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and Waverley. Included were 30,000 acres which had been offered in previous years; and 59,000 acres were offered subject to the conditions of the lease-in-perpetuity tenure, as the country was reported to be coal-bearing. The throwing-open of the Mokau-Ohura District was the chief event of the year. The area dealt with in this remote locality amounted to 74,000 acres, and, notwithstanding the drawbacks of bad roads, numerous selections were made, and it is anticipated that a large and prosperous community will be established thereon. The Crown lands in the Wellington Land District which were prepared and advertised for application amounted to 181,000 acres, embracing 132,000 acres not previously available. Of the latter 31,500 acres were opened on settlement conditions and in small areas; but the quality of the lands and the localities where most of the land is situated—viz., northern W'aimarino District and between the Wanganui and Waitotara Rivers —were not conducive to competition. Numerous sections, comprising a total of 48,000 acres, were classified under " The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act, 1903," and reopened, principally under the optional system. The bulk of these lands was situated in the Kaitieke Block, Waimarino. Pastoral runs, comprising 100,000 acres, in the Murimotu District, were put up for competition. Under the provisions of "The Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900," there were 57,000 acres opened in the Ohotu District, between the Wanganui and Wangaehu Rivers, the lands having been partly surveyed and prepared for sale, which was conducted by the Aotea Maori Land Council. In addition to the foregoing lands, the Longbush and Tablelands Estates, in the Wairarapa District, containing nearly 7,000 acres, were successfully offered under the Land for Settlements Acts, together with the Normandale Settlement, near the Lower Hutt. The total area submitted in the Nelson Land District summed to 33,000 acres, made up of 12,000 acres opened on the optional system, and 21,000 acres under the lease-in-perpetuity tenure only, so as to conserve the right of mining. The chief localities where the lands are situated comprise the Tadmor, Motupiko, Inangahua, W'estport, Rintoui, Buller, and Kaiteriteri Districts. In Marlborough 16,000 acres at Mount Patriarch were opened as a small grazing-run, and 3,700 acres near Blenheim and Kaikoura, principally on the lease-in-perpetuity tenure, together with 240 acres in the Rainford Settlement, near the latter place, under the Land for Settlements regulations. The large aggregate of 610,000 acres were dealt with in the Westland Land District, though no less than 592,000 acres were offered under the pastoral-license tenure, comprising runs throughout the length and breadth of the district, especially in the vicinity of tire goldfields, where the application of more permanent tenures would hamper the operations of the miner. The lease-in-perpetuity tenure was prescribed for 17,000 acres included in various blocks also scattered throughout Westland. In Canterbury, once so famed for the extent and rich quality of Crown lands available for selection, only 50 acres could be found which had not previously been opened for application; 190,000 acres of pastoral areas were resubmitted; and an area of 8,000 acres on the plain near Oxford, released by the removal of the Midland Railway restrictions, was withdrawn from a run and opened on the optional system, inducing keen .competition amongst local farmers. In Otago also, where the immigrant and selector formerly had an extensive choice of lands, the year's supply which was gazetted for disposal included sections and blocks of land scattered throughout the district —a considerable portion being in Central Otago —which were made available by subdividing areas previously held under pastoral license (including Patearoa and parts of runs at Matakanui and St. Bathan's), together with areas of waste land, unoccupied township lands, &c. By these means 76,000 acres were offered, of which the principal tenures are as follows: Pastoral licenses comprised 33,000 acres; small grazing-runs amounted to 27,000 acres; the lease-in-perpetuity tenure 3,000 acres in the St. Bathan's and Tapanui Districts; and miscellaneous licenses 11,000 acres distributed in various localities. The area reopened after revisal and application of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act aggregated 280,000 acres, made up of blocks and sections distributed throughout Otago. The supply of lands suitable for settlement falling within the limits of the Southland Land District are summarised as follows : 900 acres put up to lease by auction ; 14,000 acres on pastoral license in Stewart Island; 8,600 acres on the lease-in-perpetuity tenure opened for the first time of which 5,800 acres are on the east side of the Waiau River, the balance being north of Orepuki. About 161,000 acres were reopened in the following manner: On the optional system, under Part 111. of "The Land Act, 1892," 52,000 acres, the greater portion being from twenty to fifty miles east of Invercargill, in four blocks ; on the lease-in-perpetuity tenure only, 6,800 acres, mostly east of Invercargill; and under thg pastoral-license tenure, 94,000 acres, in areas adjoining the railway-line between Kingston and Invercargill. In addition, there were small areas offered on the cash and village systems.

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