C—No. 3

No. 1. The Seceetaey for Ceown Lands to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. General Crown Lands Office, Sic,— Wellington, 18th August, 1870. Mr. Hall, M.H.E., complained to me lately that no complete Annual Eeturns of Lands sold, &c, in the Colony were to be found in the Appendices to the Journals of the House of Eepresentatives since 1866, tho Appendix for which year contains the Eeturn for 1865. The Eeturn was discontinued in 1867 by the late Colonial Secretary's instructions, as the Statistics published by the Eegistrar-General contained these yearly Eeturns down to December 31st in each year, while the House of Eepresentatives desired to have the Eeturn of these lands down to the 30th of June of the year in which it was actually sitting. In order that the hiatus remarked on by Mr. Hall may be supplied, I have tho honor to forward the accompanying Eeturns, in order that, if thought desirable, they may continue to be published in the Appendices for the complete years, as was done up to 1867. I have, &c, Alfeed Domett, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Secretary for Crown Lands.

EETURNS OF LANDS SOLD IN THE COLONY.