THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1911 Session I, C-05

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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Section 85 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1908.

The Land Purchase Inspector to the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Bart., Minister of Lands. Land for Settlements. Sir,— Wellington, Ist July, 1911. I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1911. During the period there were eighty-one properties (containing 350,708 acres) offered, of which fourteen (containing 14,399 acres) were purchased, and nearly all have been taken delivery of and settled. The actual expenditure was £158,796, making a total of £5,566,588 since the Act came into operation in 1892, for the purchase of estates containing 1,252,495 acres. By far the largest number of the properties offered were from Canterbury, and, although at prices considered high, still not so excessive as those demanded further north. The Board, however, did not feel justified in recommending any great area for purchase, as the margin between the purchasing and letting value was not considered sufficient to warrant the State accepting the responsibility of placing settlers upon the land. One important transaction the Board was pleased to conclude was the exchange of some 2,500 acres of freehold lands belonging to the trustees of the late Mr. J. B. Acland, Mount Peel Station, Canterbury, for Crown lands adjoining the balance of their freehold. These freeholds were early selections, and " gridironed " through the Crown leaseholds ; therefore it was very important they should be secured. In addition, the trustees are to surrender in February next some 50,000 acres of Crown lands of which they hold the lease until 1917, and for which they are to receive valuation for improvements in the shape of Crown lands and an extended lease for twenty-one years of some 35,100 acres, the greater proportion of which is summer country only. The area surrendered with freeholds will provide ;i considerable number of excellent small runs. Since the close of the year the Waihao Downs property, renamed the " Douglas " Settlement, has been satisfactorily disposed of. The purchase of the Sherwood Downs Estate, near Fairlie, and the Conical Hills Estate, near Tapanui, has also been concluded. The former consists of 11,842 acres of freehold, nearly all agricultural, and the lease of 45,000 acres of Crown lands adjoining. The latter contains 10,518 acres, the largest proportion being good agricultural land. Delivery of both properties will be in February and March next. These estates will provide room for a considerable number of settlers, and should be largely competed for. It is evident that there is an unsatisfied demand for land, and every endeavour is being made to meet such ; but at the same time the interests of the Dominion, as well as of the settlers, have to be considered.

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The following table shows the position of the Land for Settlements Account for the year : — Dr. y a. <l. Or. £ a. d. Cash and instalments, 31st March, 1910 202,407 7 2 Purchase-money .. .. .. 158,79 ii 8 9 New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Charges and expenses:— £ s. d. Office, in terms of section 5 of New Debentures .. 33 17 0 Zealand State - guaranteed Advances Individual estates J<i,72O 1 0 Act, 1909 .. .. .. 33,000 o 0 Incidental expenses 8,8(59 8 10 Receipts under Land Ad. section 177 .. 11,543 lti 11 26,623 6 10 Receipts under Land Aot, section 191 .. 1,966 13 8 Interest .. .. .. .. 224,143 10 0 Rents .. .. .. .. 271,199 7 7 .Sinking fund .. .. .. 59,079 7 7 Net profits on sale of securities .. 482 311 Balance, 31st March, 1911 .. .. 53,397 14 8 Credits .. .. .. .. 361 18 7 £521,040 7 10 £521,040 7 10 Land Settlement Finance Act. The operations under the Lund Settlement Finance Act may be considered as highly satisfactory. The Act has really only been in existence for a year, and already eleven associations have been incorporated, with a membership of sixty-eight members and an area, of 9,153 acres, valued at £132,802. There are nine other associations under consideration. Some ten have been declined for various reasons —a few on account of their unsuitability, but the largest number owing to the high value placed upon the land. There is a tendency amongst members to enter into the agreement without first making themselves thoroughly conversant with its provisions. Probably the desire to get a piece of land without any great immediate outlay has something to do with this. Notwithstanding an agreement, the Board has in nearly every instance secured a material reduction on the price agreed upon, and at the same time arranged for a more equal apportionment of the purchase-money and a better division of the area. The amendments passed last session have simplified the preliminary proceedings, but there are still several defects in the Act which should be remedied. The Board finds that the intention of the Act as regards residence is not in all cases being complied with. To effectually meet this, and at the same time to insure the expenditure of a reasonable amount on buildings, it is recommended that a deposit not exceeding 10 per cent, of the purchase-money should be deposited at the time of application, and, upon the certificate of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district that buildings to a like amount have been erected, such sum or part thereof shall be refunded as paymeni towards the cost of such buildings, any surplus to go towards reduction of purchase-money. It is pleasing to say that the personnel of the members of the associations is, in the opinion of the Board, highly satisfactory, and that they are likely to do full justice to their allotments. Judging from the number of inquiries for information, tin , provisions of the Act are becoming better known. Therefore, as time goes on, it is anticipated that large areas will be successfully settled under this Act. Appended are explanatory tables. I have, &c, John D. Ritchie. The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Bart., Minister of Lands.

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. TABLE A.—Return of Lands purchased from 1st April, 1910, to 31st March, 1911.

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Price per Acre. Mode of Acquisition. Name of Settlement. Area taken Possession of during Year, and Amount paid. Area. Paid '£* Land ' Area approximately not yet taken Possession of. Name of Owner. Name of Estate. Locality. Quality of Land. Graham, Richard Josiah Gibson and Judd Crown lands.. McCully, William .. Amyes and Leslie Palmer, J. G. F. Corrigan, M. J. Rolleston, E. M. Martin, A., Jan. Bailey, J. .. Ruddenklau, P. W. Allan, A. Richards, E... Tripp Bros. Waitakaruru Ngatapa Northbank Clandeboye Hornby Ruapuna Makikihi Clandeboye vWashdyke Templeton Stoke Stony Creek Waihao Downs .. Orari Gorge Auckland. Piako Hawke's Bay. Gisborne .. Marlborough. Adjoining Northbank Settlement Canterbury. Near Temuka Hornby Near Ashburton Makikihi Near Temuka Near Washdyke Templeton Near Rangiora Near Waimate Waihao Downs Geraldine £ s. d. 3 2 6 By agreement 0 8 0 25 0 0 48 0 0 9 0 0 10 17 6 ■20 0 0 30 0 0 22 0 0 18 10 0 11 0 0 19 2 6 4 5 0 Waitakaruru Ngatapa Northbank Clandeboye Hornby Ruapuna No. 2 .. Kohika No. 2 .. Clandeboye No. 2 Meadows Drayton Stoke AUanholm Douglas Tripp .. 1,385 573 75 4,425 588 410 151 970 980 2,195 Acres. 2,087 6,522 43* 554 14,476 3'J,822 6,397 8,193 13,652 21,296 18,137 24,150 6,522 43* Acres. 3,300 ■■ 3t 12 10,673 149,830 i Palmer, John Rugged Ridges .. • Otago. Otematakau Survey Homestead-site .. District Cardrona Survey District Near Kurow Rugged Ridges .. Spottis Creek Aviemore 220 880 Turnbull, R. M. Spottis Creek 31 Cameron, Hugh Aviemore 30 950 250 1,830 Thomas's Trustees Ermedale Southland. Fairfax .. 4 5 0 Ermedale ft 17 i 14,399 158,796 3,331 J For land for road. t Additional urea. * For land for road. J And improvements.

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TABLE B.—Summary of all Lands considered by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act, 1908, from Ist April, 1910, to 31st March, 1911. Land District. Number. Area of offered ■ Auckland ... ... ... ... 4 28,197 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... ... 3 2,728 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 4 12,580 Wellington ... ... ... ... 7 6,939 Marlborough ... ... ... ... 9 198,215 Nelson ... ... ... ... Westland ... ... ... ... 1 1,235 Canterbury ... ... ... ... 42 77,773 Otago ... ... ... ... ... 10 21,103 Southland ... ... ... ... 1 1,938 Totals ... ... ... 81 350,708

TABLE C.—Estates acquired since 31st March, 1911.

TABLE D.—Summary of Estates acquired up to 31st March, 1911.

Table E.—Land-settlement Finance Associations incorporated at 31st March, 1911.

Name. Looality. Area. Price. Possession. Sherwood Downs ... Conical Hills ... Near Fairlie, Canterbury ... Waipahi, Otago Aores. 11,842 10,518 £70,000* £4 per acre March, 1912. n tt * Inoluding leasehold.

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. Incidental Expenses, Improvements, lsoads, <fec. Auckland .. Hawke's Bay Taranaki .. Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Canterbury Otago Southland 28 26 4 26 9 2 2 73 32 7 Acres. 279,198 193,415 4,609 60,824 116,364 24,347 5,125 307,755 203,936 56,922 £ 455,675 1,205,674 79,363 473,999 355,017 29,975 8,343 1,775,867 969,288 213,387 £ 85,886 88,835 6,103 64,182 46,544 2,851 2,915 81,420 89,110 20,000 Totals 209 209 1,252,495 5,566,588 487.846

Association. Locality. Name of Owner. Area. Purchase - money. Number, of Members. Area of Allotments. Eureka Tainui Komata South Auckland. Eureka .. G. Howie Mataugi .. W. Ranstead Komata South .. ! Hubbards and Hubbards's executors Hikutaia .. G. Alley .. Te Aroha .. G. W. Mace Hinuera .. McGuire and Miller Acres. 824 4(i(i 658 t 15,870 6,520 9,990 5 5 5 Acres. 100, 188, 200, 185, 151. 112, 50, 50, 82, 172. 176, 158, 89, 104, 131. Hikutaia. . Melrose .. Martha .. 839 858 1,938 T.iiti:; <>,4<i!i 11.528 8 ! 5 j li ! 180, 180, 129, 110, 145, 95. 1()<J, 168, 176, 176, 168. 193, 193, 184, 184, 184, 200, 200, 100, 100, 200, 200. i Korokipo 5,583 58,137 :i() Hawke's Bay. Korokipo .. J. E. Lane 64, 102, 79, 162, 101, 112, 50. 670 16,630 Nikau Grange Moorfield Wellington. Ashhurst .. Measrs. Fraser Kimbolton .. E. H. Oabbe 672 807 18,830 16,948 r> 130, 141, 145, 133, 123. 150, 184, 191, 150, 132. Cantebbuky. Winchester .. R. Brookland Temuka .. D. Shaw, jun. 1,479 35,778 II Brookland Waitohi Downs 400 1,021 9,621 12,636 5 li 53, 68, 93, 65, 121. 178, 197, 200. 223, 223. 1,421 22,257 II 9,153 132,802 68

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Table F. —Land-settlement Finance Associations under Negotiation.

Table G.—Land-settlement Finance Associations declined at 31st March, 1911.

ApprozimaU Ooel •<] Paptr, -Preparation, not s?iven; printing <l; 700 copies), £5 15s.

By Authority: John Mackav, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ll.

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Association. • Member,. j£^L. Name and Address of Vendor. Area. Purchasemoney. Auckland. Waipa* .. Mimosa Downs* Walton* .. ( Uengarifl* Dunlop* .. 5 .'. 8 8 5 At Slat March. 1911. Acres. 600 1,009 1,200 1,070 450 I 10,873 8,570 13,145 15,198 5,965 1/3/11 McGovern, F., Tβ Awamutu 10/2/11 Hutchinson, C. Q., Walton 10/2/II Butler, R., Walton 24/1/11 Greenslade, Mrs., Ohaupo . . 4/3/11 Sturges, W. N., Kaipaki .. 4,389 53,757 Wellington. Sylvester's 7 Sylvester, —, Te Horo 1,100 27,?0O Cantkrbuky. Melville Downs* Qleniffier* 7 5 13/3/11 Black, William, Fairlie .. 18/3/11 Macaulay, A., and Mrs. Dick 1,024 850 12,288 10,205 Southland. Menivale No. 1* .. 61 1,874 ! 22,493 18/2/11 Ellis, J. C, Merrivale 2,353 17,039 9,716 120,789 At 30th June, 1911. Auckland. Waitangi Piikekawa 5 6 27/4/11 Sinclair, W. F., Waiuku .. 4/6/11 Morrison, R. E., Pukekawa 993 696 9,967 5,220 Canterbury. Chastleton* 5 25/5/11 Harris, Edward, Pleasant Valley 1,530 10,901 Southland. Merrivale No. 2* .. 7 Ellis, J. C, Merrivale 1,891 14,200 23 5,110 40,288 • Since approved.

Association. AuCKl \\l>. Peinberton Elstow MoNiool .. (Siand Junotion Shaftesbury Lynda <trakau Stappa Hastie's (Hauraki Gulf) Members. Agreement Name a,ld Addre8s of Vendor. 5 11/8/11 French, F., Eureka ■~> ■ 5/10/10 McCrea, J. A., Te Aroha .. ."> 22/11/10 McNicol'a Trustees, Hamilton 5 2<>/ll/10 Maokenzie, A., Waihou .. ."> 30/11/10 Johnstone, J., Shafteebury 5 24/1/11 Bridgeman, J. .. f> 30/1/11 Hutchinson. J., Kihikihi .. 5 7/3/11 Mapp, P. H. end \V. Hastic, —, .Manaia Area. Declined. Aores. 570 403 660 528 417 587 613 720 8,500 (i/!)/10 17/12/10 28/3/11 21/12/10 21/12/10 20/3/11 28/3/11 28/3/11 28/3/11 (liNTBBBtTEY. Long Bay Hi 5/10/10 Narbey, Francois, Akaroa 12,998 I 3,165 i 16,163 I 1/12/10