"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900" (REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1903 Session I, C-05

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1903. NEW ZEALAND.

"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900" (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Subsection (2), Section 73, of " The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900."

The Land Purchase Inspector to the Eight Hon. the Prime Ministek. Sir,— I have the honour to report the transactions under " The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900," that have taken place during the twelve months which ended on the 31st March, 1903. The Board of Land Purchase Commissioners held 36 meetings—the Wellington Board meeting 12 times, the Canterbury Board 9 times, the Marlborough and Southland Boards each 4 times, the Otago Board 3 times, and the Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Westland Boards once each. About 150 properties were offered for sale, aggregating 740,871 acres. The Board dealt with 108, and recommended the purchase or exchange of 59, containing 404,426 acres. The Government having approved, negotiations were completed with the owners of 11 estates, containing 29,910 acres, which cost £142,460; and 8 estates, containing 82,696 acres, valued at £208,708, were acquired, but not wholly paid for within the year. The Arbitration Court sat at Napier on the 29th January, and awarded the Crown 28,857 acres of the Milbourne Estate for £142,262, including costs of one side. The Court also allowed the vendors to retain 600 acres and one homestead. The amount which the Government offered for 29,550 acres was £118,200. The purchase of 8,542 acres of the Longbush and Tablelands Estate was completed, but the negotiations for taking a portion of the estate, the freehold of which is held by Native owners, failed, the Supreme Court deciding that Native land, although held under a Crown title, could not be taken compulsorily. The value of the purchase is somewhat injuriously affected by this unexpected decision. The estates wholly paid for during the year are Argyll (Milbourne andTe Reinga), in Hawke's Bay; Spotswood, in Taranaki; Linton, Longbush, and Tablelands, in Wellington; Kokatahi, in Westland; Eccleston, Mead, Chamberlain (Opawa), and Squires, in Canterbury; and Windsor Park (two parts) and Duncan, in Otago. The total completed purchases for the year comprise 14 estates, containing 69,273 acres, which cost £349,452. Besides these, negotiations were completed for the Bickerstaffe Estate (Colbeck's) in Auckland; Wigan (Takapau), in Hawke's Bay ; Normandale (Western Hutt), in Wellington; Annan (Hightield), in Canterbury; and St. Helen's (Kenton), in Otago. Exchanges were also completed at Birchhill and Awatere, in Marlborough, and Euangarehu, in Hawke's Bay. The Levels Estate, containing 38,247 acres, was recommended for purchase and approved by the Government, but, as the owners declined to sell, proceedings were commenced to take the estate compulsorily. Since the close of the year, however, an agreement was arrived at to buy at £6 9s. per acre, and the estate will be taken possession of on the 31st March, 1904. The Mount Vernon Estate, proceedings to take which compulsorily were commenced some time ago, has not yet been before the Court. At Birchhill the New Zealand Land Association held freeholds of the best of the land in Mount Patriarch, Raglan, and Manuka Island Runs, and so practically prevented the Crown from leasing the large areas of pastoral country adjacent. The association agreed to sell these freeholds for one block of Crown lands, the advantage being as nearly as possible equal to the Crown and to the association. At Awatere the Assets Realisation Board held freeholds interspersed with the Crown lands formerly held by them under pastoral lease, and it was arranged that the Board should transfer all its freeholds in one block to the Crown, and the Crown granted the Board all the Crown lands within the other block retained by the Board. I.—C 5.

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The exchange of Ruangarehu, near Waipiro, consists in the transfer to Mr. J. N. Williams of four small isolated blocks of Crown land, in exchange for about an equal area of his freehold in one block, which is ready for occupation, and is situated on the Tologa-Waipiro inland track. For workmen's homes and small farms near towns two properties were purchased and opened for lease, with rather disappointing results. The properties purchased last year, and offered for lease during the year, also failed in finding anything like full occupation. There was a very great desire expressed by the representatives of labour that land should be acquired. At Dunedin, although the principle of providing land for workmen's homes was fully expressed, it was found that very few indeed would definitely state that they would themselves take up any land on the statutory terms if it were offered to them. I believe workmen find it more convenient to live near their work, and that few care to undertake the trouble or cost of living out of town, unless there are frequent rapid and cheap means of communication. The following is a summary of the transactions under the Land for Settlements Acts to the 31st March, 1903 :— jj. Area. Prime Coat. JNO - Acres. £ Purchased or exchanged and opened for selection 116 497,683 2,250,961 Paid for, but not opened for selection ... 6 42,990 215,818 Purchased, but not paid for nor opened ... 5 60,152 208,708 127 600,825 2,675,487 Under negotiation ... ... ... ... 17 320,638 1,098,160 The income for the year amounts to £120,967, and the outlay for interest on money borrowed is £93,599. Other outlay is charged to capital. There are also 19,544 acres not yet let, valued at £3,401 yearly, and 8,338 acres taken up by roads and reserves, from which no revenue was derived. The result of the year's operations shows a profit of £27,369. The accumulated and invested credit balance up to the end of the year is £117,546, besides uncollected rents, on the 31st March last, amounting to £10,489, but a considerable part of which has since been received. The arrears are principally in Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, and Southland, the greatest being in Hawke's Bay; but three large estates account for more than half of the whole indebtedness. The usual tables of statistics are attached. I have, &c, A. Baeeon, Land Purchase Inspector, Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners. The Bight Hon. the Prime Minister.

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TABLE A.—Summary of all Lands offered to Government under "The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900," and how dealt with, from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903.

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Land District where Land situated. Number of Estates offered. Area offered. ,A r . ea , Area not Area aecnnea recommended recommended without going b Board- by Board to Board. J J Area under Consideration. Area withdrawn. Total. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 33 11 29 27 1 1 23 18 7 Acres. 270,435 36,987 9,752 75,681 246 111 117,811 85,480 144,368 Acres. Acres. Acres. 169,566 78,518 4,074 .. 22,548 681 25 306 5,308 15,447 7,370 Acres. 22,251 10,365 8,740 47,556 246 111 17,952 56,590 117,283 Acres. 100 1,200 Acres. 270,435 36,987 9,752 75,681 246 111 117,811 85,480 144,368 . 7,290 42,018 50,551 18,465 .. 10,425 9,000 .. 18,085 44,818 227,056 187,803 400 Total 150 I 740,871 281,094 1,700 740,871

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900." TABLE B.—Return of Lands recommended for Purchase by the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners under the above Act from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903.

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Name of Seller and Locality. Area offered by Vendor. Price asked. Price offered for Land. Total Price »aid to Seller. Cost of Roading, Administra- Total Cost to tion, Date. &c, to Date. Remarks. Per Acre. Per Acre. Auckland Land Disteict. Williams, T. C, " Pakaraka Williams, Hon. H., " Ponerua Graham, Mrs. M. B. .. Seddon, S. T., " Knighton " .. McPherson, Captain .. .. Casey, A., " Sunnyside " „ " Riverview " Colbeck Bros., " Pukehuia " .. „ " Okahurewa " .. Assets Realisation Board, " Waimana "Matamata" "Paparamu" " Mangapouri" "Tirau" " Richmond Downs" .. A. E. P. 3,327 0 0 2,610 0 0 280 0 0 340 0 0 124 0 0 350 0 0 300 0 0 3,557 0 0 8,618 0 0 4,850 0 0 45,062 0 0 6,699 0 0 2,746 0 0 6,767 0 0 12,501 0 0 £ s. d. 3 12 6 3 16 11 10 0 0 20 0 0 12 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 4 10 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 2 7 6 2 5 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 £ s. d. 3 5 0 3 5 0 2 6 0 2 10 0 2 3 6 2 5 0 2 10 1 10 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Purchase not approved. Purchase not complete. Vendors declined price offered. Total 98,131 0 0 •• Hawke's Bay. Land Disteict. Reeves, A., " Wharekaka" Hunter-Brown, J., " Whakaki " Macfarlane, James, " Takapau " Williams, J. N., " Ruangarehu " ! 1,200 0 0 8,500 0 0 10,468 0 0 2,380 0 0 12 10 0 5 0 0 6 10 0 •• 5 3 0 Offer withdrawn. Purchase to "stand over." Purchase not complete. Exchange of 2,388 acres Crown land foi 2,380 acres freehold. .. •■ Total 22,548 0 0 •• Tabakaki Land District. Bailey and Mills, " Putts Farm " Kelsey, T. O., " Barret's Reserve " 294 0 0 12 0 0 50 0 0 60 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 14,588 16 2 612 10 0 I 77 17 10 Purchase complete. 15,279 4 0 Total 306 0 0 ■■ 15,201 6 2 77 17 10 15,279 4 0 Wellington Land Disteict. Purchase not approved. Chamberlain, T. E. .. Downes, D. .. Keeble, C. T... Carey, R. E. .. Wallis L. .. Smith, R. S. .. Sutherland, A. and A. Coombes, James, " Dunsinane " Johnston, J. R. Wilton's Trustees, " Wilton " .. 85 0 0 470 0 0 1,356 0 0 420 0 0 1,232 0 0 518 0 0 776 0 0 1,020 0 0 1,044 0 0 258 0 0 35 0 0 18 0 0 18 0 0 20 0 0 12 15 0 12 0 0 15 0 0 12 10 0 20 0 0 77 10 4 •• •• 9 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 0 •■ Vendors declined price offered. - • •• Carried forward 7,179 0 0 •• ■•

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900." TABLE B.—Return of Lands recommended for Purchase by the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners— continued.

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Area offered by Price asked. Price offered for Land. Cost of Roading, Administration, &c, to Date Name of Seller and Locality. Total Price iaid to Seller. Total Cost to Date. Remarks. Per Acre. Per Acre. A. R. P. 7,179 0 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Brought forward Wellington Land District— continued. Balfour and Stevens, " Balfour " Johnston, C. F., " Ngahui " Fitzherbert, W. A., " Western Hutt " .. Mahupuku and others, " Tablelands " .. "Longbush " 3,343 0 0 2.639 0 0 1.640 0 0 16,885 0 0 10,000 0 0 11 10 4 6 0 0 12 10 0 8 7 6 4 2 0 9 10 0 Vendors declined price offered. Purchase not complete. Purchase of 5,521 acres complete. Purchase of 3,022 acres complete. 25,349 0 0 16,388 0 0 32' 9 0 25,38l' 9 0 16,388 0 0 Total 41,686 0 0 41,737 0 0 32 9 0 41,769 9 0 Maelborough Land District. Clifford, Sir G., "Flaxbourne" New Zealand Land Association, "Birchhill," "Raglan," and " Patriarch " Assets Realisation Board, " Awatere " .. 56,155 0 0 8,179 0 0 2 10 0 Vendor declined price offered. Exohange of 15,200 acres Crown land for 8,179 acres freehold. Exchange of 18,928 acres Grown land for 14,296 acres freehold. 14,296 0 0 Total 78,630 0 0 •• •• Westland Land District. Diedrich, H., " Kokatahi " 1,830 0 0 4,709 0 8 72 2 6 4,781 3 2 Purchase complete. 2 11 6 2 11 6 Total 1,830 0 0 4,709 0 8 72 2 6 4,781 3 2 Canterbury Land District. Douglas, J., " Waihao Downs " Teschemaker, Thomas, " Otaio " Hertslett, T. C. Gray, H. F., " Allandale " Wright, William, " Blue-gum Park " Maddison, F. S. .. Smith, Mrs., " Waratah " Wharton and Co., "Highfield" 6,425 0 0 577 0 0 785 0 0 5,647 0 0 925 0 0 160 0 0 400 0 0 58,353 0 0 Purchase not approved. 11 5 0 7 0 0 10 10 0 35 0 0 4 10 0 9 0 0 32 0 0 3 0 0 2 18 0 Vendor declined price offered. Offer withdrawn. Purchase of 32,652 acres at price offered arranged, but not completed. Purchase of 38,247 acres at £6 9s. per acre arranged, but not completed. Purchase complete. 3 7 6 N.Z. and A. L. Co., "Levels".. 43,309 0 0 5 10 0 Squire, G., " Squire's Homestead" Bealey, S., " Mead " .. Rutherford, J. S., " Opawa " .. Haylock, A. L. 46 0 0 5,909 0 0 10,428 0 0 37 0 0 2 0 0 3 10 0 4 10 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 92 16 6 18,319 2 5 41,715 14 0 148 1 6 320 2 10 92 16 6 18,639 5 3 [- 29'4 0 0 42,157 15 6 Total 133,001 0 0 60,275 14 5 614 2 10 60,889 17 3

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900." TABLE B.—Return of Lands recommended for Purchase by the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners— continued.

Name of Seller and Locality. Area offered by Vendor. Price asked. Price offered for Land. ] Per Acre. I Cost of Roading, Total Price Administra- Total Cost to paid to Seller. tion, Date. &c, to date. Remarks. Per Acre. Per Acre. Otago Land District. Menlove, E., " Windsor Park No. 2 " Graham, J. .. Reid and Gray, " Kenton " Smith, J., " Greenfield " A. B. P. 2,180 0 0 630 0 0 542 0 0 6,857 0 0 A. B. P. 2,180 0 0 630 0 0 542 0 0 6,857 0 0 10,209 0 0 £ s. d. 10 5 0 6 10 0 8 0 0 6 10 0 £ s. d. 7 10 0 6 10 0 8 0 0 4 5 0 £ s. d. 16,445 15 9 4,091 11 9 £ s. d. 548 2 0 97 4 6 £ s. d. 16,993 17 9 4,188 16 3 Purchase complete. Purchase arranged, but not completed. Vendor declined price offered. •• Total 10,209 0 0 645 6 6 I 21,182 14 0 20,537 7 6 •• Southland Land District. Tennant, J., " Heddon Bush ".. N.Z. A. Co.'s "Dome" 12,195 0 0 5,890 0 0 12,195 0 0 5,890 0 0 4 7 6 0 7 6 3 10 0 ] 0 6 0 Vendor declined price offered. •• Total 18,085 0 0 •• ■■ i ! I Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Westland .. Canterbury Otago Southland 98,131 0 0 22,548 0 0 306 0 0 41,686 0 0 78,630 0 0 1,830 0 0 133,001 0 0 10,209 0 0 18,085 0 0 sn :mary. " I 15,201' 6 2 41,737 0 0 77 17 10 32 9 0 15,279 4 0 41,769 9 0 4,709 0 8 60,275 14 5 20,537 7 6 72 2 6 614 2 10 645 6 6 4,781 3 2 60,889 17 3 21,182 14 0 ■ • ■- Total 404,426 0 0 404,426 0 0 142,460 8 9 1,441 18 8 143,902 7 5

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900," AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1901. TABLE C (Part I.).—Statement of Lands acquired for Settlements from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903.

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Name of Settlement and Land District. Area of each Estate. Locality of Land. Quality of Land. ! Mode of Acquisition. Name of Person or Company from whom acquired. Price. I Auokland Land District — A. B. p. Karapiro Extension .. 63 1 0 £ s. d. Block X., Cambridge Survey District Soil light, slopes easy By agreement.. Assets Realisation Board Colbeck Bros. Bickerstaffe .. ..j 12,480 0 19 Part Okahurewa, Pukehuia, and Tokatapu Blocks, Otamatea County Two-thirds good pastoral land, one-third agricultural land +40,560 0 0 Hawke's Bay Land District — Argyll— TeReinga .. .. 4,856 0 7 Part Block XXIV., Maraekakaho Survey District Second-class pastoral downs, mostly ploughable .. Maurice Mason 15,762 10 0 Milbourne .. .. 28,857 0 0 Maraekakaho and Waipukurau Survey Districts Flats and pastoral downs, ploughable; soil ranges from poor shingly to good limestone country Excellent pastoral country, with some good alluvial flats Fair pastoral country, fenced and ready for occupation ; exchanged for small detached blocks of rough bush Crown lands Compulsorily taken By agreement.. Stokes' Trustees .. 142,262 0 0 Wigan .. .. 10,475 0 12 I Part Tokatapu and Mangaheia No. 1e Blocks James Macfarlane.. +53,946 12 8 Ruangarehu .. .. 2,380 0 0 Part Ruangarehu No. 1 Block J. N. Williams + + i Taranaki Land District — Spotswood .. .. 306 2 25 Omata and Grey Survey Districts Bayley, Mills, and Kelsey 15,201 6 2 Suburban residential area, suitable for workmen's homes and small farms Wellington Land District — Linton .. .. 551 1 36 Longbush .. .. 3,021 3 26 Part Section 1 and Section 12, Rangitoto Survey District Block VIII., Huangarua, and Block V., Wainui-o-ru Survey Districts Land good quality, mostly flat; on clay subsoil .. Fair soil; subsoil mostly papa, part limestone R. Linton H. T. Mahupuku and Rihara te Pa6,846 1 10 16,388 0 0 Tablelands .. .. 5,520 3 19 Blocks XL, XII., XV., and XVI., Huangarua Survey District Blocks VIII. and IX., Belmont Survey District Clay soil on papa ; part ploughable, good pastoral rera H. T. Mahupuku .. 25,349 0 0 Normandale .. .. 1,623 0 9 Steep hill-land, with a position- value; part suitable for workmen's homes, rest small farms William A. Fitzherbert 15,419 0 8 Westland Land District — Kokatahi .. .. 1,879 2 20 Block I., Toaroha, and Block XVI., Kanieri Survey Districts Light sandy soil on gravel; land level and ploughable H. Diedrich 4,709 0 8 Marlborough Land District — Birchhill .. .. 8,179 0 0 Blocks IX., X., XIII., XV., and XVI., Patriarch, and Blocks IV., V., and IX., Leatham Survey Districts Tapuanuka, Hodder, Blue Mountain, and Whernside Survey Districts Fair pastoral land; exchanged for one block Crown land to consolidate Crown land and freehold land and obtain homestead sites Ditto New Zealand Land Association + Awatere .. .. 14,301 3 4 Assets Realisation Board + + Carried forward .. 94,495 3 17 336,443 12 0 * Paid for in 1901, £253. t Not paid for 1902-3. t Acquired by way of exchange.

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900," AND ITS AMENDMENT, 1901. TABLE C (Part I.).—Statement of Land acquired for Settlements from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903— continued

Note.— 69,273 acres, £349,452, paid for at 31at March. 82,696 acres, £208,708, not paia for at 31st Maroh. - Not paid for 1902-3.

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Name of Settlement and Land District. Area of each Estate. Mode of Acquisition. Name of Person or Company from whom acquired. Locality of Land. Quality of Land. Price. i Brought forward Canterbury Land District — Eccleston 94,495 3 17 £ s. (i. 336,443 12 0 Mead 1,246 1 5 Blocks XIV. and XV., Otaio Survey District.. Good farming land, mostly ploughable; clay bottom Light, level land, on gravel By agreement.. E. P. Chapman 10,593 2 6 5,914 3 17 Blocks IX., X., XIII., and XIX., Selwyn, and Blocks VII. and IX., Hall Survey Distriots Part Section 36226, Block XII., Nimrod Survey District Block XIII., Tengawai, and Blocks I., II., V., and VI., Opawa Survey Districts Blocks I.-VL, XL, XII., Terako, Waiau, and Hawkeswood Survey Districts S. Bealey 18,319 2 5 Squire's Homestead 46 1 26 Homestead site G. W. Squire 92 16 0 Chamberlain 10,500 1 9 Part good farming land, part pastoral Rutherford and Haylock Wharton and Co. .. 41,863 15 6 Annan 32,651 3 1 About one-fifth agricultural, the rest good pastoral; mainly lying on limestone *94,444 1 10 Otago Land District — Windsor Park 3,821 2 16 Blocks VI., VII., and VIII., Awamoko Survey District Blocks VIII. and IX., Awamoko Survey District Block I., Otakio, and Blook VIII., Dunedin and East Taieri Survey Districts Blocks XIV. and XV., Oamaru Survey District Good farming land, strong soil on clay bottom E. Menlove 31,528 4 1 Windsor Park, No. 2 2,179 2 37 633 2 3 542 1 18 Good farming land, mostly ploughable; clay bottom Ground broken by gullies; soil medium, mostly clay bottom Good agricultural land E. Menlove 16,445 15 9 Duncan -J. Graham 4,091 11 9 St. Helens Reid and Gray *4,338 13 0 Totals 152,032 2 24 558,160 15 4

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"THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS CONSOLIDATION ACT, 1900." TABLE C (Part II.).—Summary of Estates acquired up to 31st March, 1903, and Amounts of Purchase-money.

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Name of Land District. No. of Estates acquired before 31st March, 1902. Areas acquired before 31st March, 1902. No. of Estates acquired from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903. Area acquired from 1st April, 1902, to 31st March, 1903. Total Numbers of Estates to 31st March, 1903. Total Area to 31st March, 1903. Purchase-money. A. E. P. A. B. P. A. E. P. £ s. d. Auckland 12 36,949 1 35 2 12,543 1 19 49,492 3 14 142,359 14 10 14 Hawke's Bay 11 71,658 2 12 3 46,568 0 19* 14 118,226 2 31 637,342 0 11 Taranaki 1 1,505 2 8 1 306 2 25 2 1,812 0 33 46,817 17 2 Wellington .. 8 15,772 3 15 4 10,717 1 10 12 26,490 0 25 185,348 9 4 Marlborough .. 7 68,135 2 0 22,480 3 4+ 7 90,616 1 4 165,444 5 9 Westland 1 3,230 1 6 1 1,879 2 20 2 5,109 3 26 8,343 2 2 Canterbury .. 48 156,755 2 5 5 50,359 2 18 53 207,115 0 23 1,008,877 13 11 Otago 14 60,396 3 15 4 7,177 0 29 18 67,574 0 4 392,821 10 6 Southland 5 34,388 0 39 5 34,388 0 39 88,132 15 9 Totals 107 448,792 3 15 20 152,032 2 24 127 600,825 1 39 2,675,487 10 4 * Includes Ruangarehu exchange. + Acquired b; wa; of exehanj |e.

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EXCHANGES. TABLE D.—Areas of Land acquired by way of Exchange under the Land for Settlements Acts, and Areas given in Exchange, to 31st March, 1903.

Lai id acquired by Crowi Ca; Area of Land Locality of Exchange: Block and Survey District. in Exchange. Paid to Government. Land District. Name of Exchange. Area. Paid to Owner. Hawke's Bay .. Marlborough .. Hatuma Tomoana Ruangarehu Hundalee Birchhill A. E. P. 709 2 0 111 3 38 2,380 0 0 147 0 33 8,179 0 0 Part Block 120, Ruataniwa, Crown Grant Distriot Heretaunga Survey District, Block XVI. Part Ruangarehu No. 1, Paekawa No. 1a, Rangihohua Nos. 1 and 5, and Paraeroa No. 1 Blocks .. Hundalee Survey District Patriarch Survey District, Blocks IX., X., XIII., XV., and XVI.; Leatham Survey District, Blocks IV., V. and IX. Greenburn Survey District, Block V.; Mount Fyffe Survey Distriot, Block VI. Barefell, Zone, and Whernside Survey Districts Ouamulutu, Pine Valley, and Mount Olympus Survey Districts Hundalee Survey District, Blocks XV., XVII., and XXI. Hundalee Survey District, Blocks IV., V., VI., VII., XV., and XVII. Onamulutu Survey District, Blocks IX. and XIII. Hundalee Survey District, Blocks II., III., VIII., and IX. Puhipuhi and Whernside Survey Districts Tapuaenuka, Hodder, Blue Mountain, and Whernside Survey Districts Sprey Survey District, Blocks I., II., V., VI., and IX. ; Leatham Survey District, Blocks I., II., VI., and XVIII. Clifford Bay Survey Distriot, Block XL, part Sections 68 and 70 Clifford Bay Survey District, Block XIV., Sections 86-9, and parts 262 and 263.. Burke Survey District, Block XVI., Sections 34430, &c. Lyndon Survey District, Sections 28, 9, 31, 3, 4, 35, and 86, and parts 3 of 36, Square 82.. Kakateramea Survey District, Block XIV., part Rural Section 30791 Marion Survey Distriot, Block XI., Sections 4 and 1 of Square 110 Kauroo Survey District, Block XL, original Section 9 .. .. .. .. '.. Awamoho Survey District, Block X., original Section 18 A. E. P. 774 0 0 553 0 0 2,388 0 0 145 2 1 15,148 0 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. Swyncombe Symons North Bank Claverley Kahautara Langley Dale Green Hills Woodbank Awatere Stronvar 202 3 7 ■ 9,821 2 36 3,992 3 32 1,308 0 0 3,222 0 33* 724 1 0 990 3 31 2,276 0 14 14,301 3 4 6,442 3 0 346 1 36 5,893 2 29 11,733 0 0 1,761 0 0 9,875 2 0* 1,449 0 0 1,802 2 7 3,592 0 34 18,928 0 0 19,609 0 0 210 10 4 53 13 4 244 12 11 264 7 6 4,85210 0 Canterbury Starborough Flaxbourne Burke Lyndon Station Peak Hope River Elderslie No. 1 .. Elderslie No. 2 138 3 7 404 0 0 199 1 0 1,608 0 0 100 0 0 348 2 0 157 2 0 147 2 19 323 0 24 522 2 0 333 0 0 1,570 2 28 158 0 0 522 3 0 37 2 0 117 2 17 552' 2 6 505 15 0 16 3 0 Otago •• . 57,767 2 21 5,668 16 2 1,030 18 5 Totals 97,438 2 15 *This includes Hundalee exchange 147 acres and 33perches, and 145 acres 2 roods 1 perch respectively.

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Land for Settlements compulsorily acquired, from 1st April, 1893, to 31st March, 1903.

The Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 23rd July, 1903. During the year the Land Purchase Board transferred to the control of this Department 91,724 acres 2 roods 4 perches, comprised in twelve estates, one homestead site, and portions of the Birch Hill and Awatere freehold properties. The latter were acquired in exchange for Crown lands. Of these, eight estates, one homestead site, and the Awatere and Birch Hill lands, containing in all an area of 49,162 acres and 14 perches, were opened for selection, together with ten other estates comprising an area of 29,639 acres and 15 perches, which had been handed over prior to the 31st March, 1902, but were not ready for settlement on that date. The properties were all surveyed, subdivided, valued, and submitted for lease on carefully considered and designed schemes, and were readily quitted, except the areas noted in the fourth column of the table hereunder. The five Auckland hamlets were opened as " Workmen's Homes," and are situated in the vicinity of the City of Auckland. The Kumeroa and Forest Gate Estates were acquired under the compulsory provisions of " The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900," and, notwithstanding, the result may so far be classed as satisfactory. The small Linton Settlement, near Halcombe, was all selected. The Kokatahi Settlement, in Westland, is in a better position than shown, inasmuch as the balance of 1,246 acres have been taken up since the 31st March last. The five Canterbury properties constitute a large proportion of the whole ; and of the Lyndon Estate (Amuri) and the Chamberlain (Opawa) Settlement, near Albury, not an acre has been left on the Land Board's hands. The Windsor Park Estates (Otago) all went off. Given a continuance of the present favourable conditions affecting farming and grazing, it is anticipated that these later acquisitions under the Land for Settlements Act will prove as beneficial and satisfactory to the colony and tenants as the majority of the previous purchases have been. Eeference to Table No. 33 in the report of the Lands and Survey Department will afford full information as to all the estates which have been opened for selection and administered by the Lands and Survey Department. Since the initiation of the policy under " The Land for Settlements Act, 1892," it will be seen that, including special purchases to provide homesteads and low country for a few Crown tenants, the number of settlements, exclusive of the Birch Hill and Awatere exchanges, is 116, comprising in all 475,223 acres, and the result is that 2,335 tenants —or 7,200 souls in all— have been placed upon 447,334 acres, for which they are liable for an annual rental of £116,979. The area absorbed by roads and reserves is 8,338 acres, and on the 31st March last the total area still in the hands of the Land Boards, inclusive of forfeited and surrendered sections, amounted to 19,544 acres, with an estimated annual rental of £3,401, whilst 278 lessees, holding 61,680 acres, were in arrear £10,489. This amount has been since greatly reduced. The holdings which fall back into the hands of the Crown are reopened as expeditiously as possible, and are as a rule promptly taken up, but difficulty is still experienced in quitting portions of some of the Auckland hamlets, the Waipapa Settlement (Marlborough), the Pomahaka and Barnego Settlements (Otago), and the Beaumont and Glenham Settlements (Southland). The Northbank Estate (Marlborough) was held back for mining. J. W. A. Marchant, Surveyor-General.

iani lisi Tic' fame 01 [emen: :e wl ten ;en. .rea ten. Otago Hawke's Bay .. Ardgowan Hatuma Kumeroa Forest Gate .. Argyll (Milbourne) 9/1/1896 23/8/1900 20/3/1902' 27/2/1902 2/3/1903 A. E. P. 4,273 0 0 25,868 3 10 3,748 0 0 8,756 3 38 28,857 0 0 71,503 3 8

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Estates offered for Selection during the Year ending 31st March, 1903, under "The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900."

Summary of Selectors, Residences, and the Condition of Estates acquired and dealt with, at 31st March, 1903.

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Land District, and Name of Estate. Area of Estate. Number of Selectors. Area unselected, 31st March, 1903. Annual Rental payable on Lands leased. Date of Opening. Luckland— Cradock Hamlet Hetana Hamlet Kitchener Hamlet Methuen Hamlet Plumer Hamlet lawke's Bay— Kumeroa Forest Gate Vellington— Linton Vestland — Kokatahi 'anterbury— Lyndon No. 2 .. Maytown R.S. 30791 (pt.) Eccleston R.S. 36226 Mead.. Chamberlain .. 'tago— Windsor Park Windsor Park (No. 2) .. Duncan A. K. P. 33 0 9 451 1 34 26 3 35 77 3 14 74 0 0 3,774 2 38 8,822 0 0 551 1 36 1,879 2 20 a 7 1 7 3 14 28 5 3 A. R. P. 22 0 25 377 1 6 20 3 14 45 2 7 54 2 12 726 0 0 81 2 13 1,246 1 30 £ s. d. 17 14 0 14 5 4 8 12 0 33 17 9 10 10 2 1,425 9 10 2,587 17 6 309 13 6 100 17 10 22 April, 1902. 22 April, 1902. 22 April, 1902. 22 April, 1902. 22 April, 1902. 12 May, 1902. 19 May, 1902. 17 Sept., 1902. 4 Nov., 1902. 15,887 0 0 391 3 32 100 0 0 1,246 1 5 46 1 26 5,914 3 17 10,500 1 9 10 12 . 1 4 1 21 21 2,281 10 2 286 16 2 17 0 0 569 11 2 5 3 0 975 18 0 2,169 19 10 21 April, 1902. 28 April, 1902. 23 April, 1902. 12 May, 1902. 16 Oct., 1902. 21 Jan., 1903. 9 March, 1903. 3,821 2 16 2,179 2 17 633 2 3 38 10 5 1,655 8 2 875 16 8 181 16 8 28 May, 1902. 28 Oct., 1902. 29 Dec, 1902. 210 0 22 Totals 56,412 2 31 194 2,784 2 9 13,524 17 9

Land District and Name of Settlement. Selectors. Residencies. Progress during Year. Pursuits of Settlers. Present Position. Prospects. Auckland — Opouriao Okauia Rangiatea Karapiro Fencourt Whitehall Cradock Hamlet 64 9 19 16 36 8 3 64 7 17 11 34 9 Satisfactory .. Unsatisfactory Good Dairying and cropping Dairying Dairying and general farming Farming and dairying Good Not satisfactory.. Prosperous Good Prosperous Fairly good Not satisfactory.. Good. Fair. Good. Fair Only recently selected Ditto Hetana Hamlet.. Kitchener Hamlet Methuen Hamlet Plumer Hamlet.. Hawke's Bay— Raureka 7 1 7 3 6 "a 19 18 Good Dairying, farming, fruit-grow-ing, &c. Pastoral Dairying Good Good. Elsthorpe Waimarie Pouparae Tomoana Mahora Willows Hatuma Manga-a-toro Kumeroa Forest Gate Taranaki — Tokaora Wellington— Paparangi Ohakea Te Matua Aorangi Langdale Mangawhata Epuni Hamlet .. 46 18 9 13 32 22 62 25 14 28 27 16 9 12 25 17 53 18 10 18 Dairying and fruit-growing .. Dairying and farming Fair Good Satisfactory .. Grazing and mixed farming Grazing Dairying and grazing 15 13 Good Dairy-farming Good Good. 36 15 13 37 23 7 41 35 15 12 37 17 7 32 Good Dairying, poultry-farming, &c. Dairying, cropping, &c. Dairying Dairying, market-gardening Mixed farming and pastoral Dairying and sheep-farming Gardening, poultry-farming, &c. Ditto Dairying and grazing Good Good. Satisfactory .. Good Maungaraki Linton.. Marlborough— Blind River Omaka Puhipuhi Starborough Richmond Brook North Bank 20 5 12 4 Satisfactory .. 19 13 2 109 11 10 17 12 1 64 9 1 Fair Good Fair Satisfactory .. Sheep-farming Sheep-farming and cropping Sheep-farming Good Fair Good. Fair. Good. Only selected in Maroh, 1903 Fair Waipapa Westland — Poerua Kokatahi 4 3 Sheep-farming Fair Fair. 18 3 14 3 Good Dairying and mixed farming Very good Good Good. tr Carried forward 862 682

C—s.

Summary of Selectors, Residences, and the Condition of Estates acquired and dealt with, at 31st March, 1903— continued.

Approximate Cost of Pa/per.— Preparation, not given ; printiug ( 1,325 copies), £12 os. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3. Price, 6d. 3—C. 5.

13

Land District and Selec- i Resi- Progress during Name of Settlement. tors. I dences. Year. Pursuits of Settlers. Present Position. Prospects. Brought forward Janterbury— Pareora Studholme Junction Kapua Rosebrook Otaio 862 28 4 682 28 3 Satisfactory .. Grazing .. .. .. Good Mixed farming .. .. „ Good. 11 14 9 12 13 9 Agriculture .. .. Well established Dairying and cropping Mixed farming, fruit-growing, &c. Grazing .. .. .. Fair Patoa The Peaks Roimata Kereta Braco Epworth Ashley Gorge .. Omihi Valley .. ! Orakipaoa Highbank .. j Otarakaro .. i Wharenui .. ; Rakitairi .. | Waiapi .. Horsley Downs .. j Albury .■ R.S. 1862 .. Part R.S. 2682 .. R.S. 36469, Cannington R.S. 36231 R.S. 36056, 36057 R.S. 36228 Marawiti Hekeao .. | Pawaho Waikakahi Tamai Hamlet .. Takitu Pareora No. 2 Rautawiri Papaka Punaroa Lyndon Kohika Tarawahi Raincliff Puhuka Kaimahi Kapuatohe R.S. 36278 Rapuwai Part R.S. 30791.. R.S. 36226 Lyndon No. 2 .. Maytown Eccleston Mead 4 12 26 4 14 2 10 1 27 75 7 26 22 15 26 79 1 1 1 2 PoolFair. 26 4 14 1 12 Good Satisfactory .. Gardening and fruit-growing Very prosperous Mixed farming .. .. Satisfactory Market-gardening .. .. ; Well established Mixed farming .. .. Satisfactory Dairying Let temporarily .. .-. Mixed farming .. .. ! Good Good. Satisfactory .. 20 57 7 26 19 15 23 63 1 Small farming and gardening „ Agriculture .. .. „ Good'. Good G razing Dairying and cropping .. | „ Homestead site 1 1 1 12 16 26 184 39 5 33 6 9 17 9 17 16 1 7 13 9 1 5 1 1 10 12 4 21 1 Homestead site 1 12 13 21 148 35 5 32 6 9 17 6 14 14 1 5 8 7 Good Satisfactory .. Gooci FaiiGood Fair Good Satisfactory .. Fair Good Agriculture .. .. Satisfactory Agriculture and dairying .. Good Grazing and gardening .. „ Mixed farming & stock-raising „ Residential .. .. Fair Sheep-farming .. .. Good Cropping, &c. Mixed farming .. .. Sa'Ufactory Agriculture .. ... Dairying and cropping .. j Grazing and cropping .. ! Mixed farming .. .. Prosporous Residential .. .. Good Grazing, &o. .. .. Satisfactory Residential .. • • „ Agriculture .. .. Fair Mixed farming .. • • » Hometead site Grazing .. .. .. Good Homestead site Good. Fair. Good. Ut satisfactory Satisfactory .. Fair. 4 Satisfactory .. Good. 1 6 10 2 Fair Satisfactory .. Unsatisfactory Only recently selected Ditto Grazing .. .. .. Fair Mixed farming .. .. Good ... .. Fair Fair. Good. Fair. Chamberlain )tago — Pomahaka Downs Teaneraki Tahawai Maerewhenua .. Puketapu Ardgowan 21 19 22 8 72 11 65 18 16 8 58 9 29 Unsatisfactory Fair Good Mixed farming .. .. Unsatisfactory .. .. Fair Dairying .. .. .. Good Mixed farming .. .. \ „ Dairying and cropping .. i „ Dairying, grazing, and mixed farming Mixed farming .. .. Much improved .. Poor. Fair. Good. Fair Good Makareao Makareao Extension Momona Tokarahi Jane field Elderslie Barnego Earnscleugh Windsor Park .. Windsor Park No. 2 Duncan louthland — Merrivale Otahu Beaumont .. | Ring way Glenham 31 3 18 3 14 79 20 33 21 11 38 10 14 44 19 20 17 8 17 5 Satisfactory .. Very fair Very good Satisfactary .. Good Dairying .. .. . • Most satisfactory Dairying and mixed farming Good Mixed farming Grazing and agriculture .. Well established Dairying and mixed farming | Fair Fruit-growing, &c. .. j Good Agriculture Only recently selected Ditto 5 1 47 7 9 7 24 39 4 4 8 16 FaiiDairying and farming .. ] Good .. Grazing .. .. .. Unsatisfactory .. Good. Doubtful. Good Mixed farming .. .. Success assured .. Dairying and farming .. Fair Good. Fairly good Totals 2,335 1,785