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run systems, and 30,493 acres in Waipawa and Hawke's Bay Counties, under the optional, lease-in-perpetuity (Land for Settlements), and pastoral-run systems. Land Board. There have been seventeen meetings of the Land Board during the year (including the four quarterly meetings held at Gisborne), at which 2,020 letters, applications, and other documents were dealt with, inclusive of 112 transfers. Taking advantage of the Board's presence at Gisborne, a tour was made of the Willows, Pouparae, and Waimarie Settlements, in the Poverty Bay district, in order to ascertain the effects of the disastrous floods of July, 1906, which inundated a considerable portion of these lands, and to report thereon. I am pleased to say that with the exception of a few instances in which temporary loss and derangement of operations resulted, and which have"been specially dealt with, the settlers have now recovered from the effects, and, favoured by an exceptionally fine season, are once more in a sound position. Depaetmental. Soon after my transfer to this district, under the guidance of Mr. H. Martin Smith, Crown Lands Ranger, I visited the following settlements, in order to acquire a knowledge of the country and to ascertain the condition of the settlers, — i.e., Elsthorpe, Lindsay, Forest Gate, Argyll, Hatuma, Tomoana, Raureka, and Mahora—and on every hand there was a general appearance of prosperity, and also evidence that the tenants, as a whole, are an industrious and practical lot of settlers, and, as no complaints were brought before me, it is to be concluded they are satisfied with their prospects. Turning to office matters, there were 30,706 letters and 521 telegrams received and despatched, and 634 vouchers, representing payments amounting to £16,159, were dealt with during the year; receipts for rents totalled 3,096 ; cards to Auditor, 163 ; reports to Government Advances to Settlers, 206 ; and leases prepared, 273. In conclusion, I desire to record my appreciation of the courteous, efficient, and ever-ready assistance rendered me by the entire staff. Heney Teent, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

TARANAKI. The land transactions for the year ending the 31st March, 1907, are shown in the subjoined summary:—

Class of Selection. Transactions during the Year. Held at 31st March, 1907. Number. Area. Number. Area. Revenue received during the Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity —Land for settlement Village settlements— Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Special settlement —Lease in perpetuity Improved-farm settlements... Small grazing-runs Miscellaneous leases Transfer and other fees Crown-grant fees ... Endowments Timber licenses Miscellaneous receipts State-forests royalty 26 2 A. R. P. 3,843 2 39 398 0 0 1 13 428 A. R. P. 99 0 0 3,961 0 16 216,069 3 21 £ s. 2,989 15 404 6 185 3 6,894 15 d. 9 4 3 9 "90 69,945" 1 33 10 2,547 3 33 3,691 2 2 27 8 15,018 3 13 1,300 0 0 469 35 179,687 1 3 3,672 1 37 4,440 11 3,203 13 6 6 9 8 10 1 11 5 10 86 69 0 8 16,213 0 15 8 18 737 8 3 8 2 344 2 0 252 17 122 33,633 3 0 16,654 2 6 1,493 3 2 1,247 9 325 6 665 3 224 5 39 4 47 0 28 3 1,856 13 55 17 1 5 1 0 8 0 6 6 6 25 324" 1 11 Totals 190 93,722 2 39 1,442 471,562 0 28 27,046 9 4 Note.—" Miscellaneous receipt .coount. is " includi £1,523 12s. 6d., repayment :o Government Loai is to Local Bodies