o.—l

10

Summary of Land Transactions for 1898-99. —Following the practice of previous years, the statement below is submitted for consideration:—

Note.—Excluding freeholds under deferred payment and perpetual lease and conversions, the new transactions are reduced to: Number, 538 ; area selected, 68,338 acres 3 roods 1 perch; the annual rental payable being £3,830 15s. lOd. The chief points calling for notice in the foregoing statement are that the transactions—69B— exceed those of the previous year by 200, made up principally of town and suburban cash sales in Raetihi and Taihape, and the increase in sections on the occupation-with-right-of-purchase, lease-in-perpetuity, and village-settlement systems. The gross area dealt with shows a falling-off of about 7,000 acres compared with the year 1897-98, but the revenue collected increased by £5,621, notwithstanding the fact that 140 holdings on the deferred-payment and perpetual-lease;*systems were made freeholds. The number of settlers whose names stand on the Land Office registers is 2,472, a net increase of 111. Touching the question of annual revenue, it will be noticed that nearly onehalf, £33,680, was derived from the sale of the freeholds of deferred-payment and perpetual-lease holdings. This aid to revenue has been a feature of the transactions for several years past.

Transactions during the Year. Area under Tjease at 31st March, 1899. System. Revenue received during the Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash— Eural Suburban Town 12 30 106 A. B. P. 1,984 3 13 98 0 2 33 0 7 A. B. P. £ s. a. Deferred-payment holders... Deferred payment made freehold ... ' Perpetual-lease holders Perpetual lease made freehold Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Conversions to lease in perpetuity Village settlement— Deferred payment Perpetual lease Perpetual lease made freehold Lease in perpetuity Conversions to village settlement, lease in perpetuity Village - homestead special settlement Special settlement, deferred payment Special settlement, deferred payment made freehold ... Farm homestead, lease in perpetuity 148 2,115 3 22 29 10,256 2 17} 81,601' 1 15 3,734 15 6 24 1 3,548 640 1 28 0 0 1,685 11 8 *732 19 1 203 5,201 6 11 85 35,481 3 25 31,685 5 9 120 87 32,106 24,241 3 0 2 36 j 493 369 139,876 0 3 6,752 9 2 3 1,052 0 0 106,226 3 14 3,896 17 2 7 3 14 0 28 29 1 27 4" 15 8 2 65 9 1,554 0 0 2 33 I 333 38 0 0 7 90 2 4 6,397 3 1 j +779 2 6 1 1127 7 2 1 1 3 36 120 1,440 2 26 j +280 12 1 I 1155 17 8 62 6,029 2 15 i 1,096 7 8 39 3,914 3 4 5 607 1 10 479 88,835 0 15 5,903 3 6 f +520 14 4 1 130 13 6 1,840 14 8 186 5 2 Improved farm ... 43 2,404 0 36 §124 10,881 2 32 Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses Land for settlement, lease in perpetuity Ditto, miscellaneous Native townships State forests Survey-fees which form part payment for land Survey-fees which do not form part payment for land ... Other sources 74 21 72,284 3 4 26,791 0 0 26 4,483 2 3 79 31,118 0 6 j 824 11 3 I *7 8 3 13 72 3 31 32 285 1 21 146 12 9 23 6 0 250 18 10 1,978 19 6 29 109 2 34 44 163 2 1 63 3 11 1,132 12 5 1,012 7 7 Total 698 112,435 1 AA 2,472 582,231 3 25 70,092 19 * Endowment revenue. t Bent. { Interest. § Not including 47 selections balloted for but not rei [istered.