C—l

V

are only technically behindhand in their payments, as all rents, &c, are bylaw payable in advance, most of them on the Ist January or July; consequently many of the payments due on the Ist January last only come in during the six months following that date. Were the returns made up at a later period the result would be much more favourable, especially so in the case of the pastoral and small-grazing runholders, whose rents are due on the Ist March —only one month before the returns are made up.

Revaluations. The following table shows the results to date under "The Selectors' Lands Revaluation Act, 1889." There are a few schedules yet to come in, but not many; these have been delayed until the selectors pay up arrears.

Summarising the above figures we have, — £ s. d. Total loss on deferred-payment lands ... ... ... 166,529 13 8 Total loss on perpetual-lease lands (rent, £2,017 16s. 5d.), capital value " ... ... .,. ... ... 40,400 0 4 £206,929 14 0 The perpetual-lease value is arrived at by capitalising the rent at 5 per cent. The reduction per acre on deferred-payment lands amounts to about 14s. 6d, per acre, and on perpetual-lease lands to about 10s'. 5d. per acre. It is, however, not quite correct to say that the loss to the Crown amounts to the large sum shown above, for a few payments had been made on the original values which would go to reduce the total loss. "The Naval and Militaey Settlebs' and Volunteers' Land Act, 1891." The amending Act of last session authorised the issue of scrip for the 627 claims which had been reported on favourably by the Commissioners, and all but four of these have been delivered to those entitled to receive them. The value of the scrip varies from £25 to £200, and the total amount authorised is equal to £23,106 10s. in value. Blocks of lands have been set aside within which this scrip may be exercised as the Act requires ; but, owing to causes which have already been pointed out, these blocks are of little or no use for such a purpose, on account of their broken nature and distance from markets. Twenty-five pounds' worth of scrip, representing 50 acres of land, is of little value in country which is only suitable for pastoral pursuits, and will then only carry two sheep to the acre, inasmuch as a man could not get a living out of such a property. The time for sending in claims under the amending Act of 1891 expires on the 30th June, 1892 ; therefore the results of the inquiries now making by the Commissioners will not be apparent until next year's returns. It would be an obvious advantage if some means could be devised to satisfy the claims which will arise thereunder other than by setting aside specific blocks of land, as has heretofore been done. Many of those entitled to the scrip already issued were found to be persons who, from age or infirmities, could not possibly occupy their lands. In these cases their scrip was purchased by the Government at current rate, the amount expended to the 31st March, being £2,315. Thermal Speings, etc. The sanatoria at the hot springs—Eotorua and Hanmer Plains—under the charge of the department, continue to attract a large number of visitors, as is shown by the following figures, the number of baths taken being—

Deferred Payment. Perpetual Lease. Totals. District. No. of Revaluations. - Area. Loss in Capital Value. No. of Revaluations. Area. Loss in Annual Rent. No. of ] Revaluations. Area. Lost Capital Value and Kent. i .uokland 'aranaki Vellington Janterbury )tago 7 13 1 1 23 A. E. P. 962 1 38 1,067 0 27 126 3 7 8 3 24 7,756 0 13 £ s. d. : 276 13 0 1,516 6 0 50 10 0 50 4 0 3,561 9 0 33 4 2 2 21 A. It. P. 1,511 0 29 1,664 3 0 232 0 16 73 0 9 5,015 2 7 £ s. d. 28 14 5< 17 2 1 0 3 G; 4 4 0'< 74 11 6 40 17 3 3 44 A. B. P. 2,473 2 27 2,731 3 27' 358 3 23' 81 3 33] 12,771 2 20J £ s. d. 305 7 5 1,533 8 1 50 13 6 54 8 0 3,636 0 6 Total, 1891-92 Previous years 45 1,298 9,921 1 29 201,053 0 0 5,455 2 o' 62 147,879 0 0J 503 8,496 2 21 61,464 0 0 124 15 6 1,664 10 3 107 1,801 18,418 0 10 262,517 0 Oj 5,579 17 6 [149,543 10 3 Total to date 1,343 210,974 1 29 153,334 2 0 1 565 69,960 2 21 1,789 5 9j 1,908 280,935 0 10l jl55,123 7 9 Total, 1891-92 Previous years 1 50 320 0 0 12,859 0 0 Endow: 1ENTS. 9 18 0 218 12 8, I 584 1 17 20,072 0 0 1,001 6 8j 2 12,194 5 0 31 264 1 17 7,213 0 0 3 81 1,011 4 8 12,412 17 8 Total to date 51 13,179 0 0 13,195 11 8 HH 7,477 1 17 228 10 8 84 20,656 1 17 13,424 2 4

1891. No. of Baths. Fees. 1892. No. of J Baths. Fees. [anmer Plains... ;otorua £ s. d. 6,437 228 12 6 Hanmer Plains ... 10,442 227 2 0 Botorua £ s. d. ... 7,311 258 17 8 ... 17,521 277 13 0