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There has been a welcome tendency observable among many settlers to devote more time and care to establishing, or extending accommodation for, pigs on their holdings, and this clearly indicates that we may look forward to it becoming the rule rather than the exception, as hitherto, to find the dairyfarmer devoting to pig-raising as much care and attention as he devotes to butterfat-production. The pig has for too long been a neglected side-line, and it is, therefore, pleasing to note that settlers are now realizing that, with proper care, the pork output of the dairy-farm makes a substantial addition to its income, and cases could be quoted where it has already more than paid the rent. The Land Board has again had a strenuous year in dealing with applications for relief due to the continuance of the slump in prices, both for butterfat and wool, and recommendations for remissions of rent and interest or postponements have been made in every case where circumstances and conditions warranted. * . Where land partly or wholly developed by the Department has become available for offering for selection there has been no dearth of applications, and it has thus been possible to allot sections of this class to the right type of man with a reasonable assurance of successful prospects ahead. There has, on the other hand, been little or no inquiry for undeveloped land, and it is evident that lack of finance and the high cost of development still operate against the opening of such land for settlement, and will continue to do so until a general stabilization and a better relation between prices and costs of production can become re-established. In spite of the continued low prices ruling for almost all classes of farm-produce and the added difficulties occasioned by the drought in midsummer, the majority of our settlers have made a commendable effort to meet their annual charges for rent, interest, and mortgage instalments as far as it was in their power to do so after allowing for reduced incomes, the necessity for maintaining their pastures, and other essential farm expenditure. The result has been that our revenue under all headings has shown a substantial increase over the previous year. GISBORNE. (H. L. Primrose, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) While a comparison of our revenue position over the last four or five years makes quite pleasant readino- the figures need to be carefully analysed before the true position is brought to light, and it will then be disclosed that neither wool nor butterfat have been as much responsible for the good showing as the long overdue and much-needed rise in stock values. The Waikato is still an excellent market for our surplus sheep, the demand being of great assistance to sheep-farmers generally. Weather conditions were not altogether favourable throughout the year, and there was again a marked absence of heavy rains in the autumn and winter. The soil was therefore hardly m a, condition to withstand the dry weather that followed during the summer. This caused a shortage of natural feed, and also, of more serious consequence, many farms were not provided with adequate water-supply. There was thus a sharp decline in production, it being well into the middle of February before the weather broke. Ragwort continues to spread very rapidly, principally on unoccupied lands, and probably tHe Opotiki County is the area affected most. , . , In many districts very few farmers were able to get early fat lambs away, hill-country iambs especially being backward. ... ... , x Good progress has been made by the Public Works Department m clearing willows out of the Waipaoa and Tareheru Rivers on the flats. These works will result in much benefit to some of our settlements by greatly lessening flood-risk in the one case and better drainage on the other. Our gross revenue has again shown a very substantial rise on last year s figures. HAWKE'S BAY. (F. R. Burnley, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The weather conditions have, unfortunately, for the best part of the producing season been detrimental to increased productivity and resulted, in the majority of cases, in herds being dne o i prematurely In the case of sheep flocks the prolonged drought necessitated the drafting of numbers to outside districts. Extensive falls of rain at the close of the season have provided the district with abundant feed for the winter and no difficulty is expected 111 carrying the flocks through this year. Wool prices did not open up well, but late sales show a definitely improved tendency. Butterfat-prices also show an upward trend, and though the pay-out each month has been conservative it is expected that a substantial bonus will be paid later. . Considerable areas of scrub have been cut with a subsidy from the Unemployment Board during the vear and it is expected that increased flocks will be carried during the coming season 'Orchardists' prospects were very favourable at the commencement of the season but the ravages of orchard pests and the excessively dry season will, it is feared, result in these settlers having difficu y in meeting their obligations. . . Notwithstanding the trying conditions of the past season, revenue for the year shows an increase of 13 per cent, over that of the previous year.

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