C.—s

2

have been offered for selection, 8,929 acres and 14 perches have been taken up by ninety-six selectors, of whom sixty-one are resident. In several cases the time within which residence is compulsory has not yet "expired, and in those cases where such time has expired notice has been given to the selectors to comply with the residence conditions at once. Improvements have been effected by the selectors on these lands to a value of £4,961 10s. With reference to the balance not yet selected, after deducting the area absorbed by roads and reserves, it leaves 1,920 acres and 31 perches not yet selected in Pomahaka, and 2,826 acres not yet selected in the Blind Eiver Estate (six sections, containing 750 acres, have been selected in addition since 31st March). The annual rentals placed upon these unselected lands are : Pomahaka, £300 4s. 2d.; Blind Eiver, £447 11s. sd. (reduced since 31st March by the additional selection above to £277 6s. 7d.). There are 487 acres of ordinary Crown land not purchased with the Blind Eiver Estate, but which is included in the subdivision as naturally belonging to it; but it has been excluded in the above figures. The reasons why portions of these two estates have not been selected up to this time are principally due to the fact that there has been a continual fall in prices since they were first purchased. In the case of Pomahaka the estate has suffered from attempts made to publicly depreciate its character. With respect to the Blind Eiver Estate, the Commissioner of Crown Lands says : " Owing to the small area of Crown lands which was open and suitable for settlement in this district, it was confidently expected that this block would have gone off much more readily than it has. I think the reasons why it has not done so are the extremely low prices ruling for stock and agricultural produce, and the Awatere Eiver being still unbridged." Detailed tabular reports are attached hereto, showing particulars as to the estates, selections made,'improvements, &c, and the following gives a summary of the whole in brief form : —

Particulars of Estates which have been offered for Selection.

* This area of 2,826 acres has since been reduced by the selection of 750 acres. t This rental of £447 11s. sd. has since been reduced by the selection of 750 acres, the rental of which is £170 4s. 10d., leaving the figures in the above column £277 6s. 7d.; an area cf 487 acres of Crown land included in the estate, valued at £85 12s. of rental, is not included in these figures. It will thus be seen that on the whole of the transactions interest at 414 per cent, is derived from rentals of lands let. This statement, however, is based on the assumption that none of the selectors are in arrear, which is not the case—some of the selectors, like those on ordinary Crown lands, are in arrear. The first few years of settlement in any country are the most trying to settlers, for the expenses of building, fencing, stock, seed, and others incidental to the first occupation of country come all at once and before any or very little return is received from the land. The fall in the price of stock and produce during the year under consideration is another factor which cannot be ignored in connection herewith. So that it is not surprising if some of the settlers are in arrear during the early years of settlement. The total amount the settlers were behindhand in their payments on the 31st March was £320 2s. 5d., owing by twenty-eight selectors. These figures are reduced to fourteen selectors, owing £216 9s. 4d. at the present date. I have, &c, S. Peecy Smith, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Surveyor-General and Chairman of Board.

Name of Estate. Total Area purchased. Area selected. S o iTotal Annual •g o I Rental of a.2 I Sections let. I Area not Rental Total Cost of a . selected at placed on Estate ® o 31st March, Land not to 31st March, -g a2 K 5 189S. selected. 1895. ?' H |Sn ■§J|8*H j Arrears of I Bental, '31st March, 1895. A. E. P. 620 2 13 107 2 17 574 1 5 347 3 18 7,462 3 1 5,020 0 0 A. B. P. (ill 3 15 104 2 8 572 1 22 344 1 25 5,341 3 24 1,954 0 0 £ s. a. 397 17 6 73 4 6 270 4 O^ 281 9 6 894 1 4 370 7 7 A. E. P. £ s. a. £ s. d. 7,207 16 1 1,327 10 3 4,742 7 10 5,532 11 11 21,156 0 6 15,187 17 10 Percent. 5-52 5-51 5-69 509 4-22 2-43 £ s. a. 8 16 9 'areora itudholme Juno. Capua 'e Anaraki 'omahaka ilind River 29 4 12 22 21 8 31 14 4 71 12 3 207 19 1 1,920 0 31 2,826 0 0* 300 4 2 447 11 5f 14,133 0 14 8,929 0 14 96 2,287 4 5 4,746 0 31 747 15 7 55,154 4 5 4-14 320 2 5