I

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CONTENTS. General Report :— page Appendix II: —• Review of Past Year .. .. 2 Land for Settlements — page Legislation .. .. .. 2 Summary of Settlements established .. 13 Land-development .. .. .. 2 Extracts from Reports of Commissioners of Special Settlement of Inferior Lands .. 4 Crown Lands— Lands for Selection .. .. .. 4 North Auckland .. .. 21 Receipts .. .. .. .. 5 Auckland .. .. .. .. 21 Postponements .. .. .. 6 Gisborne .. .. .. .. 21 Rebates .. .. .. .. 6 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 21 National Endowment .. .. .. 6 Taranaki .. .. .. 21 Educational Endowment .. .. .. 6 Wellington .. .. .. 22 Lands reserved for various Purposes .. 6 Nelson .. .. .. .. 22 Land-drainage Operations .. .. .. 6 Marlborough .. .. .. .. 22 Expenditure .. .. .. .. 7 Westland .. .. .. 22 Canterbury .. .. .. 22 Otago .. .. .. .. .. 23 Appendix I:— Southland .. .. .. 23 Settlement of Crown Lands— North Auckland .. .. .. 8 Appendix III: — Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 8 Land-drainage Operations .. .. .. 24 Gisborne .......... 9 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. 9 Tables : — Taranaki .. .. .. .. ..10 Table 1. —Lands of the Dominion, Position of Wellington .. .. .. .. 10 (approximately) .. .. 25 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 10 „ 2.—Selections during the Year .. 26 Marlborough .. .. .. ..11 „ 3. —All Lands held on Lease .. .. 26 Westland.. .. .. .. ..11 „ 4.—Lands-for-settlement Lands .. 27 Canterbury .. . . .. 12 „ 5. —Endowment Lands leased and adOtago .. .. .. .. 12 ministered by Land Boards .. 27 Southland .. .. .. .. 12 „ 6. —Receipts, Arrears, and Postponements 27

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1931. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended 31st March, 1931, together with particulars of the special settlement of inferior lands, and of the development work that is being carried out on unoccupied Crown and settlement lands. In submitting this report I desire to point out that the operations recorded herein were carried out under the direction of my predecessor, Mr. J. B. Thompson, C.B.E. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

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