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TARANAKI. The land transactions for the year ended 31st March, 1899, are shown in the subjoined summary:—

Lands offered and disposed of during Year. —More than twice the area of land has been offered for selection this year as compared with that of the previous year, but there is only an increase of 2,000 acres in the selections, or about one-third of the area put into the market. A great portion of the land opened and as yet unselected is comprised in the Taumatamahoe Block, adjacent to the future coach-road, Stratford to Auckland. Another large area of unselected land lies at the back of Waverley. None of the small grazing-runs put in the market have been applied for. Some sixteen sections were surrendered under section 159 -of "The Land Act, 1892," and eleven of them have been reselected during the year. A very successful sale of lands for cash by public auction was held at Stratford in October last, when, out of 311 sections in the Towns of Stratford, Whangamomona, the villages and suburbs of Mangamingi, Huiakama, and a small rural section, 132 of them were sold, some at considerable advances on the upset prices. Deferred-payment Lands. —There has been a great shrinkage in the areas converted to freehold, to the extent of one-third of the previous year's transactions. The amount received from this source is £2,506, or less than half the amount received last year. One selector added 13 acres to his present holding under section 114 of the Act of 1892. Perpetual-lease Lands. —The conversions to freehold under this heading show a great increase, equal to about one-half more than last year's figures. Occupation with Right of Purchase Lands. —Although the number of selectors is not so great as last year by two, the area is more by 1,481 acres. Forfeitures and surrenders have increased by three only. Lease in Perpetuity. —There were three selectors more than last year, and a slight increase in area of 572 acres. The number of forfeitures and surrenders decreased by three. One selector divided his holding, thus bringing an additional selector on the books. Village-settlement Lands. —There have been no dealings under this heading during the year. Special Settlements. —ln this district these are all held on lease in perpetuity, the number of persons holding being 154 on the 31st March, 1898, the area being 29,654 acres 1 rood 7 perches, and the annual rental payable £1,336 16s. lOd. There were 46 forfeitures, of 9,192 acres and 2 perches, and ten surrenders, of 1,600 acres, reducing the number holding on the 31st March, 1899, to ninety-five, the area to 18,862 acres 1 rood 5 perches, and the annual rental payable to £981 17s. 6d. Forty of the forfeitures were in the Moeawatea Special Settlement, which is in Omona and Taurakawa Survey District, I found upon survey to be too rough for settlement in small areas. The ten surrenders were under section 159 of " The Land Act, 1892," the object being a reduction of

Glass of Selection. Transactions during the Year. Number. Area. Area held at 31st March, 1899. Revenue received during the Year. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease ... Perpetual lease made freehold 85 1 33 A. B. P. 416 1 11 13 0 0 5,036 2 29 152 A. B. P. 15,546 3 35 £ s. d. 3,487 15 10 1,380 15 4 2,506 0 5 52 13,748" 0 25 158 40,324 1 33 2,480 13 1 11,956 0 5 Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Village settlements — Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Special settlements—Lease in perpetuity Improved-farm settlements Small grazing-runs Miscellaneous leases Survey-fees 29 9,131 2 17 140 37,487 2 2 1,959 9 0 34 8,761 0 0 175 47,827 3 2 2,139 0 2 17 13 2 0 3 3 0 9 95 68 0 8 18,862 1 5 8 9 11 1,190 16 10 5 544 3 24 143 14 86 11,193 3 13 14,043 0 0 971 2 14 755 1 9 153 18 6 228 12 9 95 14 8 (180 10 0 16 15 171 17 5 8 W 3 0 Lease, &c, fees ... Crown-grant fees ... Totals Endowments 247 1 37,667 720 1 26 0 0 989 16 186,338 8,021 3 32 2 14 28,704 0 405 13 6 4 Gross totals 248 38,387 1 26 1,005 194,360 2 6 29,109 13 li