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OTAGO. The annual returns of transactions in respect of ordinary Crown lands and endowments for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1898, forwarded herewith, disclose the whole scope of the year's operations and the position at the date mentioned of the several classes of land-tenure, and they may be considered as requiring but little note or comment. I will, however, briefly refer to some of their salient features, and make such remarks and explanations with reference thereto as may seem to be necessary or desirable. Summary of Transactions. —The subjoined summary in the usual form shows the selections during the year, the revenue collected, &c, in a concise manner. As compared with the transactions of 1896-97, it will be seen that there is a slight decrease in almost every item, the total difference in the column of selections, &c, being ninety-five in number and 62,200 acres in area. The difference in revenue I have already stated. The total area held shows an increase of 145 holders, but a decrease in area of 58,498 acres, the decrease in area being chiefly in pastoral lands.

Summary of Land Transactions, 1897-98.

Bevemie. —The gross receipts of 1897-98, which include those under the Land for Settlements Acts and the few endowment lands administered by the Land Board, amounted to £67,751 16s. Id., being less than the previous year by £3,395 6s. 5d., and £2,113 18s. 10d. below the estimate for the year. The items in which there was the greatest deficiency are deferred payments, lease in perpetuity, and miscellaneous. In forwarding the estimates for the present year I stated the reasons far the deficiency to be—(l) Fewer completions of deferred-payment purchases than expected;

'ransaci lions Suring ear. .rea .arc, Class of Seleotion. Revenue received during the Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Cash Deferred payment Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease Perpetual lease made freehold ... Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity, exchange from other tenures Land for settlement— Lease in perpetuity ... Village lease in perpetuity Small grazing-runs ... Miscellaneous licenses Miscellaneous receipts Agricultural leases Village settlement—> Cash Deferred payment ... Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease Occupation with right of purchase Lease in perpetuity ... Village-homestead special settle-) ment J Special-settlement association ... Improved-farm settlement Mining districts land occupation Homestead lands ... Small grazing-runs Pastoral licenses Coal and mineral leases Timber-cutting Miscellaneous licenses... Survey-fees ... Crown-grant fees ... Other sources A. B. P. 600 2 14 A. B. P. £ s. d. 974 4 0 2,993 11 7 28 116 26,783 3 27 29 6,425" 3 19 451 ! '"9 10 834" 1 14 1,328 2 4 82,541 3 38 3,097 5 7 722 15 0 1 562 9 5 *91 17,374 1 10 I 65 9 12,491 1 34 3,516 1 10 1 533 140,010 3 27 3,540 11 9 84 2 2 31 13,015 2 36 25 0 0 2,452 3 27 364 2 22 257 29 3 39 33,494 3 10 402 3 37 3,667 1 30 765 2 1 9,176 18 10 321 13 3 265 13 8 58 15 11 56 18 10 115 6 6 '"5 257" 3 15 19 608 0 35 1 1 0 36 "5 187 2 36 10 0 0 57 5 10 4 107" 0 1 42 5 933 2 33 3 2 28 99 1 11 10 6 27 493 2 31 133 2,123 1 5 139 3 6 (E.116 10 2 |i. 68 1 2 96 9 6 13 16 5 193 2 5 86 1,393 1 25 "l 18 70 0 0 941 0 20 15 76 81 3 265 247 2,955 1 12 9,748 3 38 3,449 1 22 206 2 37 517,278 3 22 4,197,796 1 21 24 27 2 4 75 45,667 0 24 383,667 0 4 5 0 0 45 0 0 24,550 0 1 } 370 11,358 13 10 30,802 7 0 ( 190 7 9 12 4 0 ( 774 6 6 54 17 9 79 6 0 506 0 9 80,756 2 21 Total Crown lands ... Endowments totals ... 457 2 496,860 13,568 1 32 2 10 2,866 52 5,122,484 0 35 47,113 2 17 66,458 19 1,292 16 4 9 Gross totals 459 510,429 0 2 2,918 5,169,597 3 12 67,751 16 1