DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1932 Session I-II, C-01

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1932. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

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

CONTENTS.

General Report :— page Appendix II :— Review of Past Year .. .. 2 Land for Settlements—• page Legislation .. .. .. 2 Summary of Settlements established .. 15 Land-development .. .. .. 3 Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Special Settlement of Inferior Lands .. 4 Crown Lands — Lands for Selection .. .. 5 North Auckland . . .. .. .. 23 Receipts .. .. .. .. 6 Auckland .. .. .. .. 23 Postponements, Remissions, and Arrears of Rent 6 Gisborne .. .. . . 23 General Remarks .. .. . . 6 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. 23 Rebates .. .. .. .. 6 Taranaki .. .. .. 23 National Endowment .. .. .. 7 Wellington , - .. .. .. 23 Educational Endowment .. .. .. 7 Nelson .. .. .. .. 24 Lands reserved for various Purposes .. 7 Marlborough .. .. . . 24 Retirement of Under-Secretary . .. 7 Westland .. . . .. . . 24 Expenditure .. .. ... .. 8 Canterbury .. .. .. 24 Otago .. . . . . . . .. 24 Appendix I: — Southland . . .. .. 24 Settlement of Crown Lands — North Auckland .. . . .. 9 Appendix 111 :— Auckland .. .. .. .. 9 Land-drainage Operations .. .. 25 Gisborne .......... 10 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. ..10 Tables:— Taranaki .. .. . . .. ..11 Table I. —Lands of the Dominion, Position oi Wellington .. .. .. ..11 (approximately).. .. ..26 Nelson .. .. .. .. 12 „ 2. —Selections during the Year .. 27 Marlborough .. .. .. 12 ~ 3. —AH Lands held on Lease .. .. 27 Westland .. .. .. .. .12 ~ 4.—Lands-for-settlement Lands .. 28 Canterbury .. .. . . 13 ~ s.—Endowment Lands leased and adOtago .. . . . . ~ 14 ministered by Land Boards .. 28 Southland .. . . . . .14 ~ 6.—Receipts, Arrears, and Postponements 28

Sib, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1932. I have the honour to submit • herewith the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended 31st March, 1932, together with particulars of the special settlement of inferior lands, and of the development work that is being carried out on unoccupied Crown and settlement lands. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

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REPORT

Review oe Past Year. The year ended 31st March, 1932, must be placed on record as a period during which the machinery for the administration of Crown lands has been subjected to a most severe trial. The readjustment in public and private finance rendered necessary by the substantial drop in the national income has shown only too plainly to town and country alike the severity of the existing depression ; but it has also served as a spur to greater endeavours. Economic conditions bear with particular severity upon our primary producers, but they have made strenuous efforts to maintain and even increase production, and as a class the tenants of the Grown have responded well to the demands made upon them in this time of stress. Active steps have been taken by the Department to encourage settlers by all reasonable means, and this has naturally involved the granting of concessions to a considerable extent. The necessity of keeping settlers on the land and of maintaining production has been kept in ike fsidgXOUnd ; but at the same time steady progress has been made with land-development work and with the opening of available lands for settlement. Weather conditions throughout the year were not particularly favourable to farming operations. Stock generally wintered fairly well ; but the weather in the early spring was most unsettled, with cold temperatures and a great number of 'southerly winds. There was considerable mortality amongst lambs, especially in Canterbury and the Waikato ; but lambing percentages in most districts were satisfactory. Pastures were as a rule slower than usual in making their spring growth. Later on, dry conditions set in over many districts, and by early February the situation, owing to a long period of low rainfall, was somwehat critical in Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and Canterbury, and to a slightly less extent in the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and Marlborough. However, later in the month general rains relieved the situation, practically throughout the Dominion, and ensured an abundant growth of grass. Selections of Crown and settlement lands on all tenures during the year totalled 406,408 acres. The tenants on the books of the Department at the 31.st March numbered 37,423, occupying a total area of over 19,000,000 acres. Pastoral runs account for approximately 9,000,000 acres, while 1,879,000 acres of purchased estates are held under lease under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act. Legislation. The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1931, deals principally with the conferring of certain concessions to Crown tenants, and with the simplifying of procedure connected with the gazetting of documents dealing with the settlement of Crown land. Small grazing-run leases due to expire not later than the Ist March, 1934, may be extended for any period not exceeding five years, and occupation-with-right-of purchase licenses expiring not later than 31st December, 1933, for any period up to seven years. Section 6 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1926 (conversion of certain leases and licenses to deferred-payment licenses) is amended by the deletion of the provision that a minimum deposit of 3 per cent, of the price must be paid on conversion. The position now will be that a conversion to deferred payments may be completed on payment of such smaller deposit as the Land Board may consider reasonable under the circumstances of any case. Section Bof the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1926 (conversion of short-term deferredpayment licenses to licenses for periods of 34|- years) is amended to provide that--(a) The new license for 34J years shall date not from the commencing date of the surrendered license, but from the date of conversion. (b) The purchase-money in respect of the new license shall be not the whole of the purchasemoney, but the unpaid balance at the time of conversion, plus any outstanding interest. The amendment should make it easier for the purchaser to meet his liabilities in respect of the purchase charges. Authority is given to meet the needs of cases where it is considered expedient to permit, of development advances being made in respect of improvements effected in anticipation of the granting of such assistance. Section 12 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1927, is amended to avoid anomalies and to ensure smoother working of the machinery in connection with the revaluation of lands held under deferred-payment licenses. It is provided in the amendment that where a reduction in price is warranted the old license may be surrendered and a new one granted for 34f years, and that the price in respect of the new license shall be the reduced value of the land as determined on revaluation, provided that such reduced value is less than the amount of unpaid purchase-money outstanding at the date of the revaluation. Power is provided for the relief of tenants holding Crown lands or other lands administered by a Land Board under recently renewed leases. Where holders of such leases can prove hardship owing to the existing financial stringency such portion of their rent as exceeds the rent reserved by the original lease or license may. be remitted for any period not exceeding five years. The title to river-bank and other reserves is declared not to be affected by adverse possession. With respect to this important provision, it is clear that in the public interest no person should be allowed to acquire a prescriptive right to any road, street, or river-bank reserve by reason of unauthorized occupation thereof, and the legislation conserves the rights of the Crown and of local authorities in such cases. Miscellaneous amendments of the Land Acts designed to effect economies in administration are practically all in the direction of eliminating in certain cases the statutory requirements of Warrants and Proclamations under the hand of His Excellency the Governor-General, and substituting a simple " determination "of His Excellency for the more formal and lengthy procedure of " Warrant" or " Proclamation." In other cases the publication in the Gazette of certain documents which are not really necessary as permanent public records is dispensed with.

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The Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1931, contains a provision for the registration against new or renewed leases of education-reserve land of all encumbrances affecting the expired leases of that land. Certain provisions of the Land Act, 1924, authorizing the postponement or remission of rent are extended to apply to leases of education reserves adininistered by a Land Board. The Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1931, contains twenty sections dealing with Crown lands, reserves, &c. Section 24 of the Finance Act, 193] (No. 4), makes special financial provisions respecting lands reserved or acquired for the purposes of the Post and Telegraph Department. Such lands when temporarily not required for post-and-telegraph purposes may be leased under the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928, and the revenues derived therefrom paid to the Post Office Account. Land - development. Steady progress has been made with the programme of land-development, and the following summary of operations up to the 31st March, 1932, under Part I of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, is furnished pursuant to section 10 of the Act : — (a) The several areas of unoccupied Crown lands in respect of which development works have been undertaken : — (1) Wharekohe Block, of 3,500 acres of gum-land, Whangarei District: 1,450 acres is being developed, and this block will subdivide into twenty-two dairy-farms. At date 335 acres has been cultivated and sown down in grass. An additional 330 acres is ready for sowing, while cultivation of the balance of the area is well advanced. At date twenty-six men are employed on development work and twenty on roading ; 1,047 chains of fencing has been erected. (2) Ngakuru No. 1 Block, of 2,200 acres of light pumice land, fifteen miles from Rotorua : At the 31st March, 1,196 acres was under development; 1,117 acres has been cleared and grassed; nearly thirty-nine miles of fencing has been erected ; 79 acres of shelter-belts has been planted. (3) Ngakuru No. 2 Block, comprising 6,000 acres, of which approximately half is ploughable : 3,700 acres is being developed. At date 3,067 acres has been grassed, and 600 acres is in course of being developed. Nearly 64 miles of fencing has been erected. (4) Te Kauwhata Block, of 1,750 acres of wattle country : This land is being converted into thirteen dairy-farms and 1,120 acres is being developed prior to offering for selection. Three farms are ready to be offered. At date 604 acres is in new grass, 97 acres in old pasture, while 329 acres is cultivated and ready for sowing ; 984 chains of fencing has been erected. (5) Ōnepu Block, of 2,446 acres, near Te Teko, on southern end of the Rangitaiki Plains : Will subdivide into sixteen dairy-farms. Four farms are ready for selection. To date 1,071 acres has been grassed, while 440 acres is cleared ready for cultivation ; about 11 miles of fencing has been erected ; about two miles and a half of new drains has been constructed, and two miles and a half of old drains reconditioned. . r . (6) Koromatua Block, of 941 acres, in the Elstow district, Hauraki : This area will subdivide into six dairy-farms. To date 162 chains fencing, 135 chains roading, and three miles and a half of draining have been carried out; 50 acres has been grassed, while 106 acres is cultivated and ready for grassing. (7) Galatea Estate, of 22,326 acres, near Murupara: A purchased estate, portions of which are being developed. To date 2,550 chains of fencing has been erected. It is proposed during the coming season to regrass certain portions, totalling about 1,250 acres, and to grow a certain amount of roots and fodder crops. (8) Whangamarino Block, near Mercer : Comprises 842 acres. Will subdivide into eight holdings suitable for dairying. 800 acres has been scrubbed and ploughed and are lying fallow. The area will be grassed next autumn. (9) Mangatutu Block, near Otorohanga : Area, 778 acres. Will subdivide into five dairy-farms. The area under development (388 acres) is at date wholly grassed, and this block will soon be offered for selection. _ _ (10) Tapuwae Estate, King-country, a purchased estate of 3,350 acres, comprising table-land country of good quality : Will subdivide into eleven farms suitable for grazing and dairying. To date, 2,054 acres have been grassed and 296 chains of fencing erected. Contracts for erection of seven miles of boundary fencing have been (11) Kakariki Estate, a purchased estate of 17,688 acres ; location, Kote Maori: 6,990 acres are being developed, and this area will provide ten sheep-runs. 5,672 acres have been cleared of manuka, tea-tree, &c., but is not yet burnt off ; 550 acres has been (12) Ngamahanga Block; location, Mohaka : Comprises 10,871 acres, of which 4,305 acres is being developed. This latter area will provide three sheep-runs. 4',231 acres has been cleared of manuka, &c., but has not yet been burnt off. (13) Easterfield Block, near Westport, comprising 750 acres of pakihi land : Some 60 acres have been limed, fertilized, and sown in grass, and the grassing experiments will probably be extended over a further 60 acres. These experiments will have an important bearing on the development of large areas of similar lands on the West Coast, which are at present lying idle.

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(b) The total cost of development works carried out to the 31st March, 1932—

In addition to the expenditure on the blocks set out above, funds have been expended on the roading, survey, &c., of various areas which are being developed by the settlers themselves. The total expenditure on roading, surveys, and development (apart from roading costs payable out of the Public Works Fund) up to the 31st March, 1932, was £196,050. (c) and (d) No developed allotments had been disposed of as at 31st March, 1932, but sections in the following blocks are to be offered at an early date : Wharekohe Block, 22 sections ; Te Kauwhata, 3 ; Onepu, 4 ; Koromatua, 4 ; Mangatutu, 5 : Total, 38 sections. (e) The total amount advanced to Crown tenants for the development of their sections, the number of advances, and the purposes for which such advances have been made :— Loans approved up to the 31st March numbered 324, covering a total of £126,058. The amount actually advanced up to 3.lst March was £67,227. The advances were made for bushfelling, ploughing, grassing-, fencing, draining, provision of water-supplies, erection and repair of buildings, and purchases of manure and grass-seed. Notes. (a) Ngakuru Blocks.—The work carried out on these blocks in establishing pastures is most promising. Last season one section was run as a dairy-farm, a herd of fifty-five being milked with satisfactory results. This area has now been set aside as a demonstration farm, and will be run by the Department of Agriculture. In addition to a thorough trying-out of the butterfat-producing capabilities of the land, the farm will be used to carefully investigate a variety of points connected with the control and management of pastures on new pumice country. Six other farms are being let to share milkers under special conditions. These farms will also be under the supervision and control of the Agriculture Department, and each share milker will work his farm as a separate unit so as to demonstrate the possibilities of the individual sections. It is considered inadvisable to place settlers on further areas until more experience of the capabilities of the land has been gained ; but sufficienthas already been accomplished to give good grounds for the hope that the development of Ngakuru will pave the way for the ultimate settlement of a great deal of land of similar quality. (b) Galatea Estate. —On this estate it is proposed during the coming season to regrass a total area of 1,250 acres, being portions of eighteen sections ; to sow 400 acres in turnips and 50 acres in oats; and to grass 150 acres with a suitable mixture for hay and ensilage. Some experimental top-dressing will also be carried out, and the whole work will involve the ploughing of 1,850 acres. The programme of work is designed to gradually test various methods of cultivation and manurial applications with a view to determining the best way of establishing suitable dairying pasture over the bulk of the estate. In the meantime the estate is being run as a station in such a manner as to ensure a maximum return for the money invested. (c) Development Advances to Settlers. —Reports received indicate that the system of granting development loans to settlers holding or taking up undeveloped land is producing good results and is resulting in the selection of numerous areas of more or less inferior country by a good practical type of settler. Special Settlement of Inferior Lands. The following summary of the lands dealt with during the year is furnished in accordance with the provisions of section 223 (14) of the Land Act, 1924 :■ — (a) Aggregate area of land set apart: Nil. (b) Number of allotments and aggregate area disposed of : Seven allotments, 1,591 acres« The total number of allotments taken up and the area held as at 31st March, 1932, was thirty four allotments, 8,169 acres.

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Expenditure During Year Total Expenditure i to ended to 31st March, 1931. 31st March, 1932. j 31st March, 1932. £ £ £ (1) Wkarekohe Block .. ., .. 410 4,247 4,657 (2) Ngakuru No. 1 Block .. .. 15,301 21'506* (3) Ngakuru No. 2 Block .. .. 5,747 36,521 | 42,268* (4) Te Kauwhata Block .. .. 18,941 13,803 | 32,744* (5) Onepu Block .. .. .. 961 7,610 8,571* (6) Koromatua Block .. .. .. 574 2,250 2,824 (7) Galatea Estate . . . . . . . . 17 559 17 559* (8) Wkangamarino Block . . . . .. 2 261 2 261 (9) Mangatutu Block .. .. .. 2^525 (10) Tapuwae Estate .. .. .. 7,526 6,951 14,477* (11) Kakariki Estate .. .. .. 11,237 11,237 (12) Ngamahanga Block .. .. .. .. 10^809 (13) Easterfield Block . . . . .. 349 555 904 49,809 122,533 172,342 * Includes expenditure for live-stock as follows: Ngakuru No. 1 Block, £1,010; Ngakuru No. 2 Block, £2,135; Te Kauwhata Block, £3,141; Onepu Block, £383; Tapuwae Settlement, £3,717; Galatea Settlement, £7,500: Total £17,886.

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Lands fob Selection. During the year 406,408 acres were taken up on various tenures, the number of selections being 1,448 under all headings. These figures include some 623 sections, comprising altogether an area of 103,719 acres, taken up under miscellaneous leases and licenses, so that the selections on permanent tenures numbered 825 sections, covering a total area of 302,689 acres. The following table gives the selections of Crown lands for the last five years : — Selections under all Tenures. Year ending Number. Acres. 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. 1,913 460,590 31st March, 1929 .. .. .. 1,911 462,563 31st March, 1930 . . .. . . 2,091 402,900 31st March, 1931 .. .. .. 1,639 368,809 31st March, 1932 .. .. .. 1,448 406,408 Only one estate was opened for general application during the year under the Land for Settlements Act—viz., the Wairakau Settlement in the Auckland Land District —comprising fourteen sections of a total area of 2,001 acres. The following group settlements under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928, were allotted during the year

The total of 406,408 acres selected during the year includes lands taken up under both permanent and temporary tenures, and also town and suburban lands. The 'permanent, selections of rural lands only were as follows : —

The lands dealt with above comprise both areas offered for the first time and areas which became available for reoflering through various reasons. The figures for entirely new rural areas selected during the year are as follows : —

The demand for land has on the whole been well maintained, particularly for medium-sized areas of unimproved and partially improved land.

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Land District. Name of Settlement. Number of Holdings] Area. Acres. North Auckland .. .. Tauraroa .. .. 2 1,142 Auckland .. .. .. Te Poi .. .. .. 2 177 Auckland .. .. . . Hannon .. .. . . 2 292 Auckland .. .. .. Norwegians .. .. 3 308 Gisborne .. .. .. Rere .. .. .. 2 171 Wellington .. . . . . Bryce .. .. .. 3 395 Southland .. .. .. McCallum .. .. 4 285 Totals .... ... 18 2,770

Class of Land. Sections selected! Total Area selected. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land .. .. 361 123,647 Settlement land .. .. .. .. 73 15,981 Education reserves, &c. . . . . .. .. 22 3,038 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 456 142,666

f T 1 Number of New Rural Total Area selected for lass ot Sections selected. the First Time. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land .. .. 166 38,574 Settlement land .. .. . . .. . . 43 6,547 Education reserves, &c. .. .. .. .. 7 688 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 216 45,809

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Receipts. The receipts for the year from all sources (excluding, of course, Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account receipts) total £776,489, a decrease of £229,211 on last year's figures. The sum of £202,087 was derived from ordinary Crown lands, £384,613 from land held under the Land for Settlements Act (including Hutt Valley Settlement and Cheviot Estate), £76,983 from the national endowment, and £93,160 from the education endowment. The receipts for the last five years have been as follow : Year ending 31st March, 1928, £1,271,821; 1929, £1,290,856 ; 1930, £1,275,106 ; 1931, £1,005,700 ; 1932, £776,489. Cash received on the conversion of leaseholds to freehold has shown a decrease of over £30,000. The following table gives the relation of this freehold revenue to total receipts during the past five years : —

Postponements, Remissions, and Arrears of Rent. Rents, the payment of which remained postponed at the 31st March, amounted to £182,045, while remissions during the year totalled £43,500. Arrears of rent at the 31st March (including arrears in respect of the current half-yearly charge) totalled £807,311. General Remarks. The figures given above dealing with receipts, postponements, remissions, and arrears clearly indicate the difficulties confronting Crown settlers and the Department at the present time. The position is that concessions must be granted until there is some improvement in the general pricelevel, and Land Boards throughout the Dominion are giving consideration to applications for postponement and remission of rent and interest, much good work having been accomplished already in affording permanent or temporary relief according to the circumstances of each case. It is evident that in many cases payment of private charges has been given precedence over payments to the State ; but arrangements are gradually being extended with a view to ensuring an equitable distribution of profits between landlord, mortgagee, and the farmer himself. Under existing conditions no action is being taken by the Department to deprive farmers of their holdings merely on account of non-payment of rent, &c. Where the situation is beyond a settler's control it is recognized that it would be unjust to displace him, and it is considered most undesirable to interfere with production unless the settler's methods of farm-management are radically wrong. In some quarters the suggestion has been made that a more or less general writing-down of capital values should be adopted. There is, however, ample authority in the Land Acts for postponement and remission of rent, and for revaluations of Crown leaseholds, and every genuine application for relief on the part of a Crown tenant will receive proper consideration. These statutory provisions are considered to be sufficient to meet all reasonable requirements, and it does not appear that any general revaluation is necessary or desirable. The rental charges on most Crown properties are fixed on the lowest possible basis, the policy adopted having always been to fix moderate rents rather than to value lands strictly according to produce prices of the moment, and reductions in capital values which are already low cannot appreciably aflect the position one way or the other. It must also be borne in mind that in dealing with Crown lands the interests of the people of the Dominion as a whole must be properly safeguarded, and that Crown assets as represented by the capital values of leased lands must not be unduly sacrificed. It is evident, therefore, that revaluation of Crown leaseholds should be kept under close control; for while revaluation is useful up to a certain point it is not, and never has been, the obvious solution of all farming problems. The balance must, in the best interests of all, be held fairly between the Crown and its tenants, and the position cannot be approached solely from the one point of view. Rebates. For prompt payment of rent 15,144 Crown tenants were granted the usual rebate in terms of section 123 of the Land Act, 1924, and section 59 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925. These rebates amounted to a total of £34,330.

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I Conversions. Amount Total Freehold. therefrom. Receipts. . £ £ Year ending 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. 261 69,276 1,271,821 1929 .. .. .. 317 111,119 1,290,856 1930 .. .. .. 323 107,550 1,275,106 1931 .. .. .. 233 58,693 1,005,700 1932 .. .. .. 122 27,902 776,489

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National Endowment. Of the area in the national endowment, 6,524,328 acres were held under lease or license at the 31st March by 4,470 tenants, paying an annual rental of £141,401, while a very large area (partly, however, covered by existing leases) had been set aside as provisional State forests. For further particulars re the national endowment, see parliamentary paper C.-14. Educational Endowment. An area of approximately 813,609 acres of education endowments under the administration of the various Land Boards is leased to some 4,116 tenants, who pay a total annual rental of £133,533. Lands reserved fob vabious Purposes. Under the provisions of section 360 of the Land Act, 1924, and section 71 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925, various areas of Crown and settlement land were permanently reserved during the year. The reservations made totalled forty-seven, covering an area of 590 acres. A summary of work carried out under this heading is given below : — _ . _ Number of Area. Purpose of Reserve. Reservations made. A. R. P. Addition to site for public hospital .. .. 1 4 1 10 Addition to school-site .. .. .. .. 1 0 1 19 Camping .. .. . . .. . . 1 30 0 0 Cemetery .. .. .. .. .. 3 5 117 Gravel and quarry .. .. .. .. ..4 62 30-3 Ladies' rest-room and a dental-clinic site .. .. .. 1 0 0 19-32 Landing .. .. .. .. .. ..1 10 19-5 Landing-place and site for county buildings .. 1 0 3 20 Mental hospital . . .. . . .. 1 4 0 29 Plantation .. .. .. .. .. ..1 03 9-5 Public buildings of General Government . . .. 1 0 0 32 Public-school sites .. .. .. .. 8 30 1 10 Recreation .. .. .. . . .. 13 313 2 38-12 Eiver-proteotion .. .. .. .. .. 7 182 0 33 Rubbish-dump .. . . .. .. 1 22 29 Sanitary . . .. . . . . . . 1 0 3 5 Water-supply .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 5 3 19-6 47 589 2 23-34 The above does not include areas that have been vested in the Crown as public reserves in town subdivisions pursuant to the provisions of section 16 of the Land Act, 1924. Retirement oe Under-Secretary. Mr. J. B. Thompson, C.8.E., retired from the position of Under-Secretary for Lands on the 30th April, 1931, after completion of forty years' service. He joined the Department in 1891, and in 1893 was appointed as an Assistant Surveyor. In 1910 he was appointed Land Drainage Engineer, and in 1912 Chief Drainage Engineer. From 1910 to 1922 he was in charge of the Land Drainage Branch of the Department, and in 1920-21 visited Canada and the United States to select up-to-date machinery for utilization in the various drainage schemes. In 1922 he succeeded the late Mr. T. N. Brodrick, 0.8. E., 1.5.0., as Under-Secretary for Lands. In addition to the Office of Under-Secretary, he was also Land Purchase Controller, and Chairman of the Dominion Land Purchase Board, Central Revaluation Board, Dominion Revaluation Board, and Tongariro National Park Board, as well as a member of various other Government Boards. In 1929 he received the decoration of a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

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Expenditure. Summary of Expenditure approved during the Year ended 31st March, 1932.

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Name of Vote or Account. Gross Expenditure. Recoveries. Net Expenditure. Vote, Lands and Survey— £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Subdivision I .. .. .. .. .. 157,172 243,917 4 10 106,981 10 9 136,935 14 1 Subdivision II .. .. .. .. .. 22,267 21,347 3 9 .. 21,347 3 9 Subdivision III .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,230 4,605 6 2 .. 6 2 Total, Vote, Lands and Survey .. .. .. 181,669 269,869 14 9 1.06,981 10 9 162,888 4 0 Vote, Lands for Settlement: Expenses .. .. .. 11,489 6,357 5 4 10 16 9 8 7 Vote, Discharged Soldiers Settlement: Expenses of Management .. 37,000 37,000 0 0 .. 0 0 Vote, Hauraki Plains Settlement .. .. .. .. 35,000 26,822 13 2 4,223 2 9 10 5 Vote, Native Land Settlement .. .. .. .. 46,222 32,942 10 8 13,486 11 7 19 1 Vote, Swamp Drainage .. .. .. .. .. 28,550 21,246 15 10 7,201 4 5 14'o45 11 5 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 339,930 394,238 19 9 131,903 6 3 262,335 13 6 Other Accounts. Expenditure under special Acts of the Legislature— Section 295 (2), Land Act, 1924 .. .. .. .. .. 3,581 5 7 .. 3,581 5 7 Section- 6, Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910 .. .. .. 1211511 .. 1211511 Section 13, Hauraki Plains Settlement Act, 1926 .. .. .. 247 1 11 .. 247 1 11 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account .. .. .. .. 438,216 13 4 630 16 5 437,585 16 11 Hunter Soldiers' Assistance Trust Account .. .. .. .. 359 14 9 .. 359 14 9 Hutt Valley Land Settlement AccountSection 11 (2) (ft) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,658 0 0 .. 14,658 0 0 Administration expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 189 8 11 .. 189 8 11 Lands for Settlement Account— Expenses incidental to estates .. .. .. .. .. 12,547 11 1 838 3 9 11,709 7 4 Acquirement of estates .. .. .. .. .. .. 159,838 8 3 578 2 6 159,260 5 9 Administration expenses of estates .. .. .. .. .. 8,-471 811 .. 8,4718 11 Expenditure under section 20, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1927 .. 1,639 0 0 .. 1,639 0 0 Expenditure under section 20 (3), Land Act, 1924 .. .. .. 2,660 0 0 .. 2,660 0 0 Interest under section 208 (8), Land Act, 1924 .. .. .. 271 11 2 .. 271 11 2 Expenditure under section 11, Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925 .. .. 301 13 8 .. 301 13 8 Expenditure under section 105, Lands for Settlement Act, 1925 .. 295 0 0 .. 295 0 0 Expenditure under section 49, Lands for Settlement Act, 1925 .. .. 50 0 0 .. 50 0 0 Expenditure under section 13, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1926 .. 72,532 0 11 .. 72,532 0 11 Farm accounts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,948 10 1 .. 7,948 10 1 Expenditure under section 7, Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1927 396 19 0 .. 396 19 0 Expenditure under section 12, Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1927 94 16 9 .. 94 16 9 Expenditure under section 6, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 93,715 5 10 2,267 2 3 91,448 3 7 Expenditure under section 7, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 42,372 1 5 .. 42,372 I 5 Expenditure under section 9, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 2,782 13 5 .. 2,782 13 5 Expenditure under section 13, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 38,970 15 8 97 17 4 38,872 18 4 Expenditure under section 14, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 7,251 16 8 .. 7,251 16 8 Expenditure under section 15, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 (Adminis- 420 1 6 .. 420 1 6 tration expenses) Expenditure under section 47, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 8,405 12 0 .. 8,405 12 0 Interest under section 13, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1930 .. .. 750 0 0 .. 750 0 0 Interest under section 19 (4), Finance Act, 1930 (No. 2) .. .. 18,535 10 7 .. 18,535 10 7 Expenditure under section 24, Finance Act, 1931 (4) .. .. 2,613 18 7 .. 2,613 18 7 Rangitaiki Land Drainage Account —Expenditure under section 7, Rangitaiki 4,735 14 2 490 18 11 4,244 15 3 Land Drainage Act, 1910 General Purposes Account —Ellesmere Land Drainage Act, 1905, section 61 .. 439 5 0 .. 439 5 0 Refunds of revenue, Deposit Account expenditure, expenditure under special 27,815 16 9 .. 27,815 16 9 Acts of the Legislature Totals .. .. .. .. ,. 973,229 11 10 4,903 1 2 968,326 10 8 Grand totals .. .. .. .. .. 1,367,468 11 7 136,806 7 5 1,230,662 4 2

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APPENDICES,

APPENDIX I.—SETTLEMENT OE GROWN LANDS.

EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS.

NORTH AUCKLAND. (0. N. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Weather conditions throughout the year have been favourable. This district experienced a good autumn, a mild winter, and an early spring with ample rainfall and no serious floods. Feed has been plentiful, and, in addition, hay in large quantities has been saved and much ensilage pitted. It is interesting to note that silos are coming more into favour each year, and this method of preserving fodder is proving most suitable for climatic conditions. Despite depressed markets for all primary products, old pastures are being maintained and improved by the application of increasing quantities of manure, and as more land is being brought into cultivation each year an increasing volume of production can be looked for annually for many years to come. Owing to the particularly low prices received for wool and beef, graziers are haying a particularly hard time. The price of butterfat is on a relatively higher level, and, wherever possible, settlers are turning their attention to dairying and an increase in butter exports is assured. Unless there is an early improvement in wool prices, it is difficult to see how some of the poor hilly country, of which there is fortunately very little in this district, can be prevented from deteriorating. ' Much excellent pioneering work in the growing of citrus fruit, tung, passion-fruit, tobacco, &c., is being carried out by private enterprise in the Northern area. These developments are as yet not sufficiently advanced to prove their commercial possibilities, but it is clear that climatic conditions and soil are -suitable, and that the North will carry an increasing population of small holders. The main highways through the district have in the main been much improved, and there are now all-weather roads throughout the area. With the assistance of the unemployed, the I üblic Works Department, and the local authorities, much improved access is being provided to out-back settlers. Settlers are also taking advantage of the assistance offered under the Unemployment Act m bringing in and improving their holdings. During the year an area of 37,831 acres was selected by 256 selectors. These holdings comprised unimproved rural land, and the better areas were much sought after. Further blocks of unimproved land, mostly worked out kauri-gum reserves, are being made available for settlement this year. Although settlers are having difficulty in meeting their obligations, very few holdings are being abandoned or transferred, and, in the main, settlers are putting up an excellent fight against the adverse market conditions.

AUCKLAND. (K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The autumn of 1931 was not favourable to growth of pasture, and many settlers had to resort to the early feeding-out of hay and ensilage in an endeavour to maintain production from their dairy herds. The months of April, May, and June were notable for an exceptional number of heavy frosts, and though matured stock wintered fairly well, the winter conditions affected yearling stock rather severely, largely due to the check in pasture growth in the early autumn. A good beginning, however, was made with the new dairying season, which was ushered in with mild weather bringing growth away rapidly ; and reports from various parts of the district indicated that pastures generally were in good condition. . From early in December the rainfall was very light and well below the average right through to the middle of February or later, and this seriously reduced butterfat returns as compared with the same period of other years, and appreciably checked the growth of root crops sown for supplementary and winter feed. However, timely rams broke up the drought, and the season continued with renewed growth and every indication that the production year, despite the setback, will prove fairly satisfactory. "in recognition of the fact that the wise use of manures, coupled with good management, is one ot the best means at the disposal of dairy-farmers for maintaining and increasing their returns to offset lower prices, the Land Board has given careful and sympathetic consideration to all applications for relief or assistance from settlers with a view to ensuring that efficient fertilizing of dairy-farm pastures shall be continued, and both land and stock securities preserved to the fullest possible extent.

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The disastrous effects of ragwort on dairying pastures cannot be too strongly stressed or too widely advertised, and unless the encroachment and spread of this noxious weed is rigorously controlled by all possible means and by every individual dairy-farmer and occupier of land in certain parts of the district, it will take charge to the extent of converting what is now good dairying land into grazing country. Much good work is already being done to control and eradicate the weed, and settlers are being advised and assisted in their efforts in that direction. Inquiries for dairy-farms in this district continue unabated, and there is a special demand for sections equipped with dwelling, cow-shed, and water-supply from suitable men with herds of their own or with sufficient capital wherewith to finance their own stock if the necessary housing and shedding accommodation is available.

GISBORNE. (IT. L. Primrose, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) In my predecessor's annual report for last year, he stated that he was called upon to review one of the most disastrous years in the history of this district. This year, I regret to state, has been considerably worse, and the whole district has again suffered very considerably from the two extremes of continuous drought and sudden floods. The acute and depressing economic conditions and world depression have hit New Zealand so badly that every section of the community has felt the pinch, but a second year of drought here has accentuated the already hard lot of the farming community. The particularly 'mild winter was worth thousands of pounds to graziers, more particularly to those in the backblocks. The rain which broke last year's drought carne in time to supply a growth sufficient to carry stock through the winter, thus helping what was at the time, a very serious position. Had the winter been a severe one, there would have been a heavy mortality amongst flocks and station herds. As it was, the grass came away well in the spring, and there was a marked absence of the hot drying winds generally experienced late in the spring and early summer. Unfortunately, a long drought followed an exceptional winter, and lasted all through the summer months, till broken by exceptionally heavy rains at the end of February, causing one of the worst floods experienced for years. The Poverty Bay Flats suffered badly from the overflowing of the Waipaoa River and adjacent creeks, many hundreds of acres of land being covered in silt, not to mention the loss of miles of fencing and much erosion. The settlers so affected were put to it to find grazing for their herds and finance to sow the silted areas.

HAWKE'S BAY. (J. F. Quinn, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The year commenced most inauspicously. The effects of the recent earthquake were still in evidence on every hand, and this, coupled with the drought and the trade depression, tended to make the position well nigh hopeless for the majority of settlers. However, commendable courage and tenacity were displayed, and although numerous lessees were unable to pay their rents, only in very few cases were farms abandoned. The long drought period of last year broke at the beginning of this season during the first week in April and a good flush of feed immediately came away. Wintry weather began in the second week of May and there was a heavy fall of snow on the ranges and foothills in June. As a result of heavy rain in July, the Ngaruroro River broke its banks and fairly extensive flooding occurred. In August there was a heavy fall of snow in central and southern Hawke's Bay and on the foothills and ranges in the north. This was followed by mild weather, but a cold change with frosts in November did considerable damage to the orchards and ruined most of the early tomato crops. Unfortunately, drought conditions again set in, and the butterfat production dropped in December. Pastures became very bare and burnt up, and the farmer with no supplementary feed had an anxious time. Very little rain fell until February when drought, conditions ceased and splendid soaking rains fell. Unfortunately, the heavy rain caused the Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro Rivers to break their banks and a fairly wide area was flooded. The Esk River also rose and washed away the temporary bridge on the Main North Road, and numerous slips came down blocking the main roads. As a result of this rain, the pastures revived immediately and in a very short time practically the whole district was again covered with a good carpet of grass, and the rainfall from then on was sufficient to allay any anxiety respecting feed for the winter. The general handling of farms on Crown settlements has been reasonably good, but the majority of dairy-farms can be brought up to a higher standard of management and production. Further advantage could be taken of the growing periods to provide supplementary feed, and it is pleasing to record a considerable increase in the production of ensilage and a fair provision of hay for winter supply. Mangolds could be grown more extensively, these being easy to grow and comparativelv free from blight and pests. Swede and rape crops suffered considerably during the hot dry spell from the ravages of the diamond-back moth. Much damage was done also by a new pest, the white butterfly. An excellent harvest of Hawke's Bay perennial rye-grass was secured, over 5,000 acres beingentered for certification. Good prices for the seed were obtained. The health of stock generally has been fairly good. Some of the dairy herds about Wairoa and Nuhaka have suffered slightly from mammitis and abortion. Liver-fluke among sheep is apparently well under control. The two last blocks in the northern part of the district to be opened, Waimarama and Pukekura, have made a fair showing, and had primary-product prices held good, the selectors would have succeeded in doing well financially. All the settlers in the Pukekura Block have built homes and are residing, boundary - fences are completed, and a fair amount of subdivisional fencing erected.

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The drainage in this block by the Crown has been very effective, and the swamp land has dried out well. Some of these settlers have been dairying throughout the season, and next season will probably find all the settlers dairying on the areas suitable. The hill sections produced a good percentage of lambs ; but, unfortunately, one settler had a heavy loss of young lambs in a cold southerly storm. The settlers on the Ôkarae Block near Dannevirke have made good progress m the development of their holdings, and although the block has only been opened a little more than twelve months, their success in the future seems fairly sure. The older-settled areas are showing fair progress generally, but not to the extent that could be desired. This is no doubt owing to shortage of capital in consequence of low prices and the overhead costs necessary to keep the sections free from second-growth fern, &c. Where outside labour is necessary to keep down scrub, the holdings have invariably gone back considerably as the lessees are not in a financial position to pay wages.

TARANAKI. (W. D. Aemit, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The winter and spring months of 1931 were unfavourable to the farmer in Taranaki, particularly in the northern portion of the district. Although winter feed was provided in good quantities, a shortage occurred owing to a long and severe winter, and stock did not come through so well as in former years. Later on, a dry summer was favourable to graziers, permitting a good deal of burning and cleaning-up on hill country. Late rains occurred in February and March, but rather too late to benefit the dairy-farmer. 111 spite of these drawbacks, production was fairly well maintained, and in manv cases a substantial increase 011 individual farms has occurred in butterfat production. Lambing percentages were satisfactory, except 011 properties of a rough, reverted nature, where dry stock should really be farmed in preference to breeding-stock, if wool prices would permit of a livelihood being earned in this manner. Lambs generally in the early part of the spring were not so forward as in previous years. . . The very low level of wool prices was further affected by the presence of a good deal of interior seedy wool from portions of the Taranaki back country. Hutuwai is very noticeable in a number of clips and earlier shearing should be carried out wherever this is possible. Undoubtedly climatic conditions often govern the matter, but early shearing would often be possible if opportunity is taken to do so. Woof-buyers have shown a marked indifference this year to wool affected with hutuwai, and no effort should be spared to remedy this serious defect. _ _ The farming community is doing its utmost to increase production, and the capable dairyman on many farms is paying his way at Is. per pound butterfat. This is only done by great economy and careful husbandry, combined with adequate top-dressing as a first charge on revenue. The grazier farmer cannot hope to do more than earn a livelihood under present conditions, and this is only possible by remitting rent charges to the fullest degree. At the same time, land should be fully utilized, and there are unfortunately quite a number of cases where this is not being carried out owing to indifferent farming methods in some cases and lack of capital in others, but nevertheless causing loss to the State as lessor and generally retarding the economic recovery of the Dominion. _ Development loans, mostly on ploughable sections, have been granted m portions of the district where circumstances warrant. These loans are designed to assist hard-working, deserving settlers and have certainly achieved their object in assisting in the establishment of individuals on their sections.

WELLINGTON. (H. W. 0. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) In a district such as Wellington, extending from Cape Palliser to Taumarunui, a distance of close on two hundred miles, it will be readily recognized that farming is carried 011 under varying conditions in which " climate " plays an important part, and the condition in which stock face the winter and come through to the soring is a telling factor in the farming industry. In the main," climatic conditions during the year were inimical to farming interests. lhe winter was wet and cold, and stock generally came through to the spring 111 poor condition. The outlook gave promise of a good season in the spring, but in many parts a very dry summer militated against a favourable yield of primary products. . i +. + -ii A most serious factor, at a time when wholesale prices for the chief primary products are still receding, has been the drought experienced in various parts of the land district. In parts of the Wairarapa the drought has been so severe that pastures have practically disappeared and the Department has had to come to the assistance of tenants with supplies of hay. In other parts settlers have been assisted to construct dams for the purpose of watering their farms. Pastoral tenants secured a good average-weight clip, but had either to hold over their wool or accept a price that would not pay costs of production. Dairy-factory managers report that, where possible sheep-farmers have been milking a few cows in an attempt to balance their budgets. Dairy-farmers, although assured of better prices for their produce than the sheep-farmer, have had a lean vear as far as markets are concerned. The pay-out has been round about 8d and 10d., but with the bonus the pay-out for the season should be about Is. for cheese factories, while it is probable that the pay-out ,for butter-factories will be round about lid.

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NELSON. (A. F. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) General— The winter of 1931 was unusually cold, with much snow in the back country. The following spring was very dry with 110 rain to speak of until December. Since then there have been frequent showers with corresponding benefit to farmers : 111 fact if it were not for the prevailing low prices of most classes of farm produce this district would have experienced quite a good season. Dairying.—ln point of production this has been an excellent season, the late rains extending the spring growth well into summer. Prices of butterfat, however, are down about 4(3 per cent, and the dairy-farmer is having difficulty in making ends meet. Fruitgrowers. The volume of export fruit shows a steady increase. This year the district will probably export close on a million cases of apples. This is no doubt due to the trees approaching maturity and the land gradually mellowing under suitable treatment. Small fruits : There has been difficulty in disposing of the raspberry crop owing to the local jamfactories curtailing their requirements. Growers sent their fruit as far afield as Christchurch in an endeavour to find a market for their produce. Owing to favourable climatic conditions, there has been an exceptionally heavy crop of tomatoes, the market being so glutted that many growers allowed their crops to rot, £is prices would not cover packing and freight. Hops. Prices for hops have been poor for several years, yielding little profit to the grower over and above cost of production. Quite a number of growers are utilizing part of their gardens for tobacco-culture. Tobacco. —The cultivation of tobacco is making great progress both in quantity and in quality of leaf. No doubt the latter is due to greater experience in the technique of growing and curing the leaf. This last season the gross returns from tobacco were £110,000 which was distributed among 530 growers. Mining. The present depression and the unusually high price of gold is bringing about a striking revival of prospecting and alluvial mining in this district, which is going a long way towards alleviating unemployment.

MARLBOROUGH. (P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The weather conditions during the past year have again been rather unfavourable to the farming community. The period commenced with a dry autumn and several heavy falls of snow were experienced on the high country during the winter. On two occasions snow was further down the foothills than has been observed for many years. A dry spring followed, and a very severe frost, which had a disastrous effect in the orchards, was experienced at the end of October. The Wairau Valley and northern districts had the benefit of good rains in mid-December, but the Awatere and southern districts did not receive a good soaking until February. In spite of the conditions, the crops in the Wairau Plains were generally satisfactory; but the yields in the Awatere and Flaxbourne districts were poor. The season again demonstrated the necessity for thorough cultivation of the soil to enable crops to stand up to drought conditions, and, although the weather throughout the district was quite favourable for this work, it was apparent that many farmers had neglected to attend to it thoroughly, and their crops suffered. The dry spell and shortage of feed prevented many farmers from being able to preserve the usual paddocks of clover and lucerne for seed. There was a marked decrease in the yield, and, as the market was bare, those who were able to harvest, received a substantial increase 111 prices over those ruling previously. In the dairying industry it was anticipated that the prevailing low prices would be reflected in an increase in production, but the unfavourable season, together with the lack of money for fertilizers, has had a detrimental effect on the output; and it is expected that very little increase, if any, will be seen as a result of the past year s operations. A regrettable feature of the lack of money has been a decrease in the number of cows under test during the past season, the decrease being about 1\ per cent. The long dry spell has been responsible for a big increase in the rabbit pest, and the lack of finance is preventing farmers, especially those holding the larger pastoral areas, from dealing with the pest effectually. Two Rabbit Boards are in operation, and the formation of a third Board is being considered ; but none of the larger pastoral areas are included in these districts. It is evident that the district will have a most serious problem to face shortly if the rabbits are allowed to keep on increasing at the present rate. The past year has been a most difficult one, financially, for the Crown tenants, but the bulk of them appear to realize their obligations to the Crown, and although unable, in most cases, to meet their payments in full they are paying what they can. In those cases where the stock firms and banks are handling all the proceeds an endeavour has been made to come to a working arrangement whereby the net profit from the season's operations will be divided pro rata between the different interests which are entitled to participate.

WESTLAND. (T. Cagney, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) General Conditions and Progress of Settlement.—The past year generally from a production point of view has more than reached expectations, notwithstanding a winter probably more rigorous than usual, followed by changeable spring weather ; and with better prices for produce the year would have been a very satisfactory one from all aspects. The effects of a hard winter were mainly reflected

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in an increased calving mortality amongst dairy herds, and also militated to some extent against normal butterfat production during the early part of the season. These conditions, however, were more than offset by the favourable weather experienced from mid-summer onwards to the end of the period. Good supplies of both hay and ensilage were saved. The production of ensilage, for which this district is eminently adapted, is being more enthusiastically exploited, and if this source of feed-supply receives the attention it merits, the drawbacks of a severe winter would be to a large extent eliminated, particularly in regard to dairy-farming. Root crops, confined mainly to turnips, which are grown only on a limited scale, have thrived remarkably well, particularly so in the case of later sowings. A comparatively large additional area of occupied farm land has been brought into production during the period, this being to no small extent due to the assistance given under the unemployment schemes for farm-improvement, and also to the necessity for increasing production to offset the low prices ruling for farm-produce'. The low prices ruling for farm-produce has resulted in an increased number of applications for relief being received from Crown tenants. Each application received sympathetic consideration according to its merits. In some cases, however, the information furnished by the applicant has disclosed payments of other charges at the expense of the rent, thus precluding the Land Board from giving the application the consideration it might otherwise merit. The use of manures and fertilizers has shown a general increase, particularly in regard to lime, the local limekilns at Ross and Koiterangi showing a substantial increase in outputs as compared with last year. Local prices for lime is being gradually reduced, the lowest quotation for burnt lime being 255. per ton at the kiln. The importance of lime to the successful farming of land in this district cannot be overstressed. Dairy-farming. —The butterfat production for this period discloses a substantial increase in that of last year. Systematic group herd-testing has now been generally adopted throughout the district, and the average for last season of 230-76 lb. of butterfat per cow for the district puts a very favourable aspect on this phase of the farming industry. As systematic testing is practically in its infancy in this district, a general improvement in butterfat output may be expected. Proper provision for the saving of supplementary winter fodder would also materially assist in this direction. Local factories are advancing up to 9d. per pound on this season's output, and when the final payments for the season are made a drop of about one penny per pound on last season's prices might be expected. Sheep-farming. —Although sheep and wool generally, in common with other classes of produce, are giving a poor return to the producer, fat lambs have sold comparatively well. A few early trucks from this district realized the satisfactory figure of 28s. per head at Addington, and other satisfactory sales of fat lambs have been recorded throughout the period. Wool, however, in some cases has not returned the cost of the handling, and in some of the more isolated parts of the district this item could only be marketed at a definite loss. Settlers thus situated were so far discouraged as to leave their flocks unshorn.

CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The most serious feature of the past year has been the severe drought which affected most of Canterbury. The winter was rather favourable, though the frosts continued very late, but stock, mostly had come through in good condition. Apart from beneficial rains in September, front country had practically no rain from September till February. This meant that quite a few wheat crops, &c., had to be fed off, and in many cases turnips and rape were sown twice or more. Although the dry conditions may have perhaps benefited some of the hill country, the general conditions of sheep returns meant that their position was not at all improved. Over the district as a whole this is probably the most trying year farmers have had for fully thirty years. Pastoralists. —The wool-clips this year were good, but prices have been very poor, even though fine wool recovered a little. Surplus sheep in the back country were hard to quit at any price, and there was not the same demand for stock for fattening on account of the drought in the front country. General Mixed Farming. —This has been a disappointing year for the mixed farmer, and in places on the heavier land where wheat crops were fair, many of them suffered through floods and heavy rains in February. There were quite a few cases where last year's potatoes were not dug on account of the low prices, and this season the returns have been very small. Dairying. —As Canterbury has not enough rainfall to be essentially a dairying province, the dry season has been disastrous, many herds being dried off at an early date. So great has been the shortage of feed that in many cases farmers have had to use the roads for grazing to keep their cows in milk at all. This on top of the low prices has been a very discouraging year for the dairyman. Orchards and Small Properties. — The late frosts and hail did a lot of damage for fruit-farmers and small holders. Further, the number compelled to depend to a certain extent on local market produce has reduced prices generally for the products from these small holdings. The results have meant that our arrears have seriously increased, and special meetings of the Board are shortly being held to consider the whole question of arrears. We have the recharged postponements of last year accumulating on top of present deficiencies. The Chamber of Commerce scheme instituted last year was the means of an equitable distribution of production and also of keeping the more deserving farmers on their holdings, and it is hoped that it will be continued for the coming year as well. I would like to refer to the assistance this Department has received from Lincoln College in the irrigation experiment being conducted at Seafield Settlement, which it is hoped will prove a very instructive lesson for much of our light plains land.

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OTAGO. (N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Although the general financial position of the settlors shows no improvement, it is pleasing to state that, with the exception of the North Otago District, the conditions have been favourable and the quantity of farm-produce has been maintained. Falls of snow occurred early in June and at the end of that month, and a further heavy fall was experienced in the middle of July. The area affected was chiefly thê southern part of the district and along the coast. The usual falls occurred on the high country of Central Otago, but were not severe, and no heavy losses of sheep were reported. In the southern part of the district the stock came through the winter well. The root crops generally are considered good and should provide ample winter feed. In Central Otago the winter conditions were about normal, but in some parts a remarkable number of heavy showers was experienced well into the summer. A particularly heavy waterspout in December did a large amount of damage in the Galloway and Earnscleugh districts. In the Hawea district about the same area as usual was under barley, but the demand appears to be diminishing, and it is understood that for this year contracts on a smaller scale have been entered into. The high-country pastoralist continues to have a difficult time, the wool-market showing little improvement on last year. On account of the difficulty in disposing of surplus stock, many runs are reported to be overstocked, consequently the native grasses have suffered. Also, the low prices ruling for rabbit-skins has resulted in the rabbit pest being not fully kept in check. However, the rabbitfactory at Alexandra has reopened, and this may now have the effect of cleaning up the runs. The dairy-factories have had a good season, and increased supplies have assisted in meeting the low prices given for butterfat. Reports show that the standard of dairy herds is improving, and generally individual knowledge in the requirements of dairy-farming is becoming more noticeable. The conditions in North Otago have been very difficult, as two very dry seasons have been experienced in succession. Last winter was very dry, and this condition continued well on into the summer, with the result that practically no root crops could be grown, and large areas of wheat sown were in many cases total failures, and the sheep were turned on to them. Since the summer a greater rainfall than usual has been experienced, and the grain in stook has suffered. With the heavy rainfall mentioned, the pastures have shown wonderful growth, and the conditions for the winter should be encouraging. Also, the heavy. soaking the land has received has practically ensured the position for wheat-growers for' next season as far as the growth of the crop is concerned. The fruitgrowers of Central Otago have had an indifferent year, prices generally being low. Added to this, in the late spring a heavy frost was experienced which did considerable damage to the apple orchards in the Roxburgh district and to some of the small fruits in other parts. In summing up the general position of the producer over the last year, I think it can be said that production has been maintained under difficult circumstances.

SOUTHLAND. (B. G. -MoCabb, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Following a winter which brought some heavy falls of snow, the district experienced a late spring this being followed by a very dry spell during the early summer. Later in the season, however, adequate rains fell over most parts" of the district, and on the whole the weather conditions have been favourable for farming operations. The grass after a somewhat late start came away well in the latter part of the season, and abundance of winter feed is assured. Grain and root crops are for the most part good and the grass-seed harvest a very satisfactory one. The season promises well as regards the export of fat lambs, and, in spite of the unfavourable conditions of the early part of the season, the dairy production is likely to be quite up to the average. Snow losses among the sheep were not serious, and lambing returns were satisfactory. During the year a great increase in the number of rabbits was very noticeable over many parts of the district, and there is no doubt that they have heavily reduced the farming returns for the year. It is satisfactory to note that at the present time very large numbers are being trapped. Attempts to offset the effects of the low prices for farm-produce by increasing both the quality and quantity of the products are becoming increasingly evident. Full advantage is being taken of the subsidized unemployed labour under various unemployment schemes, and much valuable work has been done, particularly in the cutting of drains and in the preparation of land for the growing of field crops. The district is perhaps fortunate in being able to offer such a wide scope for the remunerative employment of this labour, and although, as stated above, much good work has already been done, there yet remains much to do.

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APPENDIX lI.—LAND FOE SETTLEMENTS.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932.

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Name of Estate. hotels" holds Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. 686 "' North Auckland. Aponga .. .. 4 .. Grazing .. .. • • •. Poor. Awanui .. .. 7 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. Bickerstaffe .. .. 4] 7 Grazing .. .. .. .. Good. Bayliss .. .. 1 •. Dairying .. .. • • ■ • ,, Cadman .. .. 1 .. Grazing lease .. .. .. . . ,, Carroll .. .. 24 9 Homes .. .. ,, Cradock .. .. .. 14 Homes and orchards .. . • - • „ Dreadon . . . 4 .. Run off .. • • ■ ■ . Fair. EccJeston .. ■. 11 14 Homes .. .. . . .. .. Good. Finlayson .. - . 1 . • Grazing .. . .. .. Poor. Hetana .. .. 4 86 Homes and orchards . . .. .. Good. Kitchener .. .. 1 11 ,, •• Koremoa .. . . 14 .. Dairying and grazing . .. . . Fair. La wry .. .. 1 -. Grazing lease .. ■ . . ■ .. ,, Methuen .. 3 27 Homes and orchards . . . . .. Good. Motutara .. .. 12 .. Dairying and grazing . . . .. Fair. Otarao .. ,. 3 .. Dairying .. .. ,. .. Good. Paerata .. -. 2 .. ,, .. ■ • • ■ • • >» Pakaraka . . .. 15 1 ,, . ■ • • • • >> Parahi .. .. 10 .. Dairying and grazing . , .. .. „ Prescott .. . 11 8 Homes .. .. .. • • •. ,, Plumer .. .. 4 17 ,, .. ■ ■ • ■ •. ,, Puketi . . .. 1 • • Grazing .. . . .. .. Poor. Puni .. . . 10 .. Dairying .. . . . . .. Good. Remuera .. .. 28 .. ,, ■ • • • • • • • ,, Streamlands .. .. 13 .. ,, • • • ■ ■ • • • Fair. Tangowahine .. 19 .. Dairying and grazing .. .. .. ,, Tauraroa .. .. 2 .. Grazing and mixed farming .. .. ,, Te Pua .. .. 6 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Tokiri .. .. 4 .. ,, .. .. .. .. „ Upokonui .. .. 4 .. Dairying and grazing .. .. .. ,, Waari ... .. 27 37 Homes and orchards .. .. .. Fair. Waimata .. .. 16 .. Dairying and grazing .. . . .. Good. Waiteitei .. .. 10 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. ,, Whakata .. .. 6 .. ,, .. .. .. .. ,, Totals .. 320 233 Auckland. Apata .. .. 7 1 Dairying .. . . . . .. Good. Balachraggan .. 21 5 „ .. .. .. .. Very good. Bushmere .. .. 2 .. „ .. .. .. . . Satisfactory. Clifford . . .. 8 1 „ .. .. .. .. Good. Delaney- .. .. I Home .. .. .. .. .. „ Fenconrt .. .. 21 27 Dairying and mixed farming .. .. Very good. Gorton .. .. 10 .. Dairying .. .. .. . . ,, Hannon .. .. 2 .. „ .. .. ■ • . New settlement. Prospects fair. Hereford Park .. 2 .. Dairying and mixed farming .. . . Unsatisfactory. Hikuai .. ..21 1 ,. •• .. Good. Horahia .. .. 6 ,, .. . ■ Fair. Iīora Hora .. 10 ,, •. . . Kaipaki .. . . 4 ,, ., .. Very good. Karapiro . . .. 9 10 ,. .... ,, Kopuku .... 3 1 ,, .... Fair. Kopuku No. 2 .. 5 ,, ■ ■ .. „ Mangaotama 3 1 „ .... Very good. Mangakura .. .. 6 .. „ . • ■ • Good. Mangapouri .. . . 5 10 „ .. .. Mangateparu 55 1 •. .. Mangowhero .. 11 17 ,, .. .. „ Matamata .. 83 250 „ . . • • Very good. Matuku .. 11 ,, Fair. Morgan .. .. 4 ,, • • .. Good. Nelson .. .. 3 „ . • „ Ngahinapouri .. 4 „ . . .. Very good. Nolan .. .. 5 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Ohauiti . . .. 12 1 „ .. .. .. .. Fair to doubtful. Okauia .. .. 6 11 „ .. .. .. .. Good. Omeheu .. .. 10 .. ,, . • • • • - • • >, Opouriao .. .. 30 70 „ .. .. • ■ ■ Very good. Orini .. .. 2 .. ,, .. • • ■ ■ • • Unsatisfactory. Orongo .. .. 35 .. ,, .. .. . - . • „ Otamarakau .. .. ' 7 .. „ .. . • . . ■ ■ Good.

l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932 —continued.

16

Name of Estate. hold's" Mds" Principal Purpose lor which Holdings are utilized. Auckland—continued. Otway .. .. 9 9 Dairying .. .. .. .. Very good. Pakarau .. .. ; 19 5 ,, .. .. . • • • ,, Pukemapou .. .. 11 .. ,, .. .. •• •• Good. Puketarata .. .. 5 .. ,, .. .. .. .. ,, Puahue .. .. 21 .. Dairying and mixed farming .. .. „ Rangiatea .. .. 12 15 Dairying .. .. .. .. Very good. Rangitaiki .. .. 8 .. Dairying and small farming .. .. Good. Reporoa .. .. 95 13 Dairying and grazing .. .. .. Only fair. Rewi .. . . 7 5 Dairying .. .. .. • • Very good. Reynolds .. .. 23 2 ,, .. .. .. .. Fair. Rockburn .. .. 1 .. ,, .. • • • • • • >> Rotomanuka .. 1 .. ,, • • • ■ • ■ ■ • Good. Selwyn .. .. 77 169 Dairying and mixed farming .. .. ,, Tahaia .. .. j 11 • • I Dairying .. . . .. .. ,, Tainui .. .. 2 1 Grazing .. .. .. . . Pair. Tairua .. .. 23 1 4 Residence .. .. .. . • Good. Taniwha .. .. 11 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. „ Tangao .. .. 1 •• „ ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ » Tapapa .. .. 10 .. „ .. .. • • ■ ■ Very good. Tautari .. .. 37 9 Dairying and mixed farming . . .. Pair. Teasdale . . .. 16 87 Business and residence .. .. .. Very good. Te Miro . . . ■ 37 .. Dairying and mixed farming .. .. Pair. Te Ngaroa .. . . 2 • • ! Dairying .. .. .. .. „ Te Poi .. ■ • 2 .. | .. • • • ■ • • Good. Waiare .. .. 4 .. ! ,, . • • ■ • • » Waimana .. .. 19 23 Dairying and mixed farming .. ., Very good. Wairakau .. 14 ,, • • • • Good. Walters .. .. 3 • • >> • • » Waitakaruru .. 16 2 Dairying and grazing .. .. .. Very good. Whatawhata .. i 3 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. „ Whitehall .. .. 6 14 Totals.. 930 766 Gisborne. Apanui . ■ • ■ 7 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Ardkeen .. ■ • 15 • • Pastoral .. .. .. • • >> Clydebank . . .. 2 4 ,, .. .. • • » Glencoe .. • • 0 • • Dairying Homebush . . .. 13 .. ,, .. • • • • >> Hukutaia .. .. 18 2 „ Very good. Kanakanaia .. •• 7 1 Pastoral .. .. .. •• Good. Ngatapa .. .. 24 4 „ Very good. Ohuka .. •• 12 •• „ Fair. Paremata .. • • 7 .. Dairying and pastoral .. .. .. » Pouparae . . .. 3 6 Agricultural .. .. .. Very good. Repongaere .. .. 11 1 Dairying and pastoral .. .. .. Good. Rere • ■ .... 2 ,, . . .. ;> Ruangarehu .. .... 2 ,, .. • • ■ • Tappers .. • • 1 • • Pastoral .. .. .. .. Te Arai .. ■ ■ 42 20 Dairying, pastoral, and agriculture .. .. Very good. Waimarie .... 8 9 ,, ■•••>> Wharekaka .. 13 - ,, • • • ■ " Wigan .... 8 11 „ ....,» Willows .... 13 8 ,, ....,, Totals.. .. 210 71 Hawlce's Bay. . Awamate . . .. 6 • • Dairying .. .. .. .. Pair. Argyll .. 53 11 Agricultural and pastoral .. .. .. Very good. Beattie .. • • 5 • • Pastoral .. .. .. • • Good. Clydebank .. .. 14 3 ,, • • • • • • >.> Corby .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. . . * air. Coyne •. • • 1 , . . ,, • • • • • • • • >> Crownthorpe .. 18 .. Pastoral .. .. .. .. Good. Elstliorpe .. .. 35 16 „ Very good. Porest Gate .. .. 20 9 Agricultural and pastoral .. . . .. Good. Glengarry .. .. 29 .. Dairying .. .. . - .. Pair Gwavas .. .. 11 1 Agricultural and pastoral .. .. .. Good. Hatuma 57 23 „ Very good. Kakariki .. .. .. . • Grazing .. .. -. .. New settlement. Kumeroa .. .. 13 3 Agricultural, pastoral, and dairying .. Very good. Lindsay .. .. 59 14 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. ,, Mahora .. .. j 25 j 10 ,, • • • • • • • • >> Manga-a-toro .. ! 20 j 6 Agricultural and pastoral Mangatahi .. .. ! 20 4 ,, • ■ • • ■ • Marakeke .. .. < 17 .. Mixed farming .. .. . . .. Pair. Omana .. .. j 9 1 Dairying Otamauri .. .. 15 2 Agricultural and pastoral .. .. .. „ Parinui .. .. I 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good.

C.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932 —continued.

3—C. 1.

17

r anaa TV*.* , .... , Remarks as toJPresent Name of Estate. holds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Position. Hawke's Bay—contd. ... , , n™rt 6 1 Agricultural and pastoral .. .. • • uooa. Pukahu •• 2 .. Fruit .. .. •• •• •• Prospects good. Raureka .. .. 10 9 Dairying and fruit cultivation .. .. Very good. Raumati !. .. 30 3 Pastoral and dairying .. .. • • Very fair. Rissington .. .. 5 • • Pastoral .. .. 17 1 Mostly pastoral .. .. • • • • Ve T good. Sherenden .. .. 21 .. ,, • • • • • • >' Te Kaihi .. •. 3 .. Mixed farming «>oa. TeKura .. •• H •• Dairying *air Te Mata .. ■ • 13 1 Fruit-farming Good. Tongoio .. • ■ 12 • • Mostly pastoral .. .. • • • • ; ' air - Tomoana .. .. 6 8 Fruit and dairying Very good. Waihau .. .. 20 1 Mostly pastoral i an Waipuka .. • • 1 • • 1 . v» r Watea .. • • 10 • • Mixed farming *air Wilder .. ■■ 4 .. „ ; •• •• •• •• <*o° d - Woodlands .. .. 8 Fruit farming , Totals.. .. 619 127 Taranaki. n , h f e ■ ■ 7 - Dairying " :: •: :: v^good. Clandon .. 7 •• 17« ir w oy k on " :: I .. z . :: :: Good. TTnatnlri " " 30 5 Residential and small farming .. .. Unsatisfactory. " '! 5 .. Mixed farming Indifferent, Hii intra !.. 8 2 Dairying and mixed farming .. .. Fair K „„° .. 5 .. Mixed farming Indifferent. Katikara .. .. 3 .. •• •• . •• Kohura 11 Mixed farming .. •• •• •• Jnclitterent, Kota ' ;! • - 7 „ Falr - 2« •• } •• Grazing ;; :: :: :: Marco amalU " !! 2 .. Mixed farming Fair Sff 1 - ./ Mixecl "farming " !! !! " SSL. .. 1 •• Dairying .. .. ;; ;; Piu CS .. 4 • • Mixed farming .. .. • • • • Poor. T?ntar)iko " !! 4 1 Dairying and mixed farming .. .. Fair. Spotswood " " 9 37 Homestead and small dairying .. .. Very good. Taitama .'! " 5 .. Mixed farming Fair Tariki .. • • 7 1 Dairying .. • • • • • • "°™iTawhiwhi .. .. 8 Mixed farming VeryZd ' Tofcaora .. 2 14 Dairying Very good. Tututawa .. ... 3 .. Dairying and grazing *aw. Totals.. .. 143 62 Wellington. Dairvi „ e Good. Aluaruhe .. .. • ■ - Lower good, upper fair. Akitio a ° " '! 6 !Grazing, sheep and cattle .. .. .. Good. Aorangi !! " 23 19 Dairying AmwhTta 8 " " 2 :: Dairying; also a few sheep' !! !! 6 .. Dairying .. ;; ;; ;; poor. Bailey ■. • • } " . .. . • Fair to poor, Ben § e •• '• , •' " " . .. .. Good. Brown .. • • ± • • ... " , Braemore .. ■ • 4 .. Pastoral .. • • ■ • • • y B™ce .. •• 1 Dairying .. .. •• •• i» to P 001 ' CaHender " '' 1 • • Dairying; also a few sheep .. • • Fair. Carrington .. .. 34 2 .. .. Cherry Grove .. 3 .. JJan vi g _ Fair; should improve. Cloverlea 1! " 17 ■■ Dairying and residential Good. Currie " 2 " '• •• " Good. Dawbin ' 1 ■ • Dairying and residential Dixon . ■ ■ • 1 • • Dairying • • Devonshire .. .. j 1 •• Dairying and residential Dyer .. : 37 10 Mixed Epuni Hamlet .. 19 26 Mixed and garden Evans .. 1 • ■ Dairying; also few sheep Eaglesham .. •. i 8 .. Grazing

C.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932—continued.

18

Name of Estate. Principal Purpose (or which Holdings are utilized. RemartaM to Present W ettington—eontd. Fairfield .. .. 7 1 Dairying and residential .. .. .. Fair. Falloon .. .. 6 .. Mixed; also few sheep .. .. .. Good. Gee • • ■ • 1 • • Dairying and residential .. .. .. Fair. Greves . . .. 1 .. Dairying; also few sheep .. .. .. „ Greystoke .. .. 12 .. Dairying and residential .. .. .. Go'od. Graham .. .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. Fair Glasspole .. .. 1 .. „ .. ' " Good g° wer •• •• 2 „ Fair." Hammond .. .. 1 Hawtrey .. .. 44 52 Residential .. .. .. .. Little demand. Hall-Jones .. .. 17 22 Gardening .. .. Good Heatherlea .. .. 17 10 Dairying .i ° Heretaunga .. .. 14 112 Residential .. .. .. .. Very good. Heights .. .. 2 .. Sheep and dry cattle .. . . . . Fair. !l anlil . v . ' • • • • • • Dairying .. .. .. .. Left property (fair). Haunui No. 1 .. 8 .. n nn a Haunui No. 2 .. 7 .. „ " | " " Harper • • ■ ■ 1 ■ • " .. .'' !! !! Fair Hill .. .. 1 Horrobin .. .. 1 .. Mixed .. .. !! Fair to poor. Johnson .. .. 1 .. Grazing .. .. .. .. Medium. Kiwitea .. .. 1 .. Dairying and residential .. .. .. Good. Kairanga .. .. 11 .. Kopane .. .. 14 .. ,, .. .. . Holdings too small „ , (Good). Kuku .. .. 4 ., Mixed .. .. .. .. Good Langdale .. .. 12 13 Grazing .. .. .. " Lean .. .. 1 .. Residential .. .. .. .. " ■ 1 ■ • Dairying .. .. .. .. p a ir to poor _ •• 5 •• » Good. Little .. .. 1 .. Mixed .. Loughnan .. .. 26 1 Residential .. .. .' " Langley-Purdom .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. .. .' Littler • • • • 1 ■ • „ .. .. .. Very o-ood Longbush and Mahupiiku 16 6 Mixed .. .. .. .. .. Good" Makopua .. .. 2 .. Pastoral .. .. .. p oor ' Makowai and Extension 26 .. Dairying .. .. .. .Pair.' Marama-aMau .. 6 „ .. ' '' Good Maungaraki .. .. 19 3 Residential " " " ' " Fair to poor. MelUn § •' •• 2 •• ,, .. .. .. .. Good. Mataikona .. .. 6 .. Grazing .. - .. .. .. Poor. McDonnell . . .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. .. . # Fair. Muhunoa .. .. 2 « 0l T n • • • • 1 • ■ " • • • • • • • ■ Good. Marshall .... 1 . -pv; McKenzie .. .. 1 .. „ i! !! i! !! Good. Matamua .. .. 2 1 ,, .. .. Fair Mangawhatu .... 7 „ !'. !'. " !Good. Motukal .. .. 3 .. Grazing .. .. .. , _ Fair. Moroa .. .. 19 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. p 0OT Ngakaroro .. .. 2 .. „ .. p a j r Normandale .. 27 22 Mixed i.' " Fair'to poor. Nesdale No. 1 .. 1 .. Dairying and pastoral .. .. .. Fair Nesdale No. 2 .. 1 *f eli g an •• •• 1 •• Dairying .. .. .. " Fair to good. Ngahape .. .. 6 .. Grazing.. .. .. .. . _ Good Ngarara .. .. 5 .. Dairying o hakea ■ • • • 3 i3 „ ; F<&. ° lver •• •• 1 •• „ Poor. °™ ua •• 2 •• Fair. 0^ roa '• 7 •• „ Good. Osborne .. .. 5 Omapu .. .. 4 .. Owenga .. .. 18 3 Residential .. .. .. .. Fair. Paramu .. .. 1 .. Grazing .. .. .. # # Poor. Paparangi .. .. 22 14 Residential .. .. Fair Olliver .. .. 2 .. Grazing .. .. " Perham .. .. ] .. Mixed Pohehe .. ., ] .. Dairying, sheep, and cattle .. .. Good. ™t .. .. .. 5 Gardening .. .. .. .. Fair." Pihautea .. .. 27 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. raa Creek .. .. 1 .. Dairying; also few sheep .. Poroporo .. . . 16 2 M ixed Pukenamu and Extension 7 .. Dairying .. .. ' [ p a 'ir Pukekoa .. .. 9 Putorino .. .. 14 .. ' _ '' " Puketoi .. .. 10 .. Grazing, sheep, and cattle.. .. .. Very good 5^ lps ' • •' 4 • • Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Otahome .. .. 2 .. Grazing Quillinan .. .. 1 , . Dairying Ruatangata .. .. 3 ,. °

o.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932—continued.

19

Name of Estate. folds' holds. Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. Hemarposition* reSP ' nt Wellington—contd. Raumaewa .. .. 3 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. , Pair. Sandilands .. .. 1 . . ,, • ■ • • - • v Stanley .. .. 1 .. „ • • • • • • • • Fair, improving. Saxon .. .. 1 . • „ • ■ • • ■ • • • Fair. Soland .. .. .. .. „ • • • • • • • • Vacant (fair). Stokes .. .. 1 • • » • • • • • ■ • • Fair. Tablelands and Hikiwera 14 3 Grazing .. .. .. .. Good. Tawaha .. .. 24 , 1 Mixed Tapuae .. .. 2 .. Grazing Te Ma-tua .. .. 8 7 Dairying Te Ore Ore .. .. 7 .. Dairying, mixed farming .. .. .. ,, Te Whiti .. .. 6 ■ ■ Dairying Tiraumea. .. .. 16 •• Grazing .. .. .. .. Making steady progress. Tauherenikau .. 1 .. Mixed .. .. .. .. .. Fair. Tupurupuru .. .. 3 .. Grazing .. .. .. ■ • Good. Tikotu .. .. 3 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. Taumailii .. .. 4 .. Residential .. .. .. .. „ Taikorea .. .. 5 .. Dairying Tuturumuri .. .. 12 .. Grazing .. .. .. .. Good. Waddington .. .. 13 3 Gardening .. .. .. .. Fair to poor. Wahren .. .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. Waterson .. .. 2 .. „ .. . • • • „ Waihora .. .. 3 .. Mixed .. .. .. .. ■ • Good. Waitawa .. .. 3 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. „ Westmere .. .. 9 .. Mixed .. .. .. .. .. ,, Westella .. .. 12 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. White . . .. 1 .. • • • • • • • • G° od - Wilford .. .. 77 126 Residential .. .. .. .. „ Woulfe .. .. 1 • - Dairying .. .. .. .. Very good. Wright .. .. 1 •. 99 ■ ■ • • • • • • 99 Youle .. .. 1 • • „ • • • • • • • • GoodTotal .. .. 962 485 Nelson. I Blue Glen .. .. 1 .. Grazing .. .. .. . - Poor. Braeburn .. .. 20 2 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Glenrae .. .. 1 • • » • • • • • • ■ • » Golden Downs .. 2 .. „ • ■ ■ ■ • • >> Kohatu .. .. .. .. Grazing .. .. .. .. Fair. Lake .. ■. 5 .. ,, • ■ • • • • • • >> Matakitaki .. .. 1 ■ • » ■ • • • ■ • • • » Maruia .. .. 10 .. Grazing and dairying Palmer .. .. 1 • • » • • • • >> Spittal .. .. 1 • • Dairying Tutaki .. .. 2 1 Grazing .. .. .. •• Poor. Walker .. .. 1 •• Dairying .. .. .. „ Wangapeka .. .. 14 3 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Homestead-site .. 1 • • Grazing .. .. .. • • „ Waimunga .. .. 1 • • Dairying .. .. .. . • „ 61 6 Marlborough. Alberton .. .. 4 • ■ Agriculture and dairying .. .. .. Pair. Blind River .. .. 18 • • Sheep and agriculture .. .. .. Very good. Bomford .. .. 1 • • Agricultural .. .. .. - • Poor. Erina .. .. 10 2 Sheep .. .. .. • • ■ • Pair. Pernleigh .. .. 6 .. Dairying .. .. .. •• „ Flaxbourne .. .. 129 13 Agricultural and pastoral .. .. .. Very good. Goat Hills .. .. 3 .. Sheep .. .. .. • • • • Fair Hillersden .. .. 51 8 „ . • • • • • • • ■ • Good. Hillersden Bush .. 2 • • Linkwaterdale .. 5 .. Dairying and agricultural .. .. .. lair. Lynton Downs .. 11 •* Sheep .. . ■ . • • ■ • • >> Moorlands .. .. 6 .. Agriculture Neville .. .. 1 1 » •• •• .• * " , Northbank .. .. 10 .. Sheep .. .. n . • • • • Omaka .. .. 14 • • Agriculture, sheep, and dairying .. .. ,, Puhipuhi !! .. 2 . . Sheep Rainford .. .. 11 Dairying .. .. .. „ Richmond Brook .. 12 .. Sheep .. .. .. .. •• Excellent. Scarborough .. .. 160 27 Agriculture and pastoral .. .. • • ,, Waipapa .. .. 4 .. Sheep .. .. .. •• ■ • FairWarnock .. 2 .. Dairying .. .. .. -. „ Wither .. .. 19 3 Sheep and poultry .. .. .. Good. 481 54

C.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932—continued.

20

I ' I ~~ -— Name of Estate. holds. holcte | Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. to Present Westland. Kokatahi .. .. 8 .. Dairying and grazing .. .. .. Highly satisfactory. Poerua .. .. 24 4 ,, .. ,. .. Satisfactory. Runanga .. .. 1 .. Residential Raupo .. .. 4 .. Dairying and grazing .. .. .. Satisfactory. Totals.. .. 37 4 Canterbury. Acton .. .. 3 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. « . . Very fair. Albury .. .. 78 3 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Allanholme .. .. 9 .. ,, " .. Good. Annan .. .. 43 5 Mixed farming and grazing .. . . Well established. Ashley Gorge .. 7 3 Dairy farming and grazing .. .. Ashton .. .. 7 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Ashwick .. .. 8 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Good. Avenel .. .. 17 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Very fair. Avenel Extension .. 11 . . ,, Avonhead .. .. 17 .. Small farming .. .. .. .. Improvins. Avonhead No. 2 .. 18 .. ,, Aylesbury .. .. 6 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good! Bankfield .. .. 9 .. Mixed farming and grain-growing .. .. Uncertain yet. Beach .. .. 10 .. Mixed farming Bourndale .. .. 10 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Verv fair. Bracco .. .. 3 11 Market-gardening .. .. .. Well established. Brinklands .. .. .. 2 Dairying and mixed farming .. .. Under manager. Broadfields .. .. 4 .. Mixed and grain-growing .. .. .. Uncertain. Brooksdale' .. .. 14 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair improving. • • • • 4 • • " • • • • ■ • • • Uncertain yet. Buckley .. 3 .. „ .. .. .. .. Buddo .. .. 10 5 Workers' dwellings .. .. .. Pair. " Burkes Homestead .. 1 .. Homestead-site Chamberlain .. 20 1 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Clandeboye .. .. 10 .. Dairy-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very fair. Clandeboye No. 2 6 „ .. .. Pair. Claremont .. .. 13 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing Clayton .. .. 6 .. Sheep-farming .. .. .. .. Verv good. Clunes .. .. 8 .. Mixed farming and dairying .. .. New selection. Coldstream .. .. 11 .. ! Mixed farming. .. .. .. .. Fair. Coopers Creek .. 1 .. ! Sheep-farming Copland .. .. 1 [ Sheep, dairying, and grain-growing .. .. Good. Craigmore .. .. 9 j Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Cricklewood .. .. 10 ■ ■ » Culverden .. .. 57 14 Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Good." Douglas .. .. 36 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Pair—improving. Doyleston .. .. 6 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Drayton .. .. 15 5 Agricultural .. .. .. .. Improving. Dromore .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Uncertain yet. Eccleston .. .. 4 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Epworth 2 .. Now freehold. i inlay Downs .. 5 .. Dairy-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very good. Four Peaks .. .. 8 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. J> vie , 4 1 Mixed farming .. .. .. Not satisfactory. Glenmark .. .. 28 2 Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Good. Glentanner .. .. .. .. Homestead-site .. .. .. .. Pair. Gorge Road .. .. 4 17 Workers' homes Grange .. .. 3 .. Dairying and grain-growing .. .. Uncertain yet. Hadlow .. .. 3 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Hawthorne .. .. 9 .. „ Hoi Hei .. 15 1 Poultry-farming, &c. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Hekeao .. .. 10 7 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Well established. Hewitt .. .. 1 .. Homestead-site .. Highbank .. .. 68 13 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Well established. Hillboro .. .. 3 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Good. Homebrook .. .. 16 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Pair. Hornby .. .. 18 5 Agricultural and gardening Horsley Downs .. 8 22 Mixed farming .. .. .. ., Well established. Isleworth .. .. 18 .. Mixed, grain-growing .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Jungle .. .. 2 .. Dairy-farming .. .. .. .. Satisfactory. Kaimahi .. .. 4 9 ,, Kakahu .. .. 5 .. Workers'homes and gardening Kapua .. .. 12 .. Mixed farming and grazing Kapuatohe .. .. 5 9 Sheep-farming and dairying .. .. Good." Keith .. .. .. 1 Workers' homes and gardening .. ,. Satisfactory. Kereta .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming Kinloch .. .. 31 1 Dairying .. .. .. " Well established. Konika .. .. 17 .. j Dairy-farming and grazing .. .. Very good. Kohika No. 2 .. 2 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Well established. Kowhatu •, . * 5 .. ,, ,. ., ,. _ < Very good. Ladbrooks .. .. 14 j „ .. .. .. Fair. Lambrook .. .. 5 ■ • Mixed farming .. .. .. ,. Uncertain yet. Lansdown .. .. 10 1 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Good. Lauriston .. .. 5 1 Mixed, grain-growing .. .. .. Uncertain vet. Lees ton .. .. 5 1 Agricultural .. ' .. .. .. Well established. Lees Valley .. .. 8 .. Sheep-farnnng .. .. .. .. Considerably improved. Lyndhurst .. .. 18 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Lyndon • • • • 7 1 „ .. .. ., _ _ Well established. Lyndon JNo. 2 .. 9 .. Mixed farming and grazing Macgregor .. .. 1 „ .. .. Unsatisfactory. Marawiti .... 12 1 „ .... Well established.

o.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932-continued.

21

i Tpnep TTrpp. , , n , Remarks as to Present Name of Estate. kolds, folds. Principal Purpose lor which Holdings are utilized. Position. Canterbury—continued. . Maytown .. .. 9 2 Sheep-farming and dairying .. .. Good. Mead .. .. 21 1 Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Well established. Meadows .. .. 14 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very fair. Milford .. .. i 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Mills .. .. ! 21 .. Small farming and dairying .. .. Well established. Moanaroa .. .. 3 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. New selection. Morice .. .. 28 3 Dairying and grass-seed growing .. .. Satisfactory. Morten .. .. 17 1 Poultry, &c. .. .. .. .. Uncertain yet. Montford .. .. 8 .. Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Improving. Mount Nessing .. 11 • • Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very good. New Park .. .. 7 .. Mixed farming .. .. • • • • Uncertain yet. Oakwood .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming and grain-growing .. .. Uncertain. Ohapi .. . • 6 • • Mixed farming .. .. . ■ • • Good. Omihi .. . • • • • • Homestead-site .. Orakipaoa " .. 26 1 Dairying, grain-growing, and gardening .. Well established. Otaio .. .. 9 •• Small-farming and dairying . . .. „ Otarakaro .. .. . • 7 Market-gardening .. .. .. Well established and satisfactory. Papaka .. .. 9 .. „ Well established. Pareora .. .. 26 2 Sheep-farming and dairying .. .. Good. Pareora No. 2 .. I 26 7 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Patoa .. . • 1 3 Grazing and small-farming .. .. Satisfactory. Pawaho .. .. 8 17 Market-gardening Peaks .. .. i 9 3 Mixed farming .. .. .. ■ ■ „ Puhuka .. .. ! 9 1 Workers' homes .. .. • ■ Well established. Punaroa .. .. 1 15 2 Dairy, sheep-farming, and grain-growing .. „ Raincliff .. .. j 1 I • • Sheep-farming and grain-growing Rakitairi .... 20 2 ,, .... ,, Rapuwai .. .. 5 .. „ • • • • » Rautawiri .. .. 6 .. „ • • >> Riverina .. .. 3 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. . ■ Uncertain yet. Roimata .. .. 7 22 Workers' homes .. .. .. .. Satisfactory. Rosebrook .. .. 11 3 Small-farming and dairying .. .. Good. .Rosewill .. .. 151 11 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Ruapuna No. 2 .. 15 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. . • Very good. Scargill .. .. 9 .. Mixed farming and grazing .. .. i air. Scotston . .. 2 .. Mixed farming .. .. • • • • New selection. Seafield .. .. 6 .. „ Satisfactory Seaforth .. .. 6 .. Small-farming and dairying .. .. Uncertain yet. Sherwood Downs .. 26 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Good. Springwell .. .. 6 .. Mixed farming and grain-growing .. .. Uncertain yet. Stoke" .. .. 7 ... Mixed farming .. .. ■ • • • Good. Strathmore .. .. 3 .. „ • • .... .. J a ' r - Studholme Junction .. 4 .. Small-farming and dairying .. .. Good. Takitu .. .. 5 .. Sheep-farming .. .. .. Well established. Tamai .. .. 8 32 Workers' homes .. .. ■ • • ■ Satisfactory. Xara .. .. 9 1 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very good. Tarawahi .. .. 4 24 Workers'homes .. .. .. Satisfactory. Teschemaker .. 12 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Very good. Timaunga .. .. 16 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair; improving. Timaunga Extension .. 7 .. „ • • • • . • • • • ®°P^Tripp .. .. 26 .. Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. i air. Valverde .. .. 11 •• Mixed farming .. ... •• „ Waiapi .. .. 11 4 Sheep-farming and grain-growing .. .. Well established. Waikakahi .. .. 185 19 „ • • u, " Waimate .. .. 35 .. Sheep-farming, grain and fruit growing .. Good. Wairere .. .. 8 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. • • Fair. Waitohi Peaks .. 9 .. Sheep-farming .. .. .. .. Improving. • Welburn .. .. 6 .. Mixed farming, dairying .. .. .. New selection. Wharenui .. .. 13 12 Workers' homes .. .. .. • • Well established. Winchester .. .. 10 .. Sheep-farming, grain-growing, and dairying .. Fair. Woodlau .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming and grazing .. .. Uncertain yet. Homestead-sites .. 10 Totals.. .. 1,879 324 Otago. Airedale .. .. 12 1 Dairying and general .. .. . ■ Good. Ardgowan .. .. 66 6 „ . • • • » Arnmore .. .. 5 ■ • Mixed .. .. .. • • air ' Arthurton .. .. 1 • • Grazing .. .. .. • • Good. Aviemore .. .. 1 • • » • • ■ • • • • " Awamoa .. .. 1 1 Mixed .. .. .. • • • • „ Barnego .. .. 20 4 Dairying and general .. . • • • „ Bellamy .. .. 14 .. Grazing .. .. •• Poor Cardrona „ Only fair. Clareview .. .. 5 .. Dairying and general .. .. .. Good. Clifton .. .. 8 .. General .. .. • ■ • • Fair. Conical Hills .. .. 45 1 Grazing and general .. .. .. Poor. Crosshill .. .. 6 .. Mixed .. .. .. • • • ■ Fair Croucher .. .. 1 • • » ■ • • • • ■ • • • • 0 ? • Dalmain .. .. 3 .. Grazing .. .. .. • • £ air. Duncan .. .. 4 4 Dairying .. .. .. • • Poor. Earnscleugh .. .. 25 1 Fruit .. .. .. •• •• Fair. Elderslie No. 1 .. 36 2 General .. .. • • ■ • Good. Elderslie No. 2 .. 16 .. „ .. Very good. Gallowav .. .. 11 1 Fruit and homestead-sites .. .. .. Very fair. Gladbrook .. .. 46 3 Dairying .. .. .. ■ • Fair. Glenn .. .. 4 1 .. Mixed .. .. .. .. • •

C.—l.

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1932—continued.

22

Same oi Estate. I holds. Principal Purpose (or which Holdings are utilized. Present Otago—'Continued. I Greenfield .. .. 36 7 Mixed .. .. .. .. i Good. Hilderthorpe .. .. 19 .. General and workers' homes .. .. I Pair. Janefield .. .. 18 3 Dairying and fruit . . .. Good Kauroo Hill .. .. 42 3 General Kelso .. .. 3 .. Dairying .. .. " Kurow .. .. 11 3 Dairying and general .. .. .. Only fair. Lakeview .. .. 1 .. General .. Good MSIeo enUa '• II 1 " •' ' - - V -ygood. IVIakaraeo . .. 33 .. „ .. .. .. ... Very fair. Makaraeo Extension . . 3 ,, Manuherikia .. . . 11 1 General, with irrigation . . . . . . Poor. Maraeweka . . .. 8 .. General .. , . . . Very fair. Matakanui . . . . 3 .. General and grazing . . Good Meadowbank .. 11 .. General .. .. . Very aood. Melville Park . . 7 .. Dairying and mixed . . .. . . Poor.° Momona . . 7 7 Dairying . . .. iVery good. Murrayfield 2 .. Mixed Good. Oakleigh .. .. 1 .. „ .. .. . . Only fair. Otanomomo .. .. 25 1 Dairying .. .. ., .. Good. Otekaxke .. . . 64 1 Mixed .. . Fair Plunket • • • • 18 2 „ .. . . . . " Good Pomahaka .. .. 26 2 ,. . . . Very fair Poplar Grove .. 21 2 Dairying .. .. ' ' '' p a ir. Pukeawa .. .. 14 2 Mixed .. . . . . . Good. Pukenui .. .. 6 „ Puketapu . . .. 6 5 Dairying .. .. .. " Rockford .. .. 4 .. Mixed .. .. .. '' " Rosebery .. .. 15 .. Grazing and general Rugged Ridges . . 1 .. Grazing .. .. . " Very fair Steward .. .. 52 2 Mixed .. .. .. .. Good St. Helens .. ,. 3 .. General .. .. .. . Very fair. Tahawai .. .. 7 1 Dairying .. .. . . Good. Taumata .. .. 9 .. Mixed Teaneraki .. .. 23 .. Dairying .. .. .. Very fair. Te Puke .. .. 4 .. Mixed .. .. .. .. .. Good. Teviot . . .. 24 1 Grazing .. .. . . _. Pair. Tilverstowe .. .. 7 .. Mixed The Downs .. .. 8 .. „ !. '' Tapanui .. .. 7 .. General . . .. Good Tokarahi .. .. 79 2 Mixed Tokoiti .. .. 4 .. „ Totara .. .. 27 .. „ Wairuna .. .. 11 .. .... " ft 'L Waitahuna No. 1 .. 1 1 „ .. Waitahuna No. 2 .. 6 1 „ .. .. .. " Poor Westcott .. .. 7 .. „ Wilden •• '•! •• Mixed agricultural and pastoral .. . Good. Windsor Park No. 1 .. 36 2 Mixed .. .. Verv mod Windsor Park No. 2 .. 10 .. „ .. .. .. . . ;; ; ' * 8 oou - 1,161 74 Southland. Allenby .. .. 5 .. Dairying .. .. ., , _ Pair. Ardlussa .. .. 5 .. Pastoraf .. .. .. . Poor. Beaumont .. .. 10 2 Mixed farming Brydone .. .. 2 .. Dairying .. .. '' Good. Campbell .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. Pair Crichton Park .. 4 2 Pastoral .. .. .' '' Edendale .. .. 98 56 Dairying .. .. ,. _. Very good. Ermedale .. .. 11 2 Mixed farming .. .. . JPafo Pern Hill .. .. 4 .. ,, .. .. '' Good Fortification Hill .. 6 .. Pastoral .. .. .. .. p oor . Glenham .. 32 12 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Very Good. Knowsley Park .. 9 .. Pastoral .. .. .. .. p oor . Lambert .. .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. ,. . Pair. Lamont .. .. 6 McCallum .. .. 4 .. .' Maori Hill .. .. 17 3 Mixed farming Merrivale .. .. 43 12 „ Merrivale No. 1 .. 9 .. ,, Merrivale No.2 .. 7 .. Monte Cristo .. 4 .. Dairying .. . ] Otahu .. .. 6 2 Mixed farming .. .. .. . ' Ringway .. .. 4 3 , Simpson .. .. 1 .. () S all f, CT , " '• 8 1 Dair y in g •• .. " Good. Strathvalc .. .. 9 .. „ Very good. iamatea .. .. 7 .. ,, .. Good Teihoka .. .. 2 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Te Wae Wae .. 4 .. Dairying .. .. ,. _ Pa'ir Waiarikiki .. .. 7 .. Pastoral .. " " " p 00 r Waikiwi Town .. 33 27 Suburban building-sites .. .! !. Pair." 362 122 Grand Totals .. 7,165 ' 2,328

C—l.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. NORTH AUCKLAND. (0. N. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Very few lands under this Leading have changed hands during the year, and settlers are endeavouring, with the limited funds at their disposal, to increase production by improving pastures in order to mitigate against low prices received for produce. Tauraroa Settlement, near Whangarei, comprising 1,142 acres, was allotted in two holdings during the year under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928. These will be utilized for mixed farming. AUCKLAND. (K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) A number of properties were offered to the Crown for settlement during the year, but, after inspection, practically all were found unsuitable for the purpose, or the prices asked were out of the question if settlers were to have any chance of success. The Wairakau Settlement, of 2,001 acres, situated near Te Aroha, was acquired during the year and offered for selection in fourteen sections ranging from 65 to 490 acres. Under the group-settlement scheme two blocks, with an area of 469 acres, have been acquired, resulting in four additional settlers being settled on the land. The above new selections are all dairying propositions, excepting two mixed farms. Most of the lessees of settlement lands are engaged in dairying and have been caught by the prevailing slump in the price of butterfat; but, in spite of this, generally speaking, they have made a genuine effort to meet their obligations to the Crown. A number of the settlers, however, have had to apply for concessions to enable them to carry on over a difficult period, and all such cases have received the sympathetic attention of the Land Board. GISBORNE. (H. L. Primrose, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) One or two areas close to Gisborne were offered to the Crown for settlement purposes, but for various reasons were found unsuitable. Considerable inquiries were made earlier in the year for information about the group-settlement provisions of the Act, but the adverse conditions prevailing seem to have prevented the completion of any deals. Only one property of two holdings was acquired under this heading, being Mr. E. R. Renner's place at Rere, on which a couple of first-class men were placed. HAWKE'S BAY. (J. F. Quinn, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The last settlement to be purchased, Rylands, has been under occupation for a little over twelve months. The lessees are all engaged in sheep-farming, but owing to drought and the slump have not been able to show much progress. With further development and a return to normal conditions this settlement should in time prove successful. Settlers on the Awamate Settlement are making good progress ; they are all keen farmers and anxious to make a success of their holdings. No new areas were purchased during the year, although a number of properties were offered and reports furnished. TARANAKI. (W. D. Armit, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Two areas were offered for purchase during the year, but the properties did not prove suitable for the purpose of closer subdivision, and the Land Purchase Board decided to take no action. A great improvement in ragwort control on settlement areas is now in evidence where lessees are using chlorate and also employing small mobs of sheep. The grazing lessees on settlements have experienced another very difficult year, and substantial concessions will have to be given. Dairymen are fairly well holding their own so far as rentals are concerned, although they are finding it extremely difficult to maintain a sound position all round. Excessive goodwills have been paid in many instances, and these commitments will require adjustment before matters are likely to improve. Portions of the Ratapiko and Tawhiwhi Settlements are being administered by the Department, both grazing areas. The former is being farmed by means of Discharged Soldiers Settlement Realization Account and the latter is under grazing tenancy. The areas will be reoffered as soon as it is considered expedient to do so. Piu Settlement is one of the least successful settlements in this district and at the present time there are several areas vacant. The rentals are being revised and these areas will be reoffered in the near future. WELLINGTON. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) In common with all other farmers, tenants on estates purchased by the Crown have had a poor year as far as prices for their produce is concerned. The yields have, in many cases, been better than in previous years, but the depressed state of the markets has left the farmer very little with which to meet his obligations and nothing for maintenance of pastures. The settlers on the earlier purchases, who have now become firmly established, though hard pressed, are coming through the depression

23

C.—l.

with a [degree of success, but those on later-acquired properties such as Westella, Gower, Phillips, Currie, and Waitawa are obliged to finance very carefully to pay their way. These latter tenants, however, have lands of excellent quality, and they should soon pull up when prices return to anything like normal. In parts of the Wellington District, notably in the Wairarapa, a severe drought is being experienced, and tenants, in addition to their troubles with poor prices, are facing the winter with no feed-supplies to carry them through. At time of writing the Department is endeavouring to relieve the position by supplying hay to those tenants affected by the drought. NELSON. (A. F. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No additional properties have been purchased during the past year. One property was offered under the Group Settlement Scheme, but was found unsuitable for the purpose. MARLBOROUGH. (P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new settlements have been acquired under the Land for Settlements Act in this district during the past year. The semi-drought conditions, which have been experienced in the main settlement areas, in conjunction with the poor prices received for produce have made the year an exceptionally difficult one for most settlers, but the sympathetic consideration which is being extended to all genuine triers by the Department should enable them to carry on. WESTLAND. (T. Cagney, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No areas were acquired under the Lands for Settlements Act during the period. The settlers on the Raupo Settlement, acquired about three years ago, continue to make good progress, and practically all rents, notwithstanding low prices for produce, have been met to date. All other settlements in Westland are old-established, originally selected on lease-in-perpetuity tenure. A number of these holdings have been converted to freehold, and the administration of the remainder is now purely a matter of routine. CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new estates have been acquired during the present year, but the Department still continues to administer Brinklands, and is substantially improving its condition by subsidiary draining and improving the pastures, the benefit of which will be secured when the estate is offered for selection. So trying has been the season, that temporary concessions have had to be granted in some cases even to settlers on our oldest and cheapest settlements. OTAGO. (N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new settlements were opened up during the year, and the settlers who took up recently purchased estates during the past two years have been in difficulties. Even the fact that stock was purchased at a low figure has not been of great assistance, as the necessary buildings, fencing, &c., made a heavy call on capital without an adequate return. On ah new settlements this difficulty occurs, but has been accentuated by the extraordinary low prices ruling for farm-produce. On the older settlements various difficulties have been experienced, caused in many cases by the heavy goodwills paid. This has led to much financial embarrassment, and mortgagees are not in an enviable position. In North Otago, on account of the dry conditions that have existed, even some of the original settlers have been in difficulties, but with the present outlook for a good season, even with the reduction in price of wheat, they will probably show a rapid recovery. Reports go to show that most settlements are carrying a large amount of stock and that production is being maintained to full capacity. SOUTHLAND. (B. C. McCabe, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) During the year only one property was purchased under the Land for Settlements Act—i.e., the McCallum Settlement. This was established as a group settlement under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928, and four sections of a total area of 285 acres 1 rood 22 perches were provided. On these the settlers are making good progress in the effecting of drainage and other improvements. On the older settlements there is little to report. All have, of course, been affected by the adverse markets, and this condition is particularly acute where the land is of only medium quality and where the settler is limited to cropping and to sheep-grazing. On the other hand, on land of dairying quality, in spite of the higher charges on that class of land, the settlers have made a much better showing. In the case of the settlements established during the years 1929-31, good progress has been made in the effecting of improvements and in stocking up, and although under the present rigorous conditions the settlers have not been able to fully pay their way, the land is generally of sufficiently good quality to promise ultimate success.

24

C.—l.

APPENDIX lII.—LAND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS. (R. G. MacMobran, Chief Drainage Engineer.) As usual, separate reports have been forwarded dealing with Hauraki Plains and Rangitaiki Drain - age Works, and also the works coming under the scope of the Swamp Drainage Act viz., Kaitaia, Hikurangi, Waihi, and Poukawa. Various inspections and reports on suitable schemes for unemployed also have been made during the past year. Work done under grants and subsidies by local bodies has been supervised and inspected, and expenditure totalling £9,053 Bs. has been certified for payment under this heading. Exclusive of the main drainage-works mentioned above, hereunder is a short summary of some of the general work undertaken during the period. Galatea Estate Drainage—Work undertaken comprised construction of new drainage outlets for an area of 500 acres of virgin swamp, also improving existing drains and construction of additional outlets for a further area of 1,500 acres of partly drained swamp lands. 5 miles 4 chains of new drains were constructed, 13 miles 76 chains old drains improved, and 2 miles 7 chains stream straightened alld MirandaDrainage.—This scheme of drainage is intended to provide main drainage for 4,000 acres of rich litteral swamp near Waitakaruru, and presents some interesting and in some respects unusual features. The main drainage channel is 3 miles 37 chains in length, varying in width from 10 ft. to 32 ft., and is being constructed entirely by manual labour in order to relieve the shortage of employment. The work is being carried out on behalf of the Hauraki Plains County Council and is subsidized by the Unemployment Board. Work was commenced in November and excellent progress is now \oromatua Block Development. —This comprises an area of 941 acres of Crown land, divided into six sections adjoining Otway Settlement near Te Aroha, on which development work was commenced last year. 1 mile 55 chains of access road has been completed, also the primary construction of a drainage system that will be progressively improved as the land consolidates. The conversion into pasture of'raw swamp land of this nature" can only be undertaken by a settler possessing capital, and before offering the land for selection four sections have been cultivated, manured, and sown. These four sections will be offered for selection at an early date. By the end of March some 232 acres had been cultivated with swamp ploughs and tractors, disks, harrow, and roller ; 50 acres sown in grass, 164 acres cleared of scrub ; 6 miles 21 chains new drains constructed, and 2 miles 2 chains fencing erected Patetonga Riding Roads Metalling, Hauraki Plains .—This scheme commenced in 1929, entailing metalling and improving 9f miles of roading, was completed in July. During the year, 1,674 cubic yards o/metal was laid on Patetonga main roads and 919 cubic yards, together with 1,440 cubic yards clay ballast was spread on the Patetonga Landing Road. _ Onepu Block Development. —This is an area of 2,446 acres near Te Teko, of which the development was commenced in the autumn of 1931. The land being handled was generally considered to be undrainable and worthless, and a portion had previously been handed over to the Whakatane County Council for tree-planting purposes. _ The drainage system was linked up with the Rangitaiki drainage scheme, and the bulk of the area has been successfully drained. Development operations were commenced with a view to testing the possibilities ot ail classes of land found on the block. The results obtained have been satisfactory, and the prospects of the better-quality land being farmed is assured. Four sections, aggregating 378 acres in area, will be opened for selection early in tlie coming year. The lighter lands will require a longer period and more careful handling to ensure success, but the progress already made indicates that within a reasonable time this class of land can be successfully developed. The liberal and continued use of fertilizers is the dominant factor influencing the progress of the land. Advantages are enjoyed which to a great extent offset the heavy expenditure under this heading as compared with that required for heavier and more naturally fertile lands—viz, (1) the absence of poaching, which allows full use of pastures in wet seasons ; (2) the ease of cultivation ; (3) comparative freedom from weed-growth. The indications are that the Onepu land responds readily to treatment with fertilizers, and all classes of stock appear to thrive on its pastures. Different methods of handling the several classes of land were adopted at the outset. Of the 1,071 acres now in grass, 220 acres was surface-sown in the autumn following a burn of the heavy manuka-growth, 80 acres adjoining carrying lighter growth, being harrowed, and a further area of 60 acres being ploughed and cultivated before sowing. The following spring a further area of 115 acres was disked and harrowed, and 109 acres ploughed and cultivated before sowing. This autumn an area of 515 acres has been ploughed and cultivated, and the sowing of this was nearing completion at the end of the period. All land sown was given a dressing of 3 cwt. of ammoniated superphosphate at time of sowing and a further 3 cwt. of superphosphate in the spring and autumn following. The results obtained here have given a good lead as to most the successful method of handling the various classes of land. During October one hundred head of yearling heifers and four pedigree bulls were purchased by the Department and grazed through the year. These have done well, and should show a good return when disposed of later in the year for dairying purposes.

4—C. 1.

25

p.—l.

Summary oj Work Done. Miles oh. Number. Cleaning drains .. .. 278 8 Flood-gates built .. .. . . 6 Widening and deepening drains . . 31 9 Pile bridges erected . . .. . . 3 Constructing new drains .. .. 23 20 Road culverts constructed . . . . 6 Dredge-cuts and canals (new) . . . . 129 Cubic Yds River and canal improvements 25 75 M , , , , y'Ni-i-i oiir ivietai US6CL lor roads .. . . d.Oio Canals cleared .. .. .. ol 15 a. , n , i -on j- i or CJlay carted lor roads . . . . 1, boo Koads lormed . . .. . , o 5; a -i j. i i n i i i i Roads metalled 2 71 excavated by floating and dry-land -r, j ,• n . ii" i *' o 10 excavators .. .. .. 500,706 Koads partially metalled .. .. 8 18 t* 7 n nnn Oj I i j; i ook Koek excavated .» .. .. <3« 000 Stop-banks iormed .. . . . . 3 35 Stop-banks raised and strengthened . . 175 Acres. Stop-banks repaired .. . . . . 13 0 Area cleared of scrub . . .. 1,855 Fences erected . . . . .. 12 37 Area cleared of blackberry .. .. 385 Levels taken .. .. .. 133 38 Area ploughed &c. .. .. .. 914 Traverses run .. .. .. 75 58 Area sown in grass .. .. .. 1,232 Office. —The expenditure recorded totalled £87,750 18s. lid., of which amount £25,463 7s. Bd. was paid through Thames and Whakatane Imprest Accounts. Some 262 piece-work and co-operative contracts were let, and 3,107 vouchers prepared and passed for payment. The revenue collected amounted to £14,867 ss. 9d. Rates. —Drainage rates levied on Hauraki Plains, Rangitaiki, Waihi, and Kaitaia areas amounted to £20,066 175., entailing 1924 rate notices. Rates collected totalled £12,245 os. 3d. Photostat. —This machine was in operation eighty times, with a total of 7,168 prints taken, allocated as follows : Hawke's Bay plans, 2,505 ; other Departments (charged for), 787 ; other Departments (not charged for), 780 ; our own operations, 2,982 ; spoils, 114.

TABLES. Table 1. —Return showing (approximately) Position of Lands in the Dominion at 31st March, 1932.

26

Total Area of Land unfit Tnt.ni Arpi Total Atpi Crown Lands Total Area of for Settlement sold or eranted reserved leased under Crown Lands Total Area (including Total Area District. i- ?JJf- fnp all Tenures available of Area occupied in Land (exclusive of for Future Native Land. by Rivers, District, purposes. Reserves leased Disposal. Lakes, Roads, by Crown). &c.). Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. i Acres. Acres North Auckland .. 2,591,878 441,828 529,398 179,610 518,058 ; 217,428 4,478,200 Auckland .. ... 2,581,609 1,231,006 979,139 625,256 1,628,264 i 1,175,299 8,220,573 Gisborne .. 1,129,446 433,782 526.492 129,145 1,046,648 | 253,978 3,519,491 Hawke'sBay .. ..I 1,542,822 200,684 554,058 162,867 371,466 j 82,424 2,914,321 Taranaki .. .. 1,124,759 342,271 630,319 70,079 167,356: 69,647 2.404,431 Wellington* .. .. 3,573,936 1,022,104 817,558 168,356 788,675 ! 680,440 7,051,069 Nelson .. .. 656,589 2,372,615 758,035 111,104 30,051 1 786,606 4,715,000 Marlborough .. .. 788,103 353,249 1,477.494 40,513 .. 1 108,641 2,768,000 Westland .. .. 163,418 2,149,170 688,054 393.607 .. ! 469,129 3,863,378 Canterbury .. .. 3,550,825 1,449,187 3,939,425 51,801 .. I 487,192 9,478,430 Otago .. .. 1,969,964 956,496 5,471,106 28,108 .. 668,448 9,094,122 Southland .. .. 1,852,501 4,265,747 1,406,469 138,988 .. j 219,542 7,883,247 Totals .. 21,525,850 15,218,139 I 17,777,547 2,099,434 4,550,518 i 5,218,774 66,390,262 II I I _ * Includes Chatham Islands.

Table 2. —Lands selected during the Year ended 31st March, 1932.

Pastoral Licenses Mining Distrlcts tir.mii „ , Land Miscellaneous Education Tntni« Cash - Patient | Renewable Gra^ U rans . Pastoral Buns. | Occupation Leases, &e. Endowments. Land District. I Regulations. Leases. | No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. j Area. No. ' Area. No. j Area. 1 No. Area. No. j Area, No. J Area. No. Area. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. North Auckland 23 354 49 5,581 111 25,801 .. ' •• •• •• 5,307 28 788 56 37.831 Auckland 53 2,783 51 4,582 74 18,429 1 124 2 8 90 -7,97- 5 228 276 54,126 Gisborne 6 11 5 195 8 5,409 .. 39 .. ... 16 4,670 3 32 38 10,356 Hawke's Bay .. .. •• 3 98 13 3,573 1 3,069 .. .. .. -■ Taraiiāki .. •• •• •• J* | 2 432 *9 " " " " " !!! " 64 3*118 18 2,321 151 19',934 2f n •• ;; ;; f 0 it \t I32 IS 1% "1 sUn i :: :: 3 440 .. .. 52 0 ,«7i 2 2 10« 24,294 AT 11. v. 1 14 2 Q33 1 22 374 •• •• •• 3,053 .. .. lo 27,916 Sr d ug .. :: :: :: "3 " 1 I 18 f 4 dll :: :: 1 '|o '20 4,634 4 24 » n,™ 2 9 m g^ rbury 14 1" 7 21',910 li IS; :: :: 5 :: :: m 11 "IS ? 24,744 1« 85455 southland :: :: :: :: " m I iss h i;«oeI .. .. 4 .. .. 30 3,243 12 «8 70,013 Totals .. .. .. 166 4,415 158 37,278 361 103,131 ! 2 6,525 12 116,201 24 5,198 14 222 623 j 103,719 88 29,719 1,448 406,408

Table 3. —Lands held on Lease at 31st March, 1932.

C— 1.

27

Pastoral Mining t Occupation with Smail Grazing- -T, ;lri T? mis Licenses in Perpetual Miscellaneous Leases Education Totals. Deferred Payment. Lease in Perpetuity. Renewable Lease. Kight ruIctasei runB s Pastoral nuns. Mining Leases. and Licenses. Endowments. ! " Districts. T Land District. I j .Leases. -No. Area. No. Area. No. j Area. | No. Area. No. j Area. No. j Area. No. Area. No. Area. No. | Area. No. J Area. No. Area, j No. j Area. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres, ■vr . ,-i i i poi An p-rro jo A 9ii 4.Q1 l 009 901 580 72-S 125 000 . . . . I 553 .. .. 2 71 7 324 494 106,465 743 43,519 3,916 587,576 Auckland 0 .. 1.633 382 105'044 839 229,232 7 30,800 1 8,755 164 44,486 148 3,250 .. .. 994* 99,988* 187 53,736 5,699 1,029,900 Gisborne .. ' 60 19,526 83 44,774 288 150,533 117 75,078 85 197,201 .. .. 25 22,959 71 38,821 829 548,892 Hawke's Bay .. 118 40,506 412 110,743 542 209,636 177 52,618 23 43.879 11 77,516 . .. 19,388 J.96 51,726 " ! '069 m'483 1 035 £'£ 1 Z 2u'ltt £1 g» 19 2M48 '7 li'914 " " " " 2 476 517 521 10till I'M" K56 Nelson 8011 " ' 88 17'269 '365 12u!o34 '607 239',106 76 26',850 6 9,913 3 165,509 162 29,926 18 677 1 104 442 119,569 141 7,646 1,909 ,, ,, , .r, oa in ski isi unrv im «13 74 19 9?2 107 257 806 43 832,632 .. .. .. .. 7 52 232 13,793 40 1,413 1,391 1,483,485 Westland" 8 " 54 4'558 358 4l"l80 682 8o'617 23 .. .! 45 624,600 271 52,085 136 929 1 50 876 197,294 131 15,489 2,577 1,021,582 cZerbL " 102 23'oi9 1448 251 647 901 361 379 9 1 037 143 466,775 123 2,809! 544 .. 60 1,774 955t 190,515t 238 70,437 3,979 4,176,127 Otaan " 94 44'332 l'.300 276~3n8 1 059 364,236 153 23,665 386 1,452,443 311 3,274,352 .. .. 337 11,048 67 3,446 1,427J 164,459} 442 46,065 5,576 5,660,354 Southland I: 121 541 ll'M 428 86!665 198 20 64; 9 89 65 1,147,870 .. ■■ 47 1,301 18 197 419 43,670 803 336,197 2,660 1,817,496 Totalis .. 4,058 538,171 7,499 1,584,651 8,763 2,496,518 |3 ,223 920,026 799 2,555,276 610 8,953,245 597 126,497 688 17,276 164 6,751 6,906 1,052,758 4,116 813,609 37,423 19,064,778 * Includes Thermal Springs District leases. t Includes Hānmer 'Crown leases. % Includes agricultural leases. Note. This table includes national endowments and education endowments, but excludes other endowments administered by Land Boards.

c.—l.

Table 4. —Lands disposed of under the Land for Settlements Act to the 31st March, 1932.

Table 5. —Endowment Lands administered by Land Boards and leased at 31st March, 1932.

Table 6. —Total Receipts,* Arrears, and Postponements of Rent at 31st March, 1932.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (715 copies), £42 IsO.

By Authority; W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 932.

Price 9d.\

28

i>> _ Area of Land un- Total Area purchased for -g let, including Cash and made Freehold Total Lands leased to Date. Rent and Total O a a Land forfeited, to Date. other Receipts Area ft" 3 surrendered, _ - — - \ Payments from Land District. „ n , iIvl a r or resumed and c t iS ® received Inception ooa not relet > and S3 1 Price «3 Q Annual during to 31st. art® also Land not Area. re „K z ® d i -gf Area. bmlSi the March, £ £ yet offered for ag realized. ; =« Rental. Tear m2 Selection. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. I £ Acres. Iff £ N.Auckland 53,931 1,069 1,702 233 2,613 35.759 320 48,547 ! 16.619 9,241 196,987 Auckland .. 360,421 77,672 18,436 766135,673 302,005 930 128.641 38,005 28,595 1,023,079 Gisborne .. 87,868 405 9,924 71 12,031 111,923 210 65,508 : 23,285 15,568 301.410 Hawke's Bay 229,492 2,473 963 127 22,456 136,714 619 203,599 74,304 39,066 899,996 Taranaki .. 28,232 258 2,357 62 2,225 53,172 143 23,393 9,571 3,946 219.087 Wellington .. 161,682 1,058 600 485 14,201 170,672 962 145,822; 77,932 40,632 1,277.256 Nelson .. 61,805 973 10.704 6 1,634 2,953 61 48,492 3,283 1,511 60,623 Marlborough 235,867 2,64.3 2,220 54 9,154 37,335 481 221,850 34,888 18,276 827,843 Westland .. 6,033 81 101 4 398' 238 37 5,453! 863 652 16.794 ' Canterbury 607,125 4.587 3,863 324 20,945 156,4261,879 577,730; 159,986 84,852 3,647,401 Otago .. 339,321 3,796 48 74 7,620: 38,2341,161 327,8581 89,553 35,3341,685,662 Southland .. 100,973 1,050 312 122 17,524; 67,724 362 82,086 20.355 1 8,471 471 206 i ! i J ■ Totals .. 2,272,750 96,065 51,230 2,328;246,474|l, 113,15s!7,1651,878,979 548,644! 286.14410,627,344 I ' ' I i ' ' I

National Endowment. Education Endowments, j Other Endowments. Totals. Land District. £ g g j g a Area Annual & A Annual -g . Annual . Annual S Area - Rental. g Area * Bental. I Area - | Rental. | Area - Rental. £ fe & j & Acres. £ ' ; Acres. ! £ j Acres, j £ | Acres. £ North Auckland 437 96,621 6,758 743[ 43,519 8,956 11 1,733! 34 1,191 141,873 15,748 Auckland .. 591 169.337 7,260 187 53,736; 3,747; 4 787 : 9 782 223,860 11,016 Gisborne .. 81 150,013 10,451 71 38,821! 7,803; 14 1,074 343 166; 189,908 18,597 Hawke's Bay .. 53 32,398 ! 4,756 196 51,726 10,279' .. .. 1 .. 249 84,124 15,035 Taranaki ' .. 164; 63,925j 2,810 603 46,723, 10,918! 19 9,724 1,195 786 120,372 14,923 Wellington .. 118' 62,371 ; 4,345 521 101,837 31.168; 61 17.430' 2,552 700 181,638 38,065 Nelson .. 676; 233,492; 3,814 141 7,646 6751453, 14,670 1,436 1,270 255,808 5,925 Marlborough .. 206 524,619 7,738 40 1,413; 560 .. .. i .. 246- 526,032 8,298 Westland .. 989 227,172 3,633 131 15,489 852 12 8! 78 1,132 242.669 4'563 Canterbury .. 1561,678,072! 41,506 238 70,4371 30,504f 193 17,101 1.903 587 1.765,610 73,913 Otago .. 7672,519,393 40,935 442 46,065; 68 176,889 8,087 1,277 2,742,347 55,501 Southland .. 232 766,915: 7,395 803 336,197| 21,592 13 109,259 ! 2,399 1,048 1,212,371 31,386 Totals .. 4,4706,524,328^41, 401 4,116 813,609433,533,848 348,675 18,036 9,434 7,686,612 292,970

OrHinarv i™H National ' Native Education Other j Total I and District Crown (or Hutt Cheviot Endow- I Land Endow- Endow- Miscel- Total .. Arre " s „ f otal Land District. Crown valley. Estate. ment j Settle- ment ment laneous. Receipts. I Lands. ment. Lands. Lands. Air ? menus. I | j , Charge). North Auckland .. 9,984 15,588 .. .. 3,719 7,937 7,533 37 .. 44,798 42,929 5,070 Auckland .. .. 17,583 44,209 .. .. 3,503 21,196 2,575 20 9,048 98,134 64,533 lo!l93 Gisborne .. .. 9,519 21,779 .. .. 6,501 j 4,589 4,857 3 .. 47,248 41,354 13^339 Hawke's Bay .. 14,524 53,247 .. .. 3,300 i 17,119 6,021 .. 325 94,536 107,393 27^499 Taranaki .. .. 9,647 8,230 .. .. 1,051 7,958 11,493 1,256 .. 39,635 28,724 1'349 Wellington .. .. 19,821 56,218 14,652 .. 2,352 4,524 21,470 1,816 95 120,948 98,248 32,236 Marlborough .. 4,424 18,582 .. .. 2,612 16 88 .. .. 25,722 39,322 7.510 Nelson .. .. 2,740 1,982 .. .. j 2,069 13 585 1,480 18 8,887 8J85 '769 West land .. .. 3,726 1,133 .. .. 3,397 J 978 297 .. 9,531 5,436 237 Canterbury.. .. 16,917 87,850 .. 14,233 18,822. 22 18,010 1,789 .. 157,643 173'114 55,223 otago .. .. 21,379 35,137 .. .. 19,-534 | 44 5,379 3,095 .. 84,568 142,258 22'538 Southland .. .. 8,405 10,122 .. .. 2,586 .. 13,725 367 .. 35.205 49,862 5,974 Miscellaneous .. .. 1,651 .. .. 7,537 I .. 446 .. .. 9,634 5,353 108 Totals .. 138,669 355,728 ! 14,652 14,233 93,160 10,160 9,486 776.489 |807,311 182 045 I L 1 ! ' 1 _ * From rents, royalties, sales of land, &c.