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was on account of the serious illness of the selector. The Horopito Association, in the Waimarino Block, has been proclaimed, but only three sections have been allotted. The surveyors, however, have now reported the great portion of the land is not suitable for settlement in 100-acre sections, and it is not considered advisable to allot any more sections at present. The total amount paid to selectors under this system for improvements up to 31st March, 1896, was £4,705 19s. 5d., and the total value of improvements now on the land is assessed at £5,519 175., which includes the value of improvements paid for by Government, on which the selectors will pay interest in terms of the regulation. It is too early yet to report distinctly on the success or otherwise of these settlements, as they are still in their infancy. In only three of them—-namely, the Pemberton, Kawatau, and Taihape Settlements—is the land yet in a condition to be occupied. In the Pemberton the mistake was made—since rectified in other settlements —of felling the whole of the bush. This increases the rental payable by the settlers by the cost of the bushfelling and grass-seeding, and gives them more grass at first than they have stock to occupy, and leaves no bush for the settlers to fell in their spare time afterwards. The method now being adopted is to fell about 20 acres each season for the first two years, and grass the land felled, adding the cost to the capital-value of the land; thus leaving, say, 60 acres for each settler to fell and grass at his own cost. The 40 acres in grass should give the settler a sufficient area of cultivated grass-land to start on, and felling and grassing the balance himself lessens the rent he has to pay to the Crown. In the Pemberton Settlement, ten out of the thirteen sections are occupied in a bond fide manner, two have been forfeited since the 31st March and given to other men, and in the other case the selector is camped on a section in Wairaki Township, adjoining, and is practically occupying the section. The settlers in this settlement have, however, erected houses and fencing at their own cost valued at £767 10s., which is a sufficient guarantee that they intend to continue in occupation of the land given them. It is the only settlement in which rent is yet payable. The amount which should have been paid up to the 31st December last was £104 10s. 7d.; but of this only £69 4s. 4d. was actually received up to the 31st March, owing principally to the settlers not understanding the method prescribed by the regulations for determining the capital-value of their sections. The difficulty has now, however, been settled, and' several payments have since been received. The Kawatau and Taihape Settlements were started with men brought up from Christchurch and Timaru, many of whom have never been accustomed to or knew much about bush-work. Out of the twenty-three settlers, thirteen have built themselves houses, and two more are living on adjacent Crown land (but actually occupying their sections), and have done some fencing and made gardens for themselves, and, as they get stock, will doubtlessly be capable of paying their way, and become independent of Government work. Six are not yet residing, and the remaining two have decided not to go on with their selections. Akitio Improved Farm. —This farm comprises 2,258 acres, taken up by twenty-one settlers, and of this number, thirteen settlers occupy 1,412 acres. The drawing took place on the sth October, 1895, and since then 87£ acres of bush has been felled, burnt, and grassed. The above farm is situated in Blocks 11., 111., VI., and VII., Mount Cerberus Survey District, and Block VI., in the Weber District. Kawhatau Improved Farm. —This is situated in Blocks X. and XI., Hautapu Survey District, on the eastern side of the Eangitikei Eiver, and consists of 1,000 acres, which were taken up by twelve settlers, and during the year 248 acres of bush has been felled, burnt, and grassed, each settler felling his own forest. There is now under grass a total of 446 acres. All the settlers are living in buildings on their holdings, with the exception of two who are residing on Government land adjoining the settlement. During the year two sections were abandoned, leaving ten settlers in occupation, with sixty-four persons dependent, thus making a total of seventy-four persons in the settlement. Some of the settlers have improved their holdings by fencing, gardens, &c, while others have effected little or no improvement. Great facilities have been afforded the settlers by a dray-road having been formed during the year from Mangaweka to the settlement, and a bridge is now under construction across the Eangitikei Eiver. At present a cable and cage spans the river, by means of which supplies are obtained, and the cable which carries the cage is 5f chains in length. It may be as well to add, as showing the strides which the settlement is making, that a schoolhouse has been erected and a teacher appointed for the district, which will, without doubt, be greatly appreciated by the settlers. Pemberton Improved Farm. —This is situated in Block XV., Hautapu Survey District, facing the Eangiwahia and Mangawharariki main roads. The total area is 1,247 acres, and of this, 1,125 acres have been felled, burnt, and grassed. During the year 50 acres were felled, burnt, and grassed, and the grass-seed for this area was procured and sown by the settlers themselves. There are thirteen settlers on the farm, four single and nine married men, with a total of forty-two persons dependent upon them. A considerable amount of improvement has been made, 590 chains of fencing having been erected, together with gardens, &c.; and the stock upon the farm comprises seventy-eight head of cattle, nine horses, eleven pigs, and 547 sheep. Strenuous efforts are being made to obtain a schoolhouse for the district. Horopito Improved Farm.- —Only three settlers are on this land. 71 acres of bush have been felled, burnt, and grassed, at a cost of £159 13s. 9d. The timber on the settlement is so valuable that it would be judicious to reserve it; besides, the locality is not suitable for an improved farm. Hautapu Improved Farm. —47 acres of bush have been felled, burnt, and grassed; 47 chains scrubbing, and 20 chains bridle-track formation, besides three miles engineering survey. Three contracts are now in progress. It is proposed to complete all the roads as bridle-tracks. Total expenditure, £257 15s. Id.