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about 10 acres, is grassed and fenced, and used for grazing, cropping, gardens, &c. The stock consists of 16 horses, 13 cows, 7 other cattle, and 200 sheep. The selectors are chiefly labourers, who work on sections, roads, and about district, bushfelling, pit-sawing, butchering, and are desirous of extending their holdings. Settlement may be considered prosperous, seeing the value of improvements effected is £2,134 in excess of requirements. The settlers in the locality are considering the advisability of erecting a creamery. Good metalled roads. Upper Makuri. —Area, 48 acres, divided into five sections, held by four selectors. Holdings range from 10 to 14 acres, and average 12 acres. The improvements and residential conditions are complied with. Improvements are as follows : Eequired, £63 16s. 2d.; effected, £297 ; surplus, £233 3s. lOd. The land is mostly fenced, grassed, and is partially stocked, and is used for grazing, small cultivations, gardens, &c. Stock: 4 horses, 11 cows, and 12 other cattle. Eoads are metalled. Bakaunui. —Area, 336 acres, divided into twenty-one sections, ranging from 10 to 77 acres, and held by thirteen selectors, and averaging 26 acres. With the exception of two all are residing. The former are working in the locality, and are expected to reside shortly. Improvements : Eequired, £404 ; effected, £1,615 ; surplus, £1,211. The land is mostly fenced, and, with three exceptions, the whole of the bush has been felled and the land grassed and fenced. In addition to the above most settlers have gardens, small cultivations, &c. Stock :15 horses, 63 cows, 32 other cattle, 13 pigs. The selectors are steady and industrious, comprising tradesmen, labourers, &c, who work on their holdings, on Government roads, and also at their trades about the district. They complain of the state of the roads. Some are desirous of acquiring larger areas. The progress made is satisfactory, and improvements to the value of £1,211 have been effected in excess of requirements. A post and telephone office is now opened, the school is well attended, and a private creamery is in active operation in the locality. The roads are mostly dray-roads; they are good in summer, but almost impassable in winter. Pongaroa. —Area, 1,478 acres, divided into thirty-six sections, held by twenty-nine selectors, ranging from 20 to 100 acres, and averaging about 50 acres. Of twenty-six selectors required to reside, twenty-two are residing, four have been called upon to comply, and residence is not yet due for the remainder. Improvements: Eequired, £1,449 ; effected, £3,544; surplus, £2,095. The land is mostly grassed and fenced, and is used chiefly for grazing purposes. Some few have small cultivations, gardens, &c. Stock: 22 horses, 31 cows, 83 other cattle, 70 sheep, and 8 pigs. The selectors generally are struggling, industrious labouring-men. Some obtain work about the district, but the majority rely upon Government roadwork. Settlement is making fair progress, but the state of the roads and the cost of supplies in the winter months retard progress. The road near and through the township is partially metalled. Access through the settlement is partly by dray-road and partly by horse-track. The selectors complain of the absence of metalled roads. The township is improving—a commodious post, money-order, and telephone office is in course of erection, tenders have been invited for the additions to public school, and a mail-coach runs to and from Makuri thrice weekly. Ngaturi. —Area, 5 acres 1 rood 35 perches, held by one selector, who is residing, with his wife and seven children. The selector is a steady, industrious man ; has a team, works on section, and is also engaged in carting and metal contracts. Improvements : Eequired, £7 ; effected, £145 ; surplus, £138. Eoads are metalled. Farm Homestead Associations. Goonoor. —Area, 550 acres, divided into three sections, ranging from 150 to 200 acres, averaging about 183 acres each. Of three required to reside, two are residing. Improvements : Eequired, £525 7s. lid.; effected, £905 12s. 6d.; surplus, £380 4s. 7d. The grassed portion of the land is fenced, stocked, and used for. grazing purposes. Nine of the original selectors surrendered their leases for revaluation purposes, and subsequently reselected under other tenures (lease in perpetuity and cash). The selectors are steady and industrious, and are mostly engaged on their holdings. The road is metalled. There is a post-office and school in the settlement. Masterton Reform. —Area, 2,350 acres, divided into thirteen sections, ranging from 150 to 300 acres, averaging about 180 acres to each selector. t Of thirteen selectors required to reside, twelve are residing. One is non-resident, and is also a defaulter as to improvements. Improvements : Eequired, £3,037 ; effected, £4,296 ; surplus, £1,259. The grassed portion of the land is mostly fenced, and is stocked with sheep, cattle, and horses. The selectors are steady, industrious men; they work on sections, Government roads, and about the district. Some few work exclusively on their holdings. Settlement is in a fairly good position, and is making steady and satisfactory progress. Access is from Makuri or Pongaroa by dray-road, partly metalled. The remainder is a summer dray-road, with the exception of North Eange Eoad, which is a horsetrack from Section 23 to Section 35. This gives access to all farm-homestead sections in the block. The remainder of the North Eange Eoad is unformed at present. Stock :31 horses, 52 cows, 57 other cattle, and 1,126 sheep. Pahiatua No. I. —Area, 5,413 acres, divided into twenty-eight sections, ranging from 100 to 320 acres, averaging 193 acres each. Out of twenty-eight selectors twenty-three have complied with sixth year's requirements. Of the five who are defaulters as to residence, also improvements, two require further time. The remaining three are reputed to have sufficient means to effect required improvements, but their avocations render it inconvenient at present to comply with the residential conditions. The land is partly grassed, fenced, and well stocked with cattle, sheep, and horses, and used for grazing purposes. The selectors are mostly hard-working, struggling, deserving men, who work on their holdings, roads, and about the .district. Eesident selectors are progressing steadily and satisfactorily; non-resident selectors retard progress. Access from Makuri or Pongaroa to junction of Waihi Valley by summer dray-road; the remainder is horse-track, widened

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