C.—l.

Makareao No. 2. The portion of this estate occupied at the 31st March comprises 2,452 acres 3 roods 27 perches, held under two small-grazing-runs leases at an annual rental of £272 17s. lOd. Receipts for the year, £302 14s. 7d. ; total from inception, £599 9s. lid.; houses, 3 ; souls resident, 7; value of improvements, £l,OOl 10s. The settlement at the present time is making fairly good progress. It suffered in past years through the drought experienced generally throughout North Otago, and some of the settlers have scarcely yet recovered from its effects. The land, too, on some portions of the settlement, especially that portion known as " Sweet Water Block," is of rather poor quality, being somewhat dry, and will not stand cropping. On the southern end of the estate, more particularly on the larger holdings, the settlers appear to be doing all right. The crops are not quite up to the average of last year, although the wheat will probably average about 25 bushels and the oats about 40 to the acre. The limestone on the estate is about to be burned, the necessary works having been constructed and a branch line of railway made thereto. Momona.—This small settlement of 224 acres 15 perches is occupied by fourteen settlers at a rental of £2lO 3s. per annum. Receipts during the year, £143 2s. 3d., making the total from the beginning £541 13s. 9d.; number of houses, 14; souls resident, 51; value of improvements £1,824 12s. 6d. Very good progress has been made. Each selector now has a comfortable homestead, and his holding fully improved by fencing and subdivision into small paddocks. Unfortunately, one settler was burnt out during the year, but he is preparing to rebuild. The tenants are doing very well. There is a dairy factory adjoining, and the settlers have among them some ninety-two cows, the keeping of which they find very profitable. Tokarahi.—The area of this settlement at the 31st March was 10,707 acres 3 roods 24 perches, in seventy-six holdings, the annual rental being £4,057 14s. 6d., including 176 acres 1 rood 22 perches, held under twenty-six temporary licenses at £l5 9s. 6d. per annum. Of the 264 acres 3 roods 21 perches unlet on the 31st March, one allotment containing 260 acres 2 roods 34 perches has been taken up since, at £3O 10s. Id. per annum. Number of houses on holdings, 42 ; souls resident, 135; value of improvements, £7,600 14s. 6d. All the conditions as to improvements, &e., have been very well complied with. The crops this season have been unusually heavy, and in many cases very large yields have been obtained, as high as 96 bushels of oats and 75 bushels of barley to the acre. The average yield, I should say, will be between 35 and 40 bushels of wheat and about 60 bushels of oats per acre. The turnips and other root crops are much above the average. The settlers are beginning to understand better the climate of the district, and are gradually increasing the number of their sheep, with the view of rearing early lambs, which will enable them to obtain ready cash at the end of the year, a matter of great moment to them during harvest. Summary.—The following summary of the details hereinbefore given in respect of the several estates, and of further particulars relative to cultivation, compared with the similar summary of last year, may be of interest:— 1899-1900. 1898-99. Number of settlements ... ... 12 10 Number of selectors (including holders of temporary licenses) ... ... 368 334 Area in occupation (including temporary licenses) ... ... ... ... 45,178 a. lr. 39p. 38,938 a. 2r. 21p Average to each selector ... ... 122 a. 2r. 32p. 116 a. 2r. 13p. Total annual rent, including temporary licenses and Building Account ... £14,976 13s. 4d. £12,064 3s.' 6d Area unlet at 31st March ... ... 5,778 a. 2r. lp. 380 a. Or. 3p. Annual value of unlet area ... ... £1,563 2s. lOd. £9O Is. Bd. Receipts during the year ... ... £9,989 6s. 7d. £9,249 17s. 3d. Total receipts from inception ... ... £38,607 9s. Bd. £28,618 3s. Id Value of improvements at 31st March ... £38,119 lis. 2d. £34,639 os. 2d. Area in cultivation —Oats, 5,092 acres; wheat, 4,069 acres; barley, 633 acres ; root-crops, 3,077 acres ... ... 12,871 acres. 14,644 acres. Number of dwellinghouses ... ... 244 234 Number of souls resident ... ... 877 827 Estate to be dealt with.—Barnego: This settlement was acquired in November last, and has been laid off into allotments, the total area for selection being 7,034 acres 3 roods 5 perches, in twenty-three farms, the annual rentals ranging from Is. to £1 per acre, or an average of about 4s. an acre, including charges for buildings. The date of selection is fixed for the 15th May, and there is every prospect of the whole being taken up, as there are numerous inquiries about it. J. P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

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