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Number of Horses, Cows, Calves, Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, and Working-bullocks, with Chains of Fencing, in various Village Settlements; also, Number of Women, Children, Acres in Grass, and Approximate Area in Gardens, Orchard, &c., to 31st March, 1892.

Hawkb's Bay. Woodville Village-homestead Special Settlement (Perpetual Lease), Block TV., Woodville Survey District. —This settlement was formed in June, 1887, and is situated on the main road, about one mile south of the Town of Woodville. Its extent was 112 acres, divided into lots varying from 1 acre near the road to 8 acres at the back. At the time of selection nearly the whole was covered with forest, the acre sections fronting the main road being the exception. In 1887, the settlers numbered twenty-nine, two of whom have since forfeited their selections, which have been disposed of under other systems, leaving twenty-seven as the present number of holdings, with a total of 102 acres. Of these, twelve are held by the original selectors, the balance by transferees. Rather over four years has elapsed since the land was taken up, and a flourishing settlement, with good houses, gardens, orchards, and grass paddocks, has taken the place of unproductive forest. It needs but a visit to become convinced of its success, and that it is in many respects a model settlement, fulfilling its intended purposes. Its proximity to Woodville, with its mills and other industries, has been greatly in its favour; although in several instances the head of the family works at bushfalling or roadwork some distance away, only coming home at the end of the week. As a proof of the industry of these people, the value of the improvements that have been put on the land during four years is between £3,000 and £4,000, of which only £793 15s. 9d. has been advanced by the Government. Whilst the whole of the twenty-seven settlers have done -well, the following are, I think, the most noticeable : On Section s—Good substantial house, outhouses, shelter-trees, garden, &c, of a value of about £250. Section 9 —With a pretty little cottage and well-kept garden; improvements about £100. Section 29 —A holding of 5 acres, land down in good grass, orchard, garden and good house; value of improvements, £200. Section 30—Orchard, garden, and substantial house, with 7 acres fenced in and in grass; value of improvements, £200. After the foregoing, it is needless to say that all and more than the required improvements have been effected. The rents and interest on advances are very regularly paid, and at the present time only two are a half-year's payment in arrear. There appeared to be a great desire on the part of some of the settlers to acquire the freehold, but I gave them no encouragement. I think such a concession would be a mistake, at any rate for some years to come. Waipaiva Small-farm Association (Deferred Payment), Block XIII. , Norsewood Survey District. — This association, composed of thirty-three members, was formed in November, 1885, and selected on deferred payment 3,221 acres of the Umutaoroa Block, in the vicinity of Danevirke. Its location is most favourable, stretching as it does from the railway-station at Mangateroa back to the foot of the Euahine Eahges. The land is more suitable for dairying and sheep than agriculture, being mainly a light soil, but carrying good grass. It was at the time of selection covered with forest. Six years have elapsed since the selection, and the present holdings number twenty-eight, two selectors having, by means of transfer, acquired a second section, and another a third, the largest holding in the settlement being 255 acres. Of the twenty-eight now in possession, nine are original selectors ; the other nineteen are transferees. Six of the former, and one of the latter, have acquired the freehold. The weak point in the settlement is the number of non-residents, there being no less than seventeen out of twenty-eight holders. Six out of the seven who have acquired the

Namo of Settlement. CD O w O Q D CD Si Si o 03 CD Q it fi Is h g£ I* 11 1 to H o o CP » e.-S .S3 H Whananaki... Motukaraka Omaha ... Te Aroha ... Komokorau... Firewood Creek Karaka Swanson andWaitakerei Waimamaku Pern Flat ... Hukerenui ... Motatau Pataua Herekino Takahue Punakitere ... 25 11 10 32 3 16 2 5 18 11 64 21 13 46 18 23 40 56 49 87 6 37 9 11 28 6 103 19 24 57 13 60 31 6 360 34 25 13 50 3 1 1 8 8 9 59 9 4 161 24 31 175 166 229 428 50 5330 176 240 53 272 79 21 361 22 107 49 45 31 54 5 21 6 7 26 6 81 20 33 77 13 61 422 603 492 736 78 140 115 142 70 71 618 125 236 306 114 383 "7 8 5 10 27 16 19 1 4 3 11 13 6 25 5 7 15 7 15 41 84 33 62 4 17 13 43 35 14 88 15 21 49 21 43 112 575 242 174 17 102 24 30 162 149 285 50 101 283 156 198 8 10 5 1 3 2 7* 7 1* 2 6 2 4i 115 16 41 1 294 141 318 605 963 440 2,462 535 4,651 62 184 583 2,660 70 H. P. Kavanagh, Village Steward.