3

α-i

Table D shows the position of the several areas applied for during the past year under the optional conditions of " The Land Act, 1892," and the preference of tenure, which has been markedly in favour of occupation with right of purchase, except in the Nelson Land District, where the number of selectors and area selected under the occupation-with-right-of-purchase tenure are less than under the lease-in-perpetuity tenure : —

Table D.—Lands selected on Optional System, showing Preference of Tenure

Table E (which is given below) is interesting, as showing that the barometrical reading of the numbers who have selected land during the past seven years for the purpose of close settlement is once more upon the ascending scale. Table E.—Numbee of Selectors who have selected Lands under Settlement Conditions during the past Seven Years. Year. Selectors. 1900-1 1,767 1901-2 L632 1902-3 .. .. .. .. .. .. •■ •• L602 1903-4 2,053 1904-5 .. .. .. .. .. •• •• •■ 1,581 1905-6 .. .. . . .. .. • • • • • • L536 1906-7 .. .. .. .. .. •• •• •• 1,64*1 Repoets op the Commissioners op Ceown Lands, and General Progress op Settlement. Each land district has its own special features, and the several Commissioners have dwelt in detail upon all points of special interest. They one and all draw attention to the great demand for bona fide settlement, and to the steady progress made by all classes of settlers. The North Island, generally speaking, has had a prosperous year, barring portions of the Auckland District, which suffered heavily from floods just at the season when the crops were being gathered in. The South Island, and more especially Otago and portions of the Canterbury Land District, suffered, on the contrary, from a prolonged but unusual drought, which has had disastrous effects upon many portions of the districts. Great activity is being shown in the Nelson Land District, under its energetic Commissioner, and the large areas of Crown lands which in the past have remained unopened and untouched are now being brought into notice, with the most satisfactory results, as most of the land opened for selection will carry grass very well when the forest is felled, though not, as a rule, suitable for agricultural purposes. Inspections by Rangers. The following table shows the result of the various inspections made by the Crown Lands Rangers, and shows conclusively that the Crown tenants are carrying out the improvement conditions of the Land Act in the spirit as well as in the letter:—

District. Occupation with Right of Purchase. Number. Area. Lease in Perpetuity. Cash. Number. Area. Number, j Ares. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington ... Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury ... Otago Southland ... 236 10 90 30 5 3 Acres. 103,813 3,499 69,945 25,674 1,665 2,646 30 6 ' 18 9 8 Acres. 9,969 1,994 10,995 276 6,725 10 3 2 6 Acres. 1,392 3.737 1,672 3,375 11 27 2,745 5,543 374 1 5 4 48 197 544 3 Totals 412 215,530 74 30,333 31 10,965