C—s.

The Secretary for Crown Lands and Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 23rd June, 1902. During the year eighteen estates, containing 85,023 acres, were, after survey and valuation, duly advertised by public advertisement, distribution of plans and pamphlets, as open in allotments for selection at fixed, upset rentals (5 per cent, on capital value), on the lease-in-perpetuity system, conflicting applications being determined by ballot. Though ten other estates were acquired during the financial year, there was not time to carry out the necessary surveys, &c, and place them on the market before the 31st March. These comprised the Cradock, Hetana, Kitchener, Methuen, Plumer, and Waari Workmen's Homes in the Auckland Land District; Forest Gate and Kumeroa Estates in Hawke's Bay; the Maungaraki Settlement (a further portion) in Wellington; and the Maytown and Lyndon No. 2 Estates in Canterbury. Of the eighteen estates opened for selection, 69,929 acres, in 230 holdings, were leased, including the North Bank property, which was let temporarily as one run, in order that goldminers might be allowed to continue their operations. The Hatuma, Forest Gate, and Kumeroa properties were acquired under the compulsory provisions of the Land for Settlements Act, which method has not resulted in low valuations or capital values as finally determined. The acres undisposed of in the former was not available for disposal till recently, and is now advertised for lease. The 4,348 acres unselected in the Manga-a-toro Settlement includes two small grazing-runs. The balance of Toka-ora Settlement is expected to be quitted shortly. Maungaraki is already sold. The following table shows the estates offered for the first time, and how they were disposed of:—

Estates offered for Selection during the Year ending 31st March, 1902, under "The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900."

Summary of Selectors, Residences, and the Condition of Estates acquired and dealt with, at 31st March, 1902.

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Land District, and Name of Estate. Area of Estate Number of Area unselected, An ™™? 1 e ,, ntal Atea of Estate. Selectorg Maroh: im Date of Opening. Hawke's Bay— Hatuma Manga-a-toro .. Taranaki— Tokaora Wellington— Mangawhata .. Epuni Hamlet Maungaraki Marlborough— North Bank Canterbury— Kohika Tarawahi Raincliff Puhuka Kaimahi Kapuatohe R.S. 36278 Rapuwai Otago— Earnscleugh .. Southland Ringway Glenham a. it. p. 26,522 3 20 19,581 3 12 1,505 2 8 1,240 2 36 100 3 14 470 3 4 12,895 0 0 3,864 1 10 31 3 0 745 2 0 39 2 7 100 2 1 49 3 37 618 2 0 2,247 2 11 59 21 6 7 42 10 1 16 12 1 6 12 4 1 5 A. R. p. 709 2 0 4,348 0 0 845 0 22 2 1 24 194 2 22 ll' 0 23 £ a. d. 7,627 3 10 3,921 13 10 670 19 10 826 10 0 480 5 8 125 17 2 300 0 0 1,451 14 2 122 5 8 85 3 10 36 9 4 236 9 10 82 19 2 25 1 8 480 16 8 25 April, 1901. 21 Jan., 1902. 20 Nov., 1901. 14 May, 1901. 25 June, 1901. 20 Dec, 1901. 1 April, 1901. 13 May, 1901. 25 June, 1901. 25 June, 1901. 29 July, 1901. 15 Oct., 1901. 15 Oct., 1901. 14 Nov., 1901. 9 Dec, 1901. 14 0 0 6 1 14 19 2 0 1,269 3 5 10 170 3 6 18 Dec, 1901. 2,253 2 8 11,484 2 10 7 10 8,943 1 24 460 9 0 591 5 2 20 Deo., 1901. 24 March, 1902. 85,023 0 23 230 15,094 0 9 17,695 8 4

Land District and Name of Settlement. Selectors Residences. Condition, Progress, and Prospects. Auckland— Opouriao Okauia Rangiatea.. Karapiro Fencourt Whitehall Hawke's Bay— Baureka Elsthorpe Waimarie Pouparae Tomoana Mabora Willows Hatuma Manga-o-toro 2—C. 5. 01 9 19 17 35 8 64 9 16 14 27 6 Very satisfactory. Very little progress. Fairly satisfactory. Thriving (dairy farms). Progressive and sound (dairy farms) Hopeful; chiefly grazing. 19 46 18 9 13 32 22 59 21 18 27 16 6 11 25 17 34 Prosperous. Thriving. Progress good ; dairying extending. Good. Good (dairy farms). Satisfactory. Only selected last January