C—l

18

Table No. 5. —Statement of Work done for other Departments and for Local Bodies during the Year ended 31st March, 1893.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX No. I.—ADMINISTEATION. EXTEACTS FEOM THE EEPOETS OE THE COMMISSIONEES OF CEOWN LANDS ON SETTLEMENT OPEEATIONS DUEING THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MAECH, 1893. AUCKLAND. Starting with the Summary of Transactions, Table A, it will be seen that the area disposed of is 115,453 acres, or, adding the land taken up by the North Island Land Association of Canterbury at Matata, gives a total of 135,453 acres; whilst the total of all selectors (including forty-three for the above-mentioned association) is 672, or, deducting those, as not yet actually settled upon the land, we have a total of 629 selectors. Out of this total of 115,453 acres, only some 13,937 acres have been sold for cash, to 260 selectors, being an average of 53-J- acres to each selector, at an average price of nearly 13s. per acre. Table C shows also that for the cash lands the rural purchasers have only been 180, for 13,672 acres, equal to about 76 acres, to each selector. The Deferred-payment Lands, as shown by Table D, being only for seven months of the year, had sixty selectors —6,160 acres, or an average of 102|- acres to each selector. The forfeitures for non-fulfilment of conditions have been twelve, of an area of 646 acres. The total area now held under this condition is 66,498 acres, by 491 selectors, the yearly instalment due being £5,644, the total freehold applied for and granted from the commencement being 7,393 acres, by fifty-two selectors. The selectors, however, in arrears are fifty-nine, owing £333 6s. 5d., and occupying an area of 5,422 acres. Table E, being Perpetual Lease and small areas, shows a total of land selected of 63,266 acres, by 194 selectors, or an average of 326 acres for each selector. The forfeitures and surrenders have been forty-one in number, with an area of 6,167 acres. The total number of selectors now on the books is 1,001, holding an area of 260,233 acres, or an average of 260 acres for each selector, the total made freehold from the commencement being only 3,824 acres. There are, however, 153 selectors in arrears, owing £670, and occupying 33,381 acres. Table E, being Lease in Perpetuity, has found favour, as for the four months following its opening there have been thirty-one selectors, for a total of 4,948 acres, or an average of 159|- acres for each selector ; and I think the coming year will show a large area selected under this heading, and also for perpetual lease converted into this tenure. Table G, being Occupation with Plight of Purchase, has also found still greater favour, as for the four months during which it has been legal there are seventy-three selectors, for a total area of 12,120 acres, or an average of 192 acres for each selection. The Village Homestead Special Settlements, shown on Table L, will require to have the remarks which I made in last year's report again repeated—namely, that they are holding their own, but that is all. This, of course, only refers to the settlers still holding under this system, and does not necessarily imply that the settlements themselves are decreasing, because the areas originally laid out for this class are being selected by other settlers, or by the sons of original village homestead settlers, under other tenures. The total number of settlers, including endowment lands-, are now only 274, holding an area of 11,395 acres, paying an annual rental of £830, including interest upon advances. The forfeitures have been twenty-two, of an area of 978 acres 1 rood 9 perches. The arrears of payment are still very considerable, there being £1,456 13s. 9d. owed, by 257 selectors, for rent and interest. The Village Steward's report, herewith enclosed, will give still further particulars.

District. Cost. District Cost. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson .. Marlborough £ s. d. 1,061 1 2 311 16 9 228 0 0 1,063 6 5 34 15 8 9 14 0 Brought forward Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Wellington, Head Office £ s. d. 2,708 14 0 522 11 7 651 17 3 324 13 11 7 14 0 576 12 7 Carried forward.. 2,708 14 0 Totals 4,792 3 4