a—l.

WELLINGTON. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) There were no new estates purchased during the year. An analysis of the 139 estates acquired during previous years shows that on eighty-nine estates the tenants follow dairying, while on twenty estates sheep and cattle raising is followed. On the balance of the blocks the settlers pursue mixed farming and market-gardening. In a very few cases the settlements are used solely for residential purposes. The settlements are found in practically all parts of the district, so that the remarks made in the report on general settlement will apply to areas bought under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Acts. NELSON. (A. F. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No areas have been acquired under the Land for Settlements Act for some years past. Several existing settlements have received considerable concessions under the Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925. The majority of these settlers have been able to meet their commitments to the Department without further relief. MAELBOROUGII. (P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new settlements have been acquired under the Land for Settlements Act in this district during the past year. The principal and largest settlements in this district are, unfortunately, situated in those localities which experienced the worst effects of the drought. Those settlers who have the larger, purely grazing, sections had quite a good year, but the smaller sections, which are worked as mixed farms, did not fare so well, as the increase in prices for wool and stock was to a great extent minimized by the losses on cropping operations. Many of those whose holdings are small and devoted wholly to cropping had an extremely bad season. WESTLAND. (T. Cagney, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No land was acquired under the Land for Settlements Act during the period. CANTERBURY. (W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) During the year no new land-for-settlement estates were purchased. Brinklands Estate at Fairlie is still being farmed by the Crown and considerable improvements are being effected by the use of unemployed labour in draining, tree-planting for shelter belts, and genera] clearing. A substantial working profit was shown last season due mainly to the improved prices for sheep, &c., and the estate has set up what is probably a record for South Canterbury uplands in the lambing percentage, killing records, and wool-production. OTAGO. (N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new areas were opened for selection under the Land for Settlements Act; and the majority of settlements purchased are in the northern part of this district. It is fortunate that most of the settlers on these settlements carry a fair number of ewes, so that the rise in wool and lamb prices has been of material benefit. On present prices grain-growing, for which North Otago is particularly suited, is not a payable proposition. SOUTHLAND. (B. C. McCabe, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new estates were purchased in this district during the year. The position of many settlers on land-for-settlement estates shows no improvement, owing to the continued low prices being received for butterfat.

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