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£5,675 13s. 4d. A large number of the lessees are non-resident, but some of them live within ten miles of their runs, as permitted by the Act under which they took them up. As regards the probable future of Crown lands within this district, the area at present available for settlement is 243,600 acres; but, as already stated at the commencement of this report, 135,000 acres of this is of very poor quality, and not at all likely to be taken up until it has been brought in with portions of the Marlborough waste lands leases when they have been reclassified. The balance of available area lies principally in the Pelorus, Eai, and Wakamarina Valleys— 27,000 acres in the two last-named being at present locked up within a State forest. If this restriction were removed no doubt a large area in the Eai and Eonga Valleys would be readily taken up. There are several smaller areas, ranging from 400 to 5,000 acres, situated chiefly in the Pelorus Sound. Some of these will doubtless be taken up during the coming year as either small grazingruns or leases in perpetuity. One of the principal dealings during the year will be the exchanges of tenure—-under clause 160 of the Land Act —of existing Marlborough leases and pastoral licenses to leases in perpetuity, as an area of 25,000 acres, held by forty holders, has already been applied for, and doubtless some others will apply during the year. I append a schedule of Crown lands available for settlement. Sidney Wbetman, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Area of Crown Lands available for Settlement on the 31st March, 1894. First-class valued at £1, Second-class at 10s., and Third-class at 5s. per acre.

NELSON. Lands Sold for Gash. —During the year 19,914 acres have been disposed of. The bulk of these have been areas held under previous Acts, with right of purchase, and were rough pastoral lands of poor quality and high elevation ; 2,695 acres have been sold under the present Land Act, of secondclass land. Lands under Deferred Payment (Appendix G, " Land Act, 1885"). —During the past year eightynine leases, comprising 11,571 acres, have been issued for previous applications of unsurveyed lands now completed, and there are fifty now in transit. There have been nine forfeitures, of an area of

juality of Li aid. Name of Block or Locality. Totals. Name of County within which Lands are situated. Firstclass. Secondclass. Thirdclass. Acres. 5,000 Acres. 27,000 Acres. Acres. 32,000 longa, and East side Eai Valleys * 'elorus, and West side Eai Valleys Vakamarina Valley * Tennyson Inlet Tydia Bay ... 'aradise and Mud Bays Jrail Bay ... [aiuma 'ukaki Valley uiitiuia Valley 'ort Underwood forth Bank, Wairau )maka Valley lead, Wairau Valley „ Waihopai Valley „ Spray Valley ... Lcheron and Saxton Valleys ... Lwatere Valley Hopes of Kaikoura Eange, between Clarence and Awatere Valleys 43,000 15,000 5,000 3,800 1,300 800 2,500 1,800 3,200 400 43,000 15,000 5,000 3,800 1,300 800 2,500 1,800 3,200 400 12,700 12,200 47,000 12,800 4,200 19,100 4,000 22,800 Maryborough. it if Sounds. Marlborough. a Sounds. Marlborough. 12,700 12,200 47,000 12,800 4,200 19,100 4,000 22,800 ir ir if it it a it 5,000 103,800 134,800 243,600 estimated value, £90,600. * Of the 15,000 acres in Wakamai md Bonga Valleys, 21,000 acres are wii ■ina Valk ;hin Stati sy, 6,000 acre; 3 forest. are within States forest; and of the 32,000 acres in Rai