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but the Rangers are able to advise, from their general observations, that the conditions of Crown settlement are being well fulfilled. Lands selected. —The demand for land during a considerable portion of the. year was very limited, but latterly there has been a more satisfactory inquiry. The total selections during the year were 315 holdings, comprising an area of 33,133 acres, about 20,000 acres of which was taken up under tenures requiring personal occupation. The number of tenants on the books of the district at the close of the year was 5,094, occupying an area of 1,211,925 acres, at a rental of £116,547 per annum. Although the number of tenants has increased by 109, the area occupied shows a decrease of a little over 40,000 acres, due principally to the application of provisions of the Land Acts enabling the holders of pastoral runs to surrender portions and acquire a, better title, to the remainder. The Freelwld Tenure. —The total number of holdings alienated under this tenure was 101, comprising 11,441. acres, at a total price of £18,036. In addition to these, the purchase of a further 101 holdings, comprising 14,450 acres, was commenced under the deferred-payment system. The application of this system of purchase to rural and town lands offered at auction has been of great assistance to purchasers, as well as advantageous to the State. In regard to the, freehold of Native townships, the required proportion of lessees in Taumarunui having undertaken to purchase from the Crown, the acquisition of the Native interests has been commenced. In the Te Kuiti Township the necessary number of lessees have undertaken to purchase, and the acquisition of Native interests will proceed as soon as possible. In Otorohanga Township the lessees are now taking the preliminary steps to obtain the required proportion of applications for the freehold. As regards the Townships of Te Aroha and Rotorua, the holders of business and residence sites in the former are availing themselves freely of the freehold privilege, but none of the lessees at Rotorua have yet done so, objection being taken to the valuations made by the Valuation Department, on which the purchase prices are based. Revenue. —The gross revenue received for tho year was £271,373, an increase of nearly £16,000 on that of the preceding year. Tins included a sum of £141,966 received as payments of interest and principal under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. The arrears are heavy, and are due principally by settlers who have taken up holdings during recent years and have not yet been able to overcome the difficulties caused by the high prices of all materials for the development of their properties, followed by the slump in prices realized for farm-products. With the improved conditions now prevailing these arrears should gradually be reduced. The rebate granted for punctual payment of rent was secured by 1,563 tenants, the amount being £3,560, while rents amounting to £12,185 remained postponed at the close of the year. The Education Endowment. —The total area of the endowment is 72,748 acres, of which 43,588 acres are occupied by 233 tenants at a rental of £3,748 per annum. During the year 4,114 acres, the character of which necessitated a longer term of lease than the usual twenty-one-year term, was offered under renewable lease, with satisfactory results. Lands for Future Disposal. —ln my report of last year I indicated briefly the principal localities in which there is still scope for the development of Crown settlement in the district. Practically all these areas, however, require somewhat costly development of draining or roading, and the limited demand apparent for some time past, as well as the pressure of other conditions, have rendered it impracticable to provide the necessary preparation for the settlement of these lands. Exhaustive investigations have been made into the question of the settlement of the Urewera hinds, and it appears to be clear that the bulk of the land can only be successfully occupied, at any rate for some time to come, in areas of considerable size, while extensive reservations of the hill lands for forest and climatic purposes will be necessary in order to protect the river sources of supply and prevent the irreparable damage that would be caused by indiscriminate destruction of the native forest. The area of land at present open for selection in various parts of the district is 141,216 acres. General. —The Land Board sat during the year on nineteen days, the general volume of business coming forward for consideration being well maintained. An election for the elective member of the Board was held in March, the successful candidate, being Mr. W. G. Hayward, of Ngatea, Hauraki Plains. The retiring member, Mr. E. F. Andrews, has been of great assistance to the Board, owing to his extensive personal knowledge of the returned soldiers, and his experience on various bodies dealing with questions of repatriation. The year has been one of steady activity in the office, a diminution of work in some directions being balanced by increases in others. To the ranging staff the year has been a strenuous one, the demands of soldier-settlement work having kept them more, than fully engaged. The efforts of the whole of the staff are worthy of commendation, and it has been only by this zeal that the office has run so smoothly. HAWKE'S BAY. (W. F. Marsh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) It is very satisfactory to chronicle a marked improvement in many ways in the settlement conditions of Hawke's Bay. The rainfall for the year ending 31st March, 1923, was certainly again very much below the, average, and, unfortunately, December and January were responsible for two-fifths of it, much harm being done thereby to the hay, grain, and orchard crops ; but otherwise the rain was well distributed, and there was an absence of drought or excessive cold.