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1895. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Secbetaby of Ceown Lands and Sueveyoe-Geneeal to the Hon. the Ministee of Lands. Sib, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 15th July, 1895. I have the honour to transmit herewith the annual reports on the operations of the Lands and Survey Department for the twelve months ending the 31st March, 1895. I have, &c, S. Peecy Smith, Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General. The Hon. John McKenzie, Minister of Lands.

LANDS. The changes in the laws relating to dealings with Crown lands since the date of last annual report are those embodied in the following Acts : " The Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Act, 1894," under which power was given to form and regulate settlements on conditions of occupation, with assistance given to the selectors in the way of paying them for the clearing of their lands, &c, regulations for which purpose were published in the New Zealand Gazette, 13th December, 1894. "The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894," provides for a better system of occupation of lands within mining districts. Under this Act a selector can select land up to 100 acres, at a rental of not less than 6d. per acre, the term being twenty-one years, with right of renewal; residence is compulsory. The Act has not been taken advantage of to any great extent at present. Amendments of "The Land for Settlements Act, 1892," were also made, which are more particularly referred to under a special report dealing with that Act, already forwarded (see C.-5, 1895). The operation of " The Land Act Amendment Act, 1893," under which deposits with application for land were done away with until the successful applicant was known, has worked well on the whole, and has greatly decreased the clerical work and account-keeping in the Eeceivers' branches of the department. This, together with the vigorous action of the Auditor of Land Eevenue, has been the means of reducing the various deposit accounts to a smaller amount than has prevailed for some years. There have been no very prominent features in the dealings with Crown lands during the period under consideration, but settlement has gone on steadily. The following table will give at a glance a summary of the year's transactions, full particulars of which will be found in the tables attached:—

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DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Nature and Tenure of Lands selected. No. of Purchasers or Selectors. Area. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. A, R. P. 66 0 9 123 3 1 33,323 0 23 5,453 3 15 1,263 1 38 87,374 0 22 75,477 3 1 44 2 5 23 8 38 ' £ s. d. Town lands Suburban lands Eural lands Deferred payment Perpetual lease and small areas Lease in perpetuityOccupation with right of purchase Agricultural lease Village settlement, cash „ deferred payment „ perpetual lease „ occupation with right of purchase .. „ lease in perpetuity Village-liomestead special settlement (lease in perpetuity) Special settlement associations Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Improved-farm selections Miscellaneous leases and licenses Cheviot Estate — Cash Lease in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlements (lease in perpetuity) Grazing- farms Miscellaneous leases and licenses Land for Settlements Act — Lease in perpetuity 144 24 174 47 3 336 398 2 23 1 I 20,593, 17 2 48,626 0 8 67,076 18 8 6,152 3 4 6,441 8 7 204 0 0 190 10 0 975 13 3 819 6 2 8 5 0 787 6 7 2,388 10 11 11,723 15 1 20,003 0 7 101,933 1 7 30 232 30 262 48 63 107 440 23 1 26 4,050 1 6 1,692 1 34 51,345 2 22 100,240 3 28 468,053 3 11 9,730 2 18 147,056 0 37 15,48410 2 50 10 30 5,182 0 39 694 0 2 1,050 3 15 26,613 16 7 4,879 5 2 763 3 2 12 57 17,605 2 0 1,907 2 19 3,636 1 1 572 9 0 25 3,630 3 19 423 3 10