C.-l

chiefly the prosperous state of the farming community generally, and the demand for land, leading to the payment of arrears of rentals before transfers are granted, &c. To the gross total the Hauraki Plains lands sold and leased have contributed £7,676.

Table E.—Revenue received during the Year ended 31st March, 1911.

Rebateß of Rent. During the year the lessees of ordinary Crown lands have received rebates for prompt payment amounting to £11,284, while those under the Cheviot and Land for Settlements Acts have received rebates amounting to £24,31)1. Payments of " Thirds " and " Fourths " to Local Bodies. Under the provisions of section 145 of the Land Act, 1908, the various local bodies have had paid over to them during the year a total sum of £44,934. This does not include that portion of the Taranaki land revenue which is paid over under statutory provision to the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Timber and Flax Royalties. y ' The halves of timber and flax royalties paid over to local bodies during the year under the provisions of section 319 of the Land Act, 1908, amounted to £11,930. (B.) Lands for Settlement. Subdivision of Purchased Estates and Administration. The estates purchased through the agency of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners (of which body the Under-Secretary for Lands is a member) during the year have been principally in the Canterbury Land District, where there is a great dearth of Crown lands. The estates acquired numbered 13 (including two homestead sites), and of these, 9 (containinga total area of 7,752 acres) have been dealt with and subdivided into suitable sections, numbering 83. The balance of estates purchased will be opened during the current financial year. The total area held under the Land for Settlements Act, 1908, amounts to 1,142,196 acres, and the tofal rental payable is £281,079. The amount paid off to date under the provisions of section 191 of the Land Act, 1908, with respect to these holdings totals £4,002. In connection with the administration of lands-for-settlement estates, it may be interesting to note thai in the Hawke's Bay District the question of the protection of these Crown lands —leased to settlers —against the encroachment of rivers while in a state of flood has received earnest attention. The rivers in part of the Hawke's Bay District are very erratic in their course, and the alluvial lands abutting thereon receive heavy damage if not protected. The Department has adopted a scheme of groins and breastworks, with " stops " at short intervals, which has been found most efficaciou.s in stopping further encroachment, and has recovered lands which were fast being submerged. The Commissioner of Crown lands, Hawke's Bay, and the Crown Lands Ranger (Mr. H. Martin Smith), together with the overseer of works, are to be congratulated on the very successful efforts made and the means adopted to this end.

IX

Auckland Hawke's Bay Faranaki Wellington .. Nelson Marlborough Westland .. Canterbury .. Southland .. r District. Totals Territorial Non-territorial m , , „ Revenue. Revenue. Total Reven ™ £ £ £ 57,370 73,426 130,796 .. ; 38,402 74,012 112,414 .. i 17,532 21,309 38,841 35,486 66,493 101,979 5,627 25,178 30,805 .. . 8,552 29,124 37,676 5,195 14,912 20,107 .. J 31,702 124,546 156,248 33,707 84,373 118,080 15,726 22,171 37,897 249,299 535,544 784,843