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CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) There has been no new settlement of Crown land in Canterbury during the year. In the old settled Crown lands the settlers are so well established that little supervision is necessary. The pastoral-run holders now in occupation are almost all men who know their country and how it should be treated, and as they have the right to freehold more energetic steps are taken to keep the rabbits in check and preserve the pastures. Planting is being carried out in many instances, and proper precautions taken with burning. The lessees of education reserves and endowments are also in almost all cases in sound positions and fulfilling all the conditions of their leases. It is worthy of note the great increase in recent years of the entries at Addington weekly sales. Several times this year these extensive yards have been insufficient to accommodate the amount of stock offering ; and although sales have started early in the morning, and four or five auctioneers have been selling continuously, it has been often 6 p.m. before the last lines were offered. Much stock is now brought from the North Island, from as far north as Gisborne, to be offered at Addington, and other lines come from the Chatham Islands, through the tunnel from the West Coast, and from as far south as Southland. The Land Board work has increased considerably during the year, and in several instances all cases could not be dealt with in the usual three-day meeting per month, so that fortnightly meetings were taken. The total cases dealt with in the year was 1,458. The total revenue has again shown an increase, this year it is £31,000 over the total revenue of last year.

OTAGO. (R. S. Galbeaith, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The settlers on the land in Otago have experienced what may be described as a normal year. The early part of the winter season was dry, and tilling-work was carried on with very little interruption. The weather conditions changed in July, when rain set in, and right up to September a very wet spell was experienced. Consequently sowing operations were much delayed. From September to November the weather was unsettled, rain and cold snaps prevailing, and, as a result, there were some fairly heavy losses of young lambs. From December onwards the farmers were favoured with splendid weather conditions, which caused a rapid and prolific growth of all cereal, root, and fodder crops. Heavy falls of snow on the high country in July, August, and September caused considerable anxiety to the pastoralists, but no abnormal losses of sheep have been reported. The cold unsettled weather from July to November appears to have been fairly general throughout the Dominion and seriously affected the output of wool, most growers reporting that their flocks clipped a lower average weight per head than was the case in the previous year. The average price of the wool sold in Dunedin last season was 13d. per pound, and represents a drop of about 40 per cent, on the previous year's prices, the heaviest drop being in merino and fine half-bred wool. Such a drop must have been severely felt; but the prices obtained could not be called unremunerative, and most sheep-farmers have done fairly well. Should prices stabilize at a somewhat higher level than that of the past season, as seems probable, the outlook for the pastoral industry will be distinctly bright. Transfers of sheep-grazing properties continue to be numerous, and no appreciable reduction in con-sideration-money for the goodwill of the leases is noticeable. As the area in Otago on pastoral and small grazing-run lease is 4,830,894 acres the importance of sheep-farming in this district is obvious. The price of butterfat was somewhat higher than for the previous year, and farmers engaged in dairying have had a fairly good season. Though the grass was late in coming away, it was plentiful, and growth lasted later than usual, so that good returns of milk have been obtained, and farmers, in most cases, have been able to make ample provision for winter feeding. For fat cattle the prices varied considerably throughout the year, reaching a very high level about November. They have again fallen a good deal since the New Year, but are still higher than for many years past. Fruitgrowers have had, on the whole, a good year, and very satisfactory crops have been obtained generally throughout the district. Towards the close of the year the subdivisions of Wilden Run in the Whitecombe and Wart Hill Survey Districts were offered for selection in four runs, ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 acres in area. Three were selected at ballot by discharged soldiers, there being keen competition for them ; the fourth was afterwards allotted to a civilian. These runs consist of excellent pastoral country, though somewhat high and subject to snow risks. Twelve ordinary meetings of the Land Board were held during the year, and several special meetings were held, besides which members made several visits of inspection in connection with some of the more important matters that came before the Board for consideration. Every reasonable effort has been made to collect outstanding rents, &c., and it is pleasing to note that, while the receipts for the period under review exceed those of last year by £5,242, there has been a decrease of £4,1 15 in the combined arrears and postponements. The legislation passed last year by which the term of license of land held on occupation with right of purchase was extended has proved of great benefit to many settlers. Up to the time of writing thirty-five settlers have had their licenses extended for seven years.