C—l.

4

The rights of local bodies with reference to " thirds " and " fourths " remain unaltered, and the cost of administration by the Department of Lands, &c, is a first charge on the funds derived from the endowment. In addition to the ordinary method of raising money for the construction of roads and bridges under " The Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1901," on areas of Crown lands to be opened for selection, power is given by this Act to raise an additional sum, not exceeding £50,000 in any one year, to supplement such loans on national endowment lands. No national endowment land shall be disposed of on the occupation-with-right-of-purchase tenure, or for cash, except as sites for educational, religious, and other public purposes, when areas not exceeding 5 acres at any one time may be sold. Power is given to take out of the national endowment area, as if it were ordinary Crown land, all reserves required for public purposes. Land opened for Selection, 1907-8. The lands enumerated in the following table comprise lands opened under " The Land Act, 1892," prior to the passing of " The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907," and also those reopened subsequent to the passing of that statute: —

Table D.—Lands opened for Sale and Selection during the Year ended 31st March, 1908.

The area opened as above comprised 248,896 acres in the North Island, and 546,270 acres in the South Island. At a glance it will be seen that the Department is not standing still, but that energy has been shown in its operations. Lands being prepared for Settlement on 31st March, 1908. The lands under survey for settlement purposes on the 31st March last consisted of :— Acres. Ordinary Crown lands (for selection under optional system) ... 262,803 National endowments (for selection on renewable lease) ... ... 74,169 Settlement lands (for selection on renewable lease) ... ... 61,808 405,340 distributed in the various land districts as follows:

District. 8 by Optional Ca " h Au '- n t ' on Pastoral System. : Auct } on . A , >pllca . u , cnt6 . ">">stion. I | I ] S.G. Small | Huns, Qraiing. Land tor i uns. settlemeuts. Lease in Perpetuity only. Lease iu Perpetuity, Land for Settle incuts. Renewable Renewable Lease, Lease Land for only. ! sett ements. Native Towns. Totals. Acres. Acres. 51,303 230 5,358 14 10,059 19 56,147 125 3,51 2 83 1,174 Acres. Acres. 2,060 130 1,248 36 I 45,572 ! 707 12,053 43 33 185 1 Acres. Acres. Acres. 14,200 2,478 Acres. 192 Acres. 4,914 53 19 234 4,204 8 Acres. 5,273 Acres. 2,337 21,642 Acres. Acres. 80,509 30,923 11,089 126,878 73,343 76,971 124,590 1,265 253,212 16,889 Auckland .. rKwke's Bav rarai aki .. Wellington.. kelson tfirl no rough ■Vestland .. 3antirbury. . 23,352 13,127 74,550 118,000 1,947 956 36,015 1,196 2,483 2^402 229 "9 2 271 J 259 1,661 : 141 1,776 754 4,072 548 33,612 61,109 9,854 147i551 '.'. 2,209 550 1 3,742 187 Jtago southland .. 3,304 651 Totals .. 131,261 1,627 63,383 2,640 1302,992 164,229 1,947 43,601 13,175 11,934 58,368 795,li I

District. Crown Land. „ N ati °™l Endowment. Settlement Lands. Total. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington ... Marlborough Nelson Westland . . Canterbury ... Otaoo Southland Totals ... Aores. 20,750 53,450 50,543 81,000 8,900 6,200 4,500 27',460 10,000 262,803 Acrf s. 24,179 6,000 15,190 18,000 6,500 10,800 80,669 Acres. 12,798 5,178 18,063 Acres. 57,727 59,450 65,733 86,178 26,900 30,763 15,300 25,829 27,460 10,000 25,829 61,868 405,340