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Table L. —There is not any homestead land in this district. Table M. —-The whole of the Opaku runs have been taken up, and it would be well to open up the land beyond, on the Patea and Whenuakura Eivers, under the same tenure. Table N. —-We have not any pastoral licenses in this district. Table O. —Explanations of the amount received for timber-cutting are given in the return. The miscellaneous leases consist principally of reserves leased for fourteen years by authority of the Government, the balance being unoccupied pieces of rural land, which the Land Board does not wish to sell, and has not yet seen its way to reserve, and town lands not immediately required. The occupiers of these hold on yearly tenancy, terminable by three months' notice at any time. Table P. —Eevenue received during the year, £25,749 (including £76 12s. 7d. endowment); 1887-88, £17,108; 1888-89, £13,263; 1889-90, £14,250; 1890-91, £16,158; 1891-92, £25,749. The rents received for endowments were on account of the University reserve, Carlyle and Opaku Survey Districts. The estimate for the year was £16,000. Cash transactions—estimate, £1,000; receipts, £2,198, of which £1,392 was received from Stratford sales. The deferred-payment estimate was £10,800 ; receipts, £16,957. This surplus of £6,000 is due to the large number of purchases completed by payment of capitalised values. The perpetual-lease estimate was £3,100; receipts, £5,456. This sum includes £1,784 for perpetual-lease land made freehold. Table Q. —The arrears, as usual, consist largely of payments due on the Ist January, 1892. They will in all probability be very much reduced by the 30th June next. I append a summary of the Banger's reports for the year. Schedules and plans of about 16,000 acres have been sent on for notification ; and, in addition, we have about 40,000 acres in course of survey, exclusive of about 83,000 acres applied for under the small-farm association system. Sidney Weetman, Commissioner of Crown Lands. , 4

Crown Land Rangers' Reports, 1891-92.

HAWKE'S BAY. Summary. —The total area of all classes of lands taken up during the year was 36,007 acres 2 roods 10 perches, as against 45,603 acres of the previous year; but the latter was made up largely of small grazing-runs, of which about 14,000 acres was then taken up, so that a larger area, by some 4,000 acres, has been selected this year under ordinary settlement conditions. Analysis. —The number of new selectors was sixty-six, with an average area of 545 acres. There were only twelve under 50 acres, and just half of the total number took up sections varying from 250 to 1,000 acres. Cash Sales. —3,718 acres 1 rood 13 perches has been sold for cash, in nine sections, all of them being rural lands. The total amount received was £1,971 3s. Id., an average of 10s. 7d. an acre. Deferred Payments. —There have been only three selections, and, singularly, in one locality—viz., Puketitiri; showing clearly that this tenure is not at present the favourite one. There have been four forfeitures, and thirty-nine made freehold ; consequently, there are now by forty fewer holdings under this system than at the end of the previous year, with a reduction in the amount of annual payments of about £400. Thirty-one selectors have taken advantage of the relief afforded by capitalising. Those who acquired the freehold did so, I think, not so much from the desire to become freeholders as to enable them to raise money on mortgage for the purpose of improving and stocking the land. Perpetual Leases. —There have been thirty-four selectors less this year than last, but the area selected is greater by 3,917 acres—showing that the size of the holdings is larger.

Keport. Number of Sections. Area. Partial Default. Total Default. Absent. Double Improvements in Lieu of Residence. First, deferred payment Second „ Final 155 138 103 Acres. 19,808 18,424 10,381 14 5 10 6 1 0 5 23 1 47 48 13 29 108 396 48,673 35 29 First, perpetual lease Second Final 128 38 24 25,232 4,151 3,958 II 1 2 6 0 0 7 6 0 30 10 0 190 33,341 14 13 .3 40 Total deferred payment and perpetual lease 586 82,014 49 L3 42 148