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Of the 6,400 acres at the back of the Maharahara settlement very little is fit to cut up, although such is the rage for land just now in this locality that it matters little how bad and unsuitable the country a rush is made for it. Pastoral Licenses terminable at Twelve Months , Notice. —ln the Opoiti and Tuahu Districts 4,869 acres, in five different lots, on the Euakituri Stream, will be falling in in a year and nine months. This land is reported to be of a character suitable for disposal in smaller areas under ordinary settlement conditions. In conclusion I may remark that the Land Board will shortly recommend the withdrawal from reservation of from 8,000 to 10,000 acres of the " forest reserve "at Makaretu. Three years ago a fierce bush-fire ran through a large part of it, completely destroying many thousands of acres of forest. About 600 acres of the burnt part was sown in grass by the department as an experiment, and has proved a success. The Land Board has called for a report with a view of having it dealt with, if possible, during the coming session of Parliament. It is "big" country, but carries grass splendidly, and is well suited for pastoral purposes.

Summaey of Crown Lands (Kural) available for Future Disposal in the Hawke's Bay Land District, 31st March, 1892. . Estimated Area - Value. Open for selection, Schedule A ... ... 41,793 ... 24,316 Not yet surveyed or under offer, Schedule B ... 394,279 ... 153,091 Total ... 436,072 ... 177,407 Pastoral licenses that can be resumed at twelve months'notice, Schedule C ... ... 45,785 ... 20,000 Total 481,857 ... £197,407 Thomas Humphries, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

MAELBOEOUGH. Cash Lands. —Area disposed of, 196 acres 1 rood; total cash received during the year, £94 12s. 7d.; three purchasers. These comprise two purchases at auction of 195 acres 3 roods 14 perches of rural bush land at an average price of 9s. an acre; and one purchase of 1 rood 26 perches of open land for £5. Deferred-payment Land. —Area taken up, 781 acres 1 rood 10 perches; three selectors; total cash received during the year, £190 9s. Bd. The three selectors average 260 acres each, and the annual instalments total £22 16s. Bd. Two of these holdings are in the Pelorus Sound, and one at Kaikoura. One holding of 50 acres has been transferred, and no forfeitures have taken place; three holdings, embracing an area of 175 acres 1 rood 29 perches, have been made freehold during the year, and four holdings, representing an area of 200 acres and 7 perches, capitalised. Perpetual-lease Lands. —Area taken up, 594 acres; total cash received, £46 7s. 7d.; three selectors. The three selectors average 198 acres for each holding, the annual instalments on which total £15 16s. 6d. One of these is situated in the Eai Valley and two in the Pelorus Sound. There have been no forfeitures and no transfers during the year, and no exchanges from deferred payment to perpetual lease, or vice versa. Agricultural-lease Lands. —There have been no agricultural-lease lands set apart in the Marlborough Mining District during the year. Village-settlement Lands for Gash. —No land taken up during the year. Village-settlement Lands on Deferred Payment. —Area taken up, 30 acres and 16 perches ; three selectors; total cash received during the year, £9 4s. Bd. No forfeitures, or freeholds acquired during the year. Village Settlement on Perpetual Lease. —No land taken up during the year. Village Homestead Special Settlements. —Area taken up, 5 acres; one selector; annual rent, 155.; total cash received, £26 14s. 6d. This selection is in the Wakamarina Village Settlement. One advance of £20 has been made for a house during the year. No forfeitures. Special Settlement Associations. —A block of 3,000 acres has been set aside for this purpose, and selected by an association, but will not appear in the returns till next year. Homestead Lands. —No lands have been set apart for disposal under this system. Small Grazing-runs. — Area taken up, 1,410 acres; total cash received, during the year, £192 13s. 6d.; four selectors. The four new grazing-runs average acres each, the annual rent amounting to £17 12s. 6d. These runs are in different parts of the Pelorus Sound. Two runs, containing 1,577 acres, have been transferred during the year. There have been no forfeitures. Pastoral Licenses. —Area taken up, 18,016 acres 1 rood 16 perches. Total cash, received during the year, £8,770 12s. This area represents eighteen purchasers of new runs, at an annual rent of £183 13s. 7d., and averaging 1,001 acres per run, at an average rent of 2Jd. per acre. Miscellaneous Leases and Licenses. —Total area, 2,145 acres; total cash received during the year, £96 7s. Id. These represent two timber licenses (280 acres), one flax license (1,800 acres), one lease of wharf at the Grove, and two (65 acres) temporary occupation licenses under "The Public Eeserves Act, 1881," at an annual rent of £17. Land and Territorial Bevenue. —This table calls for no special remarks.