25

C—l

you and your family can efficiently work ; grow everything you possibly can on your own place for home use ; do not neglect the small industries such as gardening, poultry, rearing bees, and many others ; and do not depend entirely on sheep or cattle rearing, but adopt a mixed system of farming. Above all, never work away from your own place when by doing so you will lose the season for some important operation, or unless absolutely obliged to do so. Forfeitures and Surrenders. —Forty-nine holdings under the various systems of tenure have been determined by forfeiture and surrender, under somewhat similar circumstances to those described in the foregoing copy of letter. Transfers. —Forty-five transfers have been given effect to, and many of these had their origin in hasty and ill-considered applications, which would have resulted in forfeiture in the absence of transferees. Exchanges of Tenure. —Forty-five leases and licenses were exchanged for forty-one leases in perpetuity. Besidence and Improvements. —The Eanger has furnished the following information, as the result of the year's inspections : —

Summary of Crown Lands Rangers' Reports, 1894-95.

In his report the Eanger expresses the opinion that, if the settlers are to live by their land, they would require to make at least four times the improvements they have done, and that the incidence of local taxation militates against improvements, inasmuch as the more they do the more they are taxed. The principal of taxing improvements is certainly open to argument ; but, as the weakness of these bodies' finances is notorious, and settlers are ever increasing their demands for works, it is hard to see in what way the rates could be reduced. Of forest-land taken up during the period under review, 132 acres have been felled. Small Grazing- and Pastoral-runs. —Some of the small grazing-runs offered about two years ago have not yet found, tenants. In some cases the tenants have so far failed to comply with conditions, and. three have been surrendered. It has been found expedient to let some of these runs for short terms, and at low rents, in order to relieve the country from the burthen and cost of keeping down the rabbit-pest. There is reason for believing that some of the large runs held under pastoral license, situated in high and inferior country, will be left on our hands before very long, owing to the rabbits, unless merino wool advances in price. During the year the Auckland and Campbell Islands were offered for pastoral license, and most of these have found purchasers. A syndicate of Gisborne men have joined the lessee of Campbell Islands for the purpose of exploiting these, and developing their pastoral capacities, and the pioneers of the party have just chartered a schooner and sailed for the islands. 4—C. 1.

leports, Term, and Tenure. Number of Selectors. Area. Partial Default. Total Default. Absent. Double Improvements in lieu of Residence. Living Adjoining. Besiding on Selection. Deferred-payment— Second year Fourth year . Final year 43 36 i','695 1,475 9 2 9 1 16 10 18 25 Total 79 3,170 11 10 26 43 Perpetual lease— Second ... Fourth ... Final ... - ... 204 75 26,018 13,749 18 4 ii 70 .10 41 6 50 25 84 40 Total 279 39,767 22 11 80 47 75 124 Lease in perpetuity— First year Second year 32 113 9,014 31,270 9 22 12 17 21 39 1 29 10 45 Total i45 40,284 31 29 60 30 55 Occupation with right of purchase— First year Second year 2 21 8 42 1,735 18,459 4 3 2 6 6 17 "i Total 50 20,194 7 8 23 4 23 Small grazing-runs ... 24 71,473 3 1 4 4 16 Grand totals ,.. 577 174,888 74 49 177 47 139 261