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NELSON. (A. F. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Discharged Soldier Settlement. —The observations made as to farming conditions generally apply equally to discharged soldier settlers. The disastrous earthquake of last winter caused considerable damage to the properties of a number of soldier settlers, attended in many cases with heavy losses of stock. This has caused disorganization of farm-work, as the repair of dwellings and farm buildings had to take priority of routine work. It is, however, gratifying to note that an increasing number of doubtful cases are becoming firmly established. The slump in butter and wool will hit a number of soldier settlers fairly hard, especially those who. have been unable to build up a reserve against lean years. MARLBOROUGH. (P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Notwithstanding the vast amount of investigation of the position of discharged soldier settlers and the liberal concessions that have been granted by the Dominion Revaluation Board, it is found that a number of the settlers,are not progressing. This state is found to be more particularly confined to the poorer lands where farms carved out from the bush are devoted to dairying. The return per cow on these lands is generally low, and the gross return per settler insufficient to meet his land charges, provide a living, and furnish a surplus for developmental work. Each case is more or less constantly under review, and where circumstances warrant the Department endeavours to help the settler along. This state does not., apply so particularly to the more open lands ; but, even so, cases of difficulty and hardship appear, and where the settler is giving of his best to make good, his case receives sympathetic consideration. Dairymen generally have experienced a fairly satisfactory season, notwithstanding the fall in price of the butter and cheese. Factories report increased production. Herd-testing is increasing, and the farmer, realizing the necessity to . only feed and work the best producers, this method of eliminating the non-payable beast will further increase. Improvement of pasture by top-dressing is also on the increase, but the cost of haulage to the outlying farms is a retarding influence. Lime and other manures are very necessary to the bush dairy-farms, but are not used as extensively as desired on account of the costs. The soldier agricultural farmer, as with this class of farming generally, had much to contend against with the abnormally wet season from winter to harvesting. The Alberton and Neville soldier settlements were under water for a considerable period, and sowing was late. Returns were indifferent. Sheep-farming : The settlers following this line of farming have not had a satisfactory season owing to the fall in prices of wool and sheep. Their progress generally is considerably retarded by the low-figure returns for the season, and some have a difficult time ahead. Dwellings : The majority of dwelling property accounts are in a satisfactory position, but lack of employment causes a number to fall into arrear. Three abandoned properties remain unsold. The demand for non-modern class of house is very limited, and any property lacking conveniences is hard to quit. The following is the position of accounts under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act: Current account advances, £34,607 6s. 6d. ; instalment mortgage advances on farms, £211,049 13s. 2d. ; instalment mortgage advances on dwellings, £81,144 17s. 4d. : total, £326,801 17s. Receipts during the year, £29,986 os. 7d. Arrears—lnterest on current account, £1,177 ss. Id. ; instalments on farms, £3,944 15s. ; instalments on dwellings, £322,125. 4d. WESTLAND. ' (W. T. Morpeth, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The task of stabilizing the soldier settlers in this district may be considered to be practically completed. Few additional applications for remissions or revaluations may be expected —possibly there may be one or two, but no more. In all other cases the soldier settlers are in a satisfactory position, and have reached the self-supporting stage, and mainly business of a routine nature only remains to be transacted. CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Soldier settlement in Canterbury is now on a firm basis and given reasonable prices and good seasons any further difficulties should be obviated. As in the past every endeavour has been made when opportunity offered to increase the areas of those subdivisions which are on the small side. It is only to be expected that in dealing with any considerable number there will always be a few who are not suitable for farming life. These are gradually transferring or otherwise disposing of their holdings, and, generally speaking, the settlers now on the books are genuine triers and hard workers with every prospect of success. Practically all current account advances for improvements have now been transferred to instalment mortgages, and the settlers are thus enabled to repay such advances on the long-term-mortgage system. OTAGO. (N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The general progress of soldier settlers appears to have been well maintained, and with the low prices realized during the past year the previous concessions granted under revaluations have proved of general assistance. There are some whose position is still difficult, and who require special treatment, but if values improve this year they should be able to carry on, and eventually come out all