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Freezing Operations.—The quantity of stock killed for export for the period Ist April, ] 924, to 31st March, 192-5, was as under : — Southdown. Moerewa. Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 6,441 8,661 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. 8,096 7,218 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 70,008 34,228 Calves .. .. .. .. .. 2,973 277 Pigs .. .. .. .. .. 2,857 254 The average prices for North Island ordinary brands of frozen meat obtained in London during the year were —Mutton, 7fd. ; lamb, 11 Jd. ; beef, 4fd. Land Board Work. —During the year the Land Board held thirteen ordinary meetings, occupying in all twenty-eight days. The total number of items on the order paper amounted to 2,350, of which 1,139 were in connection with ordinary Crown lands business and 1,220 affecting the administration under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. Freeholds.—During the year the number of ordinary Crown holdings made freehold was fortyfour, the total area being 3,326 acres. Under the heading of lands for settlement, eleven holdings, totalling 44 acres, were freeholded, and two national-endowment holdings, comprising 491 acres. Land open for Selection. —The total area opened during the year was 10,497 acres, consisting for the most part of isolated sections. Of these, twenty-five were rural properties of an average area of 400 acres each, suitable for farming purposes. Six farmlets of about 12 acres each, adjacent to the city, on the north railway-line, and suitable for market-gardening, poultry, &c., were offered, the response being good. During the year twenty-one education-reserve sections in and about the city were offered for lease as house-sites, and were readily taken up. Another subdivision of fifty-four sections at Orewa Beach was offered for sale by auction, and twenty-six of the lots were sold. Lands for Future Disposal.—During the year I managed to make a close personal inspection of nearly all the Crown-land blocks. River head Block. —This block contains an area of 10,000 acres, which is very suitable for treeplanting, and may be best utilized as such. Waioneke Block, near Kaipara Heads, which, with adjacent Crown lands, contains 3,500 acres, is capable of being cut up into three small grazing-runs now the access is so much improved. Only parts of this block are fit to bring in, the swamps being poor and full of large holes left by gum-diggers. Te Kuri Block, north of Kaipara Heads (18,000 acres), suitable for tree-planting. Kai-Iwi Block (area 5,650 acres), south of Mangonui Bluff : This land is very poor indeed, except perhaps 1,500 acres on the coast which is suitable for a grazing-run ; but the beautiful lakes in this block are a great asset, and should repay the cost of a road thereto if the immediately adjacent lands are planted as a scenic reserve. Ahipara Block (5,100 acres) : This land may be brought in some day, but the time is not yet. The Maoris are getting much gum therefrom, which practically keeps the Village of Ahipara. Taipa Block, Mangonui (3,000 acres) : This block should best be utilized for tree-planting, as water carriage is available. Kapiro Block (17,500 acres), situated between Kaeo and Ohaeawai : Most of this block should also be utilized for tree-planting, especially those parts adjacent to the sea. Kerikeri Block (6,700 acres) : This block I recommend should be drained at once and opened for settlement. Motutangi Block (5,000 acres) : The reports regarding this block are not very encouraging, and the sand-drift question must be settled before this area is thrown open, although possibly 1,000 acres of the best part could be made available shortly. Whangaiti Block (1,795 acres) : This block, situated near Titoki, should be opened and cut up into two farms if same will stand the cost of the necessary cable bridge across the Mangakahia River, which is a rapid and dangerous stream. Otaika Block (4,700 acres) and Poroti Block (3,300 acres) : These blocks are all gum-lancl and can nearly all be brought into grass ; but, in conjunction with the Agriculture Department, we are testing it by actual farming to prove by an exact balance-sheet that this country can not only be brought into grass, but kept in good heart and made to pay more than interest on the whole outlay. Birdwood Block, Swanson (700 acres) : Experiments are still being carried on, and further areas along the road frontage are being grassed in anticipation of selection for small-town-supply dairy farms. Restrictions as to top-dressing will have to be inserted in all future leases, and thereby stop any tendency to take all out, put nothing back, and then leave. Ruakaka Block (4,000 acres), situated near One Tree and Marsden Points : The inland part of this block can, I think, be brought in, but the greater part near the sea should be left as it is for the present, as it keeps back the sand, and will not repay cost of opening, besides being dangerous to do so. Te Karae Block (3,000 acres) : Of this block 500 acres in white-pine should be retained for milling, and 1,000 acres at least of the higher land should be added to the Tutamoe State Forest, leaving very little for settlement. Tokawhero Block (2,033 acres) : This block is held up pending the purchase of adjoining land to warrant cost of road access. Omanu Block (2,000 acres) : This is to be re-roaded and opened for selection now we have secured a less expensive road access. Omahuta Blocks (16,000 acres) : These are not ready to tackle yet, as they would not under present conditions pay the cost of putting into grass.

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