C.—l.

In all oases the charges were fixed on a valuation made by a special committee appointed by the Board for the purpose. The following table shows the results under the scheme to the 31st March, 1938 :— Operations under Original (10-Acre) Scheme. Holdings established .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 488 Number of such holdings since closed .. .. .. .. 186 Share milker's cottage loans approved .. .. .. .. .. 265 Share milker's cottage loans repaid .. .. .. .. 25 Operations since Small-farms Board constituted. Number. , 4" roa . (Acres). Individual holdings established .. .. .. .. 394 27,841 Sections included in blocks being developed .. .. 565 51,538 Areas being developed, but not sectionized .. .. .. .. 39,107 Share milker's cottage loans approved .. .. 66 Stock carried. 1935. 1938. Sheep .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,578 57,615 Dairy cows .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,585 5,322 Run cattle .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,289 4,469 Horses .. .. .. .. .. .. 124 359 Pigs .. .. .. .. .. .. 520 2,520 Further details in regard to operations under the Small-farms Scheme are given in Appendices 111, IV, V, and VI. Special Settlement of Inferior Lands. The following summary of the lands dealt with during the year is furnished in accordance with the provisions of section 223 (14) of the Land Act, 1924 : — (a) Aggregate area of land set apart: Nil. (b) Number of allotments and aggregate area disposed of : Nil. The total number of allotments taken up and the area held as at 31st March, 1938, was thirtyeight allotments, 7,256 acres. Lands for Selection. During the year, 232,225 acres were taken up on various tenures, the number of selections being 1,072 under all headings. These figures include some 534 sections, comprising altogether an area of 67,389 acres, taken up under miscellaneous leases and licenses, so that the selections on permanent tenures numbered 538 sections, covering a total area of 164,836 acres. The following table gives the selections of Crown lands for the last five years : —• Selections under all Tenures. Year ending Number. Acres) 31st March, 1934 .. .. .. .. .. 1,118 285,166 31st March, 1935 .. .. .. .. .. 1,036 302,915 31st March, 1936 .. .. .. .. .. 1,037 210,026 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. .. .. 1,342 ' 463,178 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. .. 1,072 232,225 The total of 232,225 acres selected during the year includes lands taken up under both permanent and temporary tenures, and also town and suburban lands. The permanent selections of rural lands only were as follows

6

, i- , Number of Rural Total Area Class of Land. Sections selected. selected. Acres. Crown and national-endowment land .. .. 196 136,995 Settlement land .. .. .. .. 31 4,358 Education reserves, &c. .. .. .. .. 42 7,592 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 269 148,945