very long way back, necessitating the provisions being swagged a great many miles, thereby necessarily increasing the cost of the work. As Mr. Annabell, to my regret, resigned, and could not complete the work, Mr. Simpson had to be removed from the North Wairarapa County, where, however, the old road surveys are nearly completed, to go on with the surveys of the roads in the Bangitatau Block, where the right to take them will shortly expire, but owing, he states, to the roughness of the country, I am sorry to say very little progress has yet been made by him. The rest of the road survey comprises road engineering surveys, of which a hundred and four miles have been done to enable co-operative contracts to be let for the formation of the specialsettlement roads. These surveys have cost from £5 ss. lOd. to £14 12s. per mile, according to the nature of the country, the average being about £11 per mile. Native Land Court Surveys. —Only a very small area has been undertaken this season, and only includes about 5,265 acres done, at a cost of llfd. per acre. About sixty-two miles of rivertraverse in the Awarua Block, of the Hautapu and Eangitikei Bivers, were undertaken by Messrs. Ward and Beardon by order of the Judge of the Native Land Court, at a cost of about £15 per mile, to be charged'against the cost of the survey of the Awarua Block. Survey Inspections. —The Inspecting Surveyor, Mr. LI. Smith, has visited during the year the camp of every surveyor engaged on staff-work, and thorouthly checked their work on the ground, inspecting their survey equipment and instruments used in their work, testing the chains, or measuring bands used by each surveyor. He reports very favourably on the quality of the work being done as a whole, but some of the work, from various causes, is more expensive than similar work done by other surveyors; but the work is accurately done, and can be thoroughly relied on. Five Native Land Court or Land Transfer surveys done by private surveyors have also been inspected on the ground, and in one case I have had to notify to the surveyor that I cannot undertake the responsibility of certifying to the accuracy of the plans sent in by him. During the ensusng year I intend to make the Inspector, as opportunity occurs, test the accuracy of the surveys sent into the Land Transfer Office, as the Government practically becomes responsible for the correctness of the titles issued therefrom, and, unless the computer detects some mathematical error in the work, they are all approved of, and time alone will show whether the actual field measurements are reliable or come within the limit of error allowed. Resignation of Staff Officers. —I very much regret to have to record the loss of the services by resignation of several of the officers—Messrs. A. S. Ashcroft and E. P. Greville on the permanent staff, and J. E. Annabell on the temporary staff, all excellent .surveyors that we could ill afford to lose, but, as they saw opportunities to better their position, they embraced them, as they thought the chance of promotion in the service by way of an increase to their salary was remote. Miscellaneous. —Under this heading comes the great bulk of the work in the office, which embraces the answering of all sorts of inquiries about lands, surveys, Native matters, road rights; preparation of tracings on 40-chain scale, showing details of country likely to be settled on; tracings of all road districts on which to record road proposals for the expenditure oi " thirds" and " fourths " approved by the Land Board; tracings in connection with special settlements, schemes, balloting, roads, &c.; tracings and data for staff surveyors, Crown Lands Eangers, selectors of land, special settlers, local bodies, other departments, &c. The work of the clerical branch has gone on rapidly increasing during the year, principally owing to the large number of farm homestead associations formed, and the consequent increase of correspondence, &c, in connection with the surveys of the blocks and settlement of the members on the land.

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In concluding my report I have to express my sense of the good services rendered by both the field and office-staff in assisting me to carry out the very heavy work which has had to be got through during the past year. The current work has only been overtaken by continued application, necessitating much overtime, which much curtailed the leisure hours of many of the officers. John H. Bakee, Assistant Surveyor-General.

NELSON. Minor Triangulation. —There has been no field-work of this description done during the year; but the triangulation and topography of the Cheviot Block is now in hand by Mr. F. Smith. Rural and Suburban. —The acreage surveyed has been slightly less than in previous years, but the number of holdings has been larger, reducing the previous year's average area from 260 acres to 110. The average cost per acre is 2s. 2-4 d. The greater part of the work done has been in the Takaka, Collingwood, Nelson, and Amuri Districts. In the latter, surveys of blocks selected by the Midland Eailway Company are in hand. The employment of surveyors in this district upon the superintendence of road-work has delayed the completion of surveys ; but a portion of the Hanmer Springs Eeserve has been surveyed into surburbau allotments averaging 27 acres each. Town and Village Surveys. —The standard survey of Westport, reported as in progress last year, has been completed, and sixty-one standards have been laid down, to which the corners of the town blocks have been connected. The Village of Torea, Waiamangaroa, has been laid off in forty-two allotments of 1 acre each; also the Village of Millerton, at Granity Creek, near the Westport Coal Company's mines, containing 142 allotments of 1 rood each. At the Ahaura Township, 109 additional sections, averaging 13 perches each, have been laid off. These were included in the schedule of the Midland Eailway Company's contract, but had not been pegged on the ground. Twenty-seven additional building-allotments have been surveyed at the Hanmer Hot-Springs Eeserve. Gold-mining Surveys.— This class of work fell off very considerably during the year. Mining operations have been chiefly confined to the old-established companies, only a small amount of fresh ground having been taken up. The same may be said of mineral leases, an application for one coal lease only having been surveyed. Road Surveys. —About nine miles and a half of road have been surveyed, principally through leased lands and traverses of road not previously surveyed. Land Transfer Work. —A larger amount of work has been done in this branch {than in the previous year, and arrears have been much reduced. John S. Browning, Chief Surveyor.

MAELBOEOUGH. Minor Triangulation. —This triangulation extends over the Bai, Tunakino, and Eonga Valleys, and was made by Mr. Bobertson in connection with the 5,148 acres of rural and suburban surveys under his name. The whole of the area covered by this triangulation is rough, forest-clad hills, involving much labour in clearing the stations, and, situated as it is in a part of the district subject to constant rains and fogs, a good deal of time was lost. Rural and Suburban. —Of the 12,232 acres completed during the year, 5,148 acres were surveyed by Mr. Bobertson in the Eai Valley, with the object of the land being thrown open for settlement, but, owing to a subsequent proposition to deal with the timber in this and the adjacent valleys, the block has not yet been thrown open. Messrs. Wilson and Dobson's contract of 3,007 acres is the survey of the Eonga Valley Special Settlement Block. As both of these surveys are situated in long narrow valleys one section deep on either side of the streams, more than the usual amount of work had to be done in the selection of suitable lines of road previous to subdivision. The other section surveys call for no special remark ; they are in different localities, about one-half of them being in the sounds. Proposed Operations. —This year commences with 11,600 acres on application for sale, occupation with right of purchase, and small grazing-runs, and 6,950 acres of Native Land Court surveys, comprising survey and subdivision of the fiuakaka, Tahuahua, Waikawa, and Wairau Native reserves, and grading road over the saddle of the head of the Bonga into the Croixelles Harbour. In addition there will be the usual calls for section and other work by the Land Board and the public; and, should the lands in the Eai and Opouri Valleys be thrown open during the year, we may expect some 7,000 acres in addition. With the present strength of the staff it will be impossible to overtake this work, and either another surveyor and party will be required, or the services of authorised surveyors made use of. I must also again point out the necessity of a topographical survey of a considerable area of pastoral runs in the district, the leases of which will expire in 1896," and the topography of which is quite insufficient for the purpose of readjusting the boundaries and classifying the runs. Henry G. Clark, Chief Surveyor.

WESTLAND. Topographical Surveys comprise a total area of 81,700 acres, including exploration surveys, rough traverses of creeks and features adjacent to standard and road surveys. The cost was 04d. per acre, or £142 10s. lOd. in all. Topographical Surveys for Selection under Land Act. —Total area, 15,320 acres; cost, £169 9s. 4d.

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Minor Triangulation. —Total area, 4,000 acres; cost, £20 16s. Bd., covering upper portion of Wills Eiver Valley. Rural and Surburban. —Area, 11,404 acres in forty-four sections ; cost, £1,131 2s. lOd. These sections were scattered over the district between Lake Brunner and the Haast Pass, and accessible only by pack-tracks; the country is also densely wooded. Of the above amount, £623 9s. 3d. will be refunded out of survey fees deposited, and from half cost of boundary surveys, repayable by Midland Eailway Company in terms of contract. Gold-mining Surveys amounted to only 25 acres; cost repaid out of fees. Road Surveys. —Engineering and traverse surveys, together with necessary plans and sections for same, were executed during the year of six miles of road, and the cost thereof charged against the respective road votes. Owing to the small sections and widely-scattered nature of the surveys, they have been unusually expensive : all were in bush. Other Work includes the cost of a survey that had to be undertaken in order to compel the removal of certain machinery erected by a settler on the Hokitika-Christchurch Boad to the danger of traffic thereon ; also cost of survey labourers' wages while employed on sundry odd jobs. General Remarks. —During the year topographical surveys have been made of the Wills, Macfarlane, and Copland Valleys, thus closing up the gap in our reconnaissance survey of the country between the Arawata and Karangarua Bivers. Separate plans and reports on these will accompany this. The reconnaissance survey has also been completed in the upper valleys of the Hokitika, Mikonui, Gordon, and Waitaha Bivers, and much valuable information obtained. Three district maps, including the above, can now be completed and forwarded for publication, containing information similar to that shown on accompanying plan of the Copland, and which will prove a great boon both to the department and to the general public. The season, until about end of February, was a very unfavourable one for survey operations, and progress was accordingly slow. Proposed Course of Operations for 1893-94. —To continue and complete survey of Block 28b 1 , a selection of the Midland Eailway Company, and also, if desired, to undertake survey of Block 26b 1 , a similar selection by same company, and of a large number of small selections and reserves scattered about between Lake Brunner and Cook's Biver. Should time permit and opportunity offer, I should also like to take in hand the survey of outside boundaries of some of the mining blocks, to complete some revision surveys commenced last year, and included within the boundaries of which are some applications that have never been surveyed. There are several places in this district, where surveys were made in the old times, that urgently need revision, but I am afraid that class of work will only be taken up at odd times, and when lands adjoining them have to be surveyed. Engineering surveys of road-works for co-operative contracts will also have to be undertaken from time to time. The reconnaissance survey of the upper valleys of such of the rivers as are not yet done between the Wanganui and Karangarua Eivers will be put in hand shortly. On its completion a first-class map of the provincial district could be published, replete with information valuable to the surveyor, miner, settler, and tourist. Another very important work on which I hope to be able to employ Mr. Douglas is the exploration of a tourist route between the West Coast and Hermitage, vid the Karangarua, Landsborough, and Hopkins Valleys. Although very much longer than that vid the Copland, as tried last year, I am quite satisfied that the proposed route is practicable, and hope the next annual report will record its accomplishment. The finding and subsequent construction of a tourist route (if only a bridle one to begin with) would do wonders towards opening up the beauties of southern Westland, at present so little known, and would also enable the tourist to land at the Bluff and do the overland journey from thence to Nelson and Picton, and at the same time, without diverging far from his direct route, see all the beauties of the Manapori, Te Anau, Wakatipu, Wanaka, Hawera, Ohau, and Pukaki Lakes, the wonderful Tasman, Hooker, Murchison, and other glaciers on the east side of the main range; while on the western side, the Balfour, Fox, and Franz Joseph Glaciers are easily accessible. A most magnificent view of Mounts Cook and Tasman can be obtained at quite close quarters, and we have many beautiful lakes on the west coast as yet but little known to outsiders such as Mapourika, Wahapo, Botokino, lanthe, Mahinapua (with its wonderful shadows and reflections), Kanieri, and Brunner, while every here and there along the route grand glimses are obtained of the numerous peaks in the main range. The Towns of Eoss and Kumara, famous places for mining on a large scale, are passed through, also Hokitika and Greymouth. The world-famed Otira Gorge can be visited by a short diversion, while the less known but, in my opinion, far more beautiful and extensive Buller Gorge is passed through for many miles. From the Spooner Bange, over which the road passes, a most magnificent view is obtained of Tasman and Golden Bays, Farewell Spit and lighthouse, the French Pass, and D'Urville Island, while from Belgrove to Nelson the scenery of a sylvan character is charming indeed. There is another matter of considerable importance, and which I forgot to mention in its proper place, and one that needs immediate attention—viz., standard surveys of the Towns of Greymouth and Hokitika. The Corporations of both places have repeatedly asked for them, and that of Hokitika has offered to pay cost of survey labour if Government will provide the surveyor. Had it been possible to spare a staff officer from his other work this would have been undertaken ere now, but surveys of this class require a special man, and should not be intrusted to any one, unless thoroughly qualified for minute and careful measurement. John Strauchon, Chief Surveyor.

CANTEBBUBY. In consequence of my prolonged absence at Cheviot, the full report submitted to you last year, and the pressing demands upon my time, I venture to offer you this year but a short statement of operations during the year 1892-93.

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Staff. —The staff consisted of but four surveyors until the following surveyors were appointed temporarily: Mr. John Stevenson, Ist November, 1892 ; Mr. John Boddick, 17th January, 1893 ; Mr. John Cunningham, 24th February, 1893; Mr. B. C. Taylor, Ist March, 1893; and Mr. H. W. Beid, 6th March, 1893. Mr. District Surveyor Welch's health failed him last December, and this active and zealous officer's services in the field were unfortunately lost to the Government and department. He has been engaged in the Wellington District Survey Office since the 18th March last. Surveys Executed. — Mr Welch's surveys comprised the Midland Eailway Company's Blocks L., LIV., and LXIL, and a topographinal survey of Buns 20, 22, 24, and 26. Mr. Brodrick's work consisted of the Station Beak Buns and scattered sections in the Geraldine and Mackenzie Counties. Mr. McClure defined the Midland Eailway Company's Blocks LXIV., LXVIL, LXX., and LXXL, and a block of selected lands on the plains near Hezlerton. Mr. Mathias's area is made up of topographical surveys at Woodend and Alford Forest and scattered sections in the Ashburton County. Mr. Stevenson took up, and is still engaged on the surveys Mr. Welch had left unfinished. He also surveyed the Ashwick Flat Eun. Mr. Eoddick was sent to define the selections which had been made on the Hunter's Hills in 1890. He will shortly have to go to Cheviot. Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Taylor have been engaged constantly on Cheviot, and Mr. Beid relieved Mr. Mathias at Mount Somers. Messrs. Mathias, Cunningham, and Taylor defined sixty miles of subdivision fences on Cheviot. The two former extended the Amuri triangulation towards the Stoneyhurst work, and Mr. Taylor explored for and indicated several of the main roads on Cheviot. The several surveys have been carried out on the lines indicated in last year's report. The areas of field-work have been materially reduced, but they are still very formidable; and, owing to the urgency of the Cheviot surveys, there is little likelihood of their completion next season, though standard points of reference have been carefully laid down throughout. Proposals. —Mr. Brodrick will continue the surveys of selections about Fairlie and Geraldine. Messrs. McClure, Mathias, Cunningham, Taylor, and Boddick, and Mr. F. Stephenson Smith, District Surveyor, who has joined the Canterbury staff temporarily, will continue the Cheviot surveys. Mr. Stevenson will complete the surveys of subdivisions of Buns 20, 22, 24, 26, and 37. Mr. Eeid will continue the surveys of selections at Mount Somers and Alford Forest. Office. —The office-work has been unusually heavy, and quite beyond the capacity of the present staff; and if some of us had not worked constantly in overtime we could not have kept pace with the public requirements. Christchurch, 12th May, 1893. J. W. A. Marchant, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Topographical Surveys.— -The large amount under this heading consists almost entirely of small grazing-runs, chiefly in Central Otago, amounting to no less than 183,500 acres, which has been executed at something under 1-Jd. per acre. Minor Triangulation. —This is almost wholly in the Tautuku Forest, andj has been executed under great difficulties by Messrs. Langmuir and Wilmot. This survey was urgently required, as the block and section surveyors were getting ahead of the triangulation ; the consequence was that in some cases the block and section surveyors had to clear some of the hills and erect some trig, stations, in order to preserve a proper check on their work. At the same time the trig, stations so erected have been of great assistance to the trig, surveyors. Rural and Suburban. —Nearly four times the area has been executed this season as compared with the last season's report. Of a large amount of 54,000 acres under this head, Mr. D. Barron has executed nearly half, chiefly large sections in open country. The balance is mostly in heavilytimbered country. The cost per acre for both descriptions of land is very satisfactory. There are no other items in the tabular statement calling for special mention. Survey Inspections, dc. —During the past season I have made thirty-three visits of inspection to surveyors in the field, four inspections of roads and bridges, and three of Land Transfer surveys. I have visited Catlin's Eiver and adjacent districts on six occasions, to pay wages and inspect roadworks generally. In April, 1892, I spent eight days with the Surveyor-General on a tour of inspection through the Otago District. In July, 1892, I accompanied three members of the Land Board on a visit of inspection to Eun 199, beyond Eoxburgh. In November and December I was absent from Dunedin for twenty days with the other Land Classification Commissioners, inspecting and classifying runs; and in January of this year I was engaged for one week with the Hon. the Minister of Lands, inspecting runs, &c, in the interior. Proposed Operations for 1893-94. —Owing to the demand on the services of Messrs. Langmuir and Wilmot last summer, in consequence of the subdivision of various runs, they have made very little progress towards completing the triangulation of Tautuku Forest. Also the promotion of Mr. D. Barron to be Chief Surveyor of Westland, which occurred last month, makes it necessary for me to alter somewhat the proposed scheme of operations for 1893-94. Mr. Langmuir will probably bo able to spare some time from the Lawrence District this season, and I propose that he should utilise the good summer weather in completing the triangulation of the Tautuku Forest. There are also some surveys urgently required in connection with Land Transfer work. For instance, the Clutha District has never been triangulated, except a small corner in the west portion of the district, and this was done in connection with the Warepa triangulation. The Taieri District

TOPOGRAPHICAL PLAN OF WELLS GALLEY FROM Reconnaissance Survey 1892. BY W Wilson , Assistant Surveyor.

Will's Valley.

Will's Valley in the Upper Gorge, from Trig. C.

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also is very much in need of reliable referring-points, as the trig, stations are frequently of little use on account of building operations and the growth of plantations, &c. I therefore propose that Mr. Langmuir shall devote any time he can spare to the survey of a standard traverse along the main lines of road, &c, leaving permanent reference-marks at distances not exceeding one mile apart. I may mention that this proposal was approved of by the late Surveyor-General some years ago; but, beyond putting in a few trigs, in the Taieri, Mr. Langmuir has never been able to spare the time to continue the work. A most important work also, which should be carried out as soon as possible, is the extension of the standard survey of the City of Dunedin. I had your approval of this work some two seasons ago; but the Dunedin City Council refused to co-operate on the usual terms. According to your instructions, Mr. Calder will carry on work in the Naseby District, and I expect he will be fully employed. Mr. Wilmot takes up Mr. Calder's work in the Tautuku Bush, which, with occasional surveys in his own district of Queenstown, will keep his hands full. I propose that Mr. McCurdie shall continue settlement surveys westwards from the Tahaukupu Eiver, along the course of the Catlin's-Waikawa Boad. Mr. Eclie is now engaged in the survey of Blocks V. and VII., Catlin's, for settlement, and there will probably be other surveys required that will keep him employed for the remainder of the season. Mr. Falkiner has still Block 1., Tautuku, to finish, as well as Block IX., Woodland, after which there will probably be other surveys required in the Tautuku Forest. C. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.

SOUTHLAND. Table I.: Minor Triangulation. —23,880 acres, commenced in November, 1891, are returned under this heading. The country, being covered with forest and destitute of any well-defined hilltops, has been extremely tedious and expensive to work, involving a great deal of heavy bush-felling. The locality is Waikawa District. Rural and Suburban. —The licenses of a large number of pastoral runs having fallen in early in 1893, and Classification Commissioners having recommended that most of these should be subdivided and offered under the small-grazing-run and settlement systems, an exceptionally large area has been dealt with, 146,526 acres having been surveyed into 178 sections, at a mean cost of 6fd. per acre. Town Section Survey. —There are two cases under this head —viz., the Village of Clifden, contiguous to the newly-opened land on the west bank of the Waiau Biver; and some additional sections at Cromarty, a town at Breservation Inlet, near to the Wilson's Biver reefs. Gold-mining Surveys. —These have been trilling in number and area, and, as usual, the fees were paid by applicants. Sawmill Areas, including Valuations of Timber. —A reference to return, Form No. 1, will show particulars of these, the fees for which were also paid by applicants. Road Surveys. —Apart from settlement surveys the mileage under this head is small, and the cost is about the usual average. Proposed Operations for 1893-94. —Triangulation of Waikawa District is to be completed as early as possible, as also the country between Mararoa and Te Anau. It is proposed to extend trig, and topographical survey across the Waiau Biver and along the south coast preparatory to surveying the land allotted to Middle Island Natives. The same is also required at Stewart Island, in order to control surveys of isolated pieces which are applied for from time to time. All the runs are expected to be subdivided by about the end of May. Settlement surveys of some forty thousand acres in Waikawa District are to bo proceeded with as quickly as circumstances will permit. These and various other smaller works will fully occupy the present staff for a considerable time to come, as nearly all the country referred to is forest land. G. W. Williams, Chief Surveyor.

APPENDIX No. 3. RECONNAISSANCE SURVEYS. Wills Biver. In accordance with your instructions of August last I made a survey of the Wills Eiver, and enclose ■plans of same. I started a compass traverse up the gorge from the bridge on the Haast Pass Eoad, but could only get up half a mile or so, owing to the steep rock-faces coming right down from the snow-line. I then pitched camp on the Bealey Eange, and having put up the necessary trigonometrical stations, carried on the triangulation into the Wills Valley, and connected the lower station by standard traverse. This extended over the flats of the Wills, which are open and covered with grass, estimated at about 1,000 acres in extent, and unfortunately overrun with rabbits. The slopes from Mount Brewster on the one side and the Bealey Bange on the other are very steep, and there are several splendid waterfalls on each side, notably one at Cascade Creek, which must have a clear drop of 1,500 ft. From the end of the standard traverse to the pass, the river is fixed by compass traverse, the hilltops being fixed by bearings and sketches from the surrounding stations. After going through a small gorge the river opens out here and there. About two miles and a half from the pass the river opens out into a large shingle-flat, formed by slips from several large creeks running in at this spot. The bush ends here, and it was quite open up to the saddle. As it was in the early spring when I made the survey, the pass and surrounding hills were covered with snow, which made travelling very difficult. Traces of rabbits were seen right up to the pass, which corn6—C. 1.

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mands part of the Hunter Valley. The country is all slate—Mount Torlesse formation—the bush being principally silver-birch (Fagus solandri). The only means of access to the flats would be by a road over the lower gorge, which would be an extremely expensive undertaking, owing to the hills on each side. Bock specimens, showing dip and strike, were sent up in September last. Macfarlane Biver. In accordance with your instructions of August last I made a compass traverse of Macfarlane Eiver, of which I enclose plan. The hilltops are fixed by bearings and sketches from the various trigonometrical stations surrounding. The river is very gorgy, and rockbound throughout, being principally a succession of immense cataracts. The hillsides are very rocky and broken, and slope very steeply into the river, being thickly clad with silver-birch {Fagus solandri). There are three small grass-flats on the river, formed by debris from old slips. Owing to the difficulty of making a road into them they would not be available for depasturing stock. About a mile and a half from the head of the river the bush ends, and the hillsides are covered with slips. There is only one creek of any size draining the slopes of Mount Macfarlane ; the others, though numerous, have very little water in them, but large beds formed by slips. Eock specimens, showing dip and strike, were mailed to you in September last. William Wilson, Assistant Surveyor.

REPORT BY MR. DOUGLAS OP EXPLORATIONS MADE ALONG THE COPLAND RIVER. Karangarua, Bth June, 1892. I have the honour to write out now full particulars of my trip up the Copland Biver. If I have failed in the main object—namely, to discover a pass available for a road across the main range to the Hermitage—yet the department will now have the country mapped for good, and any adventurous tourists who may choose to come over the divide will at least know what they have to contend with before they reach the coast. The traverse of the Copland has taken far more time than I anticipated, but the country was of such a nature that the cutting of tracks, to get the camp through the gorges, was absolutely necessary. The Copland is the only river in Westland up which I have been obliged to cut my way; other valleys are bad in places, but a way through could always be made somehow. The traverse is necessarily very rough, and may, in places, be out far more than is usual in reconnaissance work, but, fortunately, on the watershed of the Copland there are a number of peaks fixed by the triangulation, to which, in most cases, I got good angles to check my position. The bearings to peaks. &c, were always taken twice, and marked if they varied. The aneroid observations were taken every day, and at every station, camp, &c. I enclose the whole of them, with the time of day, by watch, when the readings were made. With a few exceptions the glass was remarkably steady during the whole trip, and there was little difference noted at the various points, going and coming. The sketches take in nearly the whole country on both sides of the river, and are drawn more for topographical purposes than scenic effect. I also give all information about timber, fords, tracks, land, geology, possible passes, and all I can think may be of interest to some and of practical value to others. The party consisted of Harry Cuttance, of Okura, and myself, not forgetting Betsy, the dog. Our equipment consisted of two tents, &c. (one for staging purposes), about six weeks' stores, iceaxe, pea-rifle, 50ft. of rope, axe, billhook, &c, all making up a good double swag for the pair of us. Owing to bad weather, it was about the middle of March before we got fairly started from the mouth of the Karangarua Biver, which was high at the time, but the fords were good, as they generally are on the lower reaches, and Scott's Station was reached without difficulty. From Scott's Station to the Copland, a distance of six miles, the travelling is along wide open river-beds, with occasional stretches of bush-tracks to avoid fording. At the Lower Forks the wide open beaches cease, and the usual mountain-stream commences. For the first three miles up the Copland the travelling is tolerable, the river rising in that distance some 300 ft., with high flat terraces on either side most of the way up. About 20 chains above Architect Creek the gorge commences, and the river rises nearly 600 ft. in about three miles. This is not a true gorge, as in no case do the cliffs approach nearer than 10 chains to the river. Perhaps the best description of it is a natural sluice-box, very badly paved. On the north side there is a well-defined terrace rising some 300 ft. above the river-bed, and running up to the Welcome Flats. This terrace is formed of rolled wash, with morainic drift in places dumped on the top of it, and is the same formation which shows on the bluffs along the sea-coast. On the south side, from the cliffs to the river, the hillsides are strewn with immense boulders, tumbled and tossed about in chaotic confusion. The occasional glimpses a traveller gets of the river while peeping through, between or under rocks like small hills, are, in my opinion, the best scenes on the Copland for beauty. The river-cataracts come rushing down out of the most unlikely places, and over gigantic rocks worn into fantastic shapes by the action of the water ; 30ft. and 40ft. up, snags and fragments of trees are perched on rocks or caught fast in trees, thus showing the height of the river in floods. Some idea of the size of the boulders can be formed by one I measured in the lower gorge. It is a mass of rock fallen from above, and stands on a ledge 500 ft. up, and some 8 chains away from the river. It is 300 ft. by 200 ft. by 110 ft., with large rata-trees growing on its flat top. These trees, like most which grow on such boulders, in the course of time find the want of soil and water, so nature has ingeniously supplied that want by causing the trees to send down roots to the ground below. These limbs are neither roots nor branches, but appear to have the characteristics of both, and, no doubt, act as a pump to supply the necessary moisture. A little above this boulder, but in the river-bed, is another curiosity—" The Chair." This is a large rock, hollowed and shaped like an arm-chair, and would just fit the statue of Memnon, only he would have to tuck his legs up.

MACFARLANE RIVER

Topographical Plan of COPLAMD COUNTRY FROM RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY 1892 by C. E . Douglas, Explorer, Westland.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF COPLAND COUNTRY

SECTION OF COPLAND RIVER BED

Lyttle's Peak, from Welcome Flat.

The Sierras, from Welcome Flat, Copland River.

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The forest in the gorge is a mixture of cedar, totara, and rata, with kamahi and the usual underscrub. The cedars and totaras are in many cases of immense size, but are too much scattered to be of any market value except for local consumption, such as bridges, crib-work, snow-sheds, &c, in the event of a track ever being brought down the Copland or Karangarua. Totara of a certain sort is common enough in Westland, but the best kind —all heart and little sap—is much scarcer than people suppose, so the presence of it in the Karangarua and branches is worth noting. At Boulder and Cave Camps are two other blocks nearly as large as the one I measured. The first is a true ice-borne erratic, and our permanent camp was completely sheltered under it. This place is the furthest limit of the wild cattle, which appear to be dying out, not only on this, but other rivers, shooting down, scarcity of food, and preponderance of bulls being no doubt the causes. After a weary rough scramble through the gorge the Welcome Flats are reached. They are about two miles long and half a mile wide from the foot of the hills on either side. They are partly open river-bed, with patches of grass-land, and partly scrub flats of ribbon-wood, black-scrub, andakeake. One peculiarity I noticed—viz., the trees have all a lean up the valley, showing that the wind mostly blows in that direction, and we found it so when a storm came on —whether the upper scud was flying north, south, east, or west, the wind on the flats was always up the river. In ancient days these flats have been a glacier-basin, and then perhaps a lake which gradually filled up with gravel. Such basins are very common up West Coast rivers—in fact, every large stream has' one or more of them, some well grassed, others covered with mossy, stunted herbage. Those in the valleys running north and south may be of some use when population forces its way into the mountains, but others, like the Welcome, lying east and west, are almost useless (unless in a very wide valley), as for five or six months in the year they are practically sunless, and, if much above the 2,000 ft. level, are often snowed-in for months. The presence of aniseed, ranunculi, cotton-grass, and other alpine flowers show the little effect the sun has, even in the summer. However, these openings are a godsend to travellers; the delight of breaking out on one of them after miles of scrambling through dense bush more than repays all the trouble. From such spots the scenery can really be appreciated. Occasional glimpses of peaks and glaciers through spaces in thick foliage may be very pretty and very artistic, but they are very aggravating to ordinary mortals. The scenery around the Welcome Flats is splendid. To the north Mount Lyttle towers, looking, in its solitary grandeur, far higher than it really is. This peak is a well-formed tent-like ridge, and the slopes of the mountain are covered with a beautiful glacier of the third order. This ice-field is very steep on its lower face, and is continually sending down avalanches. In severe winter weather the snow-slope from Lyttle's Peak comes down to near the flat, as shown by gravel and small rocks lying on the top of boulders in that peculiarly loosely-packed way which only melting snow can give. In winter the scene must be magnificent—a towering peak above, with a glacier beneath, terminating in a long serpent-like slope of snow flanked by dark bush and still darker cliffs. The Buera Biver, which flows from Lyttle's Glacier, obtains a large feeder from another glacier lying on the southern slopes of Mount Copland. This stream joins about 60 chains below Lyttle's Glacier, and is named the Dark-water. I did not see the foot of the glacier, but I got a view of its upper slopes from Point H. The stream did not look a bad one to go up, but little was to be gained by'the journey; the days were closing in, and time was pressing. Before leaving the Buera there is one peculiarity worth a passing notice. The main Copland ran the usual white glacial water, but the former stream was nearly as black as the drainage from a coal-pit. I never saw water so coloured before, and the cause was a puzzle to me for some time; but an examination of the fan of the Buera, which had been cut by the Copland, disclosed layers of very dark soft schist drift, showing that such rock underlay the Lyttle and Copland Glaciers. The grated rock, being darker than usual, had thus coloured the water. This variety of schist shows in the Waikukakupa Biver, but I thought it died out there. Such, however, is not the case, but the outcrop must be very small. Away to the south of Welcome Flats is one of the wonders of the Copland—namely, " The Sierra." The jagged peaks and broken faces of the Wakatipu " Bemarkables," all that I have read or seen of rugged ridges and mountain scaurs, sink into insignificance before this wonderful sight. A range of broken, shattered cliffs, topped by a serrated ridge, looking as if some giant with little skill and a very bad file had attempted to make a saw out of the mountains. Wherever glimpses could be obtained of the slope to the southward, masses of snow showed the presence of a large neve over the ridge. " The Splinter "is an immense spike of rock pointing along the ridge, its tip standing out from the base for hundreds of feet, the points and slabs looking as if the slightest touch would send them tumbling into space. The whole ridge is an unmistakable evidence that no earthquake of a severe character has shaken this part of the Island for ages, as such a shock would have brought most of the jagged tops down to the foot of the cliffs. The sketch sent with the map gives a very poor idea of this wondrous razorback, but it is doubtless better than no sketch, and will, at least, give some idea of what I have tried to describe. Other countries may show finer glaciers and higher mountains, but I doubt if anything like " The Sierra " exists out of the moon. Near the top of the flat, Scott's Creek comes over almost the only large waterfall on the river. This stream comes from a small elevated glacier on Scott's Peak, and is only interesting for the cataract, 50ft. high, and the snow-shoot from the glacier, a narrow V-shaped chasm commencing just above the cascade. This shoot has filled the creek-bed, nearly to the flat, with shattered rocks, sharp and angular, as they fell from the cliffs. We found large numbers of bush-rats (More of the Natives) swarming on the flats, and all up the river. At one time the whole country was swarming with the Norwegian rats, but, from some cause or other, they are gradually dying out, and the bush-rat is taking their place,

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Leaving the Welcome Flats, the Copland runs for a short distance over stony beaches and among rocks, but with little rise, until all at once it breaks through a narrow gorge, and rises in cataracts some 200 ft. in a few chains. The travelling now becomes difficult ; instead of the gneiss boulders of the lower gorge, which at least give good footing, the slippery Torlesse slates come in, making progress up to the Middle Forks rather slow. It is not so much the slippery nature of the boulders as the fact that numbers of them are " rockers," which makes travelling rather dangerous to men carrying heavy swags. The bush on either bank also changes—the cedars, ratas, and totaras are still there, but they appear isolated above a dense jungle of mountain-scrub, hard to cut through, and which can neither be crawled over nor under. Opposite Big Slip the terminal moraine of the Strauchon Glacier commences, and runs to the Middle Forks as an almost perpendicular face of drift 600 ft. high, cut, but very slightly, by small watercourses. This moraine abuts on its lower end against the precipitous spur from Price's Peak, and at one time, no doubt, filled the whole valley, but it has been worn down to its present form by the action of the Copland and Douglas Eivers. A road could never be taken either down or along this face. It is standing safe at present, but once remove the trees and down it would come in immense slips. The whole valley of the Copland is remarkably free from land-slides, the Big Slip shown on the map being the only one worth mentioning. It has come down entirely from above —a height of some 2,000 ft. —and it has not only filled up the old river-bed, but the rocks have bounded hundreds of feet up the other side. This slip I should judge from the size of the scrub to be about ten years old, and at the time it fell must have completely blocked the river, but not for long, as such slips contain too much rock and too little earth to dam those immense bodies of water so dangerous in other parts of the world. The rocky spur from Price's Peak, mentioned before, must at one time have sent down great masses of rock, as on that side down to the Welcome Flats the slope is piled with boulders like those in the lower gorge ; but it is at rest just now, and looks as if it would fall no more. From the Strauchon Glacier down to the Middle Forks the river has cut a deep, rugged channel through the moraine. The south bank has a comparatively gentle slope from the Bound Hill, but the northern side is almost as steep as the terminal face. The river is passable travelling, considering the nature of the country, and rises very fast to the ice; thence along the glacier to the foot of the saddle the slope is easy. Near the end of the glacier is a broken hill (point X), some 400 ft. high, composed of moraine-drift, and from the cairn on this knob a complete view of the Strauchon Glacier, Mounts Cook and Stokes, and Banks's Peak can be obtained. The Strauchon Glacier, which is of the first order, is fed principally from the slopes of Mount Stokes and Banks's Peak, and its size is out of all proportion to the snow-fields at its head, but as it lies in a sunless valley, into which pile the snow-drifts swept in by the northerly gales, its position accounts for the large mass of ice. From its terminal fall almost to the ascent to the saddle the glacier is so covered with debris that it is hard to believe, when crossing it, that beneath you are hundreds of feet of solid ice. Here and there, in round holes, or cracks where a cavern-roof has collapsed, the ice can be seen, otherwise the walking, but for the absence of vegetation, was just the same as coming up the moraine. To the right a small glacier from Banks's Peak has broken the regularity of the terraces which run from the foot of the glacier towards the saddle. These terraces are about 200 ft. high, and are by far the most difficult and dangerous part of the country to travel— worse than any of the kind I have seen. They are formed of drift so loosely packed that the greatest care has to be taken in ascending them. Once on the top of the moraine the travelling is good, the surface being comparatively level, and covered with grass and low scrub. The slope from Banks's Peak is gentle for I,oooft. up, but further on the cliffs come sheer down some 1,500 ft., the precipices on the opposite side, being of the same height, forming, as it were, the frame of a picture of wonderful grandeur, the blue ice-slopes from Baker's Saddle in the middle distance, with the gleaming snows of Mount Cook in the background. On the opposite side the terraces are about 150 ft. high, and flat on the top, but they only extend from point X, about 40 chains, when the cliffs cut them off. Between offshoot spurs of the Navigator's Eange descend two small glaciers of the perpendicular class. The first (Cuttance Glacier) is from a saddle forming an interesting but impracticable route into Cook Eiver; the other (Law Glacier) is simply a slope of snow and ice extending from the crest of the range right down to the main stream. The trunk of the Strauchon Glacier is flanked, as said before, by towering precipices, but once past them the ice-stream widens out and a face of clear serac ice leads up towards Baker's Saddle, the ascent to which it would be best to attempt from the middle for a few hundred feet, and then edge away towards Mount Stokes. But at certain seasons the avalanches and falling rocks must make the enterprise very dangerous. The Douglas Biver next engages attention. This stream comes out of a second-order glacier (the Marchant), which is fed by the snows of Banks's Peak and Baureka. Proceeding from the Middle Forks, the river bends away to the south for about a mile, and then to the right, the peak of Mount Sefton towering above in immense precipices, with glaciers hanging, as it were, on the top of cliffs 2,000 ft. high. From the foot of the cliffs to the river the valley is filled with a slope of debris rising 2,000 ft. in the distance of about a mile, and over this slope, in places, avalanches are continually coming down almost to the river-bed. High as Sefton is, it is too steep on its northern face to hold a glacier large enough to reach the bed of the river, but the continued denuding of the rocks has filled in the whole valley of the Douglas from the Marchant Glacier to the Middle Forks with this slope of drift. Except where avalanches have come down, the whole country is covered with a scrub that defies description. Fortunately, the rocks are not like those on Strauchon Moraine; they are smaller and better packed ; so if any sort of a track was bored through this scrub the travelling would be tolerable. Forced by the slips from Mount Sefton to coast along the base of the Bound Hill, the Douglas has cut a trench through the drift for about two miles, when the terminal face of the glacier is reached. Although not so wide as the terminal moraine of the Strauchon, this one is very nearly as high at its lower face, but it is far more cut into ridges. A branch coming off Sefton joins the river just below the terminal face of the Marchant, and has helped to round off the moraines, forming what I call the Upper Forks. This south branch is a small one, and sends no ice down low,

Mt. Cook and Baker's Saddle, from the Strauchon Glacier.

CtJTTANCE G.LAC1EB. LOOKING OVEK STRAUCHON GLACIER,

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but the debris from its head and a small glacier on Baureka evidently have periodical struggles with the moraine from the Marchant. After crossing the rubbish at the mouth of this south branch there is an open spur which leads to the crown of the divide, a height of 6,000 ft. above sea-level. The top was bare of snow when I saw it first, but it must be remembered that in ordinary seasons the usual winter fall might not melt, and this pass may be considered as covered with perpetual snow. We saw this pass when it was bare, but a heavy fall of snow prevented explorations in that quarter, and, although the snow came off most of the hills in a day or two, it never left the pass or higher peaks. The geological features of this part of the country are not of very much interest; the varieties of rock are few, and they run with the regularity of dip and strike characteristic of the Southern Alps round Mount Cook. Some twenty-five years ago, when I prospected from the Lower Forks up as far as Architect Creek, there was a little payable gold on the beaches along the edge of the river from the Forks to that creek. The gold was very fine, and in those flush times the prospects were not considered good enough, with flour at £3 per hundred, and other stores in proportion. Since then a party built a hut some 20 chains above the Forks, and set to work. What they got I never heard, but the result was evidently not encouraging, as they soon left, and the place was deserted for years. Four years ago I went up again to try and get through the gorge, when I found two men living in the old hut and digging along the bank of the river. They also left in a short time, thoroughly disgusted, and no one has been up since. Both parties told me they had prospected for miles through the gorge, and got a little gold, &c, but I have my doubts about their distances and their prospects. A few chains above Architect Creek is the gorge, where no one but a lunatic would dream of prospecting for anything but lumbago. The flats above do not show even a " spec "or " floater," and these men never saw them, or were aware of their existence. In fact, above Architect Creek I never could raise a colour of gold anywhere, or get the slightest indication of any other metal. The whole country at the head of the river is composed of Torlesse slates and nonmetalliferous gneiss lower down. With the exception of the schist on Mount Lyttle, &c, there are no metalliferous rooks, and in the creeks or river-bed there is not the slightest trace of the reef quartz or even ironstone belts so common up Cook or Waiho Bivers. Any gold that exists has come down Architect Creek, but whether it came down from the head waters of that stream or through the Whale's Saddle from Cook Valley is hard to say. I believe it came through the saddle in ancient days, when the ice-flow from the basin of Mounts Tasman and Cook came down in that direction. One thing I noticed up the Copland that may have something to do with the absence of mineral lodes—that is, on the hill-tops and high spurs there were no traces of lightning strokes. On Mount Bickarts and the Bed Hill country the spurs are full of holes shattered out of solid rock by electricity. Many of the trig, signals were repeatedly destroyed by lightning. Now, all that southern district is full of iron. On the peak of Mount Bertha, where the Okura and Blue Bivers head, I counted seventeen lightning strokes, all within a short distance from the summit. Through that hill runs a large dyke of ironstone. I have noticed the same peculiarity all over the country where lodes exist. . The Torlesse formation up this river is not so well defined as it is in other places, and the nature of the rock is somewhat different. It has not the dark appearance of the slates around Mount Tasman, but almost looks as if it were gradually merging into the gneiss. Another feature is the almost total absence of rock-crystal on the debris covering the glaciers. The Balfour and Fox Glaciers are strewn with blocks covered on one side with a sugar-like coating of crystals—red, white, and green. Masses also of pure silica, 2ft. long and 6in. in diameter, can be got on the hills, but no such thing shows on the Copland. A few minute crystals I certainly saw, but they were not noteworthy. About a mile below Architect Creek are several mineral springs coming from the cliffs, their temperature being much above the adjacent creeks; the percolation through the drift and mixing with other waters has doubtless cooled them. If sunk on, they would probably be found true thermal springs. They smell bad enough to be valuable. A mile or so through the first gorge is Therma Creek, a large evil-smelling stream. The water is almost cold and tasteless, but in the still pools a thick scum, blotched with tints of red and yellow, lies on the water, and being skimmed to one side the clear water is seen underneath. What the mineral components of this creek are I do not know, but they are certainly very strong. There are a number of hot springs along the coast, and I think that they, and also the mineral ones, ought to be reserved. They will prove an attraction some day, and ought to belong to the nation, and not to private individuals. Years ago the Karangarua and other rivers in southern Westland were celebrated for their ground and other birds. No prospector required to carry meat with him—even a gun was unnecessary. Nothing was wanted but a hardy dog. But now all this is altered. The digger, with his dogs, cats, rats, and ferrets, has nearly exterminated the birds in the lower valleys. The cry of the kiwi is seldom heard, and a weka is a rarity. The blue-duck, once so tame, is now as careful of himself as the grey-duck, and throughout whole districts robins and other birds are extinct. But the Welcome Flats put one in mind of other days. It was swarming with birds. The kiwis were of larger size than usual, and very light in colour, some being completely white on the belly. Many of the wekas showed the same peculiarity, large sized, more like the Otago and Canterbury birds, and many had white feathers. The robins ate out of one's hand; the bell-bird sung its chorus in a style only now to be heard south of Jackson's Bay ; while the blue-ducks were as tame as of yore. The kakapos I did not expect to see, as I never saw or heard of one outside the white mountain-birch. The Mahitahi Biver is their northern limit in South Westland, as it is of that birch. With the exception of the kakapo, every bush-bird was represented on the flats. But I fear all this will soon be changed, for when coming down the flats on the way home we saw the tracks of a cat. In the lower reaches, from the sea to the foot-hills, the Karangarua wanders over a wide expanse of river-bed, with large patches of open grass-land adjoining, suitable for sheep, but very

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liable to be flooded, as they stand very little above the river. Their great width saves them to a certain extent, as Mr. Scott, who has had sheep on them for several years, has lost very few from floods ; still, there is always the risk of a remarkably high flood flowing over everything. The grass-topped hills carry sheep and keep them in good condition for about eight months in the year, but their extent is limited, as the spurs leading back to the higher ranges are impassable razorbacks. So, if sheep-farming on this or other rivers is to be ever carried on to a payable extent, settlers must clear land on the flats away, if possible, from river encroachments. The bush-islands are easily cleared, and grow good grass, but they are always liable to be washed away. Towards Saltwater the land is good, but heavily timbered for a mile back, and then open swampy ground extends in large patches to Cook Biver. These patches are certainly reclaimable by draining and burning, and I believe it would pay better to attack them than the bush. They would take longer to lay down in grass, as the ground must be dried first, but the expense would be small compared with bush. Similar country extends on the other side of the river towards Hunt's Creek, but it is much drier, and covered, to a great extent, with black scrub, which is easily felled and burnt off. The only drawback is that such country, when cleared and not properly drained, in a few years is choked with rushes. Whether sheep pasturing would have a beneficial effect on. it has not been properly tried yet. Further up the river the hills gradually close in ; still, all the way to the Lower Forks are terrace flats with good soil, but in most cases heavily timbered. At the Forks the terrace flats, taking in both sides of the river, are about a mile wide, and are covered with red- and black-pine, miro, rata, and totara. Some of the trees are large, with splendid barrels, but are sparsely scattered, and, like the cedars and totaras up the Copland, are really of little value except for local purposes. At one time the underscrub formed cattle-feed, but it is completely eaten up ; and had the owner only sown grass-seed at the time, the light wood which is now choking the bush would never have grown. Mr. Scott has discovered that sheep eat that scrub, so he falls it for them during the winter months, and is sowing down grass as well as his means will permit.. The only forests of really marketable value are about six miles from the mouth, where the totaras are growing in thick groves, but, in my opinion, they are immature trees, and as a lasting timber young totaras are no better than mountain-birch. On the hillsides for three or four miles up the Copland and Karangarua are plenty of large spars of hinau. Whether this is the same as the North Island species I do not know, and, as I have not seen any of it used in Westland, am not able to say anything about its lasting qualities. This is all the timber of commercial value I have seen on the Karangarua and its branches. I consider it the poorest river in Westland in that respect. If poor in forest-trees, the Copland shows an extraordinary variety of shrubs; holly, fuchsia, akeake, and other varieties, which in many parts of the country are merely shrubs, grow here into respectable trees. Hollies Ift. in diameter are common, and the heaths grow into small trees. Even the bush-line is higher than usual, and all along the Karangarua Bange the scrub almost entirely displaces the grass. I know little or nothing about botany or horticulture, so my opinion on these subjects may be of little value ; but I wonder if the heath which grows on the hills, the lemon plant, and other shrubs and flowers could not be cultivated into garden-plants. The heath is a true one, with waxy-looking bells, and I do not see why, if it got fair play, it would not hold its own with some of the Italian varieties. Another tree Ido not know the name of, though I believe it is a heath, has a smooth brown stem, and the branches are tipped with a bunch of blue-green foliage like the cabbage-tree. This plant is very common all along the ranges close to the grass-line, and might be introduced as an ornamental tree for parks and gardens. The curious fantastic forms it assumes, or into which it could be made to grow, would commend it to those who fancy such ornaments. Although strictly a mountain-tree, I have seen it occasionally growing down on the flats, and even on sea-bluffs; so climate is no object. I expect moisture and shade is all the tree requires to grow in any temperate country. As for flowers, up the Copland they are scarce. The ranunculus, aniseed, and hemlock (wild carrot, the people down here call it) comprise the whole ; and, as I only travelled over a very small patch of schist, I saw very little edelweiss. Many flowers common in other parts were either scarce or altogether wanting. Perhaps the scarcity of grass and the height of the bush-line were the causes. I now come to the main object for which I was sent out:—that was, to determine the practicability of a route for mule- or horse-track from " The Hermitage " across the Alps to the West Coast vid Hooker Valley and Baker's Saddle. I am sorry to have to state that, in my opinion, the proposed route is impracticable—impossible I will not say, for it would no doubt be possible to tunnel under glaciers, neves, &c.; but such an undertaking may be put on one side at present. It is a great pity, as a route through Baker's Saddle would be very short, and would open up some of the most splendid scenery around Mount Cook. lam well aware that in many of the mountain regions of the earth tracks are taken through some of the most impossible-looking canons, along beetling cliffs, under galleries, and through tunnels. But how to take a road over a sloping ice-field, which is continually swept by avalanches, is a puzzle to me, and such is a portion of the proposed route. The Strauchon Glacier, as shown in the sketch, is flanked by towering cliffs ; then it widens out to the saddle into snow-fields from Banks's Peak and Mount Stokes, both neves coming down from the tops of the ranges to the glacier without a break in their slopes. However, as some enterprising explorer may consider I am wrong, and that a route over the saddle is to be got, I will point out the best road-line down the valley. From the cliffs under Banks's Peak to the Lower Forks there is no difficulty whatever ; two short bridges over the Douglas Eiver and Architect Creek are all that would be required outside of the usual sidlings and level crossings. I have examined both sides of the river the whole way up, and the line marked on the map is the best route to avoid natural obstacles. Of course, if a special survey were made, there would doubtless be many modifications of my line, and, if a transinsular road is never taken vid the Copland, a practical route laid down on a map is always useful, as no one can tell what may turn up in a new country.

Copland Valley from Trig. Station, J.M.

The Lower Gorge, Copland River.

In the Lower Gorge of the Twain.

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Prom the crossing of the main south road to Architect Creek it is unnecessary to say anything ; the route is on river- or terrace-flats the whole way up. At Architect Creek a bridge would be required, as the creek is rocky with bad fords, and a level crossing would not stand for any length of time. There are two suitable places for a bridge, 60ft. or 70ft. span, about 20 chains up the creek. Leaving this stream, the track would keep the north bank of the Copland to the Welcome Flats, taking advantage of a flat terrace running with the slope of the river, and averaging 300 ft. above its bed, till it gradually dies out above the lower gorge. There are very few creeks to break the regularity of this terrace, though some of them, no doubt, would require culverts or short bridges. Crossing at the first ford on the flats, the track now keeps the south side of the river to a little above the Middle Porks, where the Douglas can be bridged in two or three places with about 40ft. single span, clear above all floods. From this crossing to the cliffs under Banks's Peak the road would traverse very easy country. Through the Welcome Plats no road-formation is required, but from the upper end of the flats to the Middle Forks the road would have rather a steep grade, but nothing unusual in a mountain country, and the sidling is good all the way. As for the Big Slip, it can be easily crossed with an ordinary cutting; the face is now at rest, and another slide may not come down for ages. Chakles E. Douglas.

APPENDIX No. 4.—EOADS. BEPOETS ON THEIE MAINTENANCE AND CONSTEUCTION FOB THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MAECH, 1893.

AUCKLAND. Fern Flat Village Settlement. —The work done during the past year consisted in retrussing and decking a bridge of 40ft. span over the Oruru Eiver, on the road leading to this settlement, and keeping in repair about five miles of road. Okaihau-Victoria Valley Road. —This road is chiefly through Native land, opening up about 7,000 acres of Crown land, and giving a through communication between Waimate and Mangonui, vid Victoria Valley. The length of the road now constructed is about eleven miles—three miles at the north end and eight miles at the south end. There is still some twelve miles of road to be formed. The formed portion is in very bad order, and urgently in need of repair, the money granted last year being insufficient. The works done during the year were the re-formation of about 44 chains of road 6ft. wide. Victoria Valley to Main Road. —This new line will give a direct communication between the south end of the Victoria Valley and the great North Eoad towards Mangonui. During the year two miles of road have been surveyed and graded, but, as the question of title to the road is not yet settled, no works have been undertaken. Ahipara-Herekino-Whangape Road. —The portion of the road between Ahipara and Herekino has been formed into a cart-road, and opens up some 6,000 acres of Crown land. It is the only outlet at present for the Herekino Settlement. During the year very little work has been done beyond widening some dangerous places, refascining the road across swamps, and removing slips. The portion of the road between Herekino and Whangape opens up about 7,000 acres of Crown land, and gives the settlers an outlet to the Whangape Harbour. It has been formed into a bridle-track throughout, but there are still several bridges and culverts required. The work done during the year consists of 30 chains of bridle-track, averaging Bft. wide, and repairs to two bridges. Herekino Village Settlement. —The roads in this settlement have been kept in fair order, and about 15 chains of new bridle-track Bft. wide formed. Herd's Point-Takahue Road opens up about 10,000 acres of Crown land. The northern portion, between Takahue Village Settlement and the Victoria Valley main road, has been formed into a cart-road, though four large bridges are yet required to complete the road. From Takahue Village Settlement to the Mangonui-o-wai the road has been formed into a bridle-track, and during the past year has been kept in fair order. From Mangonui-o-wai to the junction of the Kohukohu Eoad it is still a bridle-track, but during last year portions have been widened to 14ft. From the Junction to Herd's Point was formed some years ago into a cart-road. The work done during the year consists of about 68 chains formed 15ft. wide and metalled 10ft. wide, and 11 chains formed 6ft. wide and general repairs. Takahue Village Settlement. —The most of the works done during the year have been on the Herd's Point-Takahue Eoad, which runs through the centre of this settlement, and consists of a bridge of three spans, 105 ft. in length, over the Waitaraire Eiver and general repairs to about fourteen miles of road. Motukaraka Village Settlement. —Works done during this year consist of about 9 chains of road 10ft. wide, falling 13 chains of bush 33ft. wide, clearing scrub off road, and general repairs. Waimamaku-Pakanae Road. —This is the main outlet to wharf for the Waimamaku settlers, and opens up 4,000 acres of Crown land. It has been formed throughout into a bridle-track, averaging 7ft. wide, though several bridges and culverts are still required. The work clone during the year consists of 13 chains of formation widened to 12ft., and 184 chains of bush-felling 33ft. wide.

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Waimamaku Village Settlement. —The roads in this settlement are in very bad order, owing to the nature of the soil, which is loamy and continually slipping as the bush is cleared off it. The work done during the year consists of 40 chains of road 6ft. wide, and 3 chains 12ft. wide, and general repairs to bridges and culverts. Punakitere Village Settlement. —Works done during the year consist of 8 chains widened to 18ft. and 2 chains widened to Bft., and repairs to bridges and culverts. Mangataraire Valley. —This road is to give an outlet to the settlers in this valley to the main Kawakawa-Horeke Boad. The work done during the year consists of 30 chains of road-formation 12ft. wide. Opanaki-Hokianga Boad. —This road opens up about 100,000 acres of Crown land, and will give direct wheel-communication between Hokianga and the railway to Dargaville, thus allowing settlers to reach Auckland in twenty-four hours. This work till a short time ago was carried on by the village settlers and Natives, but progress was so slow and unsatisfactory that it was found more advisable to let the work by tender. One section of a mile in length is now in progress, and two more will shortly be accepted at northern end. The engineering survey is also being carried on from both ends, but the exceeding wet season has delayed progress considerably. A branch line from the main road is now being surveyed to connect with the line already laid out up the Waimamaku Valley. The road formed is about eight miles at north end, 14ft. wide, and six miles and a half at south end, Bft. wide. The work done during the year consists of 61 chains of new road, and the proper finishing-up of two miles 14ft. wide, and the engineering survey of twelve miles of road. Mangonui Bluff Boad. —The work of repairs is now in operation; a party of four men are employed at day-pay for the purpose. Kawakawa—Great North Boad. —This vote is being expended in raising the level of the portion of the Great North Boad which runs through the Waiomio Flat, near Kawakawa. Owing to some trouble with Natives re fascines, the first contractor had to abandon the work, which has since been re-let to another contractor at a considerable advance of price. The portion of work done consists of 9 chains of road formed 18ft. wide, two bridges, and 2 chains of embankment. Opua-Waimate. —This road gives the only communication between Opua and the surrounding district. The road also opens up about 4,000 acres of Crown land. The work done during the year consists of three miles and a half of road, averaging Bft. wide, and tenders have been accepted for two miles more. It is proposed to deviate the line from the original survey and make it join the Waitangi-Kawakawa Eoad near Kawakawa. Punakitere Survey District. —This road is to give an outlet to the Ngapipito settlers, and open 4,000 acres of Crown land. It will probably be the main road between Kawakawa and Taheke. The Natives caused considerable delay and trouble by opposing the survey. About twelve miles of road were surveyed, and with the balance of the vote it is intended to form a rough track along the survey route. Warkworth-Awanui. —This vote of £200 was given to the Hukerenui village settlers to enable them to pay their rent and interest by working on the road, and has been expended in raising and metalling the portion of the Great North Eoad known as Easmussen's Embankment, near the village settlement. Hukerenui and Motatau Village Settlement. —The works done in this settlement consist of four miles and a half of road averaging 12ft. wide, and one mile of road averaging 6ft. wide. Wairua Bridge and Boad. —This road opens up about 6,000 acres of Crown land. During the year three miles and a half of the road have been formed into a cart-road, of an average width of 12ft. The continuation of this road will go through the Bamarama Valley and join the Great North Boad at Towai. Opuawhanga-Whananaki Boad. —This has now been formed into a bridle-track Bft. wide throughout, of which three miles have been formed this year. Whananaki Village Settlement. —The most of the work done in this settlement has been on the Opuawhanga-Whananaki Boad, which runs through the settlement, and consists of one mile of road 7ft. wide, one bridge 9ft. span, and 12 chains of embankment. Wairua-Helena Bay. —This road opens up about 2,000 acres of Crown land. During the year about half a mile of road has been formed, 7ft. wide. There are several very narrow places on this road caused by slips, and it is in much need of repair throughout. Parua-Mangakahia-Opanaki Road. —This road was intended as a connection between Whangarei and Opanaki, but the country was found so broken that it was not considered advisable to continue the work at present. During the year thirteen miles were graded and surveyed. Parua Bay Village Settlement. —The money authorised for expenditure in this settlement has been expended in giving the settlers a more direct route to Whangarei. The work consists of one mile and a quarter of road, 4ft. wide. Mangapai-Tokatoka Boad. —This opens up a direct route between Whangarei and the Wairoa Biver, besides giving an outlet to a considerable amount of private lands. Nothing has been as yet done, but the survey and grading of deviation will shortly be undertaken. The present line follows along the top of a range, and, as in most of the old lines, going over the highest peaks in the range. Some small works will also be undertaken on the south side of the Mangonui Biver. Mangonui Bridge. —This bridge is on the Mangapai-Tokatoka Boad. Its construction is now being carried out, the timber being all on the ground and three piles driven. The bridge is of three spans, two of 20ft. and one of 30ft. Ness Valley Road. —This will be the main outlet to all the Government lands in this part of the country. The road has been graded and surveyed, but no works have been undertaken, as the question of compensation for land taken has not yet been settled by the Wairoa Boad Board. Whiskey Greek Road. —This is a road to give settlers an outlet. During the year about three miles of road 6ft. wide have been constructed, and a further mile and three-quarters are now being made.

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Akaaka Swamp. —About a mile and a half of road have been formed through the swamp, and about a mile of drain. The work, however, cannot be gone on with at present owing to the heavy rains. Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the owners of the section through which the main outlet goes, and the work of deepening the drain will be gone on with as soon as possible. The expenditure during the year includes the cost of grassing some of the sections through which a fire had run, and which expenditure is being recouped by "loading" the lands benefited thereby. Maioro Swamp. —There are still some 400 acres of Crown land in this swamp. Tenders have been accepted for the construction of a mile and a quarter of drain, and the works are now in progress. Whaingaroa-Nga,ruawahia Road. —This bridle-track has now been formed into a cart-road, 12ft. wide, for about six miles from Ngaruawahia, and works are now in progress which will carry the formation to within about a mile and a half of the junction with the Huntly branch. The work done during the year consists of a mile and a quarter of road 12ft. wide. Akatea and Fireivood Greek Village Settlements. —The money authorised for expenditure in these settlements has been expended in widening to 12ft. a portion of the Whaingaroa-Ngaruawahia Eoad which passes through the settlements. The works were chiefly in the portion of the road through the gorge, and were consequently nearly all heavy rock-cuttings. About three-quarters of a mile were constructed. Mangapiko Road. —This is a road from Whaingaroa to Churchill. The small vote granted this year is being expended in the construction of one of the bridges (the largest) over the Kahuhuru Biver, with its approaches. A further sum ought to be expended in constructing this road, as it is the main road through the Baglan District, and the only outlet for a considerable number of settlers. Alexandra-Kamhia Road. —This road goes chiefly through Native land, but is the only outlet for the Kawhia settlers. A considerable number of slips have occurred, and one large culvert has been swept away and several of the bridges much damaged by the last heavy floods. Men have been employed by day-labour at a cost of £52 in opening the road for horse-traffic, but a considerable sum will be required to make the road fit for wheel-traffic throughout. Kawhia-Aotea-Raglan Road. —This road is entirely blocked from the Aotea Harbour towards Baglan. The road passes through some sections which have lately been cleared, and now that the land is denuded of bush it is everywhere slipping, and fully half a mile of the road has slipped away,while more is sure to go after the next rain. To again open this road means at least a mile of new formation in steep side-cuttings. All of these roads have been under the direct charge of Mr. A. B. Wright. Gerhard Mueller, Chief Surveyor.

NOBTH ISLAND INTEEIOE EOADS. The Oxford-Rotorua, Tauranga-Napier, Maketu-Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua-Waiotapu, Huka Falls-Puketarata, and Taupe -Tokaanu Roads have been maintained as dray-roads, and are in good order. The Rotorua-Galatea Boad has been maintained as a dray-road, and 1 mile 5 chains of new formation, mostly in side-cutting, made, so that now drays can easily reach the Kaingaroa Plain. The Tunnel-Karioi Boad has for the greater part been maintained as a bridle-track only, as it is not accessible for drays from either end, and there is no local wheel-traffic. Sixty chains of bridle-track have been made on the part of the road in the Ohinemoa Valley. The two bridges which were floated from their foundations last winter are in course of re-erection on more secure foundations. The Rotorua-Te Wairoa Road has been only maintained as a bridle-track, as funds were not provided to re-establish it as a dray-road. It is in good order. Turangarerc-Tokaanu, Road. —A contract for 3 miles 45 chains of dray-road, including the Waihohonu Bridge, was completed last winter, and the road has been maintained as a dray-road throughout the year. Rotoaira-Waimarino Road.—The first twenty miles of this, from the Botoaira end, is maintained as a dray-road, and the remainder as a horse-track only. The bridge over the Wanganui Biver has been completed, and the road and track are in fair order. Ongaruhc-Stratford Road. —Mr. Adams has done twenty-seven miles of engineering survey. Six contracts of one mile each in length of dray-road, including everything but metalling, have been let, and at the end of March were well advanced towards completion. The plans and drawings for another six miles are completed, and are being copied prior to calling for tenders for construction. Nine miles of pack-track in bush, from Mangaroa to Heao, have been made and thirty-eight miles repaired and maintained. I believe the Crown has recently purchased some land along this road, but do not know the extent of it. I consider this is one of the most important settlement roads in the colony, and that the works of construction should be pushed on with diligence towards early completion. C. W. Hursthouse, Boad Surveyor.

REPORT BY MR. G. T. MURRAY. Wanganui-Murimotu Road (Field's Track).' —The work done has been chiefly maintenance, such as cutting scrub, removing trees and slips, repairs to culverts, and watertables, &c. The new work completed comprises one 20ft. bridge, new decking Wharepu Bridge, twenty new culverts, &c. The slips during the past winter were unusually large and numerous, necessitating at times the 7—C. 1.

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employment of five men to keep the road open. The returns of traffic are : Travellers on horseback. 3,091; pack-horses, 1,807; sheep, 1,200 ; cattle, 70 ; horses, 40. As in last year's report, besides maintenance, the most urgent work is the formation of the road, with the necessary bridges and culverts, for about two miles, from Mason's to Taukora. I have again to recommend that this part be improved as soon as possible. Nothing whatever has been done during the year to the proposed Mangawhero Valley Boad from Parapara (on Field's Track) to the new township of Baetihi, on the Pipiriki-Ohakune Eoad. This will be an important road in the future, and ought to be made as soon as the land adjoining is acquired from the Natives. When this more direct and easier road is once formed, Field's Track above Parapara should be merely kept open, but never converted into a dray-road. Kuripapanga-Karioi Road. —The part of this road maintained by the department only extends from Moawhango to Karioi. No men have been kept constantly on the road, but occasionally there have been several men engaged in clearing slips, cutting water-tables, &c. The chief new works which have been done during the year are : Eleven chains approaches to Moawhango Ford, 20 chains light formation, 145 chains tussocking, and 44 chains catch-water ditches near Waiouru. The Upper Hautapu Bridge contract has been let on the co-operative principle, but as yet no expenditure has been incurred on it. This bridge will be completed in May. All the streams will then be bridged from Hunterville to the Bangipo Desert. The works which most require doing in the coming year are : Widening and metalling the formation in places in the Turangarere Bush, completing the Hautapu Bridge, catchwaters and extra culverts at Eakitepauma, straightening, tussocking with light formation from Waitangi to Karioi, &c. There is already considerable traffic along the road, and when the Pipiriki and Tokaanu Eoads are completed there will probably be a very large increase of it. Hunterville-Turangarerc Road. —The formation of this road was completed last July, but the surface was so soft that it was November before the first vehicle was taken through. Owing to the heavy slips last winter, and the large amount of carting for the railway co-operative works, very extensive repairs over the first seventeen miles of the road had to be undertaken and carried out so that the road might be metalled. Before these contracts were let the country adjoining the parts to be metalled was thoroughly explored, and where metal was found, the pits were opened up and tracks cut into them, with the result that the metalling has cost a great deal less than was at first anticipated. The metalling was commenced in October last, and is still in progress. Twelve miles and a half have been completed, and five miles more are in progress. When this latter part is done there will be only 12£ miles of the road unmetalled, and about three miles of that distance does not require any, unless the traffic becomes exceptionally heavy. This leaves about nine miles and a half, which ought to be done as early as possible next season. The co-operative work on the upper end of the road was completed in May last. Since then various small co-operative contracts have been let on the lower portions of the road, at repairs, widening, straightening, &c. The work done under this system comprises 25 chains stumping and clearing, 180 chains newformation, 44 chains re-formation, 450 lineal feet culverts. The work done under large contracts comprises chiefly 118 chains stumping and clearing, 270 chains formation, 66 running feet bridges, 274 lineal feet culverts, 1,000 chains metalling. This road has had a very beneficial effect in opening up the country, as evidenced by the rapid increase of population at Ohingaiti and Mangateweka. When the Awarua, Motukawa, and adjoining blocks are properly settled by Europeans there will be a very large traffic along this road, quite independent of the fact that it will be a great tourist and mail route between Auckland and Wellington Provinces. Turangarcre-Tokaanu Boad. —The total expenditure for the year on this road is £2,098 os. Id. Of this sum, £117 4s. 9d. was expended on the engineering survey of the road from Waiouru to Mangatoetoe, 17 miles 26 chains, and the remainder on the construction of the road between the same points. The line of road was completely resurveyed during June and July ; the length was reduced by 74 chains, the grades were much improved, and the desert was totally avoided, though by the deviations considerably heavier work was necessitated at places. The construction was commenced on the 11th November, under the co-operative principle, and will be completed early in May, though the road is already quite passable for any sort of wheel-traffic, there being a sidetrack past the two miles still incomplete. The cost of construction to date is £1,980 15s. 4d., and the work done consists of fifteen miles formation, 50 running feet bridges, 800 lineal feet culverts, and 8,000 superficial feet of timber, cut and delivered. The number of men employed has ranged up to seventy, and the wages earned have averaged from Bd. to Is. 6d. an hour. The cost of living is very high, and the hardships from the severe climate and from want of firewood so considerable that the prices were purposely fixed somewhat higher than usual. Great care has been taken to make all the work so stable that maintenance will bo reduced to a minimum. This road will be considerably used as a tourist, mail, and drover's route, but will not be of much direct use for settlement purposes, as the country in the vicinity is very poor. Tunnel-Karioi Boad (South End). —The work done consists of six miles clearing 10ft. wide, 30 chains stumping and clearing, 95 chains formation, 10ft. bridge, 150 lineal feet of culverts, &c. All this work lies between Karioi and Ohakuno, and was performed in order that drays might get through to the part of the Pipiriki-Ohakune Eoad which had previously been converted into a dray-road. Though this road is now passable for drays, it is quite unfit for coaching purposes. It is therefore urgently to be recommended that funds be provided at once so that this road may be put in hand, formed, and ready for coach-traffic in time for the completion of the Pipiriki-Ohakune Eoad, which will be probably about next December. The work was mostly done by co-operative labour. On the part from Ohakune to Waimarino—twenty-two miles—a few fallen trees have been removed, otherwise no work has been done. There is scarcely any traffic over this part of the road. Pipiriki-Ohakune Boad. —Of the total expenditure for the year, £662 17s. Id. was spent in day-labour, £683 os. 6d. on co-operative labour, and the balance on large contracts. Under daylabour it included inspection, maintenance of twenty-five miles of road, 120 chains stumping and

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clearing, 20 chains engineering survey, two miles grass-seed sowing, &c. Under co-operative labour the work done consists of 50 chains new formation, 20 chains re-formation, 380 lineal feet culverts, 4,500 superficial feet slabs, and six miles road-traverse. The work done by large contracts consists of 212 chains bushwork, 271 chains formation, 140 running feet bridges, and 970 lineal feet culverts. The large contracts were completed last December. The co-operative works which were commenced at Pipiriki in October, 1891, were completed up to 6m. in May last. In the middle of last January work was recommenced on the uncompleted portion of the road from Bm. to 17m. on the co-operative principle. Including day-men there are now fifty-five men employed, and in the course of a fortnight this number will ho increased to eighty men. This number may be still further increased, but not to any extent. With the eighty men the road will be open for through traffic next December, unless the coming season proves exceptionally wet. The prices vary from £1 2s. 6d. to £1 10s. a chain for bushwork, and average Bd. per cubic yard for earth, and Is. per cubic yard for papa, with other prices in proportion. Besides completing this nine miles of formation, it is to be recommended that about four miles of the flats between Makotuku and Ohakune should be metalled as early as possible next year, before the road is cut out of all shape by wheel-traffic. From April to December Mr. A. W. Brooking was in principal charge of the works, since then. Mr. Field has had charge. This road will be the main road from the Waimarino and adjoining blocks to the Wanganui Eiver. It will certainly have to carry a lot of heavy traffic during the next few years, and therefore ought to be metalled throughout, but unfortunately, except from 18m. to 25m. (Ohakune), metal does not exist in any shape or, form on the road, unless the nodules found in the papa is napped into metal or shell-rock be used of which there is only a limited supply. Wanganui Biver Improvement. —The works performed by the department comprise—Groin at Moutoa, groin at Upokopoetu (unfinished), groin and removal of papa point at Aookuru, groin and dredging above Pankino, and transport of punts, &c, to Wanganui. Owing to floods in the river the contractor for groin at Upokopoetu threw up his contract; and, on account of Native obstruction, certain works proposed at Buapirau and Matahiwi were not started. On the 18th May, 1892, all the punts, plant, tools, &c, which had been used on the river by the Government were handed over to the Wanganui Biver Trust. The valuation put on the whole was £300. Since then the Trust has had full control of the expenditure of the last vote for river improvement. The river was, practically, perfectly cleared of snags by the Government work in 1891, and since then very few indeed have been left in the channel. The groins have all done good service, notably that at Aookuru. That at Upokopoetu, when completed, will remove what is now the worst barrier to regular navigation. I think that the Government, if they make any further grants, should give a large sum, and finish the work straightway themselves; otherwise the Trust should do everything themselves with their own funds. Wanganui Biver-steamer, and Works executed by Wanganui Biver Trust. —The steamer subsidy is £650 for the first year, decreasing £100 each year for the succeeding three years. The " Wairere " is the steamer which Messrs. A.Hatrickaud Co., the firm who receive the subsidy, obtained from Messrs. Yarrow and Co., England. Length, 98ft. 6in.; width 'midships, 14ft.; over paddle-boxes, 23ft.; horse-power, 80; draught when empty, 14in. ; draught with twenty passengers and 3 tons coal and 3 tons cargo, 21in. The steamer started running on the 24th May, 1892, and since then she has regularly delivered the Wanganui mail at Pipiriki every week, though on two occasions she was not able to actually reach Pipiriki herself. In these cases the mails and passengers were forwarded by canoe. The average number of passengers is 20 up and 15 down; the average amount of cargo is 3 tons up and \ ton down; the average time Wanganui to Pipiriki (56 miles) is 10 hours ; the average time Pipiriki to Wanganui (56 miles) is 7 hours. Including all stoppages, the speed up is about 5J miles an hour, and down about 8 miles an hour. At the worst rapids Messrs. Hatrick and Co. have laid down lines and floats, by which the steamer is enabled to warp herself up. These rapids are Matahiwi, Moutoa (lower and middle), and Kawhairoa. The lines are composed of ljin. circumference best flexible steel rope. The Wanganui Biver Trust received a grant of £500 during the past financial year for the improvement and maintenance of the river. The Chairman, Mr. J. T. Stewart, supplies the following information: Stone walls acting as groins have been completed at Wakaruawaka, Upokopoetu, Buapirau, and Matahiwi, making a total length of 22 chains; and contracts have been entered into and liabilities incurred for a further length of chains of stone groins at Upokopoetu, Matahiwi, and Haumoana. The total cost of these groins is £445, including £25 royalty on stone to Natives. Cost of contingencies, including repairs to punts, advertising, snagging, removing eel-weirs, &c, amounts to £50; balance, £5. These groins have already effected a considerable improvement at the respective rapids, though, owing to their being only partially completed (except Buapirau), the full benefit which will be ultimately derived from them is not yet manifest. With the further grant of £200 recently obtained, the Trust proposes to clear the channel from fresh snags throughout, to erect groins at several places where it has been observed that shoaling is most likely to occur, and do other necessary works. Pohonuiatane Block. —A sum of £31 ss. has been expended on explorations and engineering surveys of two miles and a half of a road to give access to this block. After going all round the block I reported in favour of access by the Turakina Valley, but after starting the survey was instructed to wait till something definite was decided upon. This route will cost more than that known as " Harper's Track" on to Hale's Track, but unquestionably the Turakina route is the natural one ; besides, all the settlers in the block are or have been residents in Hunterville. nd&S.zTc Kapua block. —During the year a sum of £45 has been expended on an engineering survey of three miles and three-quarters of access road into this block. The route is from Hunterville, vid Watershed Boad and Murray's Track. The survey was completed in October, 1892, but the formation could not well be started till the fallen bush was burnt. This was done last February. lam now having the pegs renewed, and shall start co-operative contracts there during April. G. T. Murray.

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TAEANAKI. Boads East of Waitara (Junction Boad). —This road will lead direct from New Plymouth, through Inglewood, Tarata, and Purangi, on to the East Boad (Ongaruhe to Stratford), the distance of the junction of the two roads from the railway-line at Inglewood being about thirty-four miles. Of this distance, about nineteen miles of dray-road were open in March, 1892, since which a mile of dray-road and 3 miles 57 chains Bft. wide bridle-road, in five contracts, have been formed, the former by Milsom special settlers, and the latter by local settlers, the road being now open to Purangi, about miles from Inglewood. East of Purangi, about six miles and a half of the remaining 10i miles is in course of construction, as an Bft. wide bridle-road, by the members of the Milsom and Tanner Special Settlements, and the connection of this road with the East Eoad will probably be made this year. The members of the Milsom, Tanner, and Oxford Special Settlements will shortly be building upon and occupying the clearings which they have made upon their holdings ; and a bridge over the Waitara Eiver at Purangi will then be urgently needed, as the river is not fordable. One member of the Milsom Settlement has already been drowned near there when attempting to ford. The works on the road are under the charge of Mr. Flinders Hursthouse. Huiroa District (Motukawa Boad). —This will be one of the main roads leading into a large portion of Blocks VIL, VIII., and XII., Huiroa, and contracts for felling and clearing of over four miles of it are nearly completed. The engineering survey of 7 miles 27 chains of this and the Kawau Boad, connecting the Junction Boad, near Tarata, with the Makino Stream, has just been completed by Mr. Seeley, and the plans will shortly be prepared for the formation and bridging of the road. Mr. F. Hursthouse is in charge of contracts. Boads East of Waipuku (Wakoiri Road). —Two small bridges were erected, and some culverting, draining, formation, &c, have been done on about a mile and three quarters of road, expending the balance of a previous authority. The local body (Stratford County Council) is now about to complete the formation of the whole of the road from the East to the Makuri Boad, and gravel it with limestone shell-rock. Mr. Seeley had charge. Mangamingi —Within the block, which when sold was specially loaded for road-making, 10 miles 36 chains of engineering survey, including plans, &c, for a cart-road, have been made on the Anderson and Botokare Eoads, and five miles of road-felling and clearing on the Eotokare and Wingrove Eoads, and two miles and a quarter of bridle-road formation Bft. wide have been done— the former by ordinary contract, the latter, Eotokare Eoad, by co-operative contract. The formation of the Eotokare Eoad from Mangawhero Eoad on to the Anderson Eoad is being carried on by co-operative men'in small contracts, the work being let at ordinary contract rates, and, so far, has been finished in a very satisfactory manner, equal to the best contract work. The construction of the Anderson Boad within the Mangamingi Block will probably be carried on in a similar manner. Mr. Fuller is in charge of contracts. Pukearuhe Inland to Mangaroa (Mimi Road). —The only work which has been done on this road was to remove slips and dress up the six miles already formed, and to repair a bridge damaged by a heavy flood. A contract is now being let for the erection of a bridge over the Hoehanga Stream, and formation contracts will follow to the amount of the authority issued. This will probably complete the cart-road formation to beyond the junction of the Mimi and Uruti Boads, about seven miles from the Main North Boad. Rotokare Road. —Two miles of this road, from its junction with the Whareroa Eoad to about the Mangawhero Boad, have been let in two contracts for formation and bridging, the formation being an Bft.-wide bridle-road. In consequence of the extremely wet season, and the heavy damages caused by floods and slips, the contracts are still in hand, although the contract time has expired. Authority is required for a bridge over the Ararata Stream, at the junction of the Whareroa, Makino, and Botokare Boads, and for another bridge over the same stream on the Botokare Eoad, at about where the Mangawhero Eoad now joins it. When these bridges are erected, and the contracts in hand completed, the road will be available for traffic from Hawera to the Anderson Eoad, a distance of about eighteen miles. From the Mangawhero Boad on to the Mangamingi Block the road-formation has been made by co-operative labour, in small contracts. Whcnuakura Valley Road. —The formation of this as a bridle-road has been completed from the Kaharoa Boad to the Whenuakura Stream, 3 miles 47 chains, about 1 mile 70 chains, in addition to the maintenance of the whole, having been done this financial year. The work was of a very heavy description, a large portion being in papa and sandstone rock, and the progress of the work was much retarded by extensive slips from the ridges above, which had to be cleared away to keep the track open. Waitotara Valley Road. —The work on this road in the Taranaki District is a continuation of the bridle-road formation, commenced with co-operative labour in the Wellington District, at the point where the road from the Waitotara Township joins the Waitotara Biver, about twenty-two miles from the former. Four miles and a quarter of new work were completed in the Wellington District, bringing the roadworks up to the provincial boundary at the Kapara Block. The work in the Taranaki District has been continued into the Kapara Block by co-operative labour, about three miles and a quarter having been felled and cleared, of which three miles have been formed. The work is still in hand, and is being performed at rates which will compare favourably with ordinary contracts. A number of bridges will be required on the part already formed, which will be taken in hand by the party now engaged on similar work in the Wellington District. Tikorangi Bridge. —The erection of this bridge has been much delayed by several heavy floods which have occurred in the Waitara Biver, the contractor's pile-driving plant having been in one flood swept away, and a set of piles having in another been broken off and swept to sea before the contractor had time to brace or secure them, through a mass of drift logs collecting against them. The work will now be pushed on as rapidly as possible, and should be completed in about four months' time. Anderson Boad. —ln connection with the opening-up of the Mangamingi Block, the engineering survey of this road was made from the confiscation line near Eltham through the Ngaere Block, a distance of 5 miles 48 chains. Contracts are now in hand for the felling and clearing of four miles

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of it, which will form part of the scheme for the opening of the Mangamingi Block and the lands to the eastward. Miscellaneous. —Under this heading over eight miles of the Auroa, Stanley, Ngariki, Kahui, Barclay, and Waingongoro Boads have been felled and a cartway cleared, and the village sites of Punehu and Makaka have been felled, and arrangements have been made for the clearings being burned and grassed. Stratford to Mangaroa Section (East Boad). —The survey of this road from the north boundary of the Pohokura Block onwards towards Mangaroa was commenced in April, 1892, and the line has been located and surveyed to the junction of the Wangapapa Stream with the Tangarakau, and from here onwards to the Heao Valley, to which point the surveys from the north end had reached, the line has been thoroughly prospected and located. An endeavour was made to discover a practicable line of road to the eastward by way of the Pakaru Bange, so as to avoid taking the road through the Tangarakau Gorge, but the difficulties proved too great, and the line had to be abandoned. Over five miles of road were located and surveyed, and will be available as a connection with the lands in the Mangatatoku and Mangaone Valleys, and including this, about thirty-five miles of the survey were completed up to the date of the death of Mr. J. Morgan, who had charge of the party engaged on the work. The engineering survey of fifteen miles of the road commencing at the boundary of Huiakama and Mangaere Blocks has been completed by Mr. Sealey, and about six miles are now under construction by co-operative labour. In consequence of the extreme rainfall during the past season, and of the East Boad being frequently flooded and nearly impassable, difficulty has been experienced in getting plant to the ground for the profitable execution of the work, and the men have also suffered from the inability, at times, of the storekeepers to pack in the necessary food supplies. This latter difficulty may prevent any large number of men being employed in this particular work during the coming winter, as the storekeepers do not care to lay in a stock of the heavier goods to provide against bad roads. Were arrangements made for the storing, near the works, of a stock of the heavier goods, such as flour, sugar, &c, a large number of men could be profitably employed on the road through the whole of the coming winter. Of the works in progress on the East Eoad at the beginning of the financial year, four miles next to Stratford, three of which have been metalled with machine-broken stone, and 6 miles 70 chains from Douglas Eoad onwards, have been formed, culverted, and bridged as a dray-road in a satisfactory manner. The contractors, however, experience great difficulty in completing the work in consequence of the extremely unfavourable season, the wet weather lasting until the middle of March. Two contracts, to the amount of 4 miles 78 chains, are still in hand, about two miles of which is near Toko, and the remainder near Mangaere. These are expected to be completed in June next. Sidney Weetman, Chief Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. Waikohu. —£2,475 has been borrowed under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act to open up 33,000 acres in the Waikohu, Matawai, and Motu Blocks, and the work done to date out of the loan has been the clearing and forming of 13 miles 50 chains of a 6ft. bridle-track. Contracts for an additional twelve miles have been let, and the work started. The country throunh which the roads run is wooded and broken, and the road construction difficult and expensive. The outlay has been fully justified, for 1,600 acres have been selected with the cost of the roading added to the prairie value. Ormond-Opotiki. —Sixty-six miles of this bridle-road have been maintained. This road runs through mountainous country, and is consequently expensive to maintain. During last winter, owing to heavy rains, some very large slips occurred between the Motu Biver and Waiawa, and it was found necessary to employ extra men to remove them, traffic for the time being stopped. The bridge over the Motu Biver and several smaller ones were carried away by the floods. The small ones have been rebuilt, and tenders called for the Motu Bridge. 3 miles 60 chains of the bridleroad near the edge of the forest between Mangatawa and Bangiriri Streams have been widened into a<l4ft. dray-road. Napier-Wairoa. —The Wairoa County Council has taken in hand the forming of a horse-track along what is known as Turner's Line, starting at Tongoio, and Government has made a contribution of pound for pound on account of work done. Totara and Otawai Boads. —These votes were to assist the Kumeroa Eoad Board in opening up these two roads, which in both instances were rendered unserviceable at the further ends, excepting for horse-traffic, on account of portions very expensive to construct. Four bridges were needed, three of which have been completed, and £400 paid on account of them. Loans under Government Loans to Local Bodies Act have been obtained for the Liberal Smallfarm Association Block, £400, and £568 for the Nuhaka Block, and tenders called for the works. In addition to these, the following works are in hand : The continuation of the bridle-track in Waikohu Block, the maintenance of the Gisborne-Opotiki Boad ; and under management of local bodies, subject to departmental control and approval, Napier-Wairoa, Botokakaranga, TautaneWeber, Frasertown-Waikaremoana, and certain sums for Wairoa County roads. Thos. Humphries, Chief Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. REPORT BY MR. REANEY. Makairo Boad.— -Four miles and a half of this road that were formed by the " unemployed " in 1891 have been completed by day-labour. There were 488 lineal feet of earthenware pipe culverts put in, ranging in size from 9m. to 2ft. diameter, and the embankments made up over them, thus completing the gaps left in the formation. This is one of the heaviest roads in the district to maintain, and a considerable sum has been spent during the year in keeping it open for traffic, the slips

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having been heavy and numerous. From the end of the dray-road formation a mile and a half of horse-road have been formed, and two miles and a half of engineering surveys have been made. The expenditure for the year has been £645, £300 of which was for the extension of the horse-road, and the balance for the insertion of culverts, completion of dray-road formation, clearing slips, and general maintenance. This road taps a considerable area of good though rough country, which settlers are proceeding with energy to settle, and I would suggest that for the benefit of the Coonoor settlers, who have for some time past endured considerable hardships for the want of good access to their blocks, the horse-road formation should be continued over the Waewaepa Eange into their block, to connect with the Upper Makuri Boad now being made to the Mangatoro Township Eeserve. Paimerston-Pahiatua Boad. —The engineering survey of two miles of this road has been done, and small contracts prepared of them, as well as of two miles of surveys done by Mr. Frith last year. Five miles of bushfelling 66ft. wide, and clearing 33ft. wide, and four miles of horse-road formation 6ft. wide, on the permanent grades, with 458 ft. of culverts, varying in size from 9in. to 3ft. square, have been constructed. The expenditure for the year has been £1,523, of which £1,055 was for bushwork and formation with culverts by co-operative contracts, and the balance for formation, bridges and culverts by day-labour, and for surveys and maintenance. Two bridges, 200 ft. of culverts, and 20 chains of formation in scattered portions were done by day-work under the overseer. The completion of this work in the beginning of October last opened another means of communication between Pahiatua and Palmerston for horsemen and stock, as well as giving access to the special-settlement block on the Tararua Eange, and the blocks between it and the Mangahao Valley—in all, about 7,000 acres. Since its completion tho_ entire length of the horseroad connecting the dray-roads in the Mangahao and the Manawatu Valleys, a distance of about nine miles, has been maintained and kept open for traffic, and is now in good order for the coming winter. Mr. William Campbell was the overseer in charge of all work done on this as well as on the Makairo Boad, both by day and contract parties, and carried them out in a thoroughly efficient and satisfactory manner, and at times under trying circumstances. The Makuri Gorge Boad. —3B7ft. of culverts, 9in. by 12in. square in size, have been put in by contract for the sum of £67, in most cases the culverts having been let into the solid rock. Eighty chains of metalling, at an average cost of £2 17s. 6d. a chain, have been done, the material being obtained from sharp bluffs and narrow portions of the road, thereby improving it as much as possible, and the gaps in the metalling left by the co-operative men filled up. Four miles of the road have been kept open for horse-traffic during the winter months, and for dray-traffic during the summer. A day-party is now engaged in putting in two small bridges, and the county authorities are metalling that part of the road above the gorge, so that in about six weeks' time the road for its entire length will be metalled, bridged, and in good order. Owing to settlement in the blocks to the north of Makuri being very active, the traffic through the gorge is heavy, and, as the land on the eastern side of the Buketoi Bange is likely to be settled during the coming year, there is every probability of its increasing. The Upper Makuri Boad. —Small contracts have been prepared for three miles from Mr. Climie's plans. Engineering surveys and plans have been made for seven miles and. a half more, of which six miles have been prepared for small contracts, this work extending from Makuri to Mangatoro Township, on the Coonoor Block. Eight miles of bushfelling 66ft. wide, and clearing 33ft. wide, seven miles and a quarter of dray-road formation 14ft. wide in through cuttings, 16ft. in side-cuttings, and 18ft. on banks, with 2,822 ft. of culverts varying in size from 9in. square to 6ft. by 4ft., and 31 chains of metalling over bogs, have been done, as well as the maintenance of the finished portion of the road for a considerable time, and the removal of heavy slips. The expenditure for the year includes surveys, supervision, and maintenance. A strong party of men have been kept on this road during the whole year, ranging in numbers from thirty to sixty—generally about forty —and the work has been pushed on as quickly as possible with other and urgent work in hand, with a view of giving road access as soon as possible to the Coonoor settlers, who, however, appear not to appreciate this attention as much as one would imagine, thinking, evidently, the Makairo route would be of more benefit to them. As already reported, the cost of this road has been considerably increased by the settlers felling quantities of bush on and into the road reserve ; and I would suggest that in future the department should notify all whom it may concern what roads it intends forming during the next twelve months, when steps may be taken to prevent the recurrence of this expensive practice. The Towai Boad, which is an extension of the Upper Makuri Boad through the Coonoor Block, has been engineered for two miles and a half of its length, being as far as it is at present intended to construct the dray-road. The Makuri-Aohanga Boad is at present a horse-road five miles in length, extending from Makuri Township to the saddle on the Puketoi Bange. One mile and a half of it has been constructed during the year from plans prepared by Mr. J. D. Climie, and the rest maintained. It is proposed at present to form another mile, the men being now at work on it. Considering the settlement that is likely to take place on the eastern side of the Puketoi during the coming year, I think this road should be continued until it connects with the roads now being formed on that side. Makuri Township Boads. —Engineering surveys and plans have been made, and contracts have been let for the formation. I propose to increase the number of men on this work as soon as I can lessen the number of day-men now occupying the attention of the overseer. The whole of the works at and about Makuri have been under the supervision of Mr. W. Bryden, overseer, of whose patience, integrity, and application I cannot speak too highly, the work in that district having been especially trying through the winter of 1892. The weather experienced in this district during the year has been exceptionally trying to all connected with roadworks, a very wet winter, which greatly increased the hardships of the men, as well as the cost of the work, being followed by an exceptionally wet summer, in which we have with difficulty succeeded in doing such work as metalling and clearing slips, which can as a rule be better done at that season; and on all works the cost of clearing away slips, &c, has been very heavy. Bobert H. Beaney, Boad Surveyor.

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REPORT BY CAPTAIN TURNER. Puketoi. — Alfredton-Weber Dray-road. —The Tiraumea Section of this road, commencing at the Waitawhiti Stream, a distance of 4 miles 43 chains, has been formed by ordinary contract works, and beyond this 6 miles 71 chains has been constructed (with the exception of a bridge over Deep Creek and some culverts which are rapidly being placed in position) by co-operative contracts, making a total length of road of 11 miles 35 chains, of which 4 miles 32 chains is through dense forest-country. Beyond this, again, several contracts are in progress on the co-operative system. The engineering surveys of the following sections have been executed and received in this office : Tiraumea Bun Boad, 3 miles 17 chains, surveyed by Mr. John King. Mount Cerberus Section, six miles, surveyed by Mr. T. W. Hughes. Mangatiti to Pongaroa Section, four miles, and Pongaroa to Makukupara Sections, two miles, both surveyed by Mr. E. P. Greville. Makukupara Section, six miles, surveyed by Mr. A. J. Mountfort. This latter section completes the survey up to the Akitio Eiver. The following other engineering surveys for horse-roads have been made by Mr. T. W. Hughes : Puketoi Section, 1 mile 45 chains ; Kakaunui, 2 miles 4 chains; Kawaro, 1 mile 50 chains. Utewai Road. —This road is a branch from the above-named road (Alfredton-Weber Eoad), and is to be formed for four miles and a quarter, of which two miles are to be made for dray-trafiic, and two miles and a quarter as a horse-road. The construction of this road is being carried on by co-operative contracts, and during the year 77 chains of dray-road have been formed, and the remaining portion is under construction. Mount Baker Boads. —During the year Mr. John King has made engineering surveys of the following roads : Mangamahoe dray-road, 3 miles 30 chains ; Baker horse-road, 5 miles 30 chains; Mangaoranga horse-road, 4 miles 15 chains; Maungatakato horse-road, 2 miles 12 chains; Barton horse-road, 2 miles 36 chains. Mangamahoe Boad. —The construction of 1 mile 6 chains has been let in co-operative contracts, of which 52 chains have been completed. The construction of the other roads in this block are to be proceeded with at once. Pohangina-Oroua-Goal Greek Roads—London Horse-road. —2 miles 57 chains of this road have been constructed during the year by ordinary contracting, the whole of the road being through forest-country. Oroua-Coal Creek Section. —This was surveyed by Mr. J. M. Morice, and is 5 miles 31 chains in length, the whole of which is through forest-country. The work is being carried out by contracts on the co-operative system, and during the year 4 miles 69 chains were completed, the remainder being in progress. Otamakapua Block — Pukerimu Horse-road. —l mile 48 chains have been formed by ordinary contract during the year, from the northern boundary of the small-farm block. Waitotara-Omahine Boads — Mangawhio Horse-road. —This extends from Mangawhio Lake to the Waitotara Biver, a distance of 6 miles 15 chains. This road was reported last year as being under construction, and has been completed during the year. The extension of the road to the Taranaki boundary, a distance of 4 miles 15 chains, has been completed, with the exception of some of the bridges. In this section twelve bridges are to be erected, but out of this number a truss-bridge of 40ft. and a plain one of 22ft. have been erected; and, in addition, three others of 22ft. each are finished, excepting the decking. A large quantity of timber has been prepared for the erection of the large bridge at the Mangaone Stream. These structures are being erected by co-operative labour. This latter section was taken over by the Head Office about October last, with the exception of the bridges, which are still under my supervision. Te Kapua Boads — Murray's Track Horse-road. —An engineering survey has been made by Mr. H. Maitland and Mr. B. B. Bristed, of 7 miles 6 chains in length, the working-plans of which have been sent to the Head Office. Makuri-Aohanga Boad. —The following engineering surveys have been made by Mr. J. D. Climie : Makuri-Aohanga horse-road, two miles; Upper Mangatiki horse-road, two miles. Plans of the latter have been handed over to the Head Office. Upper Makuri Valley Boad. —An engineering survey of two miles has been made by Mr. J. D. Climie, the plans of which have been handed in to the Head Office. Waikanac-Hutt Boad. —This dray-road, for a distance of 2 miles 49 chains, has been constructed during the year by ordinary contract, two miles and a quarter of which is through dense forest. This road was constructed for the purpose of opening up the Wellington Fruitgrowing Association Settlement. Kakariki Block. —6 miles 46 chains of engineering surveys have been made by Mr. C. C. Otway, for dray-roads running through this block. These roads will shortly be under construction. Waiwera Block. —Engineering surveys for 9 miles 49 chains of horse-roads through this block are being carried on by Mr. M. C. Smith, the plans of which will shortly be completed. The roads in this block will shortly be under construction. Stirling Block. —Engineering surveys have been made for 5 miles 77 chains of dray-roads running through this block, and these roads will be under construction at an early date. 'Wanganui United — Bangataua Dray-road. —An engineering survey of three miles and a quarter has been made by Mr. H. J. Lewis. Kimbollon Boad to Feilding Special Settlement. —4 miles 15 chains of road are being metalled from Kimbolton Eoad to the Oroua Eiver by the Kiwitea Eoad Board, a grant of £480 having been authorised by the Government, this amount being half the estimated cost of the work. Kimbollon Boad. —During the year two miles and a quarter of road have been metalled by the Kiwitea Eoad Board, a grant of £500 having been given by the Government for this purpose.

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Boads through Pahiatua Village Settlement. —£7s has been granted to the Pahiatua County Council for the above, but the money has not yet been applied for. Pukemiku or Grosbie's Boad. —The Pahiatua County Council has been granted £75 for this road, but the amount has not been applied for as yet. Boad in Hastioell Village Settlement. —About 50 chains of road have been formed by the Mauriceville Eoad Board, a grant of £40 2s. having been given for this purpose. Hale's Track to Murimotu. —About five miles and a half of this horse-road have been formed by the Upper Wangaehu Boad Board, and an additional 73 chains are under construction, the Government having granted £600 for this work. In addition to the above, 2 miles 9 chains have been formed out of the " thirds " and " fourths," at a cost of £299 17s. 2d. Mangamahu Valley Horse-road. —Forty chains of this road have been made out of the " thirds " and " fourths," at a cost of £68 12s. 4d. Gross-road between Hale's and the Turakina Biver to the Pohonuiotana. —A sum of £500 has been granted to the Upper Wangaehu Boad Board ; but this work has not yet been started. Makakahi Bridge. —£loo was granted to the Eketahuna Boad Board to assist in erecting this bridge of 54ft. span. The work is nearly completed. Bridge over the Tiraumea Biver. —The span of this bridge is about 119 ft. long, and a sum of £1,000 has been granted to the Alfredton Boad Board for the purpose of erecting this structure, which is being proceeded with. Mangaone Bridge. —A sum of £250 has been granted to the Alfredton Boad Board for the erection of this bridge, which work is now in progress. I may mention that in coming into a new district, which I was somewhat unacquainted with, I have been very ably assisted by Mr. Ibbetson in the carrying-out of the works under my supervision, and he has afforded me every possible help and information. A. C. Turner, Boad Surveyor.

MABLBOEOUGH. Kaituna-Tuamarina. —Contracts for metalling this road have been let by the Pelorus and Picton Eoad Boards. 1 mile 45 chains in the Pelorus Boad District have been metalled 9ft. wide and Sin. deep, with two box-drains. The work, which cost £200, was completed and passed in April of this year. Contracts have been let by the Picton Eoad Board for metalling the portion of the road in their district 2 miles 62J- chains, 9ft. wide and 6in. deep, eight culverts, and removing a landslip, but no payments were made during the year. The Board has been authorised to expend £200 on this work. Pelorus District and Bai Valley. —This consists of forming 16 chains of main road in Pelorus Valley 1 chain wide, making box-drains, metalling 63 chains of road 10ft. wide and 6in. thick, filling in holes, and metalling in sundry places; also general repairs to the road through the Bai Valley from the Pelorus Bridge to the Brown Saddle (about seven miles), clearing watertables, filling in holes, metalling in places, clearing out ditches, repairing culverts, &c. The Pelorus Eoad Board was authorised to expend £200 on these works. The stock-driving track from Tennyson Inlet to the Eai Valley, which was commenced last year, was made by day-labour, under Overseer Huddleston, and completed during the year. The work consisted of 207 chains of bridle-track formed 4ft. wide, and bush felled half a chain wide, at a cost of £128 19s. Id., of which £63 13s. 4d. was paid last year. Spring Creek Wharf. —£50 was granted to the Spring Creek Eiver Board for an extension of and repairs to the present wharf in the Wairau Biver near the railway-bridge. A contract was let by the Board on approved plans and specifications, and the work has been completed during the year. Kaikoura Boad. —This work consisted of the formation of part of the main south road from Blenheim to Kaikoura, and the work was done under the supervision of Mr. N. Marchant, under the co-operative system, and he has furnished a separate report thereon. Pelorus-Queen Charlotte Sound. —The formation and improvement of a stock-driving track from Torea to Waitaria was commenced in March last, the work being done by day-labour, under the charge of a working overseer. Nydia Bay to Havelock.— This is a stock-driving track from opposite Havelock to Nydia Bay, along the western shores of Pelorus Sound. The work consists of improving the beaches, and cutting a 4ft. track over the headlands. It is about twenty-one miles in length, and, besides rendering about 8,500 acres of Crown lands better accessible, will be a great boon to all small-grazing-run, deferred-payment, perpetual-lease, and other settlers along this coast. Henry G. Clark, Chief Surveyor.

REPORT BY MR. N. MARCHANT. Kaikoura-Clarence Boad (Contract No. 1). —This section of the above road commences at a point 2 chains 42 links from the southern end of the Clarence Eiver bridge, and, going south, extends to a point about 114 chains 79 links therefrom. Throughout its length this road has been constructed through the Government reserve. Of this road, the first 4 chains is executed in embankment, from thence for a distance of 19 chains sidling cutting, thence through arable land 33 chains of surface-formation, and about 3 chains of embankment. At the end of the surface; formation the road is carried on in through cutting to the left bank of Sandy Creek, from the commencement. To this point the road is formed through clay ground. On the south side of the creek, sand crops up, and, with the exception of about 7 chains of through and sidling cuttings, commencing about 4 chains from the bridge, and the last 7 chains of the contract, principally

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through cutting in mixed sandy soil with light bush, the road is sidling cutting, along a drift sandformation, covered chiefly with tussock and fern. Sandy Creek is crossed by a 25ft.-span trestle-bridge, having a width of 16ft. between handrails. This bridge, with eight box-culverts, one 24in. by 24in. and seven of 12in. by 12in., constitute the principal works, other than that of earthwork generally, claying sand-formation, and metalling. The several widths of the roadway are as follows: At surface of formation—embankments 18ft., sidling cuttings 16ft., and through cuttings 14ft. wide. The formations in sand were clayed the full width throughout with a thickness of 6in. prior to being metalled. Eoad-metal 6in. deep was laid of full width through the cuttings, in all other cases 12ft. wide, throughout the whole extent of this contract. At the first visit of inspection, made during September last, it was noticed that the drift-sand along the proposed sidling would not allow of a permanent road, and it was recommended that the surface be clayed. It was suggested also at the same time that the Sandy Creek bridge deck-level, if raised 7ft., would materially improve the gradients at the bridge-approaches. These alterations were approved of and carried into effect. With respect to the last—viz., raising the bridge-level— the contractors executed this free of additional cost, the alteration materially lessening the amount of excavation in the cutting contiguous to the bridge. As originally designed the plans of the bridge showed the piers to be constructed of driven piles. This method could not be given effect to by reason of a substratum of heavy boulders densely packed immediately below the creek-bed, and the ordinary trestle construction was therefore adopted in lieu of it. Bleuheim-Kekerangu Boad (Section formed and metalled by "Unemployed " labour). —This section of the above road commences at the small creek-bridge on the south side of what is locally known as Lagoon Flats, on Flaxbourne Bun, and from thence to a point 70 chains south to the Limestone Cliffs, which terminate near Shaw's waterfall. With the exception of about 8 chains of embankment constructed through waterholes, the road is carried through and over dunes of fine drift-sand, the principal one of which, known as the Wierawa, at a very exposed point (the oceanbeach being immediately at its foot), was before these works were executed at times dangerous or impassable. The permanent works executed are 70 chains of formation, consisting of embankment, sidling, and through cuts, 16ft. and 14ft. wide at level of formation ; 28 chains of mattrass, made of flaxbound manuka, laid on the sand-formation at all gradients, and over Wierawa Point; 70 chains of claying the full widths of the several formations, Bin. deep; maintenance of the road as each part was completed for the general traffic; and removal of sand-dunes to facilitate drainage. Metalling has been completed to an extent of 40 chains, the stone used being taken from the creek at Lagoon Flats and pits at the same place; remaining uncompleted, but in progress, are about 30 chains of metalling. For this a quarry has been opened at the Limestone Cliffs before referred to, and it is anticipated that the works will be fully completed before the middle of the current month. Unsettled weather made the maintenance of the clayed formation at times difficult, the road having to be kept open for public traffic. This was considerable during the months of December and January. The works were commenced on the 28th day of November by eleven men (" unemployed ") from Blenheim. Their dislike to the work commenced at the start, and this, together with disagreements amongst themselves in camp, caused the majority to leave before the close of December. This caused a delay, which was ended by the arrival of nine men (" unemployed ") from the Wellington Labour Bureau, and they commenced work on the 10th January. These men, with one exception only, are at present on the works, and all are steady workers. About 30 chains of metalling remain uncompleted, for which stone is being quarried, and it is expected that these works will soon be finished.Nicholas Marchant.

NELSON. Main Eoads.—Maintenance. Nelson, Tophouse, and Tarndale. —The Waimea County Council has expended the sum of £60 lis., of which £12 was granted by the Government, and the balance contributed from the county funds. On the 7th February, 1893, a further sum of £138 was granted, and further works have been put in hand in order to put the road in general repair. Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, &c. —The Waimea County Council has expended £155 7s. 6d. upon the maintenance of their section of this road, and owing to the exceptionally wet season the w T ork has been rather heavier than usual. The amount allocated to the Council by Government was £250, for expenditure of which authority was given in December last. The Inangahua County Council received from Government a grant of £500 in December last, which sum has been devoted to general repairs to the road from Little Grey Junction to Dee Biver (Nelson Eoad), length 45 miles, and to White Cliffs (Westport Eoad) ; also on road from Eight-mile Creek, Lyell, to the Hope Junction (Nelson Boad), length 40 miles. The Buller County Council received a Government grant of £500, and this has been laid out in the maintenance of the road from Nine-mile Ferry to Eight-mile Creek, Lyell. Nelson-Havelock (Government Grant, £200). —The Waimea County Council's expenditure on this road has been £211 os. 3d. up to the 31st March, 1893. The watertables from Wangamoa Saddle to the Eai Saddle have been cleared, and the road made up in portions encroached upon by the Eiver Wangamoa. Miscellaneous Eoads.—Construction. Port to Stoke, vid Coast (Government Grant, £1,000). —The construction of this road is being carried out under the supervision of the Nelson City Engineer, the cost being divided between the Borough Councils of Nelson and Eichmond respectively and the Waimea County Council, assisted by the Government, the latter contributing £1,000, and also providing prison labour for the works. B—C. 1.

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Mokihinui-Karamea (Government Grant, £300). —This sum was granted to the Buller County Council to be expended upon construction of this road, but, as the authority was only given in February last, nothing has been done beyond running a trial line for the road. Hanmer District (Government Grant, £850). —The works in this locality have been carried out under the co-operative system. Biwaka Valley Bridle-track (Government Grant, £60). —There has been nothing done upon this track during the year. Matakitaki Boad (Horse-track; Government Grant, £500). —Nothing done in connection with this. Boads to open up Lands before Sale. Ngatimoti Bridge (Government Grant, £430). —The Waimea County Council has control of this work, but, as the sum granted is insufficient for the erection of the bridge, the settlers interested in the work have signified to the Council their willingness to be specially rated, in order to raise a loan for the amount necessary, and so soon as the negotiations are complete the work will be proceeded with. Wairoa Gorge Boad (Government Grant, £350). —A substantial cart-bridge has been erected over the Pig Valley Stream at a cost of £117 65., this being the only work done during the past year. It is proposed to ask for a further grant, in order to continue this road for a short distance above the bridge, as by doing so a considerable area of Crown lands would be opened up. Dovedale (Government Grant, £100). —This grant was expended in forming 29 chains of cartroad through bush-country. Mangles-Matakitaki Boad (Government Grant, £400). —This work was intrusted to the Inangahua County Council, and was only let in December last. It has been carried out, under the supervision of the County Engineer, in a very satisfactory manner. The total distance is 1 mile 64 chains, divided into two contracts, and let at the following prices : No. 1, £199, and No. 2, £132. The bush-clearing, 66ft. wide; formation, 13ft.; and the metalling, 9ft. wide. The Engineer reports that in all probability the works will be completed during April next. To purchase Boads to Grown Lands (Government Grant, £120). —Out of this grant £10 was paid to Mr. T. Bate as compensation for a road taken through his land, Section No. 59, Square VIIL, Takaka District. Pigeon Valley-Dovedale (Government Grant, £200). —This road has been extended 29 chains through the most difficult part of the country, at a cost of £114 10s., the work being carried out under the County Eoad Inspector. A further sum of £200 was granted to the Waimea County Council in February, 1893, but the works are delayed for a time pending the settlement of a claim for compensation made by the owner of one of the sections through which the road passes. A further sum of about £250 will be needed to complete the road through from Wakefield to Dovedale, but when finished it will be a great boon to the settlers for miles around. Miscellaneous and Engineering (Government Grant, £630). Under this item the following amounts have been granted : — Brooklyn Boad (Government Grant, £150). —This sum was granted in answer to a petition from the settlers in the locality, but the works have not yet been commenced. The Eiwaka Eoad Board will take early steps towards carrying out the necessary work. Little Sydney Boad (Government Grant, £150). —The Eiwaka Eoad Board have caused specifications to be prepared for this work, which will be let in five small contracts, of an average length of a quarter of a mile. The formation will be sft. wide, over rough, hilly country, lying between Brooklyn and the Upper Biwaka Valley. This track will be the means of access to a considerable area of land. Eoad works. Mokihinui Village Settlement. —The settlers at Mokihinui were provided with work upon the clearing and construction of roads to the settlement in January last. These have been carried out under the co-operative system. John S. Browning, Chief Surveyor.

WESTLAND. Hokitika-Christchurch Boad. —The length of above road maintained by Government through this district is thirty-nine miles, and extends from the junction of Loopline Eoad with the old HokitikaChristchurch Eoad, thence by the latter to Harris's Junction, and on to Arthur's Pass, and includes the famous Otira Gorge. Owing to the commencement of the Midland Eailway works at Jackson's, the traffic between Kumara and that place has been exceptionally heavy during the past season, and an increased expenditure had to be incurred in remetalling long stretches of road, and in patching and repairing the same throughout where necessary; also in strengthening several of the small bridges, seven of which were also redecked with Bin. by 4in. planking, and fitted with new handrailings. Several floods occurred during the year, each doing considerable damage to the road at different points. In the first one the Wainihinihi Eiver overflowed its banks, and threatened to form a new channel across the road some distance to eastward of present ford. In order to prevent this, and to confine the river to its old course, an embankment had to be constructed some little way up the river, and it has so far proved quite sufficient, having also stood the test of the flood of the 14th and 15th October last (the largest known for many years), and which did so much damage to other parts of the road, completely destroying over 12 chains of the old cribwork and 10 chains more of scrub and stone facing on the bank of the Otira Eiver, besides scouring out and,

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for the time being, destroying nearly all our fords. These have been repaired, or fresh ones fdrmed, and the cribbing, &c, renewed with heavier timbers, secured with iron spikes, instead of trenails as formerly. A number of old culverts have been lifted and new ones put in, and in several places open crossings have been replaced with culverts. In the early part of the year the outer stringer on the south side of the upper bridge in the Otira Gorge broke, and was repaired, and again, in the end of March, the corresponding stringer, on the opposite side of the same bridge, and almost in the same position, also broke, and is now in course of being repaired. A new upper chord will also be put in to replace the one on south side, which is very much decayed. The lower bridge has also been overhauled and screwed up, and is in better condition than the other. Both bridges are single spans, of 120 ft. each, and, being situated at the bottom of considerable inclines, and at a very sharp turn in road, are often subjected to very severe strains through the coach- and wagon-teams coming on them suddenly at a trot, and with heavy loads on. Printed notices were put up at each end of these bridges, warning persons, riding or driving, to cross at a walking-pace ; but, notwithstanding this, and the risk they run, the coaches, unless watched, continue to come on at a run, and it will probably be necessary to prosecute the proprietors before a stop is put to this foolish and reckless practice. Cook's Biver Southward Boad. — One contract of 102 chains in length has been cleared, formed, and gravelled during the year. Pug was struck in several places, and a most unexpected quantity of water was also met with in the terrace, necessitating the construction of a number of additional level crossings, and a short deviation; these were effected at schedule rates. The expenditure for the year also includes twelve miles of engineering surveys. Hunt's Beach to Makaiviho. —-A bridle-road, length about two miles. A survey has been made and plans prepared for construction of about 20 chains of new road from the beach up the south-west bank of Manakaiau Eiver to the present ford, but no work has actually been put in hand. Makaiviho to Mahitahi. —A bridle-road. No actual work has been done on this road during the year ; although tenders were called for a portion, none were accepted. The cost of preparation of plans, specifications, advertising, &c, has, however, been charged against the vote. Jacob's Biver to Bruce Bay. —An engineering and traverse survey has been made of this road. Plans and specifications for the necessary works have also been prepared, but no authority yet given to invite tenders. Haast Pass Boad. —A bridle one, and forty-eight miles long, forming the only stock and travelling route now available between the southern portions of Westland and the districts on the eastern side of the main range. Beyond removing slips, a few trifling repairs, and some scrubcutting, no work has been done on the road during the year, as funds were not available for new works. A survey has, however, been made, and plans prepared for rock-cutting round the Clarke Bluff, which is in the meantime the principal barrier to free traffic. Jackson's Bay to Cascade Biver: —Plans and specifications for construction of two miles of this road have been prepared, beginning at the end of present formation, near Arawata Settlement, and extending in a south-easterly direction towards the Cascade Eiver. Cascade Biver to Barn Bay. —On this route seven miles of bush-falling and clearing have bean done, five miles of it made passable for a horse, and 39 chains of it gravelled in the worst places, the work being done in seven small contracts, on the co-operative principle, the men making from 10s. to lis. per day, working hard. In this part of district 10s. is the standard wage. Nelson, Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika Boad. —Towards maintenance of this road a subsidy of £450 was granted to the Grey County Council for portion through their county, and a progress-payment of £200 has been passed by me. For maintenance of their portion of same road the Westland Council were granted £500, but they have never asked for any advance ; consequently the vote remains untouched. Kumara to Lake Brunner Boad. —On this road a subsidy of £350 was granted to the Grey County Council towards cost of erecting a bridge over the Three-mile Creek, to replace the present structure, which is in a sad state; in fact, I have never seen a worse case where a bridge was still in use. A contract for a new one was prepared, approved of by me, and let for the sum of £880 155., and the work, which also includes the cutting of heavy approaches through sandstone, is progressing favourably, and one progress-payment of £250 has been passed. At Westbrook a grant of £300 was made to Grey County Council in aid of certain works for protection of road from damage by floods, and replacing of a portion already washed away. One groin and stone facing to bank of river is now in progress; another groin has been let, but is not yet begun ; the value of contracts let to date amount to £180 17s. 4d. The work is being done by contracts, on the co-operative principle, and progressing satisfactorily. No payments to account have yet been passed. Paroa to Teremakau Boad. —A dray-road; length, 3 miles 58 chains. Contracts have been prepared, approved of, and let for formation and clearing of 2 miles 48 chains, and the work has now been completed, at a total cost of £307. Another small co-operative contract is now in progress, and getting on satisfactorily, but, as yet, no progress-payment has been made. The work comprises clearing, formation, culverts, and some stone facing for protection of the river-bank between railwaybridge and ford in Saltwater ; contract price, £139 10s.

PROPOSED ROADWORKS FOR 1893-94. Hokitika-Christchurch Boad. —lt is proposed during the coming season, in addition to the ordinary maintenance works, to put on a number of the "unemployed" in constructing sundry deviations at different points along the present road, in order to avoid future slips and encroachments by the Teremakau Eiver ; and also at a few places where the grades are not so steep as to prove a serious inconvenience to heavy traffic. In all, there are seven of these deviations, varying in length from Bto 168 chains, and aggregating about 305 chains. In the Otira Gorge proper it is proposed to commence cutting the road out of the solid rock along the face of the cliff between the two bridges,

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keeping along the east bank of the Otira Stream, and without crossing as at present, the object in view being to avoid having to rebuild new bridges of a much heavier and more expensive class than the present ones, which have been up now nineteen years, and will not stand, even with the sundry repairs now and again made to them, more than three or four years with the present traffic ; and should the Midland Eailway works be put in hand through the gorge, they will be quite unequal to the traffic, for although nice bridges, and of excellent design and construction, they are too light for heavy traffic; they are each a single span of 120 ft. The cost of the rockwork will, I have no doubt, be considerably more in the first instance than renewing the bridges, although, taking into consideration the fact that temporary ones would have to be erected to carry the traffic while the new ones were being built (which would have to be on exactly the same sites as now occupied), the difference might be very small; or possibly even on the other side; communication could not be stopped, and there is no other way to pass. I propose spreading the completion of rockwork over two or three years, and the work once done would be everlasting. Paroa-Teremakau Boad. —The completion of culverts, formation, and gravelling of this road will proceed as funds are available. Kumara to Lake Brunner Boad. —The groins and protective works now in progress near Westbrook, and also the bridge over the Three-mile Creek, with its approaches, will be continued and completed. Plans and specifications are approved. Cook's River Southward Road. — To complete formation and metalling as far as Havelock Creek. Plans and specifications ready. Hunt's Beach to Makaiviho. —To form and gravel new road up south-west side of Manakaiau Eiver, from beach to present ford ; also to re-form and metal portion of present road from thence to ford in Makawiho Eiver. This is a very urgent and important work, as the road is now in a dangerous state, and every rider and packer going to or coming from the south has to pass over it. Plans and specifications for new work are ready. Makawiho to Mahitahi. —To raise, re-form, and metal one mile, from Makawiho ford to where the new road from Jacob's Eiver to Bruce Bay begins; also an important work. Jacob's Biver to Bruce Bay. —To clear, construct, and metal this very important and muchwanted road from end of above mile to beach near Bruce Bay schoolhouse. Plans and specifications ready. Haast Pass Boad. —General maintenance, clearing scrub, &c, and, should funds permit, to commence benching out a horse-track round the rock at Clarke Bluff. Plans made. Jackson's Bay to Cascade and Gorge Biver Districts. —Should funds be available, it is proposed to construct two miles of road, beginning at end of present formation, near Arawata Settlement, and going in the direction of Cascade Eiver. Any money remaining, to be used in completing the felling and clearing of the one mile and a quarter of road untouched near Barn Bay last year, and towards formation of track between the five-mile peg (end of present formation) and the Barn Bay Beach, at Bm. 25ch. Plans and specifications ready. John Strauchon, Chief Surveyor.

CANTEEBUEY. Summit Boad. —All the contracts for this work were let under pound-for-pound subsidy from Government to the amount of £300, and are now completed at a cost of £552 Bs. 6d., leaving a balance of £47 lis. 6d., which amount the county propose to expend in improving some of the steep gradients at the old Pigeon Bay saddle, near Section 16982. Waikerakikari Boad. —This road is of a similar character to the before-mentioned one, and is being carried out by the Akaroa and Wainui Eoad Board under a pound-for-pound subsidy from Government to the amount of £200. The whole length—273 chains—was let in five contracts, three of which were completed on the 20th September last, at a cost of £204 2s. The other two, which are estimated to absorb the balance of subsidy, are still in progress. Gough's Bay Boad. —This work is also being carried out by the Akaroa and Wainui Eoad Board under pound-for-pound subsidy to the amount of £300 from Government. The whole length —191 chains —was let in two contracts, the first 120 chains in length, and I expect daily to receive a report advising its completion. Le Bons Bay Boad. —The plans and specification for improving this road under Government grant of £375, made the Bth February, supplemented with a further sum of £125 by the Le Bons Bay Eoad Board, have not yet been submitted to me for approval. lam therefore unable to report any progress with the work. Alford Forest Village Settlement Boad. —This work comprised 81 chains forming, shingling, and draining of roads within the settlement, and was carried out by the villagers under the supervision of the Mount Somers Eoad Board by a grant from Government of £50, supplemented by a further sum of £16 by the said Board. After inspection of the works by the Banger, if reported satisfactory, I will certify for the amount due. Adair Village Settlement. —This work comprised 86 chains formation, of an average width of 21ft., 69 chains of shingling, 24 yards rock-cutting, seven culverts, and a ford over Pig-hunting Creek, and was carried out by the Levels Eoad Board under a Government grant of £120, supplemented by a further sum of £30 by the said Board. I inspected the works, and found them carried out in a satisfactory manner. Water-supply to ihe Boscdale and Chertsey Village Settlements. —These works comprised about 120 chains of race-cutting, to give a water-supply to the above settlements, and were carried out under the supervision of the Ashburton County Engineer in a satisfactory manner, at a total cost of £41, which was granted by Government in two votes of £18 and £23 respectively.

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Hurunui Gorge Village Settlement Boad. —This work is at present in abeyance, owing to the amount available being insufficient—viz., £25 Government grant, which was transferred by your authority, and at the general request of the settlers, from the road on west side of settlement. The Waipara Eoad Board offered to subsidise the work to the amount of £10, conditionally on it being submitted to public tender. This I could not see my way to accept, as the villagers were desirous of carrying out the work among themselves on the co-operative-contract system. With the view of completing this needful road during the year, I have made application for a vote of £60, which is the estimated cost to cover survey, supervision, and labour. Christchurch-Hokitika Boad. —The road has been well maintained, no serious damage having occurred, except at a point known as Parapet Bock, about three miles and a quarter from Castle Hill, where the retaining-wall gave way, and cost £33 6s. to repair. The bridge at the Bealey was thoroughly overhauled, repaired, and painted under the supervision of Mr. Strauchon, at a cost of £169 18s. 6d. The traction-engines which are constantly travelling over this road do great harm, ploughing and tearing up the road, and, unless some steps are taken to prevent their running, they will continue to be a serious drag on the year's expenditure. The roadman's hut at Porter's Pass had to be rebuilt, at a cost of £64 55., owing to the dilapidated and unsafe condition of the old one. The hut at Castle Hill was accidentally burnt down, and will be shortly replaced at an estimated cost of £25, as a portion of the timber is procurable in the vicinity. J. W. A. Marchant, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Taieri Bridge to Otokiu Boad. —This work was carried out by the county. For further particulars see attached schedule. The Waitati Boad was metalled and improved for a distance of 44J chains, with ditches cut where they were required. This work was let in two contracts, and was satisfactorily carried out. Tomahawk Boad. —This work was carried out by the Tomahawk Eoad Board, for particulars of which see attached schedule. Henley Biver Protective-works. —This work was carried out by the Taieri County, for particulars of which see attached schedule. Maniototo District Boads. —This work was carried on by the Maniototo County, for particulars of which see attached schedule. Gimmerbum District Boads. —This work was carried on by the Maniototo County, for particulars of which see attached schedule. Bankleburn and Tuapcka West District Boads. —This work was carried on by the Tuapeka County, for particulars of which see attached schedule. Catlin's and Tautuku District Boads. —This is the road up the Tahaukupu Valley. During the financial year two culvert contracts were let on this road, extending from its junction with the main road for five miles up the valley. These were duly completed, and four parties of settlers are now at work on the first mile, reducing the grades and improving the road. There have been no roadworks carried on in the Catlin's District this year. Waikawa-Catlin s Boad. —All the contracts that were in course of completion at the end of the last financial year have now been completed. With the exception of surfacing contracts, no new works have been undertaken. The construction of the road across the swamp on this road will be proceeded with as soon as possible. Boads, Woodlands District. —The following roads have been made in the Woodlands District during the financial year:— Purakauiti to McLennan Biver (total distance, 5 miles 74 chains): This road branches off the main road about 30 chains north of Purakauiti Bridge, Main Waikawa Eoad, and extends to the McLennan Eiver, a total distance of 5 miles 74 chains. When first started, last July, the bush-felling and formation widths were the same as for the main road— viz., 66ft. bush-felling and 15ft. roadway. Subsequently this was reduced to 40ft. bushfelling and 10ft. roadway. This road is not entirely completed, about 35 chains of swamp, one bridgeplatform, one 3ft. culvert, and approximately 200 cubic yards of rock require to be removed to leave the road fit for traffic. Contracts for the bridge-platform, culvert, and swamp have been let; and I propose, as the men are being slacked off at present, to utilise the services of the gangers to remove the rock. Rater's Saddle Boad (from its junction with the Purakauiti Eoad to its junction with the Catlin's Eiver Eoad; total distance, 5 miles 46-73 chains): This road starts from 4 miles 55 chains, Purakauiti Boad, and joins the Catlin's Eiver Eoad about two miles and a half up from the Catlin's Bridge. The bush was felled to a width of 40ft., and logged up 30ft., the formation being 10ft. All the works are not yet completed, four contracts being still in progress, but I anticipate the whole of the work let being done in the course of a few weeks. On completion of these contracts the only work requiring to be done to render the road fit for traffic is the erection of a small bridge across the Purakanui Creek, and the removal of a few points of rock, which, as in the Purakauiti Eoad, I propose to have removed by the gangers. Catlin's River Boad (total distance, 3 miles 38 chains) : This road has now been formed from its junction with the main road near Catlin's Bridge for a distance of 6 miles 17 chains to the block lino (Blocks IV. and V.), and the bush has been felled 1 chain wide and logged up 45ft. for half a mile further into Block V. The work on this road, as on all the others, consisted of bush-felling, stumping, culverting, and earthwork, and has been done almost entirely by settlers' labour. Boad in Blocks 11. and VIII., Woodlands (total distance, 3 miles) : This road starts from the Main Waikawa Boad, about half a mile west of the western boundary of Block 111., Woodlands, and runs into Block VIII., Woodlands, for a distance of 1 mile 59 chains, and is intended ultimately to open up the Crown lands in Block 11., same survey district. This road was started last July, the majority of the men employed being sent from Christchurch.

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I anticipate the whole of the work as let will be finished in about a month's time from the present date. The nature of the work on this road is similar to the others, the bush and formation widths being 40ft. and 10ft. respectively. Boad to Long Point (total distance, 68 chains) : This road starts from a point 1 mile 6 chains on Block VIII., Woodlands Boad, and was carried on in conjunction with the same, terminating at present at the Purakanui Creek, a distance of 68 chains. The extension of this road will be a great boon to the settlers already in occupation of the land, and will give reasonable access to the sections in Blocks X. and XL The bush-clearing is 40ft. wide, road-formation 10ft. The continuation of this road will be proceeded with at once. Batanui School Footpath (distance, 22 chains): A sum of £50 was authorised to form a footpath from Bern Street (Main Waikawa Eoad) to the school (corner of Sections 13 and 14). The bush was felled 66ft. wide, and the timber so felled used as corduroy. A ditch was cut on the township side of the street down to Shaw Street, and the material utilised to form a footpath sft. wide on top, and from thence side-cutting and corduroy to corner of Section 14. A footbridge was erected over the creek at A on plan. The material forming the footpath has been so placed that at any future time when the road or street is made it will come in as part of the roadway. Barr's Boad (Block VIII., Glenoinaru, and Block 1., Catlin's; total distance, 1 mile 75J chains): This road joins with the Main Waikawa Eoad at Section 17, Block VIII., Glenomaru, and the work referred to in this report extends from Section 81, Block VIII., Glenomaru, to Section 64, Block 1., Catlin's, being 155-J- chains in length. Fifty pounds was voted for this work, and was expended in felling the bush half a chain in width, and logging and stumping 10ft., excepting about 30 chains where the sidling was too steep. On this part a 6ft. track was cut, and just sufficient bush felled to admit of this. The work was let to the settlers adjacent. Boads to Bun 222; Kawarau-Nevis Road; Naseby, Maniototo, and Gimmerburn Roads; Roads, Run 109. —Work done by the county, see attached schedule. Purchase of Roads. —During the financial year the following roads have been taken through private property : (1) Boad through Sections 93 and 96, Block VIII., Glenomaru District ; transferred from McFarlane and Cook. (2.) Boad through Section 28, Block 1., Catlin's ; transferred from Benjamin Morris in exchange for Section 49, Block 1., Catlin's. (3.) Eoad through Section 15, Block VIE, Glenomaru; transferred from John McKay in exchange for Section 48, Block VIE, Glenomaru District. Roads, Block XII., Nenthorn; Roads, Clarendon District. —Work done by county, see attached schedule. Roads, Glenomaru, Block. — Tuck's Boad (total distance, 53 chains): This work was commenced in August last, and comprised bush-felling 66ft. wide, and logging-up 35ft. wide, and the formation 15ft. wide, with all necessary culverts. The work was started at Section 30, and carried on for 53 chains towards Section 42, the bush being felled and logged-up for a mile in length. In the 53 chains formation was included the heavier part of the work, one embankment alone containing over 2,100 cubic yards of earth-work, the top length being only 2 chains. There are still 68 chains to form to join with the main road, and, as the work done is practically useless till the junction with the main road is effected, I would recommend that this road be completed. Hunt's Boad; Cannibal Bay. — Boad to Cannibal Bay (total distance, 5 miles 10 chains), This road starts from a point on the main road Owake to Eomahapa, between Sections 14 and 26: Block VIE, intersecting Blocks VIE and VI., and part of V., Glenomaru District. Contracts to the extent of 5 miles 10 chains were let to fell bush 66ft. wide, and log up 30ft. No formation or culverting has been done, and as the road is intersected by numerous creeks, with pretty steep gullies, the work done is of very little benefit to the settlers till such time as some culverting and formation is done. According to instructions, a portion of this vote was applied to the forming of Hunt's Boad, total distance three miles and a half. This road branches off main road Owake to Eomahapa at Section 23, Block VIE, Glenomaru, and passes through Block IX. to Block IE, Catlin's District. The bush has been felled, and the road partly formed, from its junction with the main road up to Section 37, and it is from this point onwards that the present work is being done. Bush-felling 66ft. wide, and logging 30ft. is all the work authorised at present. Three contracts have been let to settlers, and one progress-payment made ; but the bulk of the expenditure will be accounted for at the next financial period. Three miles and a half is the total extent of the contracts let. C. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.

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0. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.

Schedule showing the Length and Character of Roads Otago constructed, improved, and maintained from the 1st April, 1892, to the 31st March, 1893.

o ■ra Name of Work according to Parliamentary Vote. a s County. Section, Block, and District. Mileage improved Nature of Improvements, and Remarks. m. eh. 90 42 44 46 Taieri Bridge, Otakia (subsidy, £1 for £3) Tomahawk Boad Henley protective river-works ; 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 4 4 Taieri .. 41, IV., Maungatua „ .. Tomahawk Road District and St. Kilda Borough .. „ .. IV., Maungatua „ .. V. and VI., Maungatua Maniototo West of 1, I., Maniototo North of 3, VIL, Gimmerburn, and 19,10, 1., Maniototo West of 2, I., Maniototo .. „ Opposite 2, VIL, Gimmerburn 0 77 Timber bridge on piles, eleven 30ft. spans. Contract No. 270; let 19th November, 1891; amount, £1,497 3s. Formation and metalling. Repairing three breaches, Contract No. 12. Repairing five breaches, Contract No. 13. Formation, gravelling, and ditching, Contract No. 8. Chipping, Contract No. 9. 92 Maniototo District 1 4 0*40 1 16 126 Gimmerburn District 4 4 4 4 0 30 2 02 Formation, gravelling, and ditching, Contract No. 10. Pile bridge 12ft. span, cutting, bank, culverts, open crossings, chipping, scrub-clearing, side-ditches, Contract No. 4. Formation, gravel, ditching, Contract No. 11. Formation, cutting, bank, culverts, ditches, Contract No. 14. Scrub-clearing and gravelling, Contract No. 1a. Formation and bridge 18ft. over Eden Creek, Contract No. 453. Formation, culverts, 4ft. opening, Contract No. 351. Formation, culverts, 4ft. opening, Contract No. 352. 127 4 4 4 4 5 5 „ Opposite 2, 4, and 6, I., Maniototo „ North of 3, VIL, Gimmerburn, and 19, I., Maniototo „ North of 14, IL, Gimmerburn Near 3 and 4, VIL, Gimmerburn Tuapeka .. Opposite 11, 12, 16, 17, XIII., Tuapeka West .. Opposite 15,17, Blocks XIII. and 19 ; 30, VIII., Tuapeka West .. Opposite 19, 20, 23, VIII., Tuapeka West .. .. Opposite 22, VIIL, Tuapeka West 1 00 0 44 0 30 0 18 0 49 0 33 129 Rankleburn and Tuapeka West 4 5 5 5 0 0 42 0 7 Formation, culverts, 6ft. opening, Contract No. 353. Formation, culverts, cutting, Contract No. 354. Also two punts built and launched. Formation, culverts, rock-cutting, Contract No. 355. Formation, culverts, side-cutting, Contract No. 356. Formation, culverts, side-cutting, Contract No. 357. Blackcleugh Bridge, one 30ft. and two 15ft. spans, wooden platform on masonry piers and abutments. Formation and block-cutting on Rongahere Road. Formation, culverts, and pitched crossing, Contract No. 497. Formation, gravel, chipping, scrub-clearing, ditching, Contract No. 1. Formation, culverts, gravel, chipping, scrub-clearing, ditching, and opening crossings, Contract No. 2. Formation, culverts, gravel, chipping, scrub-clearing, Contract No. 3. Chipping, Contract No. 5. 6 C 6 6 6 6 .. Opposite 22, 54, VI., Rankleburn .. „ .. Opposite 53, 54, VI., Rankleburn .. „ .. Opposite 49, 50, 51, VI., Rankleburn „ .. Near Section 49, VI., Rankleburn 0 27 0 23 0 45 Run 222 .. 7 I O 4 7 S 4 4 Clutha .. Opposite 3, I., Rankleburn, and northwards „ .. From 17, VI., to 54, I., Rankleburn Maniototo Through Run 306, road to Gimmerburn Between 2, 3 over 9, I., Maniototo 0 51 1 07J 1 0 0 20 133 4 A 4 4 „ Main road opposite 20, VIL, Naseby West of 11, Block 7, Naseby, and 12, 11, 8, 7, I., Maniototo North of 12, 18, 2, V., Maniototo.. Main road north of 11, VIL, Naseb}' Main road north of 13, VIL, Naseby 0 22 ' 4 70 136 Naseby, Maniototo, and Gimmerburn 4 i 4 A 4 4 4 1 60 1 00 1 24$ Scrub-clearing, gravel, chipping, Contract No. 7. Formation, gravelling, and ditching, Contract No. 6. Formation, gravelling, and ditching culverts and open crossings, Contract No. 12. Formation, cutting (block), gravelling, and ditching culverts and open crossings, Contract No. 13. Formation, &c. 4 4 „ North of 10, I., Maniototo 0 76 139 Block XII., Nenthorn 15 15 „ Between Deepstream Railway-station and Nenthorn small grazing-runs Bruce .. Opposite 29, 30, 32, II., Clarendon 1 20 140 Clarendon District 16 16 0 66 Formation and culverts, Waihola to Taieri Beach, Contracts Nos. 341, 342, and 345. Total Total length constructed under county supervision length constructed under supervision of Chief Surveyor 25 26 32 00| Total length constructed 57 261

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SOUTHLAND. Te Anau Jetty. —This work was commenced last year on a vote of £100. An additional £40 was granted for the purpose of lengthening the structure into deeper water, and the work has since been completed. Mossbum-Te Anau Boad. —No money has been expended here during the period under notice. It is, however, proposed to raise a loan of about £2,500 on the security of some 20,000 acres of small grazing-runs which will shortly be offered for lease. Wrey's Bush Bridge. —This bridge was commenced last year on a grant of £1,000 from Government. Subsequently an additional £190 was given, in order to lengthen the span by 100 ft., and it is now 620 ft. long. The approaches were let under separate contract and are nearly completed. The county pays for these, so that the work is finished so far as this department is concerned. Otautau Bridge Subsidy. —This bridge, which was subsidised to the extent of £250, was begun last year, and was finished last October. It is 320 ft. long, and cost £634. Lillburn Boads and Bridges. —£l,2s2 was voted for the purpose of giving access to land lately opened in this district. It is proposed very shortly to expend the money in opening up the road through Lillburn Valley, so as to make this passable for wheel-traffic. Tracks to McLaren's Bun. —Authority has not yet been issued for expenditure of the £120 voted for this purpose. Orepuki-Wairaurahiri. —£47B 12s. 6d. was spent in felling, clearing, and logging-up 5-5 miles of this road, which gives access to the new settlements in Longwood District, and at present terminates at the lower bridge-crossing on Waiau Eiver. Riverton-Orepuki. —B4 chains have been felled, cleared, and formed, from Pahi Eailway-station towards Orepuki, at a cost of £267 7s. 10d., the Government having subsidised the work to the extent of £250. Riverton-Golac Bay Boad. —The Wallace County has been granted subsidies amounting to £450, with which, in addition to county funds, it has spent £865 6s. lOd. on about three miles of road between Eiverton and Colac Bay, the work consisting of bush-felling, clearing, stumping, formation, culverts, and a 12ft. bridge. This now affords a fairly good road for wheel-traffic between Eiverton and Orepuki. Wright's Bush. —30 chains of this road have been formed and gravelled, at a cost of £100, the amount of Government subsidy. Waimatuku Bush. —23-J- chains of this road have been cleared, formed, and gravelled between Woodfield Village and Waimatuku with a subsidy of £100. In addition, 19-J chains of bushfelling, clearing, and formation have been done. Centre Bush. —A contract for felling and clearing 155 chains of this road has been let for £108 10s., and will be completed by the middle of May. This road will bring the Otapiri Gorge settlers into the most direct communication they can have with the Invercargill-Kingston Eailway. The balance of vote of £300 will be spent in formation and culverts when the first contract has been completed. Winton Drains. —This work completes a gap between Benmore and Winton in a much-needed system of drainage for the low-lying country between those places, and has been effected at a cost of about £1,100, £700 of which was contributed as a subsidy, and the balance by loan and rates. The channels cut will afford outfalls for some 2,500 acres of Crown land. Forest Hill Boad. —A .subsidy of £200 has been spent on 29 chains ditching, 915 chains bushfelling and logging-up, and two bridges of 36ft. and Bft. span. The amount was not sufficient to do all that was required, and a further sum has been asked for. The road would render more accessible some thirty-seven ten-acre sections in East Winton. Grove Bush. —3B chains of formation and gravelling have been done for £200. Makarewa-Hedgehope. —A subsidy of £200 has been spent on 535 chains formation and gravelling. Makarewa to Shark's Tooth. —4l chains of gravelling and formation have been done for the subsidy of £150. Tisbury-Waimalua. —A subsidy of £300 was voted to make a road parallel to the Seaward Bush Eailway between these places ; and a contract has been let for 193 chains bush-felling and clearing, the same length of formation, 43 chains curduroying, twelve log culverts, and one 12ft.-span bridge. This track will render more accessible some 1,500 acres of Crown land. Invercargill Hundred, Block XX. —5l chains of formation and gravelling have been made with the vote of £200. Clifton to Seaward Bush. —Several small contracts have been let for making the village sections already selected more accessible, and these have absorbed the grant of £200. A further grant of same amount is now being expended in the same way. Blocks 11. and 111., Caiupbelltown Hundred. —A grant of £750 has been spent on the main road between Invercargill and the Bluff. This has formed 131 chains, cleared 350 chains, and gravelled the softest parts, besides banking and rubble pitching across a stretch of road below highwater mark. Campbelltown Hundred. —236 chains have been re-formed and 80 chains tussocked with the £100 vote. Oteramika Hundred, Block I. —The vote of £.100 has not yet been expended, and it is proposed to hand this to the local Board to deal with, subject to the approval of this department. Oteramika Gorge. —6B chains have been formed and gravelled with the subsidy of £200. Takanui-Niagara. —The vote of £300 taken for this work was spent in gravelling a portion of the main road between Eortrose and Waikawa, under the co-operative system of contracts.

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Waikawa (Main Boad). —1 mile 22 chains of this was gravelled, under the co-operative-contract system, out of the £500 vote, &c. This and the last-mentioned work will be more fully noticed in the separate report on the working of the co-operative contract system. Waikawa-Wyndham Valley Boad. —A 43ft. 6in. truss bridge on masonry piers was built over the Waikawa Eiver, at a cost of £214; and 27 chains were formed, 72 chains cleared, twelve culverts laid, and one 14ft.-span bridge, at a cost of £176. Scrubby Hill. —185 chains were scrubbed, 165 chains ditched, 12 chains fascined, and eighteen culverts, at a cost of £200. Waikawa—Catlin's Boad. —Eleven one-mile sections of clearing and logging-up were completed, at a cost of £824 Is. 3d., and eighteen miles were sown with grass-seed for £72. In November contracts were let under the co-operative system for formation, and about five miles have been partially completed up to date. These works will be further referred to in the separate report on co-opera-tive contracts. Stewart Island. —A number of small contracts have been let for miscellaneous works, most of which are completed. These include the drainage of Oban Township, in Half-moon Bay, a sheltershed at the jetty, the opening-up of various tracks, and the felling and clearing of 239 chains of surveyed road between Half-moon and Horseshoe Bays, for the purpose of giving access to the newly-surveyed lands in those localities. The cost of these works to date is £270 Is. Future Works. —Proposals have been made for raising loans on several blocks under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Acts, and some of these loans have been provisionally approved, but none yet expended. Among the most important of these are £8,000 for a bridge over the Waiau at Clifden, and for opening roads to the new settlements on the western bank of that river. The question of the bridge is still in abeyance, and nothing has as yet been done about roads. £1,400 has been applied for to road Block XVI., Longwood, and, as the whole of the land has been taken up, it is advisable that the work should be proceeded with with the least possible delay. G. W. Williams, Chief Surveyor.

APPENDIX No. S.—THERMAL SPRINGS.

EOTOEUA. Eepoht by Me. C. Malfeoy. In compliance with the instructions, I have now the honour to submit the following report for the past year : — The Baths. The bathing accommodation has been increased by the addition of six dressing-rooms and a douche and douche-room, all on the gentlemen's side of the "Priest Bath;" also some small improvements on the ladies' side. The water-pipes laid seven years ago for both fresh and mineral water services were taken up, cleaned, and relaid, but in many places renewals were necessary in consequence of the corrosive action of the mineral waters and fumes. The corrosion of pipes, valves,, taps, etc., is a serious consideration, and, in order to minimise this source of expenditure in the future, it would, I think, be desirable to ascertain wdiat success has attended experiments instituted at thermal springs in Europe in testing the respective merits of paper pipes, aluminium, nickelbronze, and other non-corrosive substances. I would also desire to make some inexpensive tests here, for which I have placed a small sum upon my estimate of expenditures for the present year. The total number of baths taken this year in the baths under control has been 17,838; the cash received, £288 75., and is paid to the credit of the Eotorua Town Board. This is an increase of 317 baths, and £10 14s. in the receipts, upon the previous year. The free baths taken were : By hospital patients, 5,078 ;by others, 440 : total, 5,518. This small increase on the previous year may be accounted for by the fact that a number of private, or semi-public, baths have been erected at some of the numerous outside springs by residents, originally for their own personal convenience; but, as they are open and free, they are, to some extent, patronised by visitors, to whom they are recommended as most efficacious, simply because they happen to be near such-and-such hotel or business-place. The bath-charges are comparatively low : Sulphur-vapour, pack, and galvanic baths, Is. each; ordinary immersion-bath, with hot or cold douche, 6d., or a course of twenty-five baths for 10s. The above charges include towels and necessary linen. In former reports I have referred to the great and growing reputation which this place is acquiring as the sanatorium of the Australasian Colonies. During the past year several extraordinary cures have again come under my notice, and, from my personal knowledge of the other hot-spring groups of the colony, I am convinced that the group of springs in the Sanatorium Eeserve is unequalled for efficacy. Here we have the different waters pure from the springs in well-defined varieties, not perhaps, in such large quantities as may be found in other localities, but unmixed and uncontaminated by surface drainage. The early completion of the railway to Eotorua will necessitate many extensions and improvements to meet increased public requirements. Therefore I think the time has arrived for putting into practice suggestions formerly made for the adoption of a comprehensive plan upon which all improvements and additions would be made, with the object of ultimately concentrating all into a large national well-appointed and -arranged therapeutic thermal establishment, furnished with all such necessary modern appliances as are now in use in the best thermal establishments of Europe. 9—C. 1.

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The extended application of douches, and the introduction of the massage system, will require a large increase in the supply of mineral waters. With that in view, I would strongly and respectfully recommend, to provide for the future extensions of the bathing establishment, that the southern shore of Lake Eotorua from the present Sanatorium Eeserve to the Puaranga Stream, •also the Kuirau and Arikikapakapa groups of springs, be added to the Sanatorium Eeserve, and proclaimed so as to have some control over them. Sanatorium Reserve. Under this head, in addition to keeping the grounds and gardens in good order, and the reclearing of avenues previously formed which had become overgrown, several new avenues have been opened through the manuka scrub, varying from 1 to 2 chains in width, equal in area to about twelve acres. Lawns and arbours have been formed here and there, and a large number of willows have been planted along the shores of the lake. Three hundred deciduous trees have also been carefully planted, experience having shown that, unless this work is very carefully done, the young trees linger for years until the roots strike a substratum (which is evidently an ancient surface), lying at a depth of from 2ft. to 3ft. below present surface. Fresh-water Supply. The number of services now being provided from the main is forty-five, namely, — £ s. d. 4 hotels, at £8 a year... ... ... ... ... ... 32 0 0 1 boarding-house, at £5 a year ... ... ... ... 500 4 boarding-houses, at £3 a year ... ... ... ... 12 0 0 12 private places or residences, at £1 10s. a year ... ... ... 18 0 0 7 public fountains, free ... ... 2 bath-houses, free 15 public buildings or residences, free Total ... ... ... ... ... £67 0 0 The works are now in good order, but, as there is a considerable and increasing demand for water, the present tank at the head of the pipes (10ft. x 6ft. x 3ft.) is totally inadequate to allow the sand, silt, &c, to settle and deposit, and they find their way into the pipes. To obviate this, I would recommend the construction of a concrete catch-pit, as described in my report of last year. General Remarks. The number of visitors (as collected by me) to the hotels, boarding-houses, etc., during the year ending 31st March, 1893, is 2,560, rather less than the number recorded the previous year. This decrease is unaccountable, as I am informed by the coach proprietors that they have had a considerable increase in their traffic return. I suspect, therefore, that there is, for trade reasons, a disinclination to keep and give full returns. The cost of board and residence varies from £2 2s. to £3 10s. per week in hotels, and from £1 ss. to £2 2s. per week in boarding-houses, whilst the actual cost of living in cottages or tents would be from 10s. to 15s. per week. There is nothing extraordinary to note in regard to volcanic or thermal action, except the fact that the Eotoinahana Lake is filling up very fast. It is now about 50ft. or 60ft. above its original level previous to the eruption of 1886; and, as there is but a narrow strip of land separating the lake from the lower end of the Tarawera Eift, I apprehend that, in the event of a large body of water breaking into the rift, it might cause some disturbances. As an illustration of what may occur, I relate the following personal experience : My residence is situated in a place where there is a good deal of broken hot ground. One evening, having watered the garden freely, I allowed the garden-hose to run all night. In the morning I found the whole of the water disappearing into a fissure, and I turned the water off without the slightest apprehension of danger. At noon, however, the household was alarmed with repeated thuds under the house. This thudding lasted for over two hours, when it gave an extra heavy thud, shaking the house, and then ceased altogether. We never experienced anything of the kind either before or since, but we have been careful not to turn the garden-hose on at night. The theory is that the water found its way into hot ground below the house, and, being transformed into superheated steam, it caused the disturbances herebefore related, in its endeavour to find an escape. If such a small quantity of water produced the disturbance described in this case, what would be the result of a large quantity of water suddenly finding its way into the Tarawera Eift ?—where there is a large area of hot ground, with places in it so hot that if a stick be thrust into the hot rubble it will burst into flames in a few seconds. I would recommend the careful watching of that particular place in Eotoinahana; and, if practicable, at a small outlay, have an outflow made from Eotomahana into Tarawera Lake, and thus prevent the water reaching the height at which it might become a source of danger. In conclusion, I may say that I have made some very interesting experiments with geysers in the locality, and have caused them to become active so as to bring about eruptions at the request of eminent visitors and at a few hours' notice, after they had been quiescent for considerable times, varying from a few weeks to several months. The artificial geysers in the Sanatorium garden, constructed in 1890, are still as active as ever, .and the terrace formation round the Waikite geyser is increasing very rapidly.

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OPEEATIONS OF THE EOTOEUA TOWN BOAED FOE THE YEAE ENDED THE 31st MAECH, 1893. Public Woeks. Theee were 162f chains of streets formed to their full width, varying from If to 2 chains, and DOf chains of footpath were formed, the whole at an average cost of £1 3s. per chain. The work was principally performed by Native labour. Nine miles of road within the boundaries of the township were kept in repair. Tkee-planting. Trees were planted out. The trees generally are making rapid growth, especially the gums and Australian silver-wattle. The latter appear to do well in the pumice soil. It is therefore thought that the black-wattle, the bark of which is so valuable for tanning purposes, would thrive equally well on the poor portion of the township lands. General. The syndicate which acquired a 4-acre site within the township at a low annual rental for the purpose of erecting thereon a commodious hotel has as yet taken no steps to carry out the object for which the valuable site was obtained. The Board trusts that the Government will not permit such a valuable site to be locked up. With regard to the Eotorua water-supply, the revenue therefrom, which at present amounts to £62 10s. per annum, is paid into the Public Account. The Board begs to suggest that, as it has the collecting of and the accounting for this revenue, it should be handed over to the Board for expenditure in improvements about the township. C. Malfeoy.

HANMEE PLAINS. Eepoet by Me. Bogees. 1. Last winter alterations and improvements were made about baths and grounds, and a large waiting-room was built on the west end of No. 2 Bath-house. This has proved to be a great convenience to visitors after coming out of the hot baths, as formerly they were apt to take cold on going out into the air directly after coining out of the baths. This room is very comfortably furnished with lounges, arm- and easy-chairs, &c, and is heated by a gas-stove. The gas that supplies this is collected from one of the pools in a small gasometer, and is led in pipes to the waiting-room and fixed to the stove. 2. Two new tiled baths were erected in No. 2 Bath-house. These baths are preferred by some, but the majority of visitors prefer the wooden baths. 3. Swimming-pool: This pool has been enlarged to 33ft. by 28ft., and has been concreted right round the sides, and there are also concrete steps leading into it, and the bottom is boarded. The hot water from one of the pools is laid on in pipes into it. Previous to this improvement the water was only warm and was very muddy, now it is quite hot and clear. There is also a cold shower ■erected inside the enclosure of the pool. This pool is greatly appreciated by all visitors, especially by the gentlemen. Another pool like this for ladies only would be a great advantage. The swimming-pool is a great relief to the baths in the summer-time, when there is a large number of visitors at the. springs. Before this pool was altered people had to wait a great length of time before they could get a bath, and then were hurried out again, whereas now they can all have a bath, and be ready to go away at the same time. Most of the gentlemen who are any way able indulge in the swimming-bath. 4. In addition to these improvements about the baths, there has also been built a verandah on the front of the caretaker's residence, together with an additional room and other conveniences. There were also about forty-six new flower-beds made inside the enclosure, and plants, seeds, and bulbs planted in them which were sent by visitors and friends, and also by some of the nurserymen in Christchurch. All these have done exceedingly well, and make the place look quite gay. There were three paddocks fenced in this year outside the enclosure of the springs, and a good substantial 4ft. fence with three plain wires and a barb top-wire, also a 3ft. tsin. wire-netting erected. There were also 18 chains of plantation planted in trees : these trees have made great progress for the short time they have been planted. I have, besides these, about 42 chains of ground trenched for more trees to be planted this coming spring. When these plantations are finished they will tend to beautify the grounds about the springs. The whole of the enclosures have been ploughed, and a light crop of oats taken off each. At the early part of the season very few people came to the springs, but this was on account of the weather. It was very wet and cold, and the road from Culverden to the plains in a very bad and rough state. All this prevented visitors from making an early start; but about the end of January they arrived in great numbers, and continued coming until the beginning of the present month April). There was a great number of invalids at the springs this year: the principal cases were those of people suffering from rheumatism, asthma, sciatica, and skin affections. The majority of them were cured, and the remainder very much benefited, by the baths. The number of baths taken for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1893, was 7,530. Of these, there were 4,959 baths by ticket, at Bd.; 2,164 swimming baths, 6d. ; 407 single baths, Is.: total, 7,530. This shows an increase of 219 more baths than the previous year. The total amount ■of bath fees collected for the year ending 31st March, 1893, was £242 19s. 2d.

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APPENDIX No. 6. EEPOET ON VILLAGE HOMESTEAD SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS. I have the honour to forward herewith returns giving full details of the village homestead special settlements in each of the provincial districts of the colony. The total number of settlers unler this system on the 31st March last was 900—viz., 532 in the North Island, and 368 in the South Island. The area of land held on the same date was 22,677 acres. Of this area, 14,392 acres is in the North Island, and 8,285 in the South Island, the average area to each settler being about 25 acres. The amount advanced for dwelling-houses, bushfelling, and grassing for the year ending the 31st March last was £1,120 3s. 9d.—viz., in the North Island, £818 17s. 6d. ; in the South Island, £301 6s. 3d. The total amount advanced from the commencement of the system to the 31st March, 1893, is as under : —North Island—For dwelling-houses, £8,437; bushfelling and grassing, £11,045 2s. 6d. : £19,482 2s. 6d. Southlsland—For dwelling-houses, £4,341; bushfelling and grassing, £80119s. Bd. : £5,142 19s. Bd. Total advances, £24,625 2s. 2d. This amount is equivalent to an advance of £1 Is. 3d. per acre. The annual rent, including interest on advances, is £2,570 13s. lid., or equal to 2s. 3Jd. per acre. The amount received for the year ending the 31st March last was £2,196 75.; but a large proportion of the arrears have since been paid. The total amount received for rent and interest from the commencement of the system to the end of the past financial year was £10,522 18s. lid., viz: Bent, £7,518 19s. 10d., and interest £3,003 19s. Id., classified as under :—North Island—Bent, £3,322 14s. 3d.; interest, £2,004 19s. Id.: £5,327 13s. 4d. South Island—Eent, £4,196 ss. 7d.; interest, £999: £5,195 ss. 7d. Total receipts, £10,522 18s. lid. The arrears of rent and interest on the 31st March last amount to £2,346 2s. 5d., as under :— North Island—Arrears of rent, £936 12s. Id.; arrears of interest, £1,138 os. 3d. : £2,074 12s. 4d. South Island—Arrears of rent, £200 17s. 7d.; arrears of interest, £70 12s. 6d.: £271 10s. Id. Total arrears on the 31st March, £2,346 2s. sd. Of this amount, over £300 has been received since the 31st March. With respect to further advances for which the Government may be liable, the amount is £8,725 6s. 3d. Of this sum, £7,592 16s. 3d. is in the Provincial District of Auckland, where an extension of time (to the 30th June, 1894) has been granted to enable the settlers to comply with clause 13 of the Village Homestead Special-settlement Eegulations, which provides that " Each selector shall, within two years, cultivate 1 acre, and within four years, the half of the remainder of his selection." It is considered, however, that not more than £2,000 will be applied for. The balance of this liability—namely, £1,132 10s. —is under the regulations of the 27th February, 1891, which provide that " an advance of a sum not exceeding £10 may be made to assist a selector in the erection of a house on his selection." A large portion of this liability will, however, not berequired. The total number of settlements in the colony under the village homestead system is eightyfive. All the settlements are making fair progress, with the exception of four in the district of Auckland. As in this district the special-settlement system is far more extensive than in any other, and, as so much has been said of the failure of the system in this particular district, I think a few facts respecting the position of the settlements in Auckland may be of service. I recently visited the district and satisfied myself of the correctness of the figures. The total number of settlers in the Auckland Provincial District on the 31st March last was 274. The area held was 11,394 acres —an average of 41 acres each. The yearly rental, including interest on advances, is £829 19s. 3d. The amount paid last year was £554 9s. 3d., and since the 31st March a further sum of £236 Is. 3d. has been received—namely, rent, £107 3s. 5d., and interest, £128 17s. lOd. The total amount received from the commencement of the system to the 3.lst March last was as follows : Eent, £1,765 13s. 4d. ; interest, £891 3s. lOd. : total receipts, £2,656 17s. 2d. The arrears at the end of the financial year were as under: Eent, £667 6s. sd. ; interest, £789 7s. 4d.: total arrears, £1,456 13s. 9d. Steps have been taken to considerably reduce this amount, and, as previously stated, £236 has already been paid. The amount advanced during the past year for dwelling-houses, bushfelling, Ac, was £441 12s. 6d., the total amount advanced from the commencement of the system being £12,338, and there is still a further liability of £7,592, but, as previously stated, only about £2,000 will be applied for. All advances under the regulations of 1886 cease on the 30th June, 1894. The total number of sections forfeited, surrendered, or abandoned in the Auckland District, from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last, was 235. I prepared a return showing the number of sections on which advances had been made, the amount advanced, the number of these sections taken up on other conditions of settlement, and the amount recovered. The results are as follow :— Number of forfeited, surrendered, or abandoned sections ... 235 Number of forfeited sections on which advances were made ... 142 Sections on which no advances were made ... ... ... 93 235 Forfeited sections taken up for cash, deferred payment, or on per- —— petual lease ... ... ... ... ... ... 96 Sections at present unoccupied ... ... ... ... 139 Forfeited sections on which advances have been made, and which —— 235 have been taken up on other conditions ... ... ... 45 • Not yet taken up ... ... ... ... ... ... 97 142

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A. B. P. Area of land forfeited ... ... ... ... ...10,628 127 Area taken up under ordinary conditions of settlement ... ... 4,275 1 16 Eemaining unoccupied ... ... ... ... ... 6,353 011 £ s. d. Amount advanced on forfeited sections ... ... ... 3,283 11 10 Amount recovered by sections taken up on other conditions, being loaded with the value of improvements ... ... ... 999 10 4 Balance ... ... ... ... ... £2,284 1 6 It will thus be seen that there are ninety-seven sections remaining unoccupied, on which the sum of £2,284 Is. 6d. has been advanced ; but this number and amount will be further reduced as soon as satisfactory arrangements are made with respect to the disposal of the large number of forfeited sections in the Auckland, Parnell, and Museum endowments. In connection with the settlements at Auckland, there is a sum of over £15,000 charged for roads under the heading " Eoadworks incurred in, or for the Benefit of, the Settlement, including Main and District Eoads." I would merely point out that, as a large number of the sections in these settlements have been thrown open, and settled under ordinary land-settlement conditions, it is but reasonable that a proportion of this expenditure should be charged to such settlement. Be that as it may, however, the fact remains that full value has been received for all money expended on roads in connection with village settlements. Not only are the roads largely used by other settlers, but they have been the means of giving access to adjacent Crown lands, whereby a very considerable area has been selected and settled under the ordinary land-laws of the colony which otherwise would, in all probability, have remained unoccupied. The actual costs of the settlements in the Auckland District up to the 31st March last (not including the expenditure on roads) is as under : Advances for dwelling-houses, £5,227 ; advances for bushfelling and grassing, £7,111; cost of locating settlers, £495 ; cost of lectures, £483; cost of fruit-trees, £779 ; cost of management, £600: total cost, £14,695. Value of improvements now on the land, £15,510. The system cannot therefore be said to have been a failure even at Auckland, where it was hastily introduced, and has since been carried out under great disadvantages. The locality and soil in many of the settlements are unsuitable, and a large number of the original settlers were not well qualified to become permanent or useful settlers. I have stated that the amount advanced throughout the colony has been £24,625. The question will naturally arise, " What is there to show for this expenditure?" lam pleased to be in a position to give a satisfactory answer, for the improvements which the village settlers have placed on the land are of the value of £61,699. This valuation has been carefully made, and is below rather than above the actual value. If the sum advanced by the Government was deducted from this amount, there remains the sum of £37,074, which represents the value of the improvements made by the settlers themselves over and above those done with the amounts advanced by Government. The village homestead special-settlement system has now been in operation over six years—a period sufficiently long to be enabled to form an opinion on its merits. I think the figures given in this report.prove conclusively that it has been successful. J. E. Maech, Superintendent of Village Settlements.

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Table A. —Summary of Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

For Details see Auckland. Hawke's Bay. Taranaki. Wellington. Nelson. Marlboro ugi. Canterbury. Westland. Otago. Southland. Total Area taken up during the Year. Revenue received for Sales, Rents, &c, on Lands selected during the Year. Area taken up during previous Years to 31st March, 1892. Total Forfeitures. Total Area held on 31st March, 1893 : Past and Current Transactions. Revenue received during Year on Previous Transactions. Total Area made Freehold to Date. 'able C —Cash lands A. E. P. 1 A. E. P. 13,937 2 29 3,571 1 16 A. E. P. 219 1 22 A. B. P. 1,779 2 15 A. E. P. 7,007 2 29 A. E.P. 1,457 2)0 A. E. P.l A. E. P. 1,582 3 15 1 1 17 A. E. P. 4,468 1 10 A. E. P. 2,300 3 20 A. E. P. 30,326 3 3 £ s. d. 24,537 11 7 A. E. P. 12,854,819 3 25 A. E. P. A. E. P. £ s. d. A. E. P. 12,891,146 "2 28 „ D — Deferred payments 6,160 1 12 117 2 0 I 63,266 2 29 13,.541 0 38 4,410 0 0 1,041 0 0 6,761 3 30 187 2 2 353 2 19 1,482 3 20 509 0 38 21,084 0 7 960 13 7 1,454,749 0 26 450,280 2 10 489,066 3 12 49,129 12 10 535,885 3 11 „ E —Perpetual lease and small areas „ p—Lease in perpetuity 13,916 0 0 7,976 0 8 4,027 2 26 1,050 1 18 1,419 0 0 7,078 0 24 10,282 2 24 122,557 3 7 2,129 11 7 1,262,932 0 12 185,044 0 8 1,137,985 1 39 39,224 6 2 62,460 1 12 I 4,948 2 24 20,070 0 0 1,986 0 0 5,578 0 0 3,402 0 0, 100 0 0 4,291 2 6 14,944 1 11 55,320 2 1 519 19 1 56,177 2 1 „ Q —Occupation with right of purchase ,. H —Agricultural lease I 12,119 2 22 9,690 2 0 5,784 0 0 10,730 0 0 185 0 0 60 0 0 2,750 1 19 12,951 3 29 54,271 1 30 567 4 0 54,271 1 30 193 3 32 193 3 32 4 3 9 285,396 1 10 142,163 3 25 6,529 0 30 198 11 4 137,167 0 27 „ I— Village settlement, cash „ J —Village settlement, deferred payment „ K —Village settlement, perpetual lease „ L —Village - homestead special settlement , Id —Special - settlement associations (lease in perpetuity) „ N —Homestead 0 10 6 2 11 3 0 0 7 1 32 23 1 35 30 1 29 457 0 26 528 1 13 1,322 16 0 6,420 2 11 6,948 3 24 30 0 26 0 3 0 1 86 0 33 273 2 28 390 3 7 70 12 10 14,198 2 33 1,762 3 33 4,872 0 9 1,893 2 6 7,954 1 38 _ 0 10 1,349 12 91 2 5 1,194 2 37 2,639 2 14 519 15 2 4,046 0 7 329 0 23 5,942 2 31 761 16 3 413 3 7 98 2 . 7 285 1 20 104 3 13 5 0 0 493 3 0 8 4 2 26,849 2 25 4,666 0 20 22,677 1 5 2,188 2 10 324 0 15 2,800 0 0 38 0 0 1 .. 14,658 0 0 22,500 0 0 127,656 1 10 1,100 3 8 3,000 0 0 157,381 0 33 763 10 8 99,585 1 14 5,397 3 2 225,812 2 2 10,689 2 5 25,756 1 3 38 0 0 89,316 2 33 8,396 3 8 13,921 1 22 67,036 2 3 ,, O —Small-grazing runs 246 0 0 1,430 0 0 5,358 3 31 3,075 0 0 66,464 3 37 1,693 3 8 92,926 2 36 1,170 0 10 778,895 1 38: 106,663 3 35 765,158 0 39 16,591 7 7 Totals 115,453 1 11 49,831 1 21| I I 49,064 1 22 156,296 3 32 17,797 1 5 8,054 2 1 12,777 0 19' 161 1 17 90,043 0 34 44,673 1 21 544,152 3 23 32,574 4 1 16,877,479 3 34 904,705 1 4 2,783,014 2 120,676 1 1113,734,769 3 33 * Lease in perpetuity. Note.—For analysis of holdings, see Table B. Table B. —Analysis of Holdings taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. Description of Land. No. of Selectors. No. of Selectors under 1 Acre. No. of Selectors No ' ° f f Se 9 e r c n tors N %° £ ? e V e n °'° r3 1 to 50 Acres. 51 . to 250 25 \ t0 50 ° Acres. Acres. No. of Selectors 501 to 1,000 Acres. No. of Selectors 1,001 Acres and upwards. Cash Deferred payments Perpetual lease and small areas .. Lease in perpetuity .. ... Occupation with right of purchase Agricultural lease Village settlement, cash Village settlement, deferred payment Village settlement, perpetual lease Village settlement, lease in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlement Special-settlement associations .. Homestead Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses 552 169 385 126 161 4 75 29 164 2 33 838 1 39 80 413 133 283 52 51 17 23 4 62 24 164 2 30 14 1 -99 100 182 38 67 25 10 93 34 ' 39 8 6 43 22 19 4 1 16 15 13 "'18 5 3 '763 "61 4 2 17 55 6 8 9 27 55 20 195 'l34 Total 3,071 151 154 922 1,387 336 121 Table C. —Retuen of Cbown Lands sold for Cash during the Year ended 31st March, 1: 193. Area disposed of. Average Price per Acre. Consideration received. Town. Suburban. Rural. Total. District. Number of Purchasers. Area. Number of Purchasers. Area. Number of Purchasers. Area. Number of Purchasers. Area. Town. Suburban. Rural. Cash. Scrip. Total. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago Southland 10 3 27 48 A. E. P. 12 2 30 0 3 0 11 2 34 31 0 7 0 10 0 1 17 3 1 36 11 1 7 64 2 13 6 6 a. e. p. 253 0 21 3 0 29 129 3 12 32 '3 22 50 3 2 ' 180 9 4 6 37 6 23 1 35 24 A. E. P. 13,671 3 18 3,567 1 27 77 3 16 1,748 2 8 7,007 2 29 1,457 2 30 1,582 2 15 10 0 4,431 3 32 2,238 3 11 200 14 44 54 37 6 24 2 52 59 A. E. P. 13,937 2 29 3,571 1 16 219 1 22 1,779 2 15 7,007 2 29 1,457 2 30 1,582 3 15 1 1 17 4,468 1 10 2,300 3 20 £ s. d. £ a. d. | £ s. d. 28 3 4 3 1 7 ; 0 9 11* 36 13 4 7 10 9 0 9 8 57 18 6 2 14 9 7 10 8 50 16 5 .. 18 7 0 7 3 0 8 6 30 0 0 .. 16 4 30 0 0 .. 0 15 0 32 4 7 3 10 6} 0 15 1} 37 0 10* 2 5 61 0 15 5* £ s. d. 8,617 8 8 1,785 14 4 1,044 3 11 2,524 13 2 2,103 12 8 588 19 11 2,095 5 5 11 8 9 3,502 0 0 2,264 4 9 £ s. d. 1,049 16 0 150 0 0 560 0 0 30* 0 0 237 13 8 £ s. d. 9,667 4 8 1,785 14 4 1,194 3 11 3,084 13 2 2,103 12 8 618 19 11 2,332 19 1 11 8 9 3,584 12 6 2,264 4 9 1 1 11 29 8212 6 Total 136 71 2 11 91 469 3 6 325 35,785 1 26 552 36,326 3 3 24,537 11 7 2,110 2 2 26,647 13 9 11—C. 1.

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Table D. —Return of Defeerred-payment Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

District. in a .0 ti o . _H CO Ph > < s _ & _ =3 s Taken up during the Year. Po: ieitures duri: ig the Year. Capitalised during the Year. Total Area held on 1893, inclui Capitalised H 31st March, ling .ldings. Amount received during Freehold the Year ended acquired during 31st March, 1893. the Year. Made Freeh' Commehcemenl to 31st Marc old from t of System ;h, 1893. Selectors in Am Maroh, 1; ;ar on 31st .93. Area taken r _ y e , a A to each Instalments v ' Selector. payable. o _ EH =* ■2"§ ,8.2 3 © £C_ Area. Yearly Instalments Payable. o ro ' o _H ■2° a_2 © rA m Area. Yearly Interest payable. O CO Q is gCO Area. Yearly Instalments and Interest payable. On Year's On Past Trans- Transactions, actions. I o _. u o a- __ UrS r_ © ;z-co Area. o _=; * o CO __ BS 3 CO Area. Total Amount realised, exclusive of Interest. E* ■2 ° B £ 3 © Area. Amount. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland .. Otago Southland.. 60 1 11 3 62 3 7' a. e. p. 0,100 1 12 117 2 0 4,410 0 0 1,041 0 0 6,761 3 30 187 2 2 353 2 19 A. E. p. £ s. d. 102 2 27 331 17 0 117 2 0 14 6 0 400 3 26 500 15 8 347 0 0 128 5 0 109 0 0 357 10 0 62 2 0 11 1 10 50 2 2 143 10 0 148.1 0 117"6 4 47 1 30 87 4 10 12 1 1 1 6 1 3 2 2 3 A. E. P. 646 0 20 33 0 0 230 0 0 683 0 0 557 0 0 96 1 0 122 0 22 160 0 0 409 0 34 131 3 13 £ s. d. 36 7 11 4 2 6 15 16 0 32 0 4 39 10 0 8 11 6 35 7 10 9 16 12 14 6 18 11 4 6 21. 73 18 A. K. P. £ s. d. 608 3 33 33 8 8 4,272 2 21122 2 8 10,247 0 10 330 13 8 2,563 3 1 40 5 0 491 132 633 200 1,051 33 63 67 339 342 A. E. P. 66,498 2 21 17,944 3 11 84,477 3 11 42,477 2 25 104,471 0 13 3,116 1 2 25,297 1 34 3,043 0 10 84,553 2 15 57,786 1 30 £ s. d. £ s. d. 5,644 14 1 158 4 0 1,494 18 0 7 8 0 6,960 3 10 250 7 10 5,807 15 2 80 1 3 6,919 9 0 238 6 8 147 12 4 6 17 10 2,410 15 7 117 1 8 251 2 7 3,805 0 5 52 13 11 2,162 4 10 43 12 5 £ s. d. 1,958 5 3 4,391 3 3 15,269 1 10 9,102 3 1 0,217 10 10 127 17 5 2,440 4 0 54 9 0 4,851 3 6 4,717 14 8 4 39 98 49 49 4 3 3 25 48 A. E. P. 532 3 2 6,417 2 1 12,377 0 18 9,170 2 19 4,051 0 37 182 0 24 104 0 7 240 0 0 4,277 0 0 0,896 0 23 52 677 721 504 418 19 61 46 808 998 A. E. P. ! 7,393 0 4 ' 67,738 2 1 . 74,033 2 36 . 96,361 0 15 I 29,808 2 11 1 1,654 0 28 2,784 1 1 1,744 3 22 115,378 1 2 138,989 1 11 £ s. d. 7,771 14 6 68,375 3 0 134,673 6 11 101,759 17 5 25,774 10 0 1,519 17 6 12,704 7 0 1,880 4 0 161,050 11 10 206,288 9 8 59 12 263 64 2 4 6 53 148 155 A. B. P.' £ s. d. 5,422 1 26 333 6 5 1,632 2 19 111 4 6 37,351 1 11 1,876 6 0 11,100 1 19 813 5 2 180 0 6: 16 13 0 282 2 14 8 16 8 441 1 27 52 10 6 2,433 2 8 266 8 7 30,429 0 9 974 14 6 24,566 0 37 816 3 4 io 12 1,482 3 26 569 0 38 4 3 8 1,200 0 0 72 11 0 320 2 28 8 7 10 1,427 0 0, 44 3 10 .. , ■■ Totals .. 169 21,084 0 7 1,691 16 8 32 3,068 2 9 212 3 5 133 20,640 0 13 657 12 8 3,351 489,666 3 12 35,603 15 10 960 13 7 49,129 12 10 317 44,248 2 17 4,304 535,885 3 11 721,798 1 10 766119,839 2 16 5,269 8 8 Table E. —Retuen of Perpetual-lease and S: :all-aeea Lands taken up d iring the Year ended 31st March, 18' 13. Taken up du: :ing the Year. Previous Transact! March, 181 ions to 31st 93. Forfeitures and during th( Surrenders : Year. Total Area held on 31st March, 1893. Amount reci the Ye. 31st Mar eived during 1 tr ended acq ■ch, 1893. t freeholds aired during ;he Year. Made Freehold from Commencement of System to 31st March, 1893. Selectors in Arrear, 31st March, 1893. District. _ =-H - 0 -8 ,_- o Area. o co rA -© m © _ <_> =- __ -=1 fA Annual Rental payable. u-l E-l o o eA~_ CO Area. Annual Rental payable. CO O O IJ ih _ co Area. _ _H Eh ° -S O © rA -© CO Area. Annual Rental. On Year's Transactions. On Past Transactions. ,"o_o £h _: CO Ul _H U OS O cj I & Area. Total _ Amount | _ _ realised, "S exclusive of j _ Interest. | t_ Annual Rental. Area. Area. Amount. Auckland Hawke's Bay.. Taranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough .. Canterbury .. Westland Otago Southland A. E. P. S. d. 194 63,266 2 29J0 5 26 13,541 0 380 6} 37 13,916 0 0l 3-03 25 7,976 0 8J011-45 17 4,027 2 26 0 41 2 1,050 1 18 0 4* 10 1,419 0 01 4} 34 7,078 0 240 '8_ 40 10,282 2 240 8 £ s. d. 1,384 6 6 503 9 6 888 13 4 380 11 0 76 3 11 20 7 6 97 10 6 A. H. P. 857 205,952 3 32 312 139,667 2 38 448 107,489 1 20 787 304,970 1 35 10 3,304 2 9 14 1,559 0 11 216 82,029 2 22 11 802 1 32 921 218,512 2 89 213, 52,886 2 llj £ s. d. A. E. P. 5,520 6 4 41 6,167 3 1 5,364 9 11 9 4,150 0 18 5,163 3 8 9 2,511 0 0 14,892 14 8 11 3,888 2 0 141 11 4 .. 52 14 9 .. 5,063 12 5 6 4,167 0 3 40 3 0; .. 11,151 6 11 15 2,642 3 34 2,112 12 2 6 2,374 0 14 £ s. d. A. E. P. £ s. d. 166 3 81,001 260,233 2 5 5,487 18 10 131 3 2 303 138,391 0 15 5,342 16 3 136 10 1 439 110,039 1 37 5,532 1 9 157 16 8 763 298,552 3 3314,797 6 10 27 7,332 0 35 217 15 3 16 2,609 1 29 73 2 3 234 17 2 216 78,492 0 27 5,258 13 5 11 802 1 32 40 3 0 114 4 8 763J 178,362 3 31 6,357 15 9 73 11 0 253 63,169 0 35 2,454 2 4 £ s. d. 692 3 3 248 14 4 444 6 8 323 7 5 59 10 8 20 7 0 50 17 10 £ s. d. 3,500 17 9 4,670 14 3 4,458 0 9 13,040 11 1 134 16 5 47 16 7 5,572 14 7 41 11 6 5,882 17 11 1,868 5 4 9 20 23 38 A. B. P. 2,819 115 10,007 3 8 0,820 2 37 10,305 2 27 15 47 86 79 A. R. P. 3,824 3 3 19,974 1 33 9,090 2 23 24,800 3 31 £ s. d. 1,798 10 4 14,994 11 9 7,910 5 8 25,685 12 3 15: 51 201 34: A. E. P. 33,381 0 0 23,065 3 15 50,510 3 35 117,789 3 31 585 2 23 190 0 0 2,032 1 4 596 3 16 69,893 1 36 34,872 0 32 £ s. d. ' 669 4 6 450 13 5 1,417 4 8 3,656 0 11 43 19 0 2 17 0 71 19 6 31 14 8 1,867 18 1 1,113 13 2 "i 789 1 32 11 4 9 7 1,098 2 8 370 2 36 1,890 2 21 1,397 2 17 1,829 16 11 370 14 6 1,298 10 0 1,195 5 0 1 : 240 7 8 341 10 2 119 "8 10 170 15 1 "i 5 753' 1 7 1,224 3 10 I 27: 18 Totals . I 385] 122,557 3 385] 122,557 3 7 7 .. 3,933 0 13,7891,: 3,933 0 1 3,7891,117,175 2 15: 117,175 2 1549,502 15 2 97 25,901 1 251,014 6 5J3,7921,137,985 1 39'45,561 15 8J 2,129 2,129 11 7 . 11 7 39, 39,224 6 2109 ,224 33,381 0 16 208 02,400 1 12 55,0eS3 6 5 1,179 332,918 0 32J [9,325 4 11 4

α-i

73

Table G.—Return of Occupation-With-Right-of-Purchase Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Table F.—Return of Lease-in-perpetuity Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

12—C, 1.

Taken up during the Year. Total Area held on 31st March, 1893. i Amount received i during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. District. No. of Selectors. Area. Average j Upset Rentj per Acre. Annual Rental payable. No. of Selectors. Area. I Annual Rental. On the Year's Transactions. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Canterbury .. Westland Otago Southland .. 31 19 6 13 7 1 16 33 A. B. P. 4,948 2 24 20,070 0 0 1,986 0 0 5,578 0 0 3,402 0 0 100 0 0 4,291 2 6 14,944 1 11 s. d. 0 4J 0 5J 1 7-38 0 10J 0 103 0 4-8 0 7| 0 10 £ s. d. 100 6 0 473 1 1 112 8 6 287 2 9 155 2 10 2 0 0 130 8 3 627 11 0 31 19 8 13 7 1 16 33 a. B. p. 4,948 2 24 20,070 0 0 2,843 0 0 5,578 0 0 3,402 0 0 100 0 0 4,291 2 6 14,944 1 11 £ s. d. 100 0 0 473 1 1 144 10 6 287 2 9 155 2 10 2 0 0 130 8 3 627 11 0 £ s. d. 50 3 0 56 10 8 37 12 3 58 18 2 316 15 0 Total 126 55,320 2 1 1.888 0 5 I 128 56,177 2 1 1,920 2 5 519 19 1

Taken up during the Year. Total Area held on 31st Mareh^lSgS. Amount received during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. District. No. of Selectors. Area. Average Upset Rent per Acre. Annual Rental payable. No. of Selectors. Area. Annual Rental. On the Year's Transactions. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Canterbury .. Westland Otago Southland .. 73 9 10 28 2 1 15 23 A. E. P. 12,119 2 22 9,690 2 0 5,784 0 0 10,730 0 0 185 0 0 60 0 0 2,750 1 19 12,951 3 29 s. d. 0 5 0 8 1 4-9 1 1 0 6 0 8$ 0 8J £ s. d. 254 2 0 326 6 6 273 7 6 660 11 0 17 1 6 1 10 0 95 19 4 455 16 8 73 9 10 28 2 1 15 23 A. e. p. 12,119 2 22 9,690 2 0 5,784 0 0 10,730 0 0 185 0 0 60 0 0 2,750 1 19 12,951 3 29 £ s. d. 254 2 0 326 6 6 273 7 6 660 11 0 17 1 6 1 10 0 95 19 4 455 16 8 £ s. d. 127 1 0 54 8 3 104 15 10 48 *9 0 232 9 11 Total 567 4 0 161 54,271 1 30 2,084 14 6 161 54,271 1 30 2,084 14 6

c—i

74

Table H. —Return of Agricultural-lease Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Table I. — Return of Village-settlement Lands disposed of for Cash during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Taken up during the Year. Forfeitures and Surrenders during the Year. Total Area held on 31st March, 1893. Amounts received during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. Made Freehold from Com- _ ,. \ . , „- . mencement of System to 31st Selectors m Arrear on 31s March, 1893. March, 1893. District. og g S ri & og H to 3 « rs Sj a ~ Area. CD o o£ CD R ■So r-i O Area. CD Oi CD c3 05 3£g O c3 ci CD TO fH s£ g cc3 O CO Sr2 Area. Total Amount realised. O xn 8° 3 CD Area. Amount. Auckland Westland ! I I A. B. P. A. R. P. £ s. d. A. E. P. £ S. d. ; A. E. P. 30 1,775 2 27 54 4,734 3 27 1 I 18 2 16 £ s. d. 128 13 6 £ s. a. £ s. d. A. B. P. 63 1,539 2 10 32 279 0 15 198 11 41,305128,778 0 37 50 6,570 1 5 £ s. d. 590 5 0 488 12 11 21 A. E. P. £ s. d. 137 0 C Otago .. 4 193 3 3248 1 38 8 7 6 588 5 0 4 3 9 128,738 15 0 41 4,752 0 30 1,808 13 £ Southland .. 2 7 6 6,570 5 0 1 18 2 16 4 15 C — 4,770 3 6 1,950 8 S Total 4 193 3 32 48 1 38 8 7 6 85 6,529 0 30 714 6 0 4 3 9198 11 41,450137,167 0 27 136,387 17 11 63

Village Sections, Small-farm Sections. Total during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. Total Area made Freehold from Commencement of System to 31st March, 1893. District. Area. Amount realised. No. of Selectors. Area. No. of Selectors. Area. Amount realised. No. of Selectors. Area. Amount realised. No. of Selectors. Total Amouni realised. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland 1 2 3 7 A. B. P. 0 10 1 3 29 3 0 0 5 0 35 £ s. d. 5 0 0 11 0 0 20 0 0 90 0 0 *2 i A. B. P. 4**2 22 2**0 37 £ s. d. 8*17 3 4**0 0 1 4 3 8 A. B. P. 0 10 6 2 11 3 0 0 7 1 32 £ a. d. 5 0 0 19 17 3 20 0 0 94 0 0 2 232 296 262 38 9 163 99 548 A. B. P. 0 2 0 621 1 3 844 3 9 451 0 29 12 3 22 22 1 11 1,207 1 4 885 3 5 2,902 3 21 £ s. d. 10 0 0 4,013 11 10 6,829 0 9 3,022 18 8 200 0 0 75 16 10 5,460 17 4 1,719 17 2 8,844 17 0 *3 1**2 37 35**0 0 3 3 50 21 2 38 30 1 29 457 0 26 85 14 9 30 0 0 1,083 4 0 6 3 50 23 1 35 30 1 29 457 0 26 70 14 9 30 0 0 1,083 4 0 Total 16 12 0 21 59 75 - 528 1 13 ; 1,649 6,948 3 24 :30,176 19 7 161 0 0 516 0 32 1,161 16 0 1,322 16 0 !

C—l

Table J. — Return of Village-settlement Lands disposed of on Deferred Payments during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Table K.—Return of Village-settlement Lands disposed of on Perpetual Lease during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

75

Taken up during the Year. he! Total Area .d on 31st March, 1893. Amoun during thi 31st Ms it received e Year ended irch, 1893. Made Freehold during the Year. Freeholds acquired from Commencement of System to 31st March, 1893. Selectors in Arrear on 31st March, 1893. Village Sections. Small-farm Sections. Total. >isi ric "o . tH £ rO -4-' rAUl EG C3.5 c3 CD c3 r^ M •2 ° 3.2 fl CD xn xgi "B OrQ a ■"* rH ■S "S Area. as CO » CCJ >> H **H * O Ci H 5™ BB -4-3 CO r. r-i "3 00 CD ■2 ° fl CD >>g cd' ,<D ccJ r-. I ft On the Year's Transactions. On Past Transactions. L 8 ° ■2 " rj Q ft™ Area. Total Amount realised. ! O co CD 3 as grco Area. Area. Area. Area. No. Area. Area. Amount. A. E. p. £ s. d. A. B. P. 30 0 26 £ s. d. 7 10 0 A. E. P. 30 0 26 £ s. d. 7 10 0 A. B. P. £ s. d. A. B. P. 500 3 4 341 2 34 645 1 31 43 1 20 945 1 34 764 2 25 1,630 2 21 £ s. d. 197 16 10 61 2 2 485 3 10 9 4 7 410 8 1 241 10 7 386 3 8, 1,791 9 9 £ s. d. 3 15 0 £ s. d. 91 19 4 247 1 0 267 3 2 9 4 8 745 9 3 198 3 3 334 1 10 1,893 2 6 A. E. P. 11 185 3 38 3 45 2 0 11 76 0 13 A. E. p. £ s. d. 67 691 2 38 1,734 0 4 110 1,898 0 2 9,556 14 7 42 345 1 5 1,444 1 8 451 1,831 0 1516,867* 0 10 45 480 2 29, 1,346 19 11 176 2,707 2 29 6,652 14 8 A. E. P. 57 2 17 264 3 17 234 0 3 £ s. d. 7 8 0 32 2 8 130 5 3 Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington .. Marlborough Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. •• *3 0 3 0 6 0 0 1 1 3 3 22 0 3 0 86 0 33 273 2 28i 6 0 0 15 5 4 112 10 4 - i h 3 3*6 0 30*3 9 86 1 16 3 '6 0 30 10 10 19 15 8, 43 10 68 82 62 112 3 0 0 7 12 8 56 5 2 11 3 11 45 5 15 45 194 0 28 5 79 3 0 15 172 3 8 5 7 29 6 23 44 77 1 37 292 0 29 695 1 39 *3 22 86*6 33 273 2 28 15 5 4 112 10 4 34 10 4 53 2 6 172 9 3 •• •• Totals .. 3 ii 120 0 25 53 6 6 382 4,872 0 9 70 12 10 I 90 754 1 7 891 17,954 1 38 37,601 12 0 i 429 18 0 0 3 0 6 0 0| 26 390 0 7l 135 5 8! 29 390 3 7 141 5 8 114 1,621 2 22

Taken up auring the Year. Forfeitures ana Surrenders during the Year. Total Are la held Amount received „ , „ , ., , Fre eholds acquired during the Year ended , JJ Y^ 6^ 0 f rom c ° mm encement of j 31st March, 1893. durm S the Year ' oi Sy sten ? to 31st March, 1893. Selectors in Arrear on 31st March, 1892. on 31st Marcl l, 1893. Village Sections. Small-farm Sections. Total. BB IS -A iH o rU 33 d A r-i O rS DC Area. ra CD CO o tH CD [I CD CO "3 CD o a XT. rH o S 3Q District. XT. O O | O a; Annual Rent payable. CO O O O CD A 'oj Area. Annual Rent payable. CO o o O CD CB Area. Total Annual Rent payable. S3 o Area. Annual Rent. Area. Annual Rent payable. On the Year's Transactions. i On Past ' Transactions. Area. a o a Area. Area. 0 c i . A d £ s. a. a. B. p. £ s. d. a. b. p. | £ s. a. :A. E. p. 20 1 0 1 £ s. a. 3 0 10 £ s. a.i 9 16 6 8 4 2 15 0 826 3 7 100 5 2 283 13 8 £ s. a. £ s. d. 103 2 6 2 394 0 614 *5 89 0 0 3 22 18 6 1 A. E. P.! £ s. d. A. E. P. 50 0 0 103 2 6 4 70 0 0 192 0 21| 681 10 6 7 72 3 11 86 i 21; 300*10 5J*9 321*0 0 73 3 11 146 0 0:11 201 3 20 11 1 34 22 18 6 ! 47 658 2 0 A. E. P.I A. E. P. 97 3 1 132 0 12| 10 0 0 2,326 2 10i 1,140 3 6 2,235 2 2 : £ s. d. 13 6 11 142 9 0 15 0 419 10 5| 85 4 8 100 0 3, A. E. P. 50 0 0 112 0 21 £ s. a. 3 4 S 7 0 10 Hawke's Bay Wellington .. I .. Marlborough Canterbury .. 1 Otiigo .. .. Southland i 6' o 1 5 OJ 77 | 5 .. ! 81 •• 1,348 1 2 707 18 6 78 91 2 5 1 4 12 0 5 1,194 2 37145 6 6 81 1,349 1 2.709 3 6 91 2 5 1 4 12 0 1,194 2 37J145 6 6 1 50 6 0 50 2 34 20 1 38, 3 2 6 2 15 0 1 2 i o; 8 14 1 123 51 151 376 3 0 2 6 0 141 6 2 2 8 57 8 S 8 1 S 53 14 7 2 1 54*2 32 11 1 34 Totals .. 1 I I jl 0 0 2,634 2 4857 17 0164 2,635 2 4 859 2 0 7141 1 32i 5,942 2 311, 229 8 1 519 15 2 1 i I 761 16 313 609 1 625j413 3 71,254 1 11&81,824 0 31 129 10 8 15 0! ;i63 10 19 4 !48 228 1 7 I

77

Table L. —Retuen of Selec 'oes under the Village-hi imestead Special-settlement Regulations for the Year ended 31st arc. Forfeiture irrenders di Year _s and uring the Total Area hel March, 11 Id on 31st 893. Amount advanced to Selectors during the Year. Total Amount advanced to Selectors : Past and Current Transactions. Paymer by Selecti the" ts made irs during _ear. Total Paymi by Sele from Comm of Sys onts made ectors q , lencement item. lectors in Arrear on 31st March, 1893. 'aken up during the Year. District. Further Advances for which Value of Improvements now on the Land. O W © R -2 " 0.2 3 © 5 co .3 . 8>_. o Area goo allotted, g _ ® _; c3 © <! O m s° S_5 r_ _, Area. Eft <D |3 O w EH O For Bush- Total felling. Advances. For Bush- Total felling. Advances. Government may be liable. © ,__ Interest. Q 3 \A Am Amount. lount. EH _o 3 3 Area. Rental. Rental, including Interest on Advances. For Houses. Rent. Interest. Rent. Area. Rent. Interest. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland A. E. P. A. E. P. £ s. d. 22 A. B. P. 978 1 9 £ s. a. 62 10 9 274 31 218 9 14 180 111 63 A. E. P. 11,394 0 31 203 2 20 2,747 0 19 47 2 30 236 0 5 5,636 2 36 1,760 0 22 651 3 2 £ s. d. 829 19 3 82 7 7 491 10 0 7 8 0 23 12 9 770 6 4 206 10 0 158 19 6 £ 61 £ s. d. 380 12 6 £ s. a. 441 12 6 £ s.d. 5,227 0 0 540 0 0 2,640 0 0 30 0 0 85 0 0 2,410 0 0 1,090 0 0 756 0 0 £ s. d. 7,111 0 7 278 2 0 3,655 19 11 £ s. a. 12,338 0 7 818 2 0 6,295 19 11 30 0 0 103 15 0 2,410 0 0 1,531 5 0 1,097 19 8 £ s. d. 7,592 16 3 £ s. a. 281 9 3 42 16 11 227 0 7 4 10 9 18 1 6 747 6 1 72 6 2 99 6 0 £ s. d. 273 0 0 41 17 4 133 15 1 £ s. d. 1,765 13 4 262 6 0 1,286 14 2 8 0 9 107 17 0 3,156 17 3 388 6 6 543 4 10 £ s. d. 891 3 10 219 12 3 894 3 0 257 3 119 A. B. P. 10,710 0 6 8 3 35 1,558 0 12 £ s. d. 667 6 5 2 2 7 267 3 1 £ s. d. 789 7 4 2 4 7 346 8 4 £ s. d. 15,510 9 0 5,236 10 0 17,055 5 3 72 0 0 796 0 0 12,394 6 0 6,407 12 0 4,227 0 0 ii 98"2 7 7 023 0 3' 31 3 1 300 0 5 0 0 4 '7 10 0 15 0 280 30 67 5 0 347" 5 0 30 0 0 710 0 0 60 0 0 12 10 0 60 0 0 290 0 0 12 6 1 285 1 20 104 3 13 5 0 0 23 2 0 17 1 8 5 0 0 0 2 7 Oil 0 5 0 4 2 8 75 3 33 64 3 10 29 2 38 16 18 4 4 8 0 5 16 2 130 90 130 0 0 147 10 0 23 16 3 1815 0 44l" 5 0 341 19 8 5 4 0 133 15 0 68 15 1 46 17 3 22 6 10 532 5 0 237 0 8 207 7 6 36 36 40 1,189 1 16 638 3 3 * 408 1 11 133 0 7 19 12 11 48 4 1 24 10 0 26 5 10 19 16 8 57 10 0 23 16 3 Totals .. 33 493 3 0 14 3 32 0 2 5} 35 1,183 3 10 94 16 1 900 22,677 1 5 2,570 13 ll 1 591 529 3 9 1,120 3 9, 12,778 0 0 11,847 2 2 24,625 2 2 8,725 6 3 1,493 3 3 703 3 9 7,518 19 10 3,003 19 1 491 14,513 2 3 1,137 9 8 !l,208 12 9 61,699 2 3 the above, Line sections, comprising _n area of 47 ,cres 2 roods 30 perches, of sndowment li ma in the Ni ilson District. Note.—TI lere was taken u; during the year, in addition ti

Table M.- Return of Special-settlement Associations under Section 163 of "The Land Act, 1885," and Part IV. of "The Land Act, 1892," and including the New Selections balloted for during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

District and Survey District. Name of Special Settlements. OldT: "3 o . ■as EH O 0-5 O co 6 m lactii ins. IB o s a H o 6 & •S to .5 2Z "v, _i .2 <* O © 6'ew Selectioi lR taken up diring the Yi Average Area of each Selector in the Block. iar, Price Amount received during the Year. Total Amount received on Current and Previous Transactions to 31st March, 1893, During the Year. Made F; From commencement of System to 31st March, 1893. reehold. Tot. 31st Past Tri J Area held, March, 1893 : and Current msac tions. CO EH . O M O H -2=3 .si o >> 5-1 £h S * Area. Foi Eeitures and Surrenders during the Year. 31: Selectors in it March, 189: >n Advances a Arrear, 3: Interest ,nd Rent. Original Area of Block. No. Area. Total Area of Block. per Acre. C_ •3 S 02 CO o o rA~£ CO Area. Amount. *t_ w o o o o £~ GQ Area. Amount. ' No. Area. No. Area. Area. Auckland — Wairere Onewhero Waoku Hawke's Bay— Norsewood A. E. P. 3,320 1 38 3,032 3 18 717 0 0 A. E. P. 324 0 15 A. E. P. A. B. P.. 108 0 51 '£ s. d. 10 0 £ s. d. 237 11 7 470 19 1 55 0 0 £ s. d. A. E. P. A. E. P. A. E. P. A. E. P. A. E. P. £ s. d. A. E. P. 998 0 0 2,587 0 0 717 0 0 £ s. d. 143 10 4 243 3 6 128 19 0 Gordon Tuakau Canterbury 33 30 15 13 7 1 20 25 14 3 [ 780 2 2 112 1 25 112 1 25 07 5,666 0 14 01 5,279 0 29 197 0 32 197 0 0 (21 \ 62 lis Waipawa Danevirke Liberal 3,221 1 39 1,899 1 32 33 25 18 13 8 9 - ) j 642 1 6 4,125 17 1 f! 779 3 7 226 3 30 15 9 1,564 0 1 698 1 19 18 16 14 1,657 1 38 1,201 0 13 2,800 0 0 8 10 658 1 8 747 0 19 )._ 1,187 2 13 46 18 9 14 2,800 0 0 2,800 0 0 200 0 01 •• I 10 8 Taranaki — Ngatimaru Milsom Tanner Oxford Gatton Lepperton 35 20 22 19 14 6,700 0 0 5,200 0 0 4,000 0 0 3,800 0 0 2,800 0 0 7,344 0 0 5,620 0 0 4,300 0 0 4,114 0 0 3,700 0 0 191 1 28 200 0 01 181 3 111 200 0 Ol 200 0 0 | 1 10' 8 13 9 35 26 22 19 14 6,700 0 0 5,200 0 0 4,000 0 0 3,800 0 0 2,800 0 0 Omona Mimi Wellington— Makuri Apiti Makuri and Mangahao Mangahao Mangaone and Tararua Woodville-Tiraumea Feilding Pahiatua-Puketoi Woodville-Mangahao .. Wellington Parkville Awahou-Pohangina Birmingham Sandon Masterton-Mangahao .. Woodville-Mangatainoka Masterton-Hawera Pemberton Hutt McKenzie Somerville 5,006 1 8 9,259 3 13 5,080 3 0 5,327 1 15 9,537 2 36 5,112 0 21 6,494 2 28 8,790 0 0 5,339 3 10 4,996 2 33 4,560 0 0 3,074 3 32 7,048 0 34 4,276 2 19 50 91 50 52 90 50 61 87 53 68 40 32 70 39 21 40 12 10 48 20 19 62 11 80 20 15 21 12 1 20 4 3 12 14 8 25 17 6 1 1 14 6 . • ". 1,974 17 7 Pohangina Apiti Apiti and Ongo Mangahao V "I 10,030 9 5 55,874 0 8 118 11,858 2 13 236 23,381 1 38 502 58,308 1 31 212 18,981 0 12 508 2 33 583 11 2 ! 371 37,026 1 21 Apiti Mangahao and Mangaone Mangahao Ohinewairua, Maungakaretu, Tiriraukawa Makotuku Apiti, Umutoi, Pohangina Mangahao, Tararua Mangaone, Tararua Apiti, Umutoi Makotuku Karioi Tiriraukawa Waimarino Delaware Waiwera Kakariki Salisbury Clifton No. 1 .. Palmerston North Knights of Labour Coonoor Pioneer Masterton Reform Stirling Pahiatua No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 14 37 34 14 20 24 49 22 57 1,448 3 10 7,400 0 0 6,850 0 0 2,600 0 0 8,900 0 0 4,800 0 0 9,800 0 0 4,550 0 0 10,700 0 0 1,448 3 10 8,000 0 0 7,200 0 0 3,000 0 0 3,900 0 0 5,000 0 0 11,000 0 0 4,050 0 0 11,000 0 0 103 A 37 200 0 0 201 1 35 185 2 34 195 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 206 3 10 187 2 35 1-d ' CD en c. T-l ■la O A c3 o O 'u Ph d W) . ed o ■— 'e-t hi Mount Cerberus, Makuri Mangaone Mount Cerberus, Makuri Tararua Mount Cerberus 14 13 49 24 54 40 36 22 2,800 0 0 2,323 0 0 9,800 0 0 4,770 0 0 10,480 0 0 8,300 0 0 7,044 0 0 4,322 0 0 3,000 0 0 3,700 0 0 10,000 0 0 4,800 0 0 11,000 0 0 8,400 0 0 7,600 0 0 5,000 0 0 200 0 0 177 0 24 200 0 0 198 3 0 194 0 0 207 2 0 195 '2 26 196 1 32 •6 i B | a < u ' <0 <D ) "= > ~ i cS ' 3 ) . ))eA )3 5 6 671 127,656 1 10 Aohanga, Mount Cerberus, Makuri, Puketoi Puketoi Umutoi Mangahao Christchurch Pohangina Palmerston North Forest Reserve Clifton No. 2 .. Wanganui Wellington Fruit-growers 25 28 15 5,000 0 0 4,710 0 0 2,992 2 0 6,000 0 0 6,600 0 0 4,000 0 0 200 0 0 168 0 34 199 2 0 Makotuku Karioi, Makotuku Kaitawa Canterbury— Waitohi Hinds Otago— Swinburn 10 43 27 1,800 0 0 8,046 0 0 2,620 0 0 1,950 0 0 10,000 0 0 2,620 0 0 180 0 0 201 0 20 96 3 10 Medbury Hinds 2,192 1 8 13 1 18 270 0 0 830 3 8 2,192 1 8 830 3 8 156 2 15 46 0 3 51 3 0 11 8 3 11 18 2,192 1 8 830 3 8 Swinburn 15 3,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 200 0 0 )0 18 7* 15 3,000 0 0 Total 98,288 2 24 989 417 | 838 157,381 0 33 173,769 3 26 11,436 1 7 '60,779 19 11 130 12,977 2 35 261 25,756 1 3 1,521 1225,812 2 2 291 25,665 2 28 7 705 3 25 780 11 2 437 42,515 3 34 2,537 9 2 Associatio: Blocks IELECTED, but N< it suevey: id nor bal: iOT :d among the Members. Auckland— Matata and Rangitaiki Parishes North Island Land Association, Whakatane 43 20,000 0 0 20,000 0 0 465 0 0 0 10 0 Taranaki — Omona and Ngatimaru Terrace End Mangaehu Llewellyn Whenuakura Moeawatea Kaitangiwhenua Kaitieke Eltham Moanataiari Danevirke Centennial .. 51 51 24 53 53 53 12 16 20 49 10,200 0 0 10,200 0 0 4,800 0 0 10,600 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,800 0 0 2,400 0 0 3,200 0 0 4,000 0 0 11,016 0 0 11,016 0 0 5,184 0 0 11,448 0 0 11,448 0 0 11,464 0 0 2,592 0 0 3,400 0 0 4,500 0 0 9,700 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 203 0 4 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 Taurakawa and Mahoe Taurakawa and Omona » • * Ngatimaru Waro Aohanga Wellington— Mangahao Mount Cerberus Hautapu Hall .. Rising Sun Marton No. 1 .. No. 2 .. Hunterville No. 3 Mekalickstone Kaikoura Woodville No. 2 Onslow Hunterville No. 1 No. 2 Marton No. 3 .. . No. 4 .. , No. 5 .. Umutoi 18 55 3,200 0 0 11,000 0 0 I 100 20,000 0 0 Tiriraukawa Puketoi 40 33 13 30 55 50 50 50 50 50 17 8,000 0 0 6,000 0 0 2,600 0 0 5,990 0 0 11,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 3,400 0 0 Apiti Tiriraukawa Makotuku, Manganui Umutoi Total 1,036 223,018 0 0 * Averaj irice.

79

α-i.

Table N.—Retdrn >f Homestead Lands tal :en up during the Year ended 3 st March, 1893. rfeitures. Total 31st: Area held on March, 1893. Made Freehold since Commencement of System to 31st March, 1893. Takei up during ;he Year. Foj District. si So O W si I Area. Average to each Selector. Area. M-t . O Ul Jo a J Area. Area. Auckland Westland Otago .. 1 A. E. P. 38 0 0 A. B. P. 38 0 0 5 A. B. p. 600 0 0 98 1 8 A. E. P. 12,870 2 37 40 0 0 1,010 2 25 373 38 13 A. E. P. 63,751 0 13 1,440 0 0 1,845 1 30 Total 1 38 0 0 38 0 0 E 600 0 0 107 13,921 1 22 424 67,036 2 3 Table O.Table O. —Betubn of Small Geazing-runs taken up —Eetu JEN C luring the Year ended 31st :arch, 1893. Tak( !n up during the Year. , during the Yea, Year.^ Total Area held on 31st March, 1893. Amount received during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. Arrears on 31st March, 1893. District. u u I "3 Area. Average Area. g s-« Annual Rental payable. g Area. Annual Rental. ° p s g Area. Annual Rental. On the Year's On Past Transactions. Transactions. £ J* a I Area. Amount. A. E. P. A. E. P. s. d. £ s. d. 117 12 3 .. A. B. P. £ s. d. a. e. p. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 58 16 2 441 9 7 1,062 2 11 1 10 11 250 12 0 2 19 7 1,800 0 11 125 9 5 184 3 0 A. B. P. £ s. d. Auckland.. Ilawke's Bay 4 14,658 0 0 3,664 2 0 0 1| 17 57,803 0 0 45 116,955 2 18 1,163 2 10 3 3,120 0 0 18 3 9 14 28,715 1 36 174 10 8 Taranaki .. 2 246 0 0 123 0 0 0 3-03 3 1 10 5 19 2 1 67 9 9 .. 16 17,486 0 0 237 0 0 89 85,559 0 30 2,238 15 0 33 19,984 2 25 250 6 3 34 82,380 0 27 4,978 10 10 165 383,295 3 11 12,580 11 4 2 1,693 3 8 21 3 8 8 8,653 0 0 116 8 4 Wellington Marlborough Canterbury Otago 1 1,430 0 0 7 5,358 3 31 3 3,075 0 0 .. 20 66,464 3 37 i 1,430 0 0 0 1 1,035 2 0 25 17 10 71 70,307 0 11 1,015 3 11 765 2 10 0 3 2 1,120 0 0 12 3 6 1,025 0 0 0 11 141 18 9 .. 70 19 4 3,316 19 10 3 13,949 0 0 209 3 9 3,323 1 0 0 64 1,799 7 2 6 17,329 1 5 1,177 0 0 899 13 7 9,535 18 10 10 11 10 103 229,880 1 25 4,005 7 8 Southland .. ! 2 1,693 3 8 846 3 24 0 3 21 3 8 .. Totals 39 92,926 2 36 2,156 12 7 l 7 18,304 3 5 1,202 17 10 401 765,158 0 39 21,469 9 11 1,170 0 10 16,591 7 7 204 355,744 3 32 5,551 1 7 14—C. 1.

80

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Table P. —Numbee an Aeea of Pastoeal Licenses for the Year ended 31st March, 1893. District. Takt No. of Holders. Taken up during th' :en up dui Area. Year. Annual Rental, g ,'-, Area, approximately. Total Area held on 31st March, 18! Holde: :s in Arrear on 31: it March, 1893. Average Holdings. Rent paid during the Year. No. Area. Amount. Auckland Hawke's Bay .. Wellington Nelson Marlborough .. Canterbury Westland Otago Southland ■' I 1 32 1 10 6 25 5 A. R. P. 14,000 0 0 188,835 2 36 1,848 0 0 70,277 2 0 44,000 0 0 570,960 0 0 115,376 0 0 £ s. d. 50' 0 0 151 17 8 7 14 0 454 17 0 44 0 0 5,406 0 0 166 14 7 19 22 24 331 130 84' 47 355 102 A. R. p. 117,609 0 0 159,645 0 0 41,916 0 0 799,958 0 37 1,099,919 0 0 2,961,385 3 0 509,000 0 0 4,161,707 3 1 1,259,943 0 0 A. R. P. 6,189 3 31 7,250 2 14 1,710 2 0 2,410 3 0 8,461 0 0 35,253 2 0 10,830 0 0 11,723 0 19 12,352 0 0 £ s. d. 143 3 5 1,183 14 2 210 14 8 7,224 11 9 8,663 12 0 42,230 6 0 579 13 6 48,564 1 7 3,813 1C 3 6 i<; 2 3 1 11 11 A. R. P. 28,400 0 0 21,509 0 0 2,112 0 0 10,767 0 0 124,000 0 0 117,000 0 0 92,788 0 0 £ s. a. 85 0 0 100 5 3 19 9 i 43 17 1 760 0 0 107 5 0 219 19 9 Totals ;als .. .. .. 80 1,011,297 0 36 6,281 3 3 1,114 11,111,083 * Holding 135 licenses. 80 1,011,297 0 36 11,111,083 2 38 9,974 0 0 112,613 13 4 50 396,576 0 0 1,335 16 5 Table Q. —Betubn of Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses not otherwise enu: erated issued during the Year ended 31st March, 1893. District. Coal and Mineral. Timber-c Object for which Leased. itting. Plax-cu iting. Miscellaneous. Total m , , Amount reTotal Area. Annual <»ivedduring Rental, & c. *£<& March, 1893. Total Area in Occupation on 31st March, 1893. Lessi on I ies in Arrear list March, 1893. 6 Area. Annual Rental. 6 Area. Amount o - received. 'A Area. Amount received. 6 •A Annual Area. Rental I payable. No. Area. Annual Rental. No. Amount. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago Southland [ ii i A. R. P. 270 0 0 53 1 0 360 0 0 £ s. d. 35 0 0 6 13 0 1 10 0 A. R. P. 3 Sold in clum 9 534*0 0 6 88 0 0 193,019 3 4 £ s. d. ps234 5 0 2 116 "8 2'.'. 63 "9 9*3 1 26 3 0 1 1,210 6 6 2 A. R. P. 1,410 0 0 £ s. d. 20 0 0 4 8 22 a. r. p. £ s. d. 171 3 39 47 10 0 653 0 0 47 2 0 270 2 13 91 2 0 A. R. P. 1,851 3 33 706 1 0 270 2 13 12,09 0 12 88,77 3 3 30 0 0 55,983 2 8 38,960 1 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. 82 10 0 1,236 0 0 53 15 0 312 6 7 91 2 0 333 10 8 489 10 10 4 10 0 841 18 11 432 17 11 2,071 9 2 10 0 0 159 10 0 938 11 8 865 12 2 713 2 5 1,825 14 6 41 45 76 15 30 63 200 34 188 231 A. R. P. 7,834 2 36 4,832 3 3 839 2 32 873 2 18 5,222 1 20 37,591 1 36 96,816 1 10 1,334 1 23 65,551 0 20 34,452 3 34 £ s. a. 321 10 6 290 11 1 232 18 4 123 5 10 518 18 0 798 7 2 2,142 2 8 171 4 3 1,561 8 1 615 8 0 4 34 7 £ s. d. 15 11 0 57 18 6 36 12 4 1,413 5 0 13 10 0 32 12 6 188 15 0 131 8 0 126 4 5 040 0 0 15 7 0 2 30 4 29 218 35 0 12 4 10 0 8,877 3 3 432 17 11 10 0 0 10 0 0 55,855 2 8 914 11 8 33,938 1 11 510 7 11 20 0 0 40 0 0 615 0 0 3 0 0 1 10 0 10 0 0 14 24 SO a 86 1,387' 0 31 192 14 6 Totals • • 2,070 1 31 235 17 6 393,641 3 4 1,650 12 5 9 2,725 0 0 49 17 0 317 99,812 1 6 2,058 1 6 107,889 2 1 2,332 9 0 8,135 12 10 923 255,349 1 32 6,775 13 11 167 2,015 16 9

99

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Table R. — Return of Land and Territorial Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

15—C. 1.

Auckland. Hawke's Bay Taranaki. Wellington. Nelson. iMarlborough. Canterbury. Westland. Otago. Southland. Total. Land Revenue. Cash lands Deferred payments Deferred payments, pastoral .. .. - Village-settlement, cash Village-settlement, deferred payments Special-settlement Association, deferred payment £ s. d. 8,617 8 8 2,116 9 3 50 0 £ s. d. 9,768 16 3 4,398 11 3 19 17 3 95 14 4 642 1 6 £ s. d. 6,289 4 1 15,519 9 8 20* 0 0 247 0 1 £ s. a. 14,523 19 7 9,098 4 4 419 6 9 267 3 2 9,948 1 11 34,156 15 9 £ s. d. 2,103 12 8 6,455 17 6 £ s. d. 588 19 11 134 15 3 £ s. d. 2,095 5 5 1,144 15 4 1,412 10 4 70 14 9 748 9 3 £ s. d. 11 8 9 54 9 0 £ s. d) 3,472 0 0 4,903 17 5| 30* o o: 205 15 llj £ s. d.| £ s. a. 2,264 4 9| 49,635 0 1 4,761 7 1 48,587 16 1 1,412 10 i 1,083 4 0, 1,648 2 S 390 7 0 1,963 14 S j 11,370 5 7 780* 2 2 9* 4 8 •• Total 11,519 0 1 14,925 0 7 22,075 13 10 8,559 10 2 732 19 10 5,471 15 1 65 17 9 8,611 13 4 8,499 2 10 114,717 9 TeBEITOEIAIj. Special-settlement Association, perpetual lease.. Lease in perpetuity Occupation with right of purchase Perpetual lease and small areas Agricultural lease Village-settlement perpetual lease Village homestead special settlement Homestead Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Coal and mineral leases Prospectors' mining leases Timber licenses and other leases Flax-cutting.. Miscellaneous leases Transfer, lease, and license fees, &c. Rents of reserves Miscellaneous 50 3 0 127 1 0 4,126 4 9 564 17 7 6 13 0 551 3 6 143 3 5 222 14 4 56 10 8 54 8 3 4,919 8 7 13*15 0 84 14 3 1,062 2 11 1,183 14 2 31 17 3 37 12 3 104 15 10 4,902 7 5 252* 3 5 12,77014 6 142* 9 0 361 1 8 1,803* 0 6 210 14 8 12911 7 7,224*11 9 695 7 8 68* 4 1 i' 5 0 23 5 6 309*12 5 8,663 12 0 5,623 12 5 795*13 5 881 1 1 3,387 19 2 41,930 6 0 227 15 2 9 0 0 •• 41*11 6' . •• - 579* 13 6 60 0 0 58 18 2: 48 9 0' 6,002 6 9 ! 202 15 1 87 10 8 141 1 3 10,435 12 5] 48,564 1 7: 351 19 6i 316 15 0 232 9 11 2,039 0 5 241* 6 5 146 3 3 10 11 10 i 3,813 16 3 192 14 6 519 19 : 567 4 ( 40,623 2 ( 202 15 : 1,281 19 I 2,202 4 • 6 13 ( 17,812 6 ! 112,313 13 ( 1,782 8 i 9 0 ( 1,171 8 I 59 18 ( 1,881 6 i: 1,826 12 I 4,921 14 I! 955 12 I 744 9 2 20 0 0 243 16 6 323 0 0 35*10 0 247 2 2 153 2 2 33 7 2 46 15 11 116* 8 2 41 6 2 227 2 11 175 16 4 2418 4 140 15 10 177 18 6 348 15 0 26 14 0 5 0 3 0 17 6 448 11 6 250 10 4 1,668 4 2 44 2 0 63 9 9 15 7 0 16 14 6 46 19 0 746 7 8 4 12 3 435 17 11 174 18 6 1,407 16 1 21 0 0 3 0 0 53 0 0 31 10 0 22 10 0 14 10 0 84 10 0 10 14 0 249 2 4 280 4 0 106 5 0 213 14 10 76* 2 6 10 0 0 161* 7 0 . 412 13 6 62 8 4 542*14 11 •■ Total 7,671 1 2 7,922 8 6 5,857 12 6 16,007 2 0 10,466 16 9 9,959 9 2 54,873 19 9 826 15 0 1 : ;66,837 4 7 7,715 8 11 188,137 18 • Crown-grant fees State forests .. ,. Survey Fees, — Amounts which do not form part of payment for land Amounts which do form part of payment for land 246 5 2 173 12 6 . 116 2 8 172 17 5 354 13 2 89 0 0 11 18 0 66 16 101 3 0 Ol 0 10 Ol 124 11 10 60 6 4 201 13 5 1,134 4 0 1,386 18 I 1,368 12 11 l ■* I 1 342 10 0 188 16 0 305 8 6 24 0 0 238 15 4 301 5 0 1,400 14 II 152 7 10 894 12 8 1,574 7 10 101 18 8 106 13 2 439 12 4 242 9 0 3,512 1 ( Total 914 15 6 1,010 15 4 361 13 5 1,929 1 Oj 27 10 0 666 2 6 1,637 2 5| 7,668 7 8 496 7 2i 118 11 2 506 9 2

a—i.

Table S. —Summary of Arrears due to the Crown on the 31st March, 1893.

Table T. — Return of Lands Reserved, Alienated by Act, Scrip, &c.

Table U. —Statement of the Number of Selectors on the Books of the Lands and Survey Department on the 31st March, 1893.

100

System. o 43 O-S fl Oi oJ CD -"J E-J. CD Q CD "3 & rA O co r» CD as fl CD J2-CC Area. Ami iunt. Total. On Year's Transactions. On Past Transactions. Deferred payment Perpetual lease Agricultural lease Village settlements on deferred payment Village settlements on perpetual lease Village-homestead special settlements: Interest on advances, and rents Special-settlement associations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous (not otherwise specified) D E H J K L 766 1,179 63 114 78 491 A. B. P. 119,839 2 16 832,918 0 32 4,770 3 6 1,621 2 22 1,324 0 31 14,513 2 32 £ s. a. 27 1 7 79 18 8 1919 11 6 5 8 £ s. d. 5,242 7 1 9,245 6 3 1,950 8 9 409 18 1 123 5 0 2,346 2 5 £ 8. d. 5,269 8 8 9,325 4 11 1,950 8 9 429 18 0 129 10 8 2,346 2 5 M O P Q 437 204 50 167 42,515 3 34 355,744 3 32 396,576 0 0 16,779 0 26 22**0 11 2,537 9 2 5,529 0 8 1,335 16 5 1,976 12 11 2,537 9 2 5,551 1 7 1,335 16 5 2,015 16 9 39**3 10 Totals .. 3,549 1,286,604 0 31 194 10 7 30,696 6 9 30,890 17 4

iring the Year em led 31st March, 18! 13. Total Area reserved, granted under Acts, &c, from the Foundation of the Colony to the 31st March, 1893. District. Area reserved for Various Purposes. Area granted under Acts. Area taken up by Scrip. Total Area alienated during the Year. Luckland .. 'aranaki lawke's Bay Vellington.. felson larlborough lanterbury.. Vestland .. )tago louthland .. A. B. P. 9,898 0 18 3,659 1 20 476 2 2 34,484 1 34 115 0 25 50 1 0 497 1 16 13 1 4 2,637 0 31 66 0 30 A. B. P. 18,068* 2 24 A. B. P. 1,974 0 0 A. E. P. 11,872 0 18 21,728 0 4 476 2 2 34,495 1 3 50,082 3 35 1,310 2 10 706 0 2 20,063 1 4 2,637 0 31 1,746 0 30 A. R. P. 2,809,095 0 34 559,171 2 3 227,926 1 23 771,102 0 5 227,576 1 27 179,544 1 8 687,958 3 18 99,410 2 34 587,732 1 1 589,063 0 35 10 3 9 49,967 3 10 1,260 1 10 36 0 0 *20,050 0 0 172* 2 26 1,686* 0 0 Totals.. 51,897 3 20 91,079 2 13 2,146 2 26 145,124 0 19 6,738,580 3 28 * Miaiana Railway Company.

District. CD m o3 rfl43 ffi g g t3 -I = CD 43 Or O) PM O. )J4 CD I Ph C- 43 o! CO CD TO Q. OJ t? Ph 43 % g g-Srl 43 BPS P<ft Ph o le! B 3 CD' co fl TO O oj 'S w ao <! . "3 CD CD 3 -H _J ~CD fl <do a M . Cr, CO 43 c3 3 g^ >a j "3 CD fl 43 43 43 CD <D Cll 02 g § oris CO ■5 a jT CD ""■■a • fl « 43 111 OJ "a S o O Associations. so g . 43 rfl M '8 0> 2 » p£ £ Ol 3 £ «S 5 g ■3, 2 8 » r-J S W t-l (r, ,Q 02 43 rfl O CD fit! §s pS"3 "3 E o 43 CO CO ft CO TO o ° M .3 Totals. * Aucklana Hawke's Bay .. Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough .. Canterbury Westland Otago Southland 491 132 633 200 1,051 33 63 67 339 342 1,001 303 439 763 27 16 216 11 763 253 81 19 8 18 73 9 10 28 30 274 31 67 48 76 1,253 43 17 45 16 89 19 22 98 41 45 76 15 30 63 200 34 188 231 2,142 707 1,308 2,685 1,448 295 1,023 162 2,142 1,313 43 10 68 tio *14 218 9 14 180 40 333 660 24 331 130 84 47 355 102 7 1 16 33 2 1 15 23 *5 82 "l 123 32 33 34 54 1 *62 112 51 151 iii 63 'is 165 2 1 8 Totals 3,792 128 161 85 382 350 900 1,491 40 1,036 401 1,114 107 923 18,221 3,351 * The figm :es in this ci ilumn are not inch ided in totals. t Two are holders of leases in perpetuit;

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Table V. —Comparative Statement of Selectors and Lands selected under the Various Systems in Force for the Ten Years ending 31st March, 1893.

101

Year ending 31st March, Cash. Deferred Payment. Perpetual Lease. Lease in Perpetuity. Occupation with Right of Purchase. Agricultural Lease. Village Settlement: Cash. Village Settlement: Deferred Payment. Village Settlement: Perpetual Lease. Villagehomestead Special Settlement. Specialsettlement Associations. Homestead. Small Grazingruns. Year ending 31st No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. 1 I I . Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. 144,589 135,603 14,386 56 6,410 * 251 .. 4,160 1S84 1,477 624 72 65 .. 24 1884 1885 1,242 64,975 621 69,739 111 24,410 24 2,932 * 85 499 .. 81 5,628 .. 1885 1886 770 64,383 581 58,451 138 28,166 28 j 4,491 78 294 69 527 .. .. 158 16,820 35 5,830 1886 1887 426 32,633 557 50,527 272 50,329 14 475 65 227 112 585 896 28,700 455 43,873 49 6,977 08 105,857 1887 1888 554 28,229 319 41,100 367 72,401 15 I 1,222 68 66 147 1,316 309 9,451 309 31,740 28 4,220 83 156,482 1888 1889 613 68,498 397 54,419 768 204,749 11 | 150 143 664 99 1,182 36 622 24 345 209 19,905 il 1,050 81 161,652 1889 1890 543 46,922 304 41,376 756 236,905 1 53 159 656 75 782 76 1,729 20 270 46 4,970 19 1,751 35 60,340 1890 1891 573 100,014 258 34,091 788 288,917 4 | 551 87 210 51 369 56 954 10 350 2 71 9 945 43 86,161 1891 1892 492 40,501 223 40,467 824 282,547 2 90 89 429 23 182 59 893 140 2,213 13 1,922 8 1,010 80 159,464 1892 1S93 552 36,326 169 21,084 385 122,557 126 55,320 161 54,271 4 193 75 528 29 390 164 2,635 33 493 838 157,381 1 38 39 92,926 1893 *Ii

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102

Table X. Endowments. — Return of Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Table W. Endowments. — Lands taken up during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

Cash Lands. Perpetual-lease Lands. Lease in Perpetuity. Small Grazing-runs. Miscellaneous Leases. District. Endowments, &c. o SS Area. Amount realised. O cd as Area. O co Annual »-8 Rent. | g v I fl OJ Area. Annual Rental. No' I Area. Annual Rental. ° co" tH CD rQ xn Area. Annual Rent. I £ s. d. 30 0 0 £ s. a. £ s. d. A. E. P. £ s. d. A. E. P. £ s. d. Auckland Museum University Educational University Midland Railway Company Greymouth Harbour Board Midland Railway Company Ditto School Commissioners Clutha River Trust 2 A. e. p. 10 0 0 A. E. P. A. e. p. 6 9,919* 0 0 247 19 6 Hawke's Bay .. Taranaki Nelson i 442 "o 0 16 ii 6 i 1,419 "o 0 42 ii 6 .. .. .. I .. ii 7,222 "o 0 559**8 ( 'l 5**0 0 5 10 0 ■• ! .. Westland \ Otago j 3 2 1 150 0 0 19,700 0 0 239 1 17 *7 10 0 t {239 0 0 1 200 0 0 15 0 0 14 41 1 9 13 10 ( 1 | 861 3 1 30 0 0 •• Tot! .Is 1 1,419 0 0 42 11 6 7 10,780 3 6 25 7,263 1 9 1 572 18 9 20,104 1 7 282 0 0 2 ! 642 0 0 31 11 6 279 19 6 i I I I * This sum represents 10 per cent, deposit on purchase only. t Selection of two blocks (26 and 28 B 1 Map) by the company. J Perpetual-lease land made freehold.

Auckland. I Hawke's Bay. Nelson. Canterbury. Taranaki. Wellington. Westland. Otago. Southland. Total. . I Cash lands Deferred payments Perpetual lease and small areas .. Leases in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlements Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Coal and mineral leases Timber licenses and other leases .. Miscellaneous leases Rents of reserves £ s. d. 714 6 66 16 3 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1,69912 1 £ s. d. 5 10 0 961 10 4 64 15 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. 7 10 0 £ s. d. 239 0 0 474 8 7 304 15 8 £ s. d. 56 5 0 2,570 1 5 876 4 1 £ s. d. 308 5 0 5,713 12 11 1,496 6 5 21 5 9 4 10 9 443 3 6 1,063 12 5 10,434 10 6 1,350 1 7 152 10 6 355 6 7 183*14 11 21 5 9 4*10 9 57*14 6 112 19 6 13 14 0 10,434 10 6 118 14 0 300* 0 0 272* 9 6 563 16 7 186* 1 10 1,000* 0 0 231* 7 7 152 10 6 345* 6 7 10* 0 0 Totals 1,132 5 3 318 0 2 345 6 7 1,699 12 1 391 8 1 1,854 10 4 ! 21,353 5 11 11,613 11 1 300 0 0 3,688 12 4

C.r— 1

104

TABLE No. 6.—RETURN of Field-work executed by the Staff and Contract Sueveyors, from Ist April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. LAND DISTRICT OF AUCKLAND.

Topographical Survey. Minor Triangulation. Topographical Survey for Selection under the Land Act. Bural and Suburban. 'own lection Survey. Nativi Land Court Survey. Gold-mining Survey. Eoads, Eailways, and Water-races. Detention by Native Opposition or other Causes. Other Work. ier Worl Cost. Total Cost *. of Surveyor and Party — from 1st April, 1802, to 31st March, 1893. Surveyor and District. Eh Q . p, CO Acres. +n o Total Cost. =°_^ 0 ! * © . Acres. +> o ' Total Cost. o< I EH © . ft© Acres, -p £ Total Cost. D_ Acres. _£ tU o © . +* g Total Cost. O -1. m" A °.a Sh5 k~3 o co S3 is A _i 06.5 •go 0 0 Eh <D P.QJ IE! Z. o to __ «m a © - o o &° Acres. ,Y_d +> o Total Cost. ° U EG J* ■ 5 a Cost per Mile. Remarks. Acres. Total Cost. Acres. Total Cost. Total Cost. Cost. d. £ s. d. d. 1-37 1-10 £ s. d. 131 8 2 220 17 0 d. £ s. d. s. 0-96 1-88 £ s. d. 737 14 10 649 12 8 s. £ s. d. s. £ s. d. s. £ s. d. £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 300 1 9 48 10 0 £ s. d. 1,147 4 8 424 4 10 L. Cussen. Hamilton F. Simpson. Whangarei J. Baber, jun. Tauranga G. A. Martin. Kaipara G. Stevens. Tangihua J. I. Philips. Waikato 23,000 45,630 15,271 6,897 1,345 7,584 4,085 8.375 8,253 43 32 13 74 35 112 79 2-59 2-14 2-6 1-0 1-1 811 10 0 417 17 4 430 13 8 455 17 4 61 75 27-0 82 0 0 160 2-5 8-5 7-0 6-1 16-8 180 i7-5 10-7 14-7 268 15 0 45 0 0 149 8 9 74 17 0 89 14 0 75 0 0 182 2 0 45 12 8 137 19 8 28 3 0 720 12 6 812 14 0 755 16 11 896 5 1 684 3 5 551 19 8 Mostly bush. " Other work " includes 39 inspections. Broken country, mixed bush and open. Transferred to Napier as Chief Draughtsman in September. Scattered surveys. Nearly all bush, adjoining old surveys. Section surveys (8,500 acres) not yet mapped. Broken forest country, small sections. Includes Cambridge Standard Survey, £186 3s. 9d. Mostly small resurveys. Inspections kauri, perpetual lease, &c. Mostly resurveys in broken bush country. Temporarily transferred in January to East Coast. Mostly broken bush country, adjoining old surveys. Inspection, &c. Scattered section..; very broken bush country. Open swamp lands and rough bush. Rough country ; much travelling. H. D. M. Haszard. Tokatoka W. J. Wheeler. Whangaroa 67,670 0-64 181 9 0 A. H. Vickerman. Mahurangi T. K. Thompson R. S. Galbraith. Opotiki, Whakatane .. A. G. Allom. Barrier A. B. Wright. Road Surveyor Temporary Staff. N. F. J. Haszard. Puhipuhi .. W. C. C. Spencer. Mangakahia H. A. Warner. Russell 5,62. 3,348 23,035 048 57 46 72 70 1-88 3-8 0-64 1-5 531 14 11 041 14 0 736 7 10 48 12 0 'i48 io 80 59 - 4 0 11-0 6-5 2-5 2-5 13-0 110 10-5 10-0 100 15-4 127 14 8 66 12 6 25 0 0 25 0 0 200 0 0 00 8 4 12"o 0 706 11 11 658 0 10 709 8 2 127 17 0 108 16 0 11,100 0-5 20 16 3 18,000 2-15 10l"8 2 7,978 409 2,991 26 9 10 1-35 20 1-03 540 12 9 40 0 0 154 17 6 7-6 8-5 11-5 15-0 87 8 0 127 10 0 38 0 0 10 0 0 642 3 4 934 3 0 737 10 11 Broken bush country. Heavy forest. Open country; scattered bush. Mean s and totals 147,4i 0-9 554 10 5 118,000 2-15 161 8 2 95,883 678 1-8 6,197 4 10 61 75 27-0 82 0 0 148 10 8-0 59 4. 0 91-7 14-01 1,286 19 11 75 0 0 863 3 10,737 12 3 Forest and open isolated sections. Broken forest lands. Ditto. Ditto. Native Land Court survey paid for by Government. Nearly all wet swamp. Native Land Court survey paid for by Government —Hauturu and Puketarata Subdivisions. Broken forest land. Ditto. Includes contract for £65. Broken forest land. Includes 6 S.G. runs only partly surveyed. Contract forest land, mostly broken. Very broken forest land. Forest land, rather broken. Nativo Land Court surveys paid for by Government; Okoheriki Subdivisions partly surveyed. 1 Half open fern ; remainder very broken forest. I Includes two school-sites, 15 acres. Includes one school-site, 10 acres. I Broken forest land. I Road up Kirikiri Valley. ' Broken forest land. ). Ditto. ) Forest land. I Native Land Court surveys paid for by Government. ) Broken forest land. ) Ditto. 1 Open and forest. Authorised Surveyors. P. Bedlington R. Campbell P. E. Cheall.. E. P. Clare C. Clayton O. M. Creagh W. Cussen 4,325 318 694 855 20 2 2 5 1-78 2-51 1-9 2-2 385 2 6 40 0 0 65 18 4 94 16 8 2,000 0-91 91 8 3 1-5 9-4 14"3 0 369 1 5 48 0 0 24 5 0 94 16 8 91 8 3 358 10 4 482 2 5 "l 4,069 11 1-64 333 10 0 103,474 88 017 928 2 3 A. L. Foster.. E. Frissell J. Hannah .. J. W. Harrison P.Holt J. H. K. Hovell J. B. Koast D. H. Lusk H. Mitchell 1,081 703 1,417 2,289 10,2.2 3,291 5,000 1,468 211 2 4 23 5 9 15 3 2 1 1-28 2-05 2-18 1-52 0-3 1-97 0-89 1-43 1-77 09 1 0 77 19 10 154 7 6 175 0 0 155 2 6 325 0 0 224 14 6 105 13 4 18 15 0 69 2 6 82 18 7 154 7 6 175 0 0 42 5 0 225 0 0 224 14 9 64 0 0 18 15 0 i^ooo "l 0-52 26"o 0 A. B. Morrow R."Newmann W. C. O'Neill C. C. Otway G. H. Purchas J. Rochfort A. M. Sheppard I. Stephens D. Stubbing G. B. Thomas J. R. Vaile A. Wilson Goldmining 1,436 548 3,089 5,577 2,500 1,693 150 2 7 13 6 3 3 2 11 2-6 2-01 1-2 1-0 1-5 2-83 78 13 4 71 9 0 311 1 1 336 '6 8 128 4 7 127 0 0 21 5 0 6-3 ii-34 71 8 9 199 0 0 162 2 6 313 10 1 ' 792 11 6 383 9 0 128 4 7 129 5 0 6 0 0 404 1 3 275 0 0 25 0 0 235 8 4 68,747 ii o'-ii 404" 1 3 5,500 592 2,434 3 2 14 0-93 1-85 1-81 255 15 4 55 0 0 220 5 5 1,084 '43 '8-98 486 i4 9 Means and totals 59,510 159 1-3 3,830 1 7 175,221 51 0-16 1,449 11 9 1,084 43 8-98 486 14 9 7-8 10-90 85 11 9 5,577 19 8 Grand means and totals 147,400 0-9 554 10 5 18,000 2-15 161 8 2 155,349 837 1-3 10,027 6 5| 01 75 270 82 0 0 175,221 51 0-16 1,449 11 9 1,232 53 8-86 545 18 9 99-5 13-86 1,372 11 8 75 0 0 863 3 5 16,315 11 11 I •All add: itional Ni ,tive Land Cou ■t surveys, by various surveyors, totalling 6G bl >cks, vitli an area of 100,853 acres, cost of which is paid by Native owners. LAND DISTRICT OF HAv KE'S BAY. Staff Surveyors. E. C. Gold-Smith. Poverty Bay J. Hay. Norsewood, Tatoka, Takapau, and Mangatoro 35,000 0-4 54 11 6 4,316, 20 2-93 633 5 2 0-7 23 5 8 16 6 0 138"i3 7 612 9 4 734 3 9 District Surveyor, Field Inspector, and Land Officer at Gisborne. Settlement work. Experienced very bad weather; rough forest country. " Other work " is represented by inspecting Napier standard survey, and small road deviations. Transferred to office staff 1st August, 1892. " Other work " represents redefining boundaries and office work. Somewhat delayed through Native difficulties. The wet season in the localities in which he has been working has considerably hindered the work. Transferred to Southland Office staff 1st August, 1892. Small scattered surveys. W. Armstrong. Paritu D. W. Gillies. Tokomaru and Mata, .. W. J. Wheeler. Waiapu W. T. Neill. Motu and Waikohu 3,060 14 10 0 19-2 10 1 5 18-7 26 4 8 193 8 4 490 3 11 101 11 4 20 0 0 5 0 0 50 13 8 469 9 11 490 9 6 229 18 0 530 10 4 11 3,! 150 1 1-6 157'io 0 95" 3 4 16,780 5-i 355 i5 4 7-9 12 17 1 O. Goldsmith. Hangaroa H. M. Smith. Weber and Woodvillie .. 132' 7 110 13 3 6 8-3 22 10 2 0-9 5 0 0 180 16 11 4 10 0 257 0 8 16 4 6 Authorised Surveyors. A.D.Newton. Nuhaka North T. J. Mountain. Pohui Hallett and Laing. Taramarama, Clyde, and Nuhaka G. J. Winter. Motu Kennedy Brothers. Waikopiro, &c. 16,000 0-9 05 0 0 13,760 4-9 281 15 0 3,969 4 4,610[ 14 0-74 2-24 147 0 0 522 19 8 2-9 12 8 3 55-7 8 19 0 j 36 0 0 498 15 6 395 19 0 339 17 4 Heavy and rough forest country. On the settlement work there had been previously spent 4|d. an acre on topographical survey. Rough forest country. Experienced much bad weather. Engineering survey Waikaremoana-Frasertovvn and WairoaMahia Roads. 3}d. an acre previously spent on topographical work. Survey of Native blocks at the instance of the Land Purchase Department. 2,00o| 2 0-9 90 0 0 4^873 "8 0-49 170"0 0 90 0 0 100 0 0 .. j Totals 54,060 o-o 134 1 630,540 5 I 637 10 4| 15,027, 47 I I 1 1-87 I 1,406 8 4 8,023 0 81 327 10 0 114-3 £13-37 1,527 12 0 20 0 0 289 10 7 4,266 2 4 16—C. 1.

C— 1.

103

No. 6— continued. —RETURN of Field-work executed by the Staff and Contract Sueveyors, from Ist July, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. LAND DISTRICT OF TARANAKI.

Surveyor and District. I Minor Triangulation. _ © . \ Topographica fcjelecl under the 1 in © . 1 Survey for tion Land Act. Bural and Suburban. Town Section Su: •vey. Nati ive Land Court Survey. Gold-i Lining Surveys. 9 m Eoads, Railways, and Water-races. Go f Total Detention by Native Opposit'n or other Causes. 1 Cost. Other Work. Total Cost of Surveyor and Party from 1st July, 1892, to 31st March, 1803. © . ft© Acres, -w 3 Total Cost, <_? j< _ © . ft© 1 O Total Cost. ft© b. Acres, -g _\ in © . ft© Acres. 3 U Total Cost. o 3 I ft© Acres. 3 Total Cost. »| r [Acres. pit 'ji ■*H § Cost per 0 S Allotment. Total Cost. Acres. -fi " m' <D £ _q.£ o_ o o n © . -g & Total Cost. m Eh O 0_ o o c/_ Eh O . Ph=_. 'S Total Cost. =" _H Cost. Kemarks. 1 O d. 1-8 £ s. d. 54 19 4 1 d. £ s. d. s. £ s. d. 18, 1-7 410 5 6 s. £ s. d. d. £ s. d. s. £ s. d. £ £ s. d. \£ \£ s. d. £ s. d. 53 16 8 £ s. d. i 740 19 8 H. M. Skeet. Mimi and Upper Waitara 7,300j 4,800 Very rough country, heavily timbered. " Other work " includes inspection and report on Mr. Donkin's line, standard and alignment survey of portion of Stratford Town, &c. Rough bush country, heavily timbered. Road-line through Huiakama Block to give access to F.H. Association Blocks in course of survey. " Other work " is inspection and report on proposed deviation of above road. Broken heavy bush country. " Other work " includes taking over roads through Pohakura and Pahautuhia Blocks under warrant. Preparing 35,000 acres for settlement; rough bush country. Harbour soundings and scattered surveys. P. A. Dalziell. Huiroa and Ngatimaru E. W. Buckeridge. Ngatimaru and Omona 16,000 148 0 0 ) 9,425 46. 1-25 038 1 7 52 80: 14-42 62 1 8 15-72 56 12 0 1 11 0 669 7 7 1 650 18 8 2-2 3-0 I G. H. Bullard. Ngatimaru and Omona 24-5 32-01 784 8 3 90 0 0 1 078 17 1 J. F. Frith. Taurakawa Taranaki Office Temporary. W. H. Murcott. Huiroa and Ngatimaru 40 4 6 706 1.3 0 5,489 I 18 5 4 060 10 2 A. C. Turner. Opaku 191 2-9 j 796 19 10 20-25 27-23 551 10 10 604 3 1 Rough bush country. "Other work" is for subsidiary trig, and pegging on Milsom Block. Very rough broken country ; grading and magnetic traverse. Contract. C. Finnerty. Ngatimaru John Annabell. Kapara and Opaku T. K. Skinner. Mimi 18,620 349 "o 5 32 0/8-5 285 0 0 4,777 9 3 Total Cost, Contract Surveys285 0 0 349 0 5 180 0 0 Forest country, rather swampy; subdivision after magnetic traverse of roads. Rough broken forest country; 18* miles of roads and subsidiary trig. This amount was expended in defining boundaries sufficient for compiling plan for Native Land Court of Mohakatino Parininihi, Nos. 1 and 3. Rough bush country; subdivision of Tanner Block, University Reserve ; and subsidiary trig. Broken forest country; Milsom Block. "Other work" is for defining side-lines between sections in Hawera and Opaku Districts. 7,962 4-5 62,843 '2 /0-69J 18o"o 0 R. H. Davies. Ngatimaru, Upper Waitara, and Opaku H. W. Climie. Ngatimaru 12,676 37| 1-3 800 10 0 654 0 0 7,113 371 1-0 595 18 3 60 0 0 00 0 0 •• Total of contract surveys 1,528 0 5 1 Means and totals 23,300J2-09 202 19 4| 18,020' 4-5 349 0 5 47,465J 189, 1-5 |3,586 15 2l 52 1 81,j 14-42 02 1 8 62,843 /0-69J 180 0 Oj 48-35 28-8 !l,392 11 1 263 18 0 0,305 9 81 LA ISTRICT OF W: lli: GT iN. * Ll. Smith (General). Tiffin, Mikimiki, &c. J. D. Climie. Makuri, Puketoi, &c. W. B. D. Murray. Ohinewairua, &e. .. 124,500 F. A. Thompson. Waipawa, Wairarapa, &c. A. E. Ashcroft. Apiti, Hautapu, &a. .. R. P. Greville. Mt. Cerberus, &c H. J. Lowe. Apiti, Pohangina, &c. J. McKay. Tiriraukawa, oic. M. C. Smith. Mangahao, &c. W. T. Morpeth. Hautapu, &c. J. G. Littlejohn. Makuri, Puketoi, Mt. Cerberus, &c. C. A. Mountford. Makotuku, &c. J. R. Annabell. Nukumaru, &c. H. J. Lewis. Makotuku, &c. .. T. W. Hughes. Puketoi, &c... A. A. Seaton. Mangahao, &c. R. B. Bristead. Tiriraukawa, &c. A. Simpson. Puketoi, Mangapakeha, &c. * * 2*1,290 17 0 * 22,100 * 6 * I s. a. 552 10 OJ 6,251 35J 1/9 547 7 1 s. d. £ s. d. 3 17 13 0 52 19 0 501 19 1 9 4 0 692 5 0 Mostly inspection duties. Selection block, exploration only. 961 11 2 Hilly bush country, difficult of access. 880 10 7 Awarua triangulation, 50,205 acres in hand ; hilly bushcountry, difficult of access. 692 9 8 Roads in South Wairarapa County. y 101 9 13 2 975 is 11 66 9 4 6,000 24,400 20,200 9,750 4,650 14,360 4 4 4 6 6 4 100 0 0 406 13 4 336 13 4 .. .. i .. 243 15 0 .. .... 110 5 0 4,650 33 1 2/7* 239 6 8 .. 8,274 34 /ll 191 13 4 .. .... 2,572 1 /21 191 13 4 4,200 23 1/6 179 13 7 8,150 39 1/5 131 13 4 4,240 31' 2/21 195 11 4 .. .. j .. 2,750 7; 1/5* 611 19 5 380 "o 9 'i2 30 86 18/5 33 '2 4 •• I .. 2 10 0 0 6 21 3 9 "g*io 10 2 20 0 0 127 2 6 102 13 6 48 13 10 52 10 0 22 0 0 10 8 3 450 1 4 Left the service ; return for five months only. 982 11 8 LeEt the service ; return for eleven months only. 993 2 8 Rough hilly bush country, difficult of access. 632 18 0 Ditto. 720 13 4 Hilly broken forest country. 010 12 8 557 11 9- Selection survey in previous year, which included roading, &c, cost 71d per acre, and was done by Messrs. J. D. and H. W. Climie and Greville. 075 16 6 27,000 acres of sectional surveys in hand, surveys of which are complete. 343 1 8 Left the service ; return for six months only. 554 9 8 Difficult of access ; forest country. 028 18 8 Hilly forest country. 094 14 1 Hilly forest country ; 3,660 acres sectional work in progress. 702 7 8 Hilly forest country ; 11,734 acres sectional work in progress. 717 17 11 Mostly open country ; sectional cost includes lljd. spent in roading, &c, in previous year by Mr. Hughes. 668 15 8 In hand 3,787 acres sectional survey ; hilly bush country, difficult of access. 563 18 5 Selection surveys, which included the roading of the sectional area done by Messrs. Ashcroft and Lowe in previous years, costing 7Jd. per acre, and included in this cost. 643 8 10 9,467 acres of sectional work in progress. 666 15 0 9,700 acres of sectional work in progress. 542 2 9 Hilly forest country; return for ten months only. 522 18 2 Ditto. 329 7 8 The roading of tho sectional area was done by Mr. Lowe last year, the price being 10*d. per acre, included in this cost; return for nine months only. 231 14 5 Return for five months only; 10,000 acres of sectional work in progress." 18 15 0 Return for one and a half months only; 24,400 acres of sectional work in progress. 700 9 11 11,500 11,500 13,800 7,900 11,734 4 4 34 4 4 24 2 0 315 0 0 577 5 10 405 6 10 6 14 8 0 30 1 10 4 0 5§ 6 2 5* 10 11 15 0 86 8 0 494 9 3 32 2 11 117 10 0 29 10 6 21 2 2 2 2 0 200 10 5 •• 7 10 8 2* 52ijl0 13 4* 5* 14 3 8* 72 17 0 560 2 6 16 16 6 A. J. Mountford. Mt. Cerberus, &c. P. R. Earl. Umutoi, Apiti, &c. 8,350 7,310 4 4 139 3 4 3,787 19 1/8 ,121 10 8] 5,258 23 1/5 31.5 11 8 1170 5 4 78 0 5 W. H. Dunnage. Kaitawa, &c. H. Maitland. Tiriraukawa, &c. A. L. Foster. Tararua, Mangaone, &c. C. C. Otway. Tararua, Mangaone, &c. J. M. Morice. Apiti, &c. 9,777 9,700 5,020 5,400 6 4 4 4 244 8 fi! 161 13 4! 83 13 4J 5,020 25 1/4* 90 0 O 1 5,400. 20 l/oj , 5,369 22 1/3} 345 2 8 275 12 6 352 13 9 " i 1 1 14 12 0 3*10 18 2 6* 5 5 103 6* 10 7 81 1 :-!■',' 10 15 7a 14 12 0 38 3 7 34 8 2 07 10 0 148 5 1 76 12 4 6 15 2 14 "3 4 J.Dickie. Apiti, Ruahine, &c. H. Buiggs. Mt. Cerberus, &c. .. I Totals for staff .. .. 124,500 2*1,296 17 6 203,451 4 3,726 3 5! 65,921 318 1/5* J4.781 9 9 12 30 18/5 33 2 4 269*111 4 4 3,022 18 4 1,044 12 6 16,700 9 11 Contract Surveyors. J. King. Mangaone, &c. I 4,933 26 /9J 433 2 /9* 192 13 9 18J 8 7 9* 157 6 3 882 17 10 Selection survey, which included the roading and bulk of back-lines, was done previously by Mr. Frith at a cost of ll*d per acre. Payments on account of 62 miles of river traverse in Awarua Block. V T. Ward. Pukokahu, Ohinewairua, &c. J. Skinner. Retaruke C. Ileardon. Ohinewairua H. J. Wylde. Mangahao Totals for contract .. .. I 17 0 0 3! 265 2,000 "4 1/6* 1 m 167 0 0 82 0 0 Roading done in previous years by staff surveyors. 952 13 10 , 1 •• j .. I I 5,366, 28 ! /9§ 209 13 9 • 5,265 5 ! /n_. 249 0 0 j 18f 8 7 9* 157 0 3 882 17 10 952 13 10 • • Grand totals .. ..jl24,500J 1,296 17 6 203,451 3 5J 71,287' 346 1/4} 4,991 3 6 12 36 18/5 33 2 4 5,265 5' I /HI 249 0 0 I 288111 0 8 3,180 4 7 1,927 10 4Jl7,653 3 9 653 3 9 ! * Includinj frai and for s] lecial settlement.

105

a—i

No. 6 — continued. —Return of Field-work executed by the Staff and Contract Sueveyors, from Ist April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. LAND DISTRICT OF MARLBOROUGH.

Topographical Survey. Minor Triangulation. Topographical Survey for Selection under the Land Act. Rural and Suburban. 'own Section Survey. Native Land Court Survey. Gold-mining Surveys. Eoads, Eailways, and Waterraces. Other Work. Total Cost of Surveyor and Party from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. Surveyor and District. Eh =* S.<_ ag <_ S Total Cost. Acres. -•=> S Total Cost. 00 Acres. 6 | rU 0) ""a r, . 1-1 3, Cost per 0 g Allotment. £.2 CO o ■ •go . Eh O O IS Eh ft £ Total ■S3 Cost. O <m _ CD . O g Ph _ O-0 -go Total Cost. o_ O 5 Cost per 1 Mile. Eemarks. Acres. Id h- 5 Total Cost. Acres. 0<H O Eh - . Eh O Total Cost. Acres. Total Cost. Acres. Acres. 'otal Cost. Cost. Staff. R. F. Goulter. Wakamarina and Tennyd. £ s. d. a. £ s. d. d. £ s. d. s. d. 2/4 £ s. d. 199 12 0 £ s. a. £ s. a. s. d. £ s. d. A. R. P. s. a. £ s. d. £ s. a. £ s. a, £ s. d. £ s. d. 321 0 11 1,694 3 Steep hilly country, covered with heavy bush. No cadet. Left the service 31st August, 1892. Mostly steep broken country; heavy bush ; expensive district. No cadet. Five sections revised. Transferred to Marlborough 31st December, 1892. Steep hills ; dense scrub intermixed with timber. son F. E. Greenfield. Wakamarina 1,833 10 1/10 168 0 6 5 9 2 I 218 9 8 Authorised. A. D. Wilson. Orieri 550 2/ 55 0 0 55 0 0 •• Contract. Wilson and Dobson. Wakamarina and Tennyson J. A. Robertson. Wakamarina and Tennyson J. A. Robertson. Wakamarina ana Tennyson Means and totals 24,000 2 204 0 0 3,007 10 2/4 : .. 350 0 0 350 0 0 Special settlement, part flat and terrace ; partly hill, bush country. Extension of triangulation. Heavy bush. 5,148 39 3/5 j 879 9 0 .. .. •• 20 19 0 1,090 17 6 Terrace, hill, and flat; bush country. I 24,OOP! 2 204 0 0 .. I i 12,232! 70 1/3 i 1,652 1 26 8 2i 2,035 8 1 Less £91 13s. 2d., fees paid on surveys. LAND DISTRICT IF N. ILS< >N. J. Snodgrass. Kawatiri, Ngakawau, and Mokihinui J. Montgomerie. Reefton, Mawhera-iti, Burnet, &o. R. T. Sadd. Waitapu, Takaka, Totaranui, Aorere, &c. J. D. Thompson. Pakawa, Aorere, and Waitapu F. S. Smith and D. J. Barron. Waiau, Lyndon, Mandamus, Mythohm, &c. F. E. Greenfield. Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Wai-iti, and Wangapeka Means and totals 1,740 7 409 6 3/9* 329 15 1 99 184 0 15 0 138 0 0 103 0 0 5 8/4| 43 15 6 6/5 38 16 5 131 0 0 614 14 1 Rough bush country. No cadet. Within a goldfield, 4/11 100 12 8 9 109 0 16 7-7 90 14 2 121 0 0 0 8| 7 1 4* 61 17 1 381 15 4 600 6 9 Ditto. 8,290 83 4,582 37 1/1.11 820 9 11 21 0 0 1 4/7 4 16 5 175 11 3 531 2 6 Rough bush country. No cadet. 2/0* 468 15 0 60 0 0 2 6/6* 19 13 0 3 11 0 493 3 8 Ditto. 814 30 5/2* 212 11 6 27 33 0 10 0 16 10 0 343 1 9 1,259 11 11 Open country, mountainous. No cadet. F. S. Smith three months on sick leave; D. J. Barron one month on sick leave. About half heavy bush, remainder fern and scrub ; hilly country. Transferred to Marlborough, January, 1893. 5,457 31 1/5 388 16 5 8 0 0 6 0 0 16 5 0 416 1 10 I '' 21,2921 194 2/2-1 2,321 0 7 135 326 0 15 0-5 245 4 2 305 0 0 14 7/ ,107 1 4 9J: 7 2 10 67 17 1 1,051 4 4 3,915 0 9 Contract Surveyors. J. B. Saxon. Whakapuaka, Wh_.ngam.oa, French Pass, Kaiteriteri, &c. G. B. Sinclair. Wangapeka and Waimea A. P. Rawson. Motueka, Wangapeka .. C. Lewis. Kaiteriteri and Takaka 3,539 32 1,685 12 1,264 14 607 6 520 13 9 Rough bush country. Not in goldfield. 2/2 386 16 0 1/101 2/10| 2/7 157 15 4 183 8 0 78 16 6 167 1 10 242 17 1 13 0 9 Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Means and totals 7,095 64 2/3-2 806 15 10 943 13 5 Fees paid on surveys, £1,209 14s. 6d. Grand means and totals 28,387J 258 2/2-4 3,127 16 5 135, 326 0 15 0-5 245 4 2 I 305 0 0 14 7 107 1 4 9*| 7 2 10 67 17 1 1,051 4 4j 4,858 14 2| LAND DISTRICT OF WES' 'LAND. Staff District Surveyor. W. G. Murray. Arnold, Hohonu, Tekinga, Turiwhate, Otira, Toaroha Totara, Whitcombe Pass, and Murray Survey Districts Staff Assistant Surveyor. W. Wilson. Bruce Bay, Gillespie's, Clarke, Governor's Pass, Haast Pass, Mataketake, Okuru, Turiwhate, Wills, Mount Cook, Karangarua, and Moorehouse Survey Districts Authorised Surveyor (Contract Svrveyor). rohn. N. Smyth. Kanieri, Turiwhate, Hohonu, and Waimea Survey Districts. 42,900 /0-43 76 17 0 3,320 /3-14 43 8 2 8,238 22 126 1 2 2,700 16 ] 1/9* 2/4-5 737 17 0 320 13 10 | 26 0 0 19 10 0 54 19 8 987 15 2 Heavily wooded, broken, hilly country, and wet climate; most expensive district. Goldfields. No cadet assisting. 38,800 /0-4 65 13 10 4,000 /!_ 20 16 8 12,000 /2-52 5J 30 17 1 162 0 0 3 10 0 789 12 0 , Also heavily wooded country, wet climate, and expensive goldfields district. No cadet assisting. Isolated surveys between an extreme limit of 252 miles, principally over rough bridle or bush roads; road surveys over bad country in short lengths and widely distributed. 466 6 3/1-4 72 12 0 25 0 0 10/9j! 13 9 0 86 1 0 Scattered section surveys, Midlana Railway land selections, and isolated gold-mining surveys ; heavily wooded country. Expen- • sive goldfields district. Means and totals 81,700/0-4 142 10 lol 4,000J /lj| 20 16 8 jl5,320| 1/2-651 169 9 4 11,404 44 2/ 1,131 2 10 .. 25 0 0 Jredit for refunds su: :| 10/9J 1 13 9 0 fees, ordinary Mid! 6 j 30 5 0 land Railway lai 181 10 0 58 9 8 tids and goldfields .. 1,863 8 2 829 19 3 1,033 8 11 :vey AND DISTRICT 0! CAN' 'er: UR' Staff Surveyors. r. S. Welch. Ashley, Selwyn, Mackenzie /2-6 189 16 0 J 8,284 1 52 14 2 /11'7 13/3 *403 17 0 t34 9 2 I 140 13 7 18 148 11 122 19 10 122 19 10 613 4 7|* Includes the completion of Midland Block L., and part of LIV. Hilly pastoral country; river traverses in deep gorges. Also the completion of Block LXIL, situated on the plain, t Among sandhills on the coast, surrounded by old surveys. 1 81 5 6 702 9 11 I Includes final survey of Station Peaks, S.G. Runs. Cost of road survey includes supervision of the works. 0 27 1 4 604 1 9 § Inspection and survey of Midland Blocks LXIV., LXVII.,LXX., LXXI. Hilly pastoral land ; Block LXIV. on plains. Sectional surveys on the Tresterton Estate, and on the Peninsula Hills. 81 16 11 609 9 6: The section surveys situated on the Ashburton Plains. Topographical and selection surveys ; rough broken hills, with bush in gullies, and surrounded by old surveys. 204 9 9 210 8 11 || Subdivision of Ashwick Flat, Run No 16. Hilly pastoral country; back portion mountainous. Joined the staff as temporary surveyor, 1st November, 1892. 143 14 4 86 8 6 Unfinished section surveys, Hunter Hills; pastoral country, with bush in deep gullies. Joined the staff as temporary surveyor 17th January, 1893. 61 5 4 19 12 10; Boundary and triangulation survey (unfinished) of the Cheviot Estate. Joined the staff as temporary surveyor, 24th February 1893. 55 8 5 16 13 4 Boundary and unfinished road surveys on the Cheviot Estate. Joined the staff as temporary surveyor, 1st March, 1893. 51 3 1 13 19 7 Survey of small-grazing run ; terraced land in the Alford district. — : Joined the staff as temporary surveyor, 6th March, 1893. l| 829 4 6 2,876 8 11 116,831 r. N. Brodrick. Geraldine, Waimate, Mackenzie 3-. H. M. McClure. Selwyn, Akaroa .. 39,108 /3-1 J508 18 0 2 14 0 13 10 0 23 2 10 140 13 1, 81 5 6 33 9i 6i .. .. j 14,930 7,835 8 04 /4-4 1/1-6 §278 15 7 445 12 8 I 31 12 0 7 18 0 27 1 4 E_. 0. Mathias. Ashburton, Geraldine.. 2,330 /1-4 13 10 4 2,335 /6'6 64 12 4 10,056 /9-3 390 9 5 81 16 11 r. Stevenson. Mackenzie 30,370 ||55 17 6 204 9 9 /0-44 r. Roddick. Waimate 143 14 4 L Cunningham. Cheviot 61 5 4 _. C. Taylor. Cheviot • • • 55 8 5 vV. H. Reid. Ashburton 51 3 1 Means and totals 32,7001 I/0-51J 69 7 10| J19.165J /3-2 254 8 4 80,2651 2071 /6-17J 2,062 1 5l H. 2 14 0 13 10 Oj 6§ 23 6 0 17—C. 1.

104

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No. 6— continued. —Return of Field-work executed by the Staff and Contract Sueveyors, from Ist April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. LAND DISTRICT OF OTAGO.

Topographical Survey for Minor Triangulation. Small Grazing Euns. Minoi witl Trial Tope igulation igraphy. Topof for 8 the Na graphical Survey lelection under -val and Military Jettlers Act. Bural and Suburban. Town Section Si ive Land Court Survey. Gold-mining Surveys. Boadi ;, Eailways, races. and Waterirvey. Nati Other Work. Total Cost of Surveyor and Party from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. Surveyor and District. Acres. © • ft © ■+3 o Total Cost. Acres. o u « I Total Cost. O Acres. r-l © . a© ll O Total Cost. Acres. E* ® . _« 0< O Total Cost. _ Eh O < O =D . a_ =_ oo ia « . A Total Cost. M _i o*=l O en 9 E. _ I »a °a: £a ll °2 ■< ! w <u Total Cost. DO 0 h o < Ig _ ■ I •gO S3 (Total Cost. o o (J g _l _ u Eh y Total Cost. E- _ 3 Eh V . o Total Cost. Cost. Eemarks. d. 1-6 £ s. d. 280 7 6 a. £ s. d. a. £ B. a. s. £ s. a. s. a. /5| £ s. d. 027 11 2 A. E. P. 10 3 16 s. a. 15/0 £ s. d. 19 10 0 s. d. £ s. d. s.d. 10,0 £ s. d. 17 0 0 ; M.CH. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. a.l 114 10 6j £ s. d. 1,059 17 1 D. Barron. Naseby, Maniototo, Glimmerburn, Blackstone, Idabimi, Lauder J. Langmuir. Teviot, Beaumont, Tuapeka E. and W., Glenkenich, Rimu, and Tautuku *42,074 26,585 105 26 84 Open country within a goldfield. No cadet. * Into 30 sections. t55,340 1 230 11 8 40,800 1-56 205 7 9 1,158 27 2/7* 151 15 0 59 6/G 19 3 6 1 0 10 10 0 10 10 0 19 4 0 691 4 8 Topographical suirvey of small grazing-runs, all in open country within a goldfielld. Five hundred acres of rural surveys in bush Triangulation in Tautuku Forest; a wet and expensive district' Besides the ordnnary minor triangulation, a subsidiary one has been carried on 'within it, which entails a large amount of extra work. No cadett assisting, f Into 28 sections. Triangulation all in Tautuku Forest. Run subdivisions in open country, and in a goldfield. About 7,000 acres under mathematical check. No cadet. } Into 24 sections. Heavy bush counttry. Very wet, and expensive to work. No cadet. A " selection " survey of the whole of the area returned had been made previously. All dense bush, and difficult of access; wet and expensive to work. Cadet assisting. Within a goldfield. No cadet. E. H. Wilmot. Leaning Rock, Tigerhill, Shotover, Mokoreta, and Rimu +32,920 2-3 312 17 5 56,000 1-7 394 2 7 100 0 0 120 0/0 36 0 0 26 7/10| 10 5 6 14 7 6 785 11 9 D. M. Calder. Woodland 3,710 31 2/4* 438 18 4 5 0 12 16 0 64 0 0 173 1 8 655 6 0 W.D. R. McCurdie. Catlin's.Glenomaru, Rimu, and Tautuku G. Mackenzie. Mid VVakitipu and Cardrona 6,050 117 2/ii 653 13 8 238 0 0 131 18/6 120 0 0 54 12 0 695 8 8 48* 4 7/6 18 3 9 6 10 3 8 0 Temporary Surveyors. John Edie. Woodland and Glenomaru N. L. Falkiner. Woodland and Tautuku 990 1/5 70' 0 0 6,505 4,600 ■li)' 37 1/7* 2/5 527 17 1 550 18 3 13 53 3 0 11 16 8 13 13 4 101 5 11 41 0 0 19 4 0 40 13 6 040 11 8 474 17 3 All heavy bush, with a very wet climate. No cadet. All rough country, ieavily timbered, wet climate, and expensive district. No cadet. A " selection " survey of 2,100 acres of the area returned under " Rural and suburban " had been made previously. All surveys within a goldfield. A first year's cadet assisting. § Into 20 sections.. M. McNicol. Nenthorn, Hummock, Hummockside, Maniototo, Maruwcnua, and Domet WilliamLaing. Strath-Taieri,Swinburn, and Sutton §53,172 1-2 261 15 11 3,400 4 12 0 932 30 l/5j 09 0 6 9 0 32 23/0 6 18 0 30 1/6 2 6 0 283 9 4 4,456 45 1/3* 289 11 11 2 0 0 210 6 6 Open country withirn a goldfield. No cadet. Fee System. L. D. Macgeorge. Leaning Rock, Cairnhill, Benger, Lauder, and Teviot L. 0. Beal, Jun. Lorn District 323 10 5/1* 82 16 6 Mining surveys. 88 3 7/6| 33 5 0 33 5 0 Mining surveys. Means and totals 183,506' 1-42J 1085 12 6 100,200| 1-6 664 2 4 990! 1/5 | 70 0 158,996 432J 1/2-713,315 5 11 1358 0 Ol 28312/10-6 182 8 0J 608*1 281 6/01 183 0 122 53! 12 4 7: 276 15 11 444 0 % ■5,533 5 11; LAND DISTRIi IT OF SOUTHLAND. John Hay. Waiau, Takitimo, &c. A. Hoded-inson. Oteramika .. W. Darby. Waikawa J. II. Troseder. Lillburn, Alton, Monowai, &c. FI. R. Dundas. Stewart Island P. li. Duncan. Wairaki, Centre Hill, &c. W. Wither (Road Engineer). Waikawa Authorised Surveyors. fames Blaikie. Hokonui, &c. 23,880 45,276 6,100 I 49 /5-1 i 11 /11-25 I I 972 10 1 .. I .. 286 0 4 .'. | 1-75 j 1-22 14 0 0 21 0 0 761 19 2 25 0 0 .. 324 5 8 25 13 0 138 16 8 808 6 11 686 12 8 Includes about 4,000 acres forest; remainder principally open From October, 1892. Principally open land. Broken forest land. Partly forest land. 9-5 937 3 10 26!471 2,990 55,349 44 /6-25 697A 6 920 0 75 565 12 0 .. j .. 505 15 5 .. .. 3/2 11 19 0 i 29 3/9-5 27 /2-2 . '. 11-5 15 5 '6 0 118 10 0 609 1 11 57 10 0, 28 10 7 470 11 8 136 12 0 50 5 0 5 5 0 3 13 0 485 9 0 I 10 0 0 389 12 8 All forest land, and small sections. Principally open tussock land. Commenced in June. 489 9 6 .. j .. 165 12 41 n - J . 102 0 0 J ° X ° J 12 0 Oj 35 9 2 0 Engineering surveys on Waikawa-Catlin's Road, and locating portion of Wyndhami Valley Road. Commenced in November. Principally open land. 17,346 J 1,934 | 1,060 /6-76 11 .. 7 .. 0-27 24 11 0, .. .. 19 8 0 L S. Miller. Longwood, &c. .. 4/ 4 0 0 92 8 5-33 All forest country. Saw-mill areas. W. J. Spence. Preservation I ■' 20/ 34 19 6 Cromarty Township. Means and totals .. I 23,880 9-5 937 3 10 "I J156526 178 1 /5,3 3,784 8 2104 1 0 111 19/9-576 50 19 O! I 92, 5-33 24 11 0J 29-74 8 10 0( 250 0 OJ 349 15 3 4,536 0 2 SUMMAKY. No.6 —RETURN of Field-woek executed by the Sta 'p and Conteact Sueveyoes, from 1st April, 1892, to list March, 1893. Topographical Survey. Minoi Triangulation. Topographical Survey for Selection as Unsurveyed Land under the Land Act. Bural and Suburban. Town Section Survey. Native Land Court Survey. Gold-mining Survey. Koads, Railways, and Water-races. ' C _le er Cos Detention by Native Opposition Other Work, or other i __, , - L J P« Causes. \ Cost of Surveys ' from , 1st April, 1892, to St. Cost. Cost. 31st March, 1893. Land District. © . ft© Acres. *= 3 Total Cos O . i Total Cost. Acres. EH _ S Total Cost. =° J3 O _ © . ft© Acres. -p _\ Total Cost. Acres. O -i Eh <w _3 O • o § a? « 3 Total Cost. IZ o o< CO O I __ 1 . 4* (fi —• i to i ?-* d o __r ti 2a &£ £g % Acres, o _ +»S Total Cost. Acres, wb +»o Total Cost. A ~ < __ tB.B p.£ Acres, 00 o _5 Total Cost. Miles. C _i_ er Total Cost. Cost. Cost. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland d. £ s. d. 147,400 54,060 23,300 124,500 _ d. ! £ s. d. 0-9 ' 554 10 5 6-0 j 134 1 6 209 202 19 4 2-5 1 1,296 17 6 2-6 I 204"o 0 1-25 20 16 8 d. £ s. d. 18,000 /2.15 101 8 2 30,540 /5-0 037 10 4) 18,620 /4-5 349 0 5 203,451 /4-375 3,726 3 5 155,349 15,027 47,405 71,287 28,387 12,232 11,404 80.2G5 53,990 150,520 Acres. 837 47 189 346 258 70 44 207 432 178 s. £ s. a. s. £ s. d. 1-3 j 10,027 6 5 61 75 27 82 0 6 1-87 1,406 8 4 .. i .. 1-5 3,586 15 2 52 j 86 1442 62 1 8 1-40 4,991 3 6 12 36 18-39 33 2 4 2 20 3,127 16 5J 135 j 326 15-04 245 4 2 1-25 772 12 6 2-00 1,131 2 10 0-51 2,062 1 5 9-25 5 54 13 10 0 1-23 3,315 5 11 358 283 12-53 182 8 0 0-42 3,784 8 2 104 111 98 i 50 19 0 175,221 8,023 62,843 5,205 I s.d. 51 016/ 1 4] /0-81 1 2 1 /0-09 i 5 /11-875 £ s. d.j 1,449 11 9 327 10 Oj 180 0 0i 249 0 0 1,232 58 305 14 25 "2 608-5 '_8 92 3 s. 8-86 7 0 £ s. d. 545 18 9 107 "l 4 99-5 114-3 48-35 288-25 9-5 6 6-37 22-53 29-39 £ 13-86 13-37 28-8 11 7-28 30-25 23-25 12-43 8-5 £ s. d. 1,372 11 8 1,527 12 0 1,392 11 1 3,180 4 7 67 17 1 £ s. d. 75 0 0 20 0 0 £ s. d. 863 3 5 289 10 7 263 18 0 1,927 10 4 1,051 4 4 26 8 2 58 9 8 829 4 0 444 0 2 349 15 3 £ s. d. 16,315 11 11 4,266 2 4 6,305 9 8 17,653 3 9 4,858 14 2 965 9 7 1,033 8 11 2,876 8 11 5,533 5 11 4,536 0 2 81,700 0-4 32,700 0-51 183,506 1-42 142 10 10 69 7 10 1,085 12 6 4,000 15,320 /2-6S I 109 9 4 19,165 /3-2 I 254 8 4 990 /16-55 ! 70 0 0 10-75 18 9 0 181 10 0 148 11 1 276 15 11 250 0 0 23,880 1-6 664 "2 4 9-5 937 3 10 6-0 5-33 183 "o 3 24 11 0 " " 1 ""' Means and totals .. 1-92 4,014 11 7 306,086 /4-2 5,368 ' 0 0 1-08 34,205 0 8 731-25 922 251,352] 62 /2-1 624-19 13-45 297,906 1-04 I 1,297 11 2 501,340 631,938 2,608 14-5 669 5 2 2,206 1 9i 2,262-5 100 7-72 874 0 4 8,397 13 5 95 0 0 6,103 4 5 64,343 15 4

103

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893.

18—C. 1.

Vote, j Item. j Work. Amount Voted Expenditure Eoads constructed. Improved. f or from . EX l P 8oS^3 Ure 1StAP to' 1S33 ' Dray- Bridie- eoDI ™gg ovm Dray- Bridlelbj. 93. Slst Marchi 1893. roa ci. track. |of t fpfn road - roac1 - Boads constructed. Improved. Mainl ;ained. Area of >own Land rendered better accessible. Remarks. Drayroad. Bridleroad. 89 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Main Roads. £ s. d. Warkworth-Awanui (for Hukerenui Village Settlers) 1,800 0 0 Oxford-Rotorua .. .. .. .. 600 0 0 Tauranga-Napier, via Taupo .. .. .. 3,600 0 0 Nelson, Tophouse, and Tarndale .. .. 150 0 0 Nelson, Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika .. 3,500 0 0 Hokitika-Christchurch .. .. .. 3,500 0 0 Haast Pass Track .. .. .. .. 250 0 0 Paeroa-Teremakau .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Nelson-Havelock .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Cook's River (southward) .. .. .. 500 0 0 £ s. a. 123 17 9 698 18 0 2,663 9 2 12 0 0 3,183 15 4 4,417 3 8 97 11 4 306 9 6 400 0 0 487 16 10 £ s. a. 123 17 9 698 18 0 2,663 9 2 12 0 0 3,183 15 4 4,417 3 8 97 11 4 306 9 6 400 0 0 487 16 10 M. ch. M. ch. No. Length. Ft. .» M. ch. 0 20 M. ch. M. ch. 33 0 190 0 28 0 234 0 110 0 45 0 4 0 50 0 M. ch. Acres. Repairs to bridge. Survey made. i*42 Engineering surveys, twelve miles. 11 12 13 Hokianga County Roads .. .. .. 300 0 0 Three-mile Creek Bridge .. .. .. 500 0 0 Tokanui-Niagara .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 Total Vote No. 89 .. .. 16,000 0 0 1 Miscellaneous Roads and Bbidges. Auckland — Herd's Point-Takahue .. .. .. 400 0 0 Maunganui Bluff Road .. .. .. 100 0 0 Raglan-Waipa .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 12,641 1 250* 0 0 12,641 1 7 189 11 0* 146* 5 0 250* 0 0 7 1 42 I 0 20 694 0 '• I Work in progress. 90 Culverts, and repairs to bridge. 4 0 10,000 1 2 3 0 68 j •• •• 0 11 •• 26* 0 4 5 Alexandra-Kawhia .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Tauranga, East Cape, Whakatane, Te Teko, 500 0 0 and sundry roads, Bay of Plenty Aotea-Raglan .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Roads and bridges in Native districts .. .. 100 0 0 Maketu-Rotorua .. .. 100 0 0 Waipu-Mangawhai Road .. .. .. 120 0 0 Puhipuhi Forest .. .. .. .. 600 0 0 West Coast Road, Ho teo .. .. .. 50 0 0 Works at Rotorua .. .. .. .. 250 0 0 Bridge over Mangonui River .. .. .. 200 0 0 Waitomo Caves Road .. .. ... 50 0 0 Te Aroha-Katikati Road .. .. .. 50 0 0 Poverty Bay Road District .. .. .. 100 0 0 Bridge over Kaitaia (Smith's Gate) .. .. 20 0 0 Ruatangata to Railway-station .. .. 200 0 0 Carried forward .. .. 2,990 0 0 I 12 0 3 325 0 0 68*11 0 104 15 6 385* 5 2 25 18 0 297 16 5 1,555 2 4 16 0 .. •• Repairing bridges damaged by flood. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 i .. •• .. I 36 0 I 1 •• I •• Ferry-service. Grass-seed •• - •• Repairs, painting building, &c. 13 14 15 16 17 18 I •• •• 0 68 ! I ! 78 0 4 0 10,000 •• ■• 0 11 * i88 Is. Cd. ; £101 fs. 6d.

α-i

104

Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

Vote. Item. Work. Amount Voted Ex P f^ ture Expenditure 1=* April, 1892, 1892-93. 31st Marchj 1893 _ SjaT S* consf/ictdover road. tracK. 30ft Span Eoads constructed. Dray- Bridleroad, road. Improved. Main! ;ained. Area of Crown Land rendered better accessible. Eemarks. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Brought forward £ s. d. 2,990 0 0 £ s. d. 1,555 2 4 M. ch. 0 68 M. ch. No. Length. Ft. M. ch. M. ch. 0 11 M. ch. 78 0 M. ch. 4 0 Acres. 10,000 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 20 Miscellaneous Roads and Beidges — continued. Auckland —continued. Whangarei Heads Roads to Kaukapakapa Railway-station Hawke's Bay — Waimata-Waiapu Wairoa County Roads Taranaki — Junction Road from Inglewood eastward to Ngatimaru Wellington — Wanganui River Trust Tiraumea Bridge, Ngaturi (contribution) Mangaone Bridge Nelson — Port to Stoke vid Coast Mokihinui-Karamea Hanmer District .. .. • • Riwaka Valley bridle-track Matakitaki Road, horse-track Marlborough — Kaituna-Tuamarina Pelorus District and Rai Valley Spring Creek Wharf, and removing snag 100 0 0 400 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 1,000 0 0 500 0 0 500 0 0 250 0 0 1,000 0 0 300 0 0 850 0 0 60 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 50 0 0 100* 0 0* 1,000 0 0 500 0 0 1 0 3 57 - 1 46 3 0 " • • 56 miles improved. 27 23 29 30 31 781 17 7 t 850* 0 0 5* 0 + + " 32 33 34 50* 0 0 35 36 37 Kaikoura Road Pelorus-Queen Charlotte Sound Nydia Bay to Havelock Westland — Hohonu Bridge Canterbury — Summit Road, £1 for £1 subsidy .. ;. Pukaki to Mount Cook Peninsula Road, Akaroa, £1 for £1 Otago — Taieri Bridge, Otakia Waitati Road Tomahawk Road 1,050 0 0 200 0 0 120 0 0 500 0 0 75 0 0 400 0 0 250 0 0 500 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 811 7 0 3716 2 1 42 4*17 1 25 8*500 Extension and repairs to wharf. t - Culverts. ._•... 33 500 0 0 1 186 39 40 41 394*12 4 i*50 23J ch. approaches. 42 43 44 499 1 0 195 14 9 200 0 0 1 330 **44i 6*77 - •• Carried forward .. .. .. 13,395 0 0 4 18,500 13,395 0 0 7,475 11 2 9 27 7 74 587 2 14J 0 11 81 0 4 0 * Progress payment on reconstruction of three bridges destroyed by floods. + Erection of breastwork. ; 532 chains bush felled, and clearing.

C—l.

Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

105

Vote, j Item. Work. Amount Voted Exp^ aIe Expenditure April, 1892, 1892-93. glst Marchi jgga ;oacls constructed. ;tructcd. Improved. Maintained. Area of . Crown Land Hriiiwci rendered constructed over Dra J- Brid ' e - Dr T Bridl , e - bette , r , 30ft Span road. road. road. road. accessible. Remarks. Drayroad. Bridletrack. t Brought forward £ s. d. 13,395 0 0 £ s. d. 7,475 11 2 M. ch. 9 27 M. ch. 7 74 No. 4 Length. Ft. 587 M. ch. 2 144 M. ch. 0 11 M. ch. 81 0 M. ch. 4 0 Acres. 18,500 90 45 46 47 48 49 50 Miscellaneous Roads and Bridges — continued. Otago —continued. Martin's Bay to Lake Wakatipu Henley protective river-works Southland — Mossburn-Te Anau Boad Riverton-Orepuki Otautau Bridge, subsidy Wrey's Bridge, subsidy 220 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 450 0 0 250 0 0 1,190 0 0 | ... 400 0 0 250 0 0 1,190 0 0 1 4 1 | 1 j 320 620 (20ft. s.) 51 52 Te Anau Jetty General — Miscellaneous works 100 0 0 I 2,8S0 0 0 140 0 0 578 17 0 Lengthening, into deeper water. Total —Vote No. 90 .. IS,985 0 0 10,034 8 2 7 74 6 1,527 2 14* 0 11 81 0 4 0 18,500 10 31 91 1 2 Gbants-in-aid. Opunake Wharf Company —Contribution of £1 for every £1 collected locally Turanga Creek Wharf subsidy Contingencies — Co-operative works for unemployed 521 0 0 100 0 0 516 7 6 100 13 0 Also surveys of roads. (See also Nelson, Westport, Gre}'mouth, and Hokitika Main Road.) 3 10,000 0 0 7,136 15 0 9 9 17 62 13 45 Irrigation works Liabilities of Victoria Valley Road Board 500 0 0 38 0 0 37 10 0 4 5 Total —Vote No. 91 .. 11,159 0 0 7,791 6 0 9 9 17 62 13 45 •• Two bridges repaired. Roads to oi>en up Lands before Sale. Auckland — Ahipara-Herekino Opua-Waimate Okaihau to Victoria Valley Victoria Valley to main road 0 30 10 0 6*46 .. I i 92 1 2 3 4 200 0 0 600 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 48 17 6 296 18 4 128 18 0 6 13 6 3*55 i 0 18 6,000 4,000 7,000 6* 0 Two miles surveyed and graded. •• ■• Carried forward 1,350 0 0 0 76 10 0 481 7 4 3 55 0 18 0 0 17,000

106

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

Item. Amount Voted for Expenditure 1892-93. Expenditure from 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. Roads constructed. Improved. Maim ined. Area of Crown Land rendered better accessible. Remarks. Vote. Work. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Drayroad. Bridleroad. £ s. d. 1,350 0 0 £ s. d. 481 7 4 M. ch. M. ch. 3 55 No. Length. Ft. M. ch. 0 18 M. ch. 0 76 M. ch. 10 0 M. ch. 6 0 Acres. 17,000 Brought forward 92 Roads to open up Lands before Sale — contd. Auckland —continued. Maungataniwha Purua-Mangakahia 300 0 0 800 0 0 701 5 0 4,700 13,000 5 6 •• •• 13 miles graded and surveyed. 7 8 9 10 Takahue Block Waimamaku-Pakanae Waimamaku District Opanaki-Hokianga 300 0 0 300 0 0 500 0 0 2,000 0 0 154* 19 6 013 2*24 6* 0 4*000 12 m. Eng. surveys. 756* 8 5 6 61 2* 0 7* 0 .. 100*000 I 11 12 13 14 15 17 IS 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 Pahi-Waikiekie Puhoi-Makarau Wairua Bridge and Road Motatau Ruapekapeka Opuawhanga-Whananaki Opuawhanga-Whangarei Woodhill Bridge Kaeo Road, Whangaroa Mareretu Kaimarama Awaroa-Whangape Mangapiko .. Whaingaroa-Ngaruawahia .. Wangamarino District Akaaka Swamp Maioro Swamp Drain, Te Aroha Road, Otau Parish Hoteo Valley Road 650 0 0 40 0 0 320 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 34 0 0 250 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 450 0 0 500 0 0 1,000 0 0 150 0 0 640 0 0 250 0 0 220 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 402 8 9 30 16 0 304 8 4 267 16 3 3*40 2 0 3* 0 ■' I " •• i 40 •• I i' o •• .. •■ 7*000 2*000 302 10 0 448 1 9 i 8 3 *70 •• 512* 9 9 i*50 i'ooo 13 13 4 12 4 200 0 0 2*67 •• " One mile drains. Bush-falling and culverts on new roads, 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Tairua—Whenuakito.. Rotorua-Waiotapu Huka Falls-Puketarata Rotorua-Galatea Rotorua-Tc Wairoa Kawakawa roads Tauhoa District 200 0 0 100 0 0 60 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 456 0 0 54 9 0 31 12 0 251 5 9 26 6 6 i' 5 ., •• 20 0 9 0 18 1 " 9* 0 300* 0 0 8* 0 5*000 Carried forward i 13,870 0 0 5,241 0 0 8 17 16 55 3 ! 70 6 45 3 20 64 1 22 0 153,700

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

107

Vote. Item. Work. Amount Voted Expenditure Roads constructed. Improved. f or from _ B *»-> l8t^' 1893 - Dray . Bridle- cons f/ u ia t f;S Dray . BridleibJ_ i». 31gt March| 18g3 _ road track roa(J road Roads constructed. Improved. Maintained. Area of Crown Land rendered Dray- Bridle- better road. road. accessible. Remarks. I Length. Ft. 70 Brought forward £ s. a. 13,870 0 0 £ s. d. 5,241 0 0 M. ch. M. cb. 8 17 16 63 No. 3 M. ch. M. eh. 6 45 3 20 M. ch. M. ch. 64 1 22 0 Acres. 153,700 j 92 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 4G 47 Roads to open up Lands before Sale — contd. Auckland —continued. Maramarua Waimana Parish Waiotahi .. .. .. Kourawera District Waiawa Otamatea County roads Tokatoka-Mangapai Whiskey Creek Road Maropiu-Kai-iwi Miscellaneous and Engineering 200 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 1,000 0 0 10,670 0 0 •• •■ " .. •• .. .. i - - 3* 0 •• 740 6 9 .. Totals, Auckland 5,981 6 9 I 8 17 ; 19 55 3 153,700 70 6 45 3 20 64 0 22 0 Hawke's Bay — Waikohu .. 27,000 4S 400 0 0 59 4 8 13 50 Survey of road : nc work done. 49 50 51 52 53 51 55 56 57 58 59 60 Frasertown-Waikaremoana Ormond-Opotiki and branch roads Tautane- Weber Road Napier-Wairoa, £1 for £1 Rotokakarangu Pohui Mata Valley TJmutaoroa Totara Road, Tahoraite Otawai Road, Tahoraite Nuhaka Miscellaneous and Engineering 400 0 0 1,500 0 0 3,100 0 0 1,000 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 500 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 2,182 7 8 1,500 0 0 1C0 0 0 3 60 2 0 3*46 1 80* 66* 0 20*000 19,000 Small bridges rebuilt. 200 0 0 200 0 0 2 1 122 60 •• - 100* 4 6 •• •■ ■• -. • • Totals, Hawke's Bay 4 I 66 0 I 66,000 8,500 0 0 4,491 16 10 5 60 17 16 202 61 62 Taranaki — Roads east of Waitara (Ngatimaru) Huiroa District 2,000 0 0 500 0 0 1,000 19 11 90 12 6 | 1 40 3 40 63 Roads east of Waipuku 120 0 0 Survey, 7 miles 2' chains. Culverts. 110 0 0 Carried forward 2,620 0 0 1,201 12 5 1 40 3 40 •• * In course of construction.

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108

Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

Vote. | Item. Work. Work. Amount Voted f >r Expenditure 1892-93. 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1S93. Expenditure .oads con: itructed. Improved. Maintained. Area of Crown Land rendered Dray- Bridle- better road. road. accessible. Remark?. Drayroad. Bridletrack. Bridges constructed over 30ft. Span. Drayroad. ay- Bridlead. road. i I Length. No. Ft. I Brought forward £ s. a. 2,620 0 0 £ s. a. 1,201 12 5 M. ch. 1 40 M. ch. 3 40 .. M. ch. ch. M. ch. . M. ch. M. ch. Acres. M. ch. Acres. 92 64 65 CO 67 68 69 70 71 Roads to open up Lands befoee Sale — contd. Taranaki —continued. Alfred Road Mangamingi Mokau Punt Pukearuhe inland to Mangaroa Rotokare and other roads Whenuakura Valley Bridge and Road Kaimanuka and Rawhitiroa Tikorangi-Te Tarata 10 0 0 800 0 0 30 0 0 SCO 0 0 500 0 0 1,200 0 0 1,000 0 0 400 0 0 91 7 8 148 17 6 335 0 0 991 8 5 312 13 7 300 0 0 •• •• 6* 0 2 20 1 70 3 20 • 6*22 3*40 3 0 .. 72 73 74 York and other adjacent roads Tikorangi Bridge, Waitara (£1 for £1) Anderson's Road .. .. .. 100 0 0 438 0 0 300 0 0 Bridge in course of construction. 85 12 0 174 14 0 8* 0 Contract in progress. Four miles being felled. 75 76 77 78 Mangaotuku Mangaere Mangachu Miscellaneous and engineering 500 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 1,702 0 0 945*13 10 8* 0"! 2*30 1 35 i*60 Totals, Taranaki 11,000 0 0 9 40 I I 13 20 1 35 1 60 Bridge and culverts. 11,000 0 0 4,586 19 5 0 22 6 0 j 14 40 •• 79 SO 81 82 S3 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Wellington — Pahiatua to Palmerston North Toritea Road Puketoi Kaiwhata Valley Mount Baker Bridge and road, Napier's Crossing Pohangina-Oroua-Coal Creek Otamakapua Waitotara-Omahme Wanganui-Murimotu Rangitikei Punt-Himterville (Otara) .. Pohonuiotane Block Te Kapua Makuri Gorge, &e. Kawatau-Hautapu 1,200 0 0 50 0 0 2,200 0 0 230 0 0 1,000 0 0 1,000 0 0 1,030 0 0 220 0 0 1,500 0 0 350 0 0 220 0 0 600 0 0 500 0 0 2,100 0 0 500 0 0 1,200 0 0 50 0 0 2,200 0 0 230 0 0 1,000 0 0 1,000 0 0 1,030 0 0 220 0 0 1,500 0 0 350 0 0 220 0 0 600 0 0 500 0 0 2,100 0 0 500 0 0 1,544 16 5 50 0 0 4,918 1 1 119 17 6 520 5 5 370 15 6 1,942 17 11 290 11 9 5 18 6 52 7 46 1 48 6 15 0 20 2 49+ •• I 9 0 .. " 6*20 40' 0 j 20*000 31 5 0 222 9 6 1,858 18 2 134 14 2 i' o 4* 0 .. 35,000 11,000 Explorations. Surveys. Culverts. Survey. I •• I ■ • • • •• .. : •• Carried forward 12,700 0 0 12,700 0 0 12,004 12 5 21 19 2 69 1 0 0 20 4 0 49 0 66,000 * Two village sites. tBush-fellin; :, clearin; and culverts.

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

109

Vote. Item;. ! Wr.rlr for "°' k - Expenditure 1892-93. Amount Voted Expenditure Roads constructed. f or irom Expenditure 1* April, MM. Bridgeg 1892-93. 31st March, 1893. r2K track! eoa^^" a Roads constructed. Dray- Bridleroad, road. Improved. Maintained. Area of Crown Land rendered Dray- Bridle- better road. road. accessible. Remarks. i i I ': £ s. d. Brought forward .. .. .. 12,700 0 0 £ s. a. 12,004 12 5 M. ch. 21 19 M. ch. 2 69 No. Length, Ft. M. ch. 1 0 M. ch. 0 20 M. ch. 4 0 M. ch. 49 0 Acres. 66,000 ( 92 Roads to open up Lands before Sale — contd. Wellington —continued. Apiti District .. .. .. .. 700 0 0 Waimarino.. .. .. .. .. 1,750 0 0 Road through University Reserve .. .. 300 0 0 Pohangina Valley Road .. .. .. 500 0 0 Makuri-Aohanga Road .. .. .. 700 0 0 Upper Makuri Valley Road .. .. .. 750 0 0 Waikanae-Hutt Road .. .. .. 650 0 0 Kakariki and Waiwera Blocks .. .. 300 0 0 Makairo Road .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Miscellaneous and Engineering .. .. 900 0 0 500 0 0 214 6 6 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 78 9 0 398 10 5 2,574 13 10 708 17 10 167 0 10 250 17 1 494 18 5 •• 7*20 2 491 " i*40 *8 0 •• Surveys. Surveys. Surveys. - ,, 1*40 Surveys made. Bush-falling. ' Totals, Wellington .. ..119,750 0 0 1 31 8j| 13 69 49 0 66,000 17,392 6 4 1 0 0 20 4 0 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 Nelson — Ngatimoti Bridge .. .. .. .. 430 0 0 Wairoa Gorge Road.. .. .. .. 350 0 0 Dovedale .. .. .. .. .. 100 0 0 Mangles and Matakitaki .. .. .. 400 0 0 Takaka Roads .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 To purchase roads to Crown lands .. .. 120 0 0 Pigeon Valley-Dovedale .. .. .. 200 0 0 Little Sydney Road.. .. .. .. 100 0 0 Takaka-Riwaka Hill Road .. .. .. 200 0 0 Miscellaneous and Engineering .. .. 630 0 0 Totals, Nelson.. .. .. 2,830 0 0 Marlborough — Ronga Valley .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 112*18 9 100 0 0 2718 0 •• 6*29 •■ .. i *63 8*000 45* 0 0 285 16 9 0 29 i 63 8,000 •• I 114 108 15 9 2 39 0 54 Totals, Marlborough .. .. 500 0 0 500 0 0 108 15 9 2 39 ■ • •■ ... 0 54 , Westland — Makawiho-Mahitahi .. .. .. 800 0 0 I I 115 13 8 4 Plans and specifications for tenders. Approaches, 17 ch. •• 116 Kanieri Bridge .. .. .. .. 530 0 0 Carried forward .. .. 1,330 0 0 526 7 0 1 130 ■• •• 539 15 4 ! i I I I 1 I I I ■• •• i 130 •• - •• •• ■• * Bush-fellini and culverts.

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110

Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

Vote. ; Item. Work. Amount Voted Expenditure Roads constructed. for from EX ? i Sg^° re 1StAl 'to' 18D3 ' Dray- Bridle- fridges 18J3-93. 31st March, 1893. road. track, constructed over 30ft. Span. Roads constructed. Improved. Maintained. Dray- Bridle- Draj-- Bridleroad, road. road. road. Area of >own Land rendered better accessible. Remarks. Brought forward £ s. a. 1,330 0 0 £ s. a. 539 15 4 M. ch. M. ch. No. 1 Length. Ft. 130 M. ch. M. ch, M. ch. M. ch. Acres. 92 117 118 119 Roads to open up Lands before Sale — contd. Westland —continued. Hunt's Beach-Manakaiau Jacob's River to Bruce Bay Miscellaneous and engineering 200 0 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 19 7 4 8 12 0 46 8 2 2 0 •• Totals, Westland 2, ISO 0 0 614 2 10 i 130 2 0 •• I 120 121 122 123 124 Canterbury — Cannington Village Settlement Village-settlement roads Chertsey V.S. Water-supply and Rosedale Miscellaneous and engineering Waimate Reserves 100 0 0 200 0 0 23 0 0 300 0 0 350 0 0 2 5 0 23 0 0 228 9 0 363 11 4 •• •■ •• •' •' •• •• Water-race. 3 5 •• ! ! •• ■• Totals, Canterbury ! 617 5 10 3 5 ■ i ! l I 1 i ■■ I 1 I 973 0 0 ■• •■ ■• 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 Otago — Blackstone District Maniatoto District Gimmerburn District Swinburn Rankleburn and Tuapeka West Catlin's District and Tautuku Waikawa-Catliu's Woodlands District.. .. Run 222 .. Lauder Kawarau-Nevis Naseby, Maniatoto, and Gimmerburn Run 109 .. Purchase of Roads Block XIL, Nenthorn Clarendon District Run 17 Glenomaru Block 300 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 600 0 0 0,250 0 0 1,600 0 0 1,500 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 300* 0 0 200 0 0 372 10 0 3,543 7 11 1,157 13 2 2,112 17 5 150 0 0 2 6 4 14 4 44| 19 21| 12 56 13 74 .. ■• •• •• 18* 0 6*26 8* 0 1*500 4,800 12*800 200* 0 0 300 0 0 i' 8 2 70 •• I ! •■ I 63 7 0 300 0 0 75 0 0 i*20 0 66 624 11 9 0*77i ; Carried forward 13,800 0 0 9,399 7 3 63 57| i 18 26 .. ■ • •• 8 0 19,100

Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

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19—C. 1.

111

Vote. Item. Work. Amount Voted Expenditure for from Expenditure lst Ap [^' 1892 ' 1892-93. 31st March| lfm Roads con: itructed. Imprc ived. Mainl iained. Area of Crown Land rendered better accessible. Drayroad. Bridletrack. Bridges constructed over 30ft. Span. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Remarks. £ s. a. 13,800 0 0' £ s. a. 9,399 7 3 M. ch. 63 57| M. ch. No. Length. Ft. M. ch. 18 26 M. ch. M. ch. 8 0 M. ch. Brought forward Roads to open up Lands before Sale — contd. Otago —continued. Hunt's Road-Cannibal Bay Miscellaneous and engineering Acres. 19,100 92 143 144 700 0 0 300 0 0 365 7 10 31 8 0 5 10 •• •• Totals I I I I I I 1 14,800 0 0 9,796 3 1 63 37| 23 36 8 0 19,100 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 Southland — Waimatuku Bush Blocks II. and III., Campbelltown Waikawa Orepuki-Wairaurahiri Stewart Island Clifton to Seaward Bush Waikawa- Wyndham Valley Riverton and Colac Bay Grove Bush Winton drains Forest Hill Road .. Scrubby Hill Block I., Oteramika.. Tisbury-Waimatua Makarewa-Hedgehope Oteramika Wright's Bush Centre Bush Invercargill Hundred .. Tracks on McLaren's Run Lillburn Roads and Bridges Miscellaneous and engineering Campbelltown Hundred 100 0 0 100 0 0 3,000 0 0 1,255 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 700 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 120 0 0 1,252 0 0 430 0 0 750 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 3,631 12 9 423 12 6 223 5 0 169 6 3 418 4 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 700 0 0 198 9 0 182 5 2 0 43 i*56 5 40 0 43 6 13 3 0 0 38 i' iJ i*73 I i •• -# 1 - *43 3*16 1 22 3* 0 0 55 2*25 i' o 3,000 30,000 2,000 2,000 200 11,000 1,500 400 *370 900 Culverts. Channels cut. - " - 200* 0 0 6*68| 2*000 200* 0 0 6 51 "300 I I •• ♦278*10 5 750 0 0 i 51 *500 •• •• •• Totals, Southland 11,107 0 0 7,975 5 1 I 22 5 1 73 1 43 10 38 1 0 54,170 Total— Vote No. 92 .. 88,810 0 0 51,849 18 8 143 62 68 32 11 603 43 19 6 36 82 0 152 40 366,970 * £25 additional charged by Treasury, included in Item 103.

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

112

Vote. Item. Work. Amount Voted for Expenditure 1892-93. 1st April, 1892, to 31st March, 1893. Expenditure ,oads constructed. Imp] ■oved. Mainl dned. Area of Crown Land rendered better accessible. Remarks. Drayroad. Bridletrack. Bridges constructed over 30ft. Span. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Village Settlements. Improvement of Village Settlements Roaas to Village Settlements Assistance to Village Homestead Settlers £ s. d. £ s. a. M. ch. M. ch. No. Length. Ft. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. Acres. 93 1 2 3 3,069 0 0 2,705 0 0 14 0 0 2,257 9 6 2,156 10 0 5 62 3*62 *4 145 * 6 16 5* 0 - Total— Vote No. 93 i 5,788 0 0 4,413 19 6 5 62 3 62 4 0 16 5 0 •• 145 109 Roads to give Access to Marton-Te Awamutu Railway. I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tunnel to Karioi Kuripapanga to Karioi Hunterville to Turangarere Turangarere to Tokaanu Rotoaira to Waimarino Ohakune to Pipiriki Ongaruhe to Stratford Hales's Track to Murimotu Wanganui River Steamer (subsidy) 2,000 0 0 500 0 0 11,450 0 0 6,800 0 0 500 0 0 12,580 0 0 10,000 0 0 500 0 0 650 0 0 1,163 3 10 100 4 5 7,715 9 8 4,209 9 5 363 0 7 7,342 1 5 7,537 2 5 497 0 0 487 10 0 1 15 0 31 5 50 15 0 0 60 •• i i 3 *60 6 0 1 65 0 44 6*20 •• 9 0 29 0 35 47 15 0 16* 0 22 0 9* 0 20,000 20,000 100,000 100' 000 Surveys. 4 1 16 40 6 20 *60 167 " •• - - Improvements to rive: bed, groins, &c. 10 11 Taupo-Tokaanu and Jetty Awakino-Te Kuiti 300 0 0 520 0 0 38 9 6 51 10 6 " - - - " Total— Vote No. 109 .. 45,800 0 0 29,505 1 9 48 77 0 60 5 8 45 •• 104 47 31 0 240,000 287 110 Local Bodies. Payments of " Thirds " and " Fourths," &c. 500 0 0 Total —Vote No. 110 500 0 0 •• * Two miles bush-felling and clearing.

113

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Table No. 7.—Statement showing the Expenditure and Work done on Roads under the Control of the Department of Lands and Survey, for the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893— continued.

Vote. Item. Work. Amount voted Expenditure for from Expenditure, 1st April, 1892, 1892-93. 31st Marohj 18g3 Roads com itructed. Improved. Maintained. Area of Bridges constructed over 30ft. Span. rendered better accessible. Remarks. Drayroad. Bridletrack. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Drayroad. Bridleroad. Auckland District — Herekino Hukerenui ana Motatu Motukaraka ana Kohu Punakitere Parua Bay ana Patana Takahue Swanson, Whangarei, &c. Whananaki Waimamaku Te Aroha Akatea ana Firewooa Creek Fern Flat Omaha Drury, Komokorau, Te Papa, ana Te Karaka .. £ s. a. 71 16 4 ■ 370 6 0 110 5 1 59 13 6 6 0 0 241 4 9 100 2 9 123 5 3 191 11 0 86 15 6 210 7 7 100 7 0 70 5 0 20 2 3 £ s. a. M. ch. M. ch. 0 15 No. Length. Ft. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. Acres. 4*50 0 9 i*20 13 chains fellea. 12 miles surveyea. 6*78 1 105 14* 0 10*000 i o i 9ft. sp. 6 13 Survey. 4*000 184 chains fellea. l *40 5* 0 Surveys, &c. Hawke's Bay District — Woodville Wellington District — Pahiatua Hastwell Mangaramarama 40* 2 0 Nelson District — Mokihinui 204 2 6 Canterbury District — Cannington Mayfleld Hurunui View Hill Rakaia Two miles bushfelling. 50 0 0 12 0 0 20* 3 6 18 0 0 - Otago District — Glenomaru Clarendon i 50 0 0 Southland District — Lintley, Longridge Woodfield, Fernhill Makarewa Bush Dipton - .. •• •• •• - Total .. 2,156 10 0 14,000 5 57 2 35 154 14 13 5 O

114

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Table No. 8.—Statement showing Payments to Local Bodies during the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893, from "Thirds" of Deferred-payment and Perpetual-lease Lands, and "Fourths" of Small Grazing-runs.

icngi locality, Description and Particulars o: authorised by Waste Lands Board. r or] Local Bodies. " Thirds " Deferredpayment and Perpetuallease Lands. "Fourths" Small Grazingruns. Total Payments. Bush- Scrub- For- Bria ge S . Culverts. Mainclearing, clearing, mation. •"""!>="■• ""'"""'■ tenance. Auckland. Bay of Islands County Hobson County Hokianga County Ohinemuri County Raglan County Rodney County Tauranga County Waikato County Waitomata County Whakatane County Whangarei County Awhitu Road Board.. Gordon (Spec. Settlement) Rd. Bd. Hunua Road Board Kaukapakapa Road Board Mauku Road Board Maunu Road Board.. Mercer Road Board Matakohe Road Board Omaha Road Board Opaheke Roaa Board Opotiki Road Board.. Onewhero Road Board Oruru Road Board Parua Road Board Pirongia Road Board Pokeno Road Board.. Pukekohe East Road Board Tauhoa Road Board.. Waipipi Road Board Wairoa Road Board.. Waitoa Roaa Boara.. £ s. a. 96 10 6 23 1 2 118 4 2 8 6 6 852 6 1 61 18 0 73 1 8 134 3 7 29 7 8 8 15 4 200 16 0 19 9 4 72 16 1 1 19 9 2 15 7 4 14 11 13 3 3 11 7 14 11 7 12 16 11 1 8 10 17 19 0 117 10 1 6 0 10 5 12 4 15 7 4 9 6 5 12 1 4 10 7 12 15 7 27 3 10 66 3 4 £ s. a. £ s. a. 96 10 6 23 1 2 118 4 2 8 6 6 352 6 1 61 18 0 95 0 7 134 3 7 29 7 8 8 15 4 200 16 0 19 9 4 72 16 1 1 19 9 2 15 7 4 14 11 13 3 3 11 7 14 11 7 12 16 11 1 8 10 17 19 0 117 10 1 6 0 10 5 12 4 15 7 4 9 6 5 12 1 4 10 7 12 15 7 27 3 10 66 3 4 Chains. Chains. Chains. 4 15 60 £ s. a. £ s. a. £ s. a. 91 8 4 •30 89 "220 238 28 28*12 6 2io 13 37 90 140 22 3 84 33 181 3 41 i(5 11 1 16 4 5 ii 3 11 7 1 tl30"8 6 21 18 11 *26 i20 16 37 "i 3 9 16 8 32 4 10 11 17 4 2 3 6 22 17 8 3 18 5 *32 *33 92 36 16 1 37 14 10 13 2 2 0 0 **7 0 "l 3 4 i 4 5 7 4 6 5 11 0 4 4 15 9 «• "l 11 *34 il 5 1 5 10 1 8 10 2 'i 0 *32 5 **8 32 3 4 8 4 *3 8 4 6 4 69 2 9 0 0 10 "2 is 1 is 0 3**0 7 **2 12 10 6 1 12 4 53 1 18 6 *53 2 ii 2 123**7 3 2 *5 2 Totals 1,523 16 6 21 18 11 1,545 15 5 739 584 842 98 2 0 107 7 11 447 2 9 Taranaki.* Clifton County Council Taranaki County Council Stratfora County Council Hawera County Council Stratford Town Board Moa Road Board Manganui Road Board Waimate Road Board Parihaka Road Board Waiwakaiho Road Board Egmont Road Board 70 7 6 124 5 3 1,664 14 11 1,685 18 11 35 0 0 1,204 0 0 783 0 0 2,034 8 1 575 0 0 7 11 2 15 0 0 70 7 6 124 5 3 1,664 14 11 1,685 18 11 35 0 0 1,204 0 0 783 0 0 2,034 8 1 575 0 0 7 11 2 15 0 0 §960 *82 70 90 10 30 13 183 180 7 16 322 175 23 205 162 108 157 21 16 2 26 1 8 325 0 0 80 'a 9 6 *7 3 2 1 10 29 13 4 75 9 6 245 1 0 102 9 1 17 7 7 95 0 0 95**0 0 60 0 0 iio 550 8 0 0 7 11 2 62 '6 0 45*0 0 "*4 *50 2 *5 0 Totals 8,199 5 10 8,199 5 10 1,259 1,030 1,218 468 11 9 177 16 11 659 17 Hawke's Bay.[1 Danevirke Road Board Kumeroa Road Board Maharahara Road Board Manga-atua Road Board Norsewooa Road Board Ormondville Road Board Ormona Road Board Puketapu Road Board Patutahi Road Board Ruataniwha Road Board Wooaville Roaa Boara Waikohu Roaa Boara Waimata Roaa Boara Weber Roaa Boara Cook County Council Hawke's Bay County Council .. Wairoa County Council Waiapu County Council Waipawa County Council Ormonaville Town Boara 213 17 1 374 17 6 223 17 10 2 2 8 156 13 6 52 4 0 3 2 4 49 11 1 178 3 3 546 5 8 135 1 6 48 2 3 303 9 8 742 10 3 139 8 6 60 10 7 139 17 2 40 16 11 81 0 4 2 8 2 213 17 1 374 17 6 223 17 10 2 2 8 156 13 6 52 4 0 3 2 4 49 11 1 178 3 3 546 5 8 135 1 6 76 8 3 356 0 0 775 16 8 177 8 5 86 10 7 289 14 0 78 11 3 81 0 4 2 8 2 28 6 0 52 10 4 33 6 5 37 19 11 26 0 0 149 16 10 37 14 4 Totals 3,494 0 3 365 13 10 3,859 14 1 * Clearing drains. T £35 spent in snagging creeks. I Seven chains of drain. § Pack-track. || On looking through the proposals by local bodies and approved by Land Board, it is found impossible to give these details in- anything approaching a complete form. For instance, " Clearing and forming road to give access to Sections 2, 4, &c." In such cases, which are numerous, no lengths are given, and culverts are rarely particularised. Only one bridge, at a'cost of £35, is mentioned. There is one item worth mentioning— namely, £433 17s. 5d., expended in interest and sinking fund on loans under Government Loans to Local Bodies Act.—Tuos. Humphries, CS.

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115

Table No. 8.—Statement showing Payments to Local Bodies during the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893, from "Thirds" of Deferred-payment and Perpetual-lease Lands, and "Fourths" of Small Grazing-runs.— continued.

jengl locality, Description and Particulars ol authorised by Waste Lands Board. 'or! Local Bodies. "Thirds" Deferredpayment and Perpetuallease Lands. " Fourths " Small Grazingruns. Total Payments. Bush- Scrub- Forclearing. clearing, mation. Bridges. Culvorts. Maintonance. Wellington. Alfredton Road Board Eketahuna Road Board Fitzherbert Road Board Kiwitea Road Board Manawatu Road Board Masterton Road Board Mauriceville Road Board Motoroa Road Board Pahiatua County Council Pohaugina Road Board Taratahi-Carterton Road Board Upper Wangaehu Road Board .. Waitotara-Momahaki Road Board Waitotara County Council Wairarapa County Council Wirokino Road Board £ s. a. 170 1 2 1,897 4 0 27 18 11 2,740 3 10 146 11 11 604 9 1 801 17 1 13 14 4 4,525 12 7 1,185 16 10 8 0 0 £ s. a. 79*i2 11 11 is 1 £ s. a. 170 1 2 1,897 4 0 27 18 11 2,549 16 9 146 11 11 616 4 2 801 17 1 13 14 4 4,525 12 7 1,272 15 10 14 18 5 *16 4 3 511 12 11 226 4 1 21 6 3 206 4 4 Chains. 3[ 040 96 "l8 Chains. Chains. 1,180 4,445 120 4,500 332 2,830 69 20 18,065 2,910 £ s. d. 20 "i 8 17 7 4 £ s. d. 5 00 £ s. a. 27 18 11 17 19 6 61 15 6 146*14 2 86 19 0 6 18 5 16 4 3 "lO 6 18 5 5li*12 11 125 1 7 101 *2 6 21 6 3 1,515 1,845 250 515 206 4 4 *210 Totals 12,964 8 7 323 18 5 13,018 7 0 3,374 38,596 37 12 0 5 0 0 261 6 6 Nelson.t Suburban North Road Board .. Stoke Road Board Dovedale Road Board Upper Moutere Road Board Stanley Brook, pt. Waimea Co. Motueka Road Board Riwaka Road Board Takaka Road Board Collingwood County Council Waimea County Council Buller County Council Inangahua County Council Grey County Council Amuri County Council 16 8 0 16 13 4 31 13 0 35 2 4 27 12 10 3 13 4 32 2 10 76 13 7 32 5 10 319 1 10 84 17 10 62 2 10 43 12 8 37 16 2 Sounds County Council, in hand 819 16 5 61 6 8 Totals 881 3 1 Marlborough. Pelorus Road Board Kaikoura County Council 40 7 2| 10 15 1 10 7 0 50 14 2 10 15 1 30 37 19 10 10 15 1 .Totals 51 2 3| 10 7 0 61 9 3 30 48 14 11 Westland. Westland County Council 44 17 11 44 17 11 44 17 11 Totals 44 17 11 44 17 111 44 17 11 Canterbury. Mount Somers Road Board Rangitata Road Board Levels Road Board Mount Hutt Road Board Wakanui Road Board Upper Ashburton Road Board .. Mackenzie County Council Geraldine Town Board Longbeach Road Board .. Hampstead Town Board Malvern Road Board Oxford Road Board Geraldine Road Board Waipara Road Boara Waimate Borough Council Waimate County Council Coldstream Road Board Arowhenua Town Board Anama Road Board Mount Peel Roaa Boara South Rakaia Roaa Boarf Springs Road Board Le Bons Road Board 8 6 9 290 2 6 64 18 1 10 5 2 197 4 8 7 14 4 247 6 4 0 3 4 0 11 4 9 5 0 1 18 8 378 0 6 147 6 2 7 13 0 15 0 298 5 8 21 12 3 40 4 6 80 10 0 77 10 0 148 1 7 0 12 8 4 11 0 8 6 9 290 2 6 64 18 1 10 5 2 197 4 8 7 14 4 247 6 4 0 3 4 0 11 4 9 5 0 1 18 8 378 0 6 147 6 2 388 13 9 15 0 805 15 2 21 12 3 40 4 6 80 10 0 77 10 0 148 1 7 0 12 8 4 11 0 Waterrace. + + *995 "l4 418 457 84 215 7 ii 4 8 6 9 197**4 8 0 3 4 0 11 4 9 5 0 1 18 8 378 0 6 147 6 2 381**0 9 507*9 6 15 0 "80 *690 '*49 270 48"l 7 0 i2 8 Totals 2,043 8 6 888 10 3 2,931 18 9 2,035 1,232 0 12 8 7 14 4 792 3 0 * Paid into Board's account as gen t The expenditure authorised was todies. All amounts accruing to 1st j X 48} miles constructed, 51 miles e: leral revenue, for roads giving August, 1892, witl nlarged. access to th( . the exceptio: several sectic of the Soundi >ns, the a, 1, are hanc 3tual dispi Led over, isition of the amou: its resting r ith the local

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116

Table No. 8.—Statement showing Payments to Local Bodies during the Twelve Months ended the 31st March, 1893, from "Thirds" of Deferred-payment and Perpetual-lease Lands, and "Fourths" of Small Grazing-runs— continued.

" Thirds " Deferredpayment and Perpetuallease Lands. Length, Locality, Description and Particulars of Work authorised by Waste Lands Board. Local Bodies. " Fourths " Small Grazingruns. Total Payments. Bush- Scrub- For- -Rvidooo r,ii™rt,s Mainclearing, clearing, mation. Bnd g es - Culverts. tenance . Otago, Taieri County Council Maniototo County Council Vincent County Council Waitaki County Council Waihemo County Council Waikouaiti County Council Clutha County Council Bruce County Council Tuapeka County Council Lake County Council Mount Stuart Road Board Balmoral Road Board Arrowtown Borough Council £ s. d. 452 7 8 832 16 2 289 17 8 364 10 4 138 12 2 98 10 8 546 17 9 63 17 10 568 4 5 57 14 7 9 16 0 56 1 6 1 17 8 £ s. d. 734 2 7 364 2 1 86 5 6 359 12 8 418 15 1 106 11 7 2 4 9 48 7 6 189 U 1 £ s. d. 1,186 10 3 1,196 18 3 376 3 2 724 3 0 557 7 3 205 2 3 549 2 6 112 5 4 757 15 6 57 14 7 14 5 7 56 1 0 1 17 8 Chains. * Chains. * Chains. £ s. d. * £ s. d. * £ s. d. * 4 9 7 Totals 3,481 4 5 2,314 2 5 5,795 6 10 Southland. Southland County Council Wallace County Council Lake County Council Invercargill Road Board Oteramika Road Board Knapdale Road Board Waimumu Road Board Tuturau Road Board South Invercargill Borough Cncl. Gore Borough Counoil Mataura Town Board 1,188 12 7 815 6 2 20 8 0 47 8 11 94 18 5 76 16 0 3 2 9 4 2 7 8 15 5 39 12 10 6 3 6 t t t t t t Totals 2,305 7 2| Summary. Luckland lawke's Bay Vellington lelson .. larlborough Vestland Janterbury )tago .. • louthland 1,523 16 6 3,494 0 3 8,199 5 10 12,094 8 7 881 3 1 51 2 3 44 17 11 2,043 8 6 3,481 4 5 2,305 7 2 21 18 11 365 13 10 1,545 15 5 3,859 14 1 8,199 5 10 13,018 7 0 881 3 1 61 9 3 44 17 11 2,931 18 9 5,795 6 10 2,305 7 2 M. ch. 9 19 M. ch. 7 24 M. ch. 10 42 98 2 6 107 7 11 447 2 9 t.. 659 17 8 261 6 6 t.48 14 11 44 17 11 J792 3 0 t.. t.'. 323 18 5 15 "59 42 14 12 70 15 18 482 36 468 ii 9 37 12 0 177 16 11 5 0 0 10"7 0 0 "30 888 io 3 2,314 2 5 15*'32 0 12 8 7 14 4 Totals 34,718 14 6 3,924 10 10 38,043 5 4 67 12 20 14 523 48 604 18 11 297 19 2 |2,254 2 9 * No means of supplying this information. I No information. J Also 124 miles 75 chains of water-races

o.—l.

J. E. March, Superintendent of Village Settlements.

Table No. 9.—SUMMARY showing Position of Village Homestead Special Settlements as at 31st March, 1893, in the Various Districts.

By Authority: Samuel Coshix, Government Printer, Wellington.— 1893.

-Price 3s.~\

117

o riff r-l © O Number of present Settlers. OS a§ o a CO '3 h £ 3 . s.Ss Taken up during the Year. Forfeitures and Surrenders during the Year. Total Area held on the 31st March, 1893. Amor to duril int advanced Selectors Qg the Year. Amount advanced to Selectors, Past and Current Transactions. District. 5 CD • CD 0^3 C- TH crl d ex O St V rH > g O tH Av( irages. No. Area. Son including Interest on Advances. 'Si o rH For Bushfelling, See. Total Advances. For Houses. For Bushfelling. Total Advances. No. Area. 4 5 Rent. Area. - Aucklana Hawke's Bay .. Wellington Nelson Ms rlborough .. Canterbury Otago Southland 461 34 236 9 22 197 164 105 226 12 150 9 13 120 93 58 244 29 136 3 10 174 84 59 30 2 82 6 4 6 27 4 Acres. 21,229 236 2,963 47 342 6,403 2,667 1,044 Acres. 11,394 204 2,747 48 236 5,636 1,760 652 Acres. 2,941 188 1,988 21 140 4,862 629 315 A. R. P. s. d. 22 A. R. P. 978 1 9 £ s. d. 62 10 9 274 31 218 9 14 180 111 63 A. E. P. 11,394 0 31 203 2 20 2,747 0 19 47 2 30 236 0 5 5,636 2 36 1,760 0 22 651 3 2 £ s. d. 829 19 3 82 7 7 491 10 0 7 8 6 23 12 9 770 6 4 206 10 0 158 19 6 £ 61 £ s. d. 380 12 6 £ s. d. 441 12 6 £ 5,227 540 2,640 30 85 2,410 1,090 756 £ s. d. 7,111 0 7 278 2 0 3,655 19 11 £ s. a. 12,338 0 7 818 2 0 6,295 19 11 30 0 0 103 15 0 2,410 0 0 1,531 5 0 1,097 19 8 •■ •• ii 9 98 *2 7 47 2 30 7 5 3 3J 3 2 3 1 30 "o 0 5 0 0 4 *7 10 0 15 0 280 30 67 *5 0 347 5 0 30 0 0 18 15 0 12 6 1 285 1 20 104 3 13 5 0 0 23i 17 5 2 7 1 1 5 0 4 2 3 75 3 33 64 3 10 29 2 38 16 18 4 4 8 0 5 16 2 130 90 57 io 0 23 16 3 130 0 0 147 10 0 23 16 3 441 5 0 341 19 8 Totals 1,228 081 739 161 — 42 I 541 1 30 13 2 5} 35 94 16 1 900 34,931 22,677 11,084 1,183 3 10 22,677 1 5 2,570 13 11 591 529 3 9 1,120 3 9 12,778 11,847 2 2 24,625 2 2 Further Advances for which Payments made by Selectors during the Year. Total Payments made by Selectors from commencement of System. Selectors in Arrear on 31st March, 1893. Value of Improvements now on the Land. District. Total Arrears. is liable. Rent. Interest. Total. Rent. Interest. Total. No. Area. Rent. Interest. Auckland Hawke's Bay Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Canterbury .. Otago Southland .. £ s. a. 7,592 16 3 710 0 0 60 0 0 12 10 0 60 0 0 290 0 0 £ s. a. 281 9 3 42 16 11 227 6 7 4 10 9 18 1 6 747 6 1 72 6 2 99 6 0 £ s. d. 273 0 0 41 17 4 133 15 1 5 4 0 133 15 0 68 15 1 46 17 3 £ s. d. 554 9 3 84 14 3 361 1 8 4 10 9 23 5 6 881 1 1 141 1 3 146 3 3 £ s. d. 1,765 13 4 262 6 0 1,286 14 2 8 0 9 107 17 0 3,156 17 3 388 6 6 543 4 10 £ s. a. 891 3 10 219 12 3 894 3 0 22 6 10 532 5 0 237 0 8 207 7 6 £ s. d. 2,656 17 2 481 18 3 2,180 17 2 8 0 9 130 3 10 3,689 2 3 625 7 2 750 12 4 257 119 A. R. P. 10,710 0 6 8 3 35 1,558 0 12 £ s. d. 667 6 5 2 2 7 267 3 1 £ s. a. 789 7 4 2 4 7 346 8 4 £ s. a. 1,456 13 9 4 7 2 613 11 5 £ s. d. 15,510 9 0 5,236 10 0 17,055 5 3 72 0 0 796 0 0 12,394 6 0 6,407 12 0 4,227 0 0 36 36 40 1,189 1 16 638 3 3 408 1 11 133 0 7 19 12 11 48 4 1 24 10 0 26 5 10 19 16 8 157 10 7 45 18 9 68 0 9 Totals 703 3 9 10,522 18 11 14,513 2 3 8,725 6 3 1,493 3 3 2,196 7 0 7,518 19 10 3,003 19 1 491 1,137 9 8 1,208 12 9 2,346 2 5 61,699 2 3

NEW ZEALAND SHOWING THE ROADS TO OPEN CROWN LANDS FOR SALE SURVEYED & CONSTRUCTED DURING 1881-1893

Surveyor General. NEW ZEALAND SHOWING THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC SURVEYS.