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1900. NEW ZEALAND.

"LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1894" (REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance ivith Section 39 of " The Land for Settlements Act, 1894."

The Land Purchase Inspector to the Hon. the Ministbe of Lands. g IR) Department of Land for Settlements, Wellington, 6th July, 1900. I have the honour to report on the transactions under " The Land for Settlements Act, 1894," for the twelve months ending the 31st March, 1900. There were twenty meetings of the Boards held during the year for business, viz.: Auckland, 2.; Hawke's Bay, 1; Wellington, 8 > Marlborough, 3 ; Canterbury, 5 ; Otago, 1. Fifty-seven' estates, of a total area of 381,213 acres, were offered during the year. Of that area, 81,318 acres were declined, not recommended, or withdrawn, leaving 299,895 acres, of which an area of 191,830 acres is under consideration, and an area of 108,065 acres was recommended for purchase. Including with this latter area part of the land offered in the previous year, twentyeight estates were recommended for purchase, with the result that offers were accepted for nineteen estates, of an aggregate area of 79,889 acres, for the sum of £353,718. Of the other nine estates, the owners of eight declined the prices offered, and the owners of one have the offer made them under their consideration. The'names of the estates purchased are : Whitehall, Fencourt, Aorangi, Te Matua, Ohakea, North Bank, Punaroa, Papaka, Pareora No. 2, Eautawiri, Takitu, Eural Sections 36056-57, 36228, 36231. part 36469, Blderslie, Janefield, and Barnego. With the exception of North Bank, possession of all was given within the year under review. The total purchases under the Land for Settlements Act since its commencement are seventyseven estates, containing an area of 324,168 acres, at a cost of £1,523,927 for land, and £74,165 for road-formations, surveys, and administration —in all, a total of £1,598,092. In the matter of the compulsory taking of the Hatuma Estate, the Compensation Court sat in Napier in April, 1899, and in February, 1900, for the purpose of fixing the value of the estate; but as no award was made on either occasion, the Court again sat from the 21st to the 27th June at the same place, when an award was made fixing the price to be paid for 26,391 acres at £141,618, or at the rate of nearly £5 7s. 4d. per acre. The offer made by the Government in October, 1897, was £4 10s. per acre. An amendment of the Act came into force on the 29th September, 1899, rectifying certain working details, but principally extending the scope of acquiring lands, or of taking them compulsorilv, if need be, for workmen's homes. Negotiations have been entered into for the acquisition of land for that purpose, but it is found to be a very difficult matter in some cases to obtain suitable land in position and at a price within the means of workmen who would travel to and from their work daily by railways to the cities. As the Act expires by effluxion of time on the fourteenth day after the close of the present session of Parliament, provision is made for its continuance in a Bill, now being prepared, consolidating the principal Act and its amendments. ' Appended°hereto are details in tabular form, viz. : Table A—Eeturn of all lands offered to the Government, and how dealt with, from the Ist April, 1899, to the 31st March, 1900. Table B— Eeturn of lands recommended for purchase by the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners to the 31st March, 1900. Table C—Statement of lands acquired to the 31st March, 1900. Eeport of the Surveyor-General on the condition and settlement of lands acquired. I have, &c, James McKbkbow, Chairman of Board of Land Purchase Commissioners ' The Hon. Minister of Lands. and Land Purchase Inspector.

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