C.—l.

CANTERBURY. (N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No areas were purchased in the Canterbury District during the past year, and few are offering which can be purchased to advantage even as a means of increasing adjacent areas of settlement land which has been subdivided into what may be classed as uneconomic farms. A large number of settlers are taking advantage of the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act and are having their positions reviewed, but the amalgamation of adjacent sections seems the only solution where the area is too limited to ensure a reasonable return. The past year has been a good one for tenants on settlement lands, and with intermittent rain a flush of feed has resulted even on the light land of the plains, and a shortage of feed should not be experienced this winter. OTA6O. (F. H. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new estates were purchased during the year. The land-for-settlements settlers generally have had a satisfactory season, particularly those in North Otago, where the climatic conditions have been more favourable than usual. SOUTHLAND. (T. Cagney, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No new estates were purchased during the period nor any opened for selection. It is proposed to offer four sections in the lately purchased Lora Settlement for selection during the coming year. The existing settlements were, in common with other lands, affected by the dry season, the worst effect of which, however, is presented in the outlook for stock feed during the coming winter. The final adjustment of the subdivisions of the Campbell and Stalker Settlements in the direction of enlarging the areas held by the tenants thereon will be made shortly. This was made possible by one lessee in each settlement surrendering his holding.

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