9

G.-l

122,000 acres were handed over for sale, but none was sold. In 1875 none was handed over, and none sold. In 187G, 427,307 acres were handed over, and 302 acres were sold. In 1878 and 1879, 601,239 acres were handed over, and 389 acres were sold. The total area handed over in the Auckland Provincial District from 1870 to 1879 was 1,153,618 acres, and the quantity sold during the same period Avas 691 acres. That shows that these transactions have not been successful commercially, and they have not settled the country; and, I say, the two things go together. The District of Taranaki furnishes a comparatively satisfactory return. In 1871, 17,770 acres were handed over to the Waste Lands Board, and none AA rere sold. In 1875, 38,499 acres were handed over, and 9,583 acres Avere sold. In 1876 no land Avas handed over to the Waste Lands Board, but 6,911 acres were sold. In 1877, 91,950 acres were handed oarer, and 8,159 acres were sold. In 1878 no land Avas handed over, but 22,121 acres Avere sold. In 1879, also, none was handed over, but 5,557 acres were sold. The total handed over in the Provincial District of Taranaki Avas 182,219 acres; the quantity sold, 52,331 acres. This land was good, and therefore the transactions would probably be a commercial success, and there Avas a probability, also, of a settlement of the country. In Hawke's Bay there Avere no transactions from 1870 to 1874. During the years 1875-79 the quantity of land handed over to the Waste Lands Board consisted of 133,258 acres. The quantity sold in 1875 was 2,554 acres, Avhich was tolerably satisfactory. In 1876, 8,133 acres were sold; in 1877, 9,222 acres; in 1878, 4,437 acres ; in 1879, 2,328 acres; making a total quantity sold of 26,654 acres. This was a tolerably satisfactory result, and Avas owing to the fact that the land was good. In Wellington there Avere handed over to the Waste Lands Board, in 1874, 180,834 acres, and there Avere actually sold 42,423 acres. That Avas before the increase in the price of the land. The subsequent figures relate to sales after the increase in price. In 1875 no land was handed over to the Board, and none Avas sold. In 1876 there were handed over to the Board 100 acres, and sold nil. In 1877, 160,582 acres were handed over; sold, nil. In 1878, 41,831 acres were handed over, sold, nil. In 1879 none was handed over and none sold. The total quantity handed over in the Wellington Provincial District was 383,247 acres, and the area sold was 42,423 acres. In this district the land purchased is of a comparatively inferior description; and I say that proves two things : that, Avhere the land is bad, commercial success is not secured, and settlement is not secured. It proves also, or indicates, that where the land is good commercial success will propably be secured, and settlement also. They go hand-in-hand. I think that Avhen the late Government came into office a good many members of this House expected some moderation in the purchase of land from the Natives. But Ido not think moderation has been practised. I will state to the House, for the purpose of giving it the figures, that the total appropriation for the purchase of Native lands from 1870 to 1879 was £732,000. The total expenditure for the same period Avas ,£705,493. That would leave a balance, but I may explain that that balance has disappeared during the period Avhich has elapsed since the end of the financial year; so that the amount expended is about the same as that appropriated. The amount expended on Native land purchases last year was £124,000. That includes, of course, the sum actually paid for the land, the incidental expenses, and so on; and it includes, also, the sum of £15,000 for opening up roads in the purchased blocks, to Avhich I have already alluded. The estimated expenditure for the current year is a still larger sum than was spent last year. It amounts to £201,100. This, however, ought to suffer reduction by the amount proposed to be expended in opening up purchased blocks, Avhich is estimated this year at £25,000. That would leave £176,000 to be expended during the current year upon the purchase of Native lands. Whatever Government is in poAver, that sum Avill have to be provided, because the liabilities are incurred. By the end of December no less a sum than £84,000 will be required to make payments for land purchased from the Maoris. I will conclude this statement by stating the estimated amount required to complete purchases made ; and by that I mean land on which payments have been made. The estimated amount is £I,] 21,000. And I have only to add 2—G. 1.