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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1914 Session I, C-05

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1914. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

The Land Puechase Inspector and Chairman op the Board op Land Purchase Commissioners to the Minister op Lands. Sib,— Wellington. Bth July, 1914. I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ending the 31st March, 1914. 8 Land for Settlements. The number of properties considered was 199, of an area of 652,883 acres. Many of these were found to be quite unsuitable for settlement, or were offered at such a price as to preclude business. The area purchased and taken possession of was 141,327 acres, costing £560,498. In addition the leases of 108,786 acres of Crown land were surrendered, and a portion has been utilized as additions to settlement lands. The total expenditure to 31st March is £6,936,613, for 1,490,367 acres. There was an active demand for the whole of the estates purchased, with the exception of those in Southland. These are, however, being gradually taken up, and it is expected that the whole will be occupied within a month or so. The successful applicants are reported as being of a good type and likely to do justice to their holdings. The purchase of further areas is being steadily pursued, and already 25,793 acres, valued at £181,582, have been completed. There appears to be a disposition on the part of landowners to quit their holdings, and considerable areas are being offered, but in many instances at prices which are. considered to be much beyond the value. With the present returns for all produce there is, however, some justification for owners looking for extreme prices. Land Settlement Finance Act. The operations during the period have been somewhat restricted, principally owing to the tightness of the money-market in the earlier part of the year. There were four associations incorporated, with an area of 4,182 acres, valued at £58,830, and a membership of 27. The total number of associations incorporated to date is 38, with an area of 39,232 acres, valued at £520,924, and 266 members. There are several others now under consideration. With few exceptions the success of the several associations is assured. In two instances at least, mainly owing to adverse weather-conditions and bad roads, the financial position of the members has been seriously affected, and some mode of relief may be necessary. The procedure to be adopted under the present Land Settlement Finance Act is found most cumbersome and almost unworkable, therefore every endeavour should be made to place upon the statute-book the proposed new Bill. It is confidently expected that a considerable impetus would be given to settlement under an improved measure. Appended are explanatory tables. I have, &c, John D. Ritchie. The Eight Hon. W. F. Massey, Minister of Lands.

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Table A.—Number of Properties considered during the Year ending 31st March, 1914.

Table B.—Summary of Estates acquired up to 31st March, 1914.

Table o.—Position op the Land for Settlements Account for the Year ending 31st March, 1914. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ „. <j. Cash and instalments .. .. 47,672 0 4 Purchase-money .. .. .. 560,497 3 3 Amounts received from New Zealand Charges and expenses— £ s d. State-guaranteed Advances Offioe— In connection with In terms of section 89 of New Zea- estates purchased.. 21,331 13 1 land State-guaranteed Advances Other expenses .. 4,568 11 11 Act, 1909 .. .. .. 163,877 12 0 25,900 5 0 Part proceeds of loan for redemp- Debentures redeemed and matured .. 50,000 0 0 tion of debentures matured Ist Interest .. .. .. .. 266,205 2 0 April, 1912 .. .. .. 50,000 0 0 Advanced under section 63, Land Lavss Debentures issued, &c, under New Amendment Act, 1913 .. .. 37,171 0 0 Zealand Loans Act, 1908 .. .. 306,588 0 0 Sinking fund .. .. .. 48,910 5 7 Amount set aside for opening up Crown Balance .. ~ .. .. 64,297 611 lands for settlement in terms of section 63, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913 .. .. .. .. 3,000 0 0 Receipts under Land Act, 1908— Section 177 Seotion 191 .. .. .. 108 2 6 Rents .. .. .. .. 340,183 0 10 Sale of Crown lands .. .. 135,664 6 11 Recoveries, &c. .. .. .. 5,888 0 2 £1,052,981 2 9 £1,052,981 2 9 Table D.—Position op the Land for Settlements Accodnt at 31st March, 1914. Dr. £ Cr. £ Loans ourrent .. .. .. .. 7,222,375 Purchase-money .. .. ..6 936 613 Rents, &c, received .. .. .. 3,174,587 Incidental expenses .. .. .. 600,760 Receipts under Land Act, section 191 .. 7,181 Interest .. .. .. ..2 506 267 Receipts under Land Act, section 177 .. 59,700 Sinking fund .. .. .. .. 459372 Sale of Crown lands .. .. .. 135,664 Land Laws Amendment Act, section 63 .. 34,171 Interest on investments .. .. .. 1,973 Balanoe .. .. ~ ~ 64 297 £10,601,480 £10,601,480

Land District. Number. Area of Estates offered. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki "Wellington ... Marlborough ... Nelson Westland Canterbury ... Otago Southland . . 38 27 3 24 2 2 1 45 22 35 Aores. 165,903 220,946 3,264 32,140 6,993 17,521 555 77,130 45,490 82,941 Totals 199 199 652,883

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. Incidental Expenses, Improvements, Roads &c. Auckland lawke's Bay taranaki Vellington larlborough T elson Vestland 'anterbury )tago Southland .. ! 30 34 5 30 11 a, .3 2 >. 99 38 12 Acres. 285,737 226,197 5,356 70,861 201,394 27,292 5,125 369,304 219,503 79,598 £ 488,402 1,414,681 90,196 533,807 563,638 34,375 8,343 2,385,867 1,095,886 321,418 £ 90,207 100,245 6,749 67,841 50,982 3,183 2,921 100,980 96,550 22,174 Totals -.- | 264 1,490,367 6,936,613 541,832

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Table E.—Return of Lands purchased from 1st April, 1913, to 31st March, 1914.

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Name of Owner. Name of Estate. Locality. Price per Acre. Mode of Acquisition. Ni Area taken Possession of during Year and Amount paid Area approximately not yet taken Possession of. Area. Paid for Land, &c. Revell and Rowe Henry, M. .. Crown lands added Ohauiti Balachraggan Auckland. Tauranga Waitoa Waitakaruru .. £ s. d. 3 15 0 10 0 0 By agreement.. Ohauiti Balachraggan Waitakaruru .. Acres. 4.856 1,420 263 £ 18,212 14,200 315 Acres. Taranaki. 6,539 32,727 Bee, G. Less adjustments, rates, &c. Tariki 14 10 0 By agreement.. Tariki 747 10,838 5 \ V ' ,»,,. Hawke's Bay. Ongaonga 10,833 Rhodes, A. L. V. Vallance, L. B. Rhodes, L. M. Springhill Waratah Kotri 9 15 0 8 0 0 8 10 0 By agreement | Springhill r L 2,428 2,079 1,727 23,672 16,632 14.680 Wellington. 6,234 54,984 Macdonald, J. R., and Bartholomew, A. M. Stone-Wigg, A. J. Beetham, H. H. Beetham, 0. H. Poroporo Brancepeth .. Levin Near Masterton Wairarapa I 35 0 0 8 0 0 6 10 0 1 0 0 By agreement.. 1 Heatherlea Poroporo r i i 604 3,762 523 5,148 21,159 30.096 3,399 5.148 ,, • • I* J Add adjustments, rates, &c. 10,037 59,802 6 Carter's Trustees Harrison, T. Hillersden .. Lynton Downs Marlborough. Wairau Valley Near Kaikoura « 2 2 6 6 5 0 By agreement.. Hillersden Lynton Downs 78,259 6,771 166,300* 42,321 t 59,808 Nelson. Tophouse 85,030 208,621 J. M. Kerr's Trust Lake Run By agreement.. Howard 2.945 4,400+ * Including goodwill of 88,000 acres leasehold. t Including goodwill of 12,000 acres leasehold. t Including goodwill of 2,786 acres leasehold.

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Table E.—Return of Lands purchased from 1st April, 1913, to 31st March, 1914— continued.

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Name of Owner. Name of Estate. Locality. Price per Acre. > J ; «i ■ Mode of Acquisition. Area taken Possession of during Year and Amount paid. Area approximately not yet taken Possession of. Area. Paid for Land, &c. Jroueher, M. Sutherland, D. M. leredith, R. Lansdowne .. Hohenfeldt .. Tara Canterbury. Near Waimate Waituna Waihaorunga .. £ s. d. 15 0 0 14 0 0 8 15 0 By agreement 1 Lansdowne ( Acres. 820 1,253 3.624 £ 12.299 17,554 31,710 Acres. Tara Less adjustments, rates, &c. 5,697 61,563 12 61,551 Clareview Otago. By agreement.. Clareview Te Puke Juekley, D. tattray Bros. Herbert Georgetown 13 10 0 14 0 0 758 664 10,234 9,289 Add adjustments, rates, &c. 1,422 19,523 20 Southland. Tuatapere Balfour Mataura 19,543 Cameron, D., and Macaulay, J. Ardlussa Land Company -IcAuley, A. S. latheson, M. Vashbourne Bros. Maori Hill .. Ardlussa Waiarikiki .. Knowsley Park Fortification Hill 7 5 0 5 5 0 4 10 0 3 17 6 3 2 6 By agreement.. Maori Hill .. Ardlussa Waiarikiki Knowsley Park Fortification Hill 3,538 6,463 4,114 4,952 3,609 25,653 33,932* 18,510 19,189 11,279 Waimahaka Less amount for cash in lieu of debentures, Ardlussa Less adjustments, rates, &c. 22,676 108, 563 500 32 108,031 141,327 560,498 * Including goodwill of 6,000 acres leasehold.

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Table F.—Estates acquired since 31st March, 1914, or Purchased before and not dealt with.

Table G.—Land-settlement Finance Associations incorporated up to 31st March, 1913.

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Name. Estate. Locality. Area. Price. Possession. W. J. Burch and Son L. H. Otway A. S. G. Carlyon .. W. G. Rudd H. Ensor A. Copland A. Copland T. Tesohemaker .. W. F. Campbell Scott Bros, and G. B. Bullock Aylesbury .. Gwavas Meadowbank Hillboro' .. Otaio Finlay Downs Matakohe, Auckland .. Waihou, Auckland Tikokino, Hawke's Bay Lee's Valley, Canterbury St. Andrew's, Canterbury Acres. 2,141 1,658 5,942 2,343 2,620 612 691 3,635 2,108 4,043 £ 14,452 14,922 28,967 12,418 12,445 8,415 10,365 41,882 20,533 17,183 31 March, 1915. 1 Aug., 1914. 28 Feb., 1915. 28 „ 28 „ 31 March, „ 31 30 „ 30 30 „ Otaio, Canterbury Near Waitahuna, Otago 25,793 181,582

Association. Locality. Name of Owner. Area. Purchase- $jg£ mone y- bts™ Area of Allotment. Auckland. Eureka .. .. Eureka Tainui .. .. Matangi Komata South .. Komata South .. Hikutaia .. .. Hikutaia Melrose .. .. Te Aroha Martha .. .. Hinuera G. Howie.. W. Ranstead Hubbards and Hubbards's executors G. Alley G. W. Maoe McGuire and Miller Acres. 824 466 658 £ 15,870 6,520 9,990 5 5 5 A CFGS 100, 188, 200, 185, 151. 112, 50, 50, 82, 172. 176, 158, 89, 104, 131. Glengariff.. .. Ohaupo Dunlop .. . • Kaipaki Waipa .. .. Te Awamutu Mimosa Downs .. Walton.. Walton .. .. „ Greenslade, Mrs. .. Sturges, W. N. McGovern, P. Hutchinson, C. Q... Butler, R. 839 858 1,698 '1,088 450 678 1,009 1,182 7,663 6,466 10,245 15,237 5,967 11,186 8,582 13,003 8 5 10 9 5 5 7 9 180, 180, 129, 110, 145, 95. 169, 169, 176, 176, 168. 174, 172, 184, 184, 185, 198, 200, 100, 101, 200. 152, 185, 130, 155, 156, 208, 102. 110, 123, 63, 76, 78. 100, 101, 138, 176, 163. 196, 130, 270, 170, 243. 200, 200, 200, 205, 117, 138 122. 200, 200, 205, 205, 204. 150, 133,150, 53, 204. 150, 150, 141, 190, 200, 300, 262, 420. 160, 159, 118, 124, 212. 170, 130, 153,100, 78,101, 195, 92, 83, 141, 51. Waitangi .. .. Waiuku Pukekawa.. .. Pukekawa Moana Vale .. Roto-o-rangi Sinclair, W. F. Morrison, R. E. Paine, F... 1,014 690 1,812 9,637 4,840 13,474 5 C 11 Lansdowne .. Walton Woodside .. .. Matangi Mapp, F. H. and W. Goodwin, E. G. W. and A. 773 1,294 8,506 24,583 7 11 Hawke's Bay. Korokipo .. .. Korokipo J. E. Lane 15,333 670 171,769 16,630 113 Matamau.. .. Matamau Lloyd, T. H. G.,and Tansey, M. 1,459 24,789 7 12 64, 102, 79, 162, 101, 112, 50. 112, 114, 127, 114, 166, 181, 188, 141, 122, 194. Wellington. Nikau Grange .. Ashhurst Moorfield .. .. Kimbolton Auohmore.. .. Okoia Messrs. Fraser E. H. Crabbe McGregor, J. 2,129 41,419 19 672 807 633 18,830 16,948 14,570 6 5 7 130, 141, 145, 133, 123. 150, 184, 191, 150, 132. 120, 101, 100, 115, 64, 55, 78. 28, 25, 61, 105, 110. 178, 52, 140, 75, 147, 143, 171. 95, 135,184, 199, 147,169, 199, 186, 94, 95, 95. Glenoairn .. Turakina Quilltowen .. Wanganui Bruce, J... Whiteman, E. H. .. 1,599 329 33,567 11,587 6 8 Otauiri .. .. Hunterville Simpson, R. K., A. G,, and R. K. jun. 906 21,524 12 4,946 117,026 44 Marlborough. Clifton Grove .. Lower Wairau .. Haywood, A. E. .. 70, 65, 38, 41, 71, 83. 368 15,307 5 Canterbury. Brookland .. Winchester Waitohi Downs .. Temuka Melville Downs .. Fairlie Gleniffer .. .. Beautiful Valley Wentnor .. .. „ Chastleton .. Pleasant Valley .. Owersby .. .. Fairlie R. Brookland D. Shaw, jun. Black, William .. Maoaulay, A., and Mrs. Dick North, W. B. Harris, E. Dixon, R. A. 400 1,021 1,023 852 9,621 12,636 12,280 10,277 5 6 5 5 53, 68, 93, 65, 121. 178, 197, 200, 223, 223. 197, 224, 198, 208, 196. 160, 200, 164, 164, 164. 1,113 1,528 2,181 8,118 2,276 12,248 10,885 17,992 85,939 5 5 8 207, 207, 206, 218, 275. 279, 333, 335, 276, 305. 213, 248, 252, 256, 242, 284, 385, 301. Southland. Merrivale No. 1 .. Merrivale Ellis, J. C. 39 No. 2 .. II • ■ 16,560 11 8 305, 376, 293, 178, 250, 199, 169, 257, 249. 184, 157, 297, 310, 275, 315, 342. 1,880 14,074 Incorporated 1913-14 4,156 35,050 4,182 30,634 462,094 58,830 19 239 27 39,232 520,924 266

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Table H. —Land-settlement Finance Associations incorporated from 1st April, 1913, to 31st March, 1914.

Table I.—Land-settlement Finance Associations under Negotiation at 31st March, 1914.

Table J. —Land-settlement Finance Associations declined at 31st March, 1914.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (850 copies), £1 10s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l4.

Price 64.]

Association. Locality. Name of Owner. Area . Purchase- *»*? money. m £™ Area of Allotment. Hawke's Bay. Near Dannevirke Acres. 1,483 £ 23,681 Acres. 155, 153, 153, 149, 167, 167, 195, 176, 138. Blairgowrie Ross, R. B. !) Kelman .. Canterbury. Lowcliffo Kelman, A. W.,F.B., and J. A. Langridge, A. G., and Crampton, G. W. 186, 115, 112, 100, 250, 100. 260, 260, 217, 264, 220, 300, 104. 863 13,283 6 Trenthain Fairlie 1,631 15,498 7 Otago. Kakanui 2,494 28,781 13 Bruce Bruce, G. 39, 40, 76, 25, 25. 205 6,368 5 Totals 4,182 58,830 27

Association. A^eeme! Name and Address of Vendor. Area. Price. Auckland. ephson 5 Jephson, Paterangi Acres. 447 £ Wellington. jake Alice* 7 1/12/13 J. C. Meyer, jun., Marton .. 378 10,270 Canterbury. England 5 5 \ 13/1/14 Quinn, Mrs. D., Arowhenua Guerin and Young, Winchester 295 556 8,800 14,150 • Sine incor] lorated.

Association. Members Date of Members. Agreement. Name and Address of Vendor. Area. Declined. Auckland. /aipa garoto Wellington. ork Farm o 5 Aores. Banks, J., near Cambridge.. .. 1,400 22/1/14 Piatt, W., Ngaroto .. .. 614 5/4/13 Ellis, Mrs. M. F. and P. J., Hunter- ! 483 11/11/13 ville 26/7/13