c—i.

£3 818 12s 3d ■ rebates granted, £16 Bs. 2d.; number of houses, 18; persons resident, 66 ; value of improvements, £3,307 Is. 9d. The Eanger reports : " This estate is m much the same condition as last year The crop in several instances would have given good yields, but owing to the unusually wet harvest the returns have been seriously affected. Many of the sections are too small especially in the Sweetwater Block and the block immediately above the Township of Dunback I would suggest grouping whenever opportunity offers. The conditions of residence are not being as well complied with as they should, owing, I think, to the above reasons. However feed is plentiful, and I think the prospects of the coming year are brighter. The limestoneworks on this estate have been improved and extended during the year under the supervision of the Engineer of Eoads, who will, I presume, furnish a full report of same. The proceeds from the sale of lime were passed through the books of this office for a portion of the year only—viz, up to the end of November, to which date the sum of £232 Is. 7d. had been received from sales of lime, but how much since I have no means of knowing. Momona.— This small settlement of 219 acres 1 rood 16 perches remains in the occupation of fourteen settlers, at a yearly rental of £210 6s. 2d. Bent received during the year, £219 Is. 9d ; total from beginning, £971 Is. lid.; rebates granted, £3 10s. id. ; houses, 14; persons resident, 56 ■ value of improvements, £1,869 12s. 6d. The Eanger states that the settlers on this estate are all doing very well, and appear to be quite content, no complaints of any kind having been made. Every section is occupied, and the improvements are good and substantial. Tokarahi —The total area occupied on this estate is 10,968 acres 3 roods 39 perches, by seventynine selectors, at £4,116 7s. yearly, including twenty-seven temporary licenses over 186 acres 3 roods 22 perches at £16 4s. 10d. per annum. A small area of 3 acres and 27 perches remains unlet, its annual value being £2 16s. 10d. Eents received during the year £5,201 16s. 4d., making the total to date £17,907 13s. 3d. ; amount of rebates of rent granted £78 3s. Id ; houses on the estate 42; persons resident, 169; and value of improvements, £10,312 14s. 6d. The Banger report's on this estate as follows : " The settlers appear to be making satisfactory progress, although the crops have suffered somewhat severely by the long-continued wet weather which prevailed throughout the harvest. As on Maerewhenua Estate, the crops received a severe check through drought up to the end of November, after which the weather was continuously wet, greatly dama<nn« the crops. The high prices now ruling, however, will to some extent compensate the settlers for these losses. The creamery established near the railway-station is a great and profitable source of revenue for the increasing number of those who are going in for that branch of industry The great flush of feed resulting from the wet weather will greatly assist the grazing of stock well into the winter. The turnip-crop is also good, and will enable the stock to be carried through in good condition. In this estate, as in others, the great growth of green feed has prevented the fattening of lambs for freezing purposes, which will necessitate their being kept until next shearing. The settlement conditions are, as a rule, being well complied with. Janefield — This settlement of 143 acres 2 roods 37 perches is now all occupied by twenty-one selectors at a rental of £275 17s. per annum, and there is every reason to believe that it is becoming highly prosperous. There are now nineteen houses and eighty-one persons resident, and the improvements effected are valued at £2,959. Eent amounting to £211 ss. 7d. was received during the year making the total from the opening of the estate £545 2s. 7d. The sum of £6 7s. 9d. was granted in rebates of rent. The Eanger states : " This is a very promising settlement, every section having been taken up, and the improvements being of a substantial character. Several of the settlers are going in for poultry-raising and fruit-growing, while others are dairying. They all appear to be quite satisfied with their selections." ' Elderslie —The whole area of this estate, 11,506 acres 3 roods 18 perches, is held by thirtythree selectors at an annual rental of £4,126 19s. 4d., including eight temporary licenses over 245 acres 2 roods 35 perches at £18 Bs. 10d. per annum. The receipts for the year amounted to £3 399 5s 8d the total from the beginning being £6,302 6s. 2d. The rebates of rent granted durin" the year amounted to £164 17s. Id. The houses number eighteen, and the persons resident sixty-three while the total value of the improvements now on the land amounts to £6,965 os. 10d. Banker reports on this estate as follows: "The settlers are making satisfactory progress. Last year° the improvements effected by them amounted to £3,032, while this year they amount to £4 553 being an increase of £1,521 for the year. The crops are m much the same position as those on the other large estates, having suffered considerable damage by the continuous wet weather There will be a low average yield, but the enhanced value of gram will in a measure compensate. The turnip-crop is fair, and grass and stubble feed plentiful. The conditions of settlement are being well complied with." Barneqo —There is an area of 1,006 acres and 5 perches of annual value of £125 7s. still unlet on this estate, the area occupied being 6,048 acres and 5 perches, by twenty-one selectors, at an annual rental of £1,316 ss. 6d., the position being practically the same as at the 31st March, 1901 The two sections unlet last year have since been grouped, but up to the present do not appear to be sufficiently attractive to induce any one to take them up. The section that was reserved for smaller subdivision has been duly cut up into small allotments and opened for selection but so far there have been no applicants for same. Bent received, £1,132 175., including some small amounts for grazing on the unoccupied land ; total receipts to date, £2,392 9s. 2d. Eebates of rent amounting to £97 3s. sd. were granted during the year. Numbers of houses, 18; persons resident, 58 ; value of improvements, £4,046 Bs. The Banger states that good progress has been made during the year on this estate. A considerable area has been under crop, which promises to give substantial returns and place the settlers in a good position. The improvements effected are of a substantial character, and the conditions of the leases are being well complied • with. The settlers appear to be satisfied with their selections.

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