C.—s

1881. NEW ZEALAND.

CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT (REPORT UPON THE, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1881.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

The Secretary for Crown Lands to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, —: . General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 18th July, 1881. I have the honor to forward the general report of the Crown Lands Department for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1881, together with tables containing an enumeration of lands sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of, in each of the eleven land districts of the colony. I have, &c, James McKerrow, The Hon- William Rollestou, Minister of Lands. Secretary for Crown Lands.

REPORT. In reviewing the transactions of the Crown Lands Department for the twelve months ended 31st March. 1881., the principal feature which claims attention is the great increase, as compared with former years., in the number of selectors who have acquired land on the deferred-payment and other settlement conditions. No less than 1,310 persons have selected and occupied a total of 165,361 acres, being an average of 126 acres to each. In cash sales the returns are also much greater than for the previous year, and it is satisfactory to observe that the increase is not confined to one or two land districts, but is general throughout the colony. The most marked increase is in that part of the Taranaki District constituted into the new Land District of West Coast, and comprehending the Waimate Plains. The sales of land in that district, together with sales in other districts of the North Island, have had the effect of making the receipts from cash sales in that Island last year nearly equal in amount to those of the Middle Island for the same period. Before referring further to the settlement of the Waimate Plains, or to the other subjects of report, it will be interesting to give a short summary of the results for the year : — Land sold on immediate payments— A. k. p. Pu.obase.B, Scrip. Cash Received. Town lands ... 274 8 4 sold to 711) & -• d. £ _. d. Suburban ... ... 1,170 324 „ 202 |> 10,158 11 7 275,896 10 7 Rural ... ...195,630 035 „ 1,155) Land sold on deferred payments— a --■ p. Purchasers. Agricultural ... ... 115,329 2 10 sold to 880"] Pastoral ... ... 29,007 134 „ 15 [ Village settlement ... ... 2,095 0 0 „ 259 }- 53,706 12 1 Deposits on the above, aud instalments from selectors current from | former years ... ... ... ... ...J Agricultural leases on gold fields— 0,782 acres, leased to 74 selectors. Rents, from these and from selectors") „ ..,_ current from former years ... ... ... ... ) 0,_07 1 i Homestead — 11,984 acres, selected by 77 persons ... ... ... Nil. Pastoral rents— From 12,382,014 acres, held by 946 tenants ... ... ... 117,803 2 6 MiscellaneousCoal and mineral leases, royalties, timber licenses, &c. ... ... 7,000 0 0 Laud and territorial revenue, for 12 months ended 31st March, 1881 .., £460,803 12 3

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