A.—ll.

Table showing the Extent of Occupied Holdings of Land in New Zealand over One Acre in Extent, classified according to Tenure, as returned by the Census of the 3rd April, 1881.

Return to an Order of the Souse of Representatives, dated ZQth August, 1882. " That a return be laid before this House of the number of holdings of freehold land, occupied and unoccupied, in the colony, exceeding one acre in extent, at the date of the taking of the last census."— (Son. Sir J. Sail)

FREEHOLD LAND HOLDINGS EXCEEDING ONE ACRE (RETURN OF THE NUMBER OF), IN THE COLONY, AT DATE OF TAKING LAST CENSUS.

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

Extei it of Holding—Acres. Provincial Districts. Freehold. Rented from Private Individuals. Rented from Public Bodies. Rented from Natives (including Reserve a Rented). Held from Crown for other than Pastoral Purposes (including Deferred Payments, &c.)Rented from Crown for Pastoral Purposes only. Total Acreage Held. Auckland 1,564,579 206,024 17,931 785,917 126,919 158,120 2,859,490 Taranaki ... 134,876 36,940 5,282 30,115 26,956 234,169 Wellington 1,302,172 222,203 17,792 691,069 22,250 334 2,255,820 Hawke's Bay 1,107,658 315,752 26,778 601,372 7,267 77,819 2,136,646 Marlborough 744,703 44,893 1,600 20,637 2,267 1,029,338 1,843,438 Nelson 692,330 46,127 6,822 39,542 55,069 700,612 1,540,502 Weatland... 21,456 3,828 3,133 2,571 3,609 378,339 412,936 Canterbury 2,247,592 325,383 215,996 11,662 7,699 3,203,873 6,012,205 Otago ... 2,450,209 317,393 267,790 9,829 271,948 6,090,134 9,407,303 Chatham Islands ... 43,595 25,912 ... 73,450 142,957 Total, Census, April, 1881 ... 10,309,170 1,544,455 ! 563,124 2,266,164 523,984 11,638,569 26,845,466 Total, Census, March, 1878 ... 8,869,547 3,709,525 12,690,074 25,269,146 Numerical increase since 1878 1,439,623 1,187,372 1,576,320 Numerical decrease since 1878 1,051,505 Centesimal increase 1623 3201 624 Centesimal decrease 8-21