C—l.

The total amount received from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last in connection with village-homestead settlements was as follows : — Rent. Interest. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. In the North Island ... ... ... 14,195 6 8 6,428 6 10 20,623 13 6 In the Middle Island ... ... ... 24,656 4 0 3,094 5 0 27,750 9 0 Totals ... ... ... £38,851 10 8 £9,522 11 10 £48,374 2 6 Arrears of Rent and Interest on the 31st March. Number. Area. Rent. Interest. Total. Under village-homestead regula- a. b. p. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ b. d. tions ... ... ... 149 4,110 3 9 397 411 343 11 11 740 16 10 Under other tenure ... ... 96 2,752 3 9 312 11 9 ... 312 11 9 Totals ... ... 245 6,863 218 709 16 8 343 11 11 1,053 8 7 In the North Island ... ... 143 4,281 037 424 3 4 333 2 2 757 5 6 In the Middle Island ... ... 102 2,582 121 285 13 4 10 9 9 296 3 1 Totals ... ... 245 6,863 218 709 16 8 343 11 11 1,053 8 7 Value of Improvements on the Land. £ Under village-homestead regulations ... ... ... 128,377 Under other tenure ... ... ... . ... ... 30,375 Total ... ... ... ... ... £158,752 In the North Island ... ... ... ... ... 74,980 In the Middle Island ... ... ... ... ... 83,772 Total ... ... ... ... ... £158,752 Briefly, the position of village settlements throughout the colony on the 31st March last was as under :— Number of settlements ... ... ... ... ... 183. Number of settlers ... ... ... ... ... 2,019. Area of land held ... ... ... ... ... 42,043 acres. Annual rent and interest ... ... ... ... ... £6,152. Bent and interest paid this year ... ... ... ... £5,705. Total rent and interest paid from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last on village-homestead settlements only ... ... ... ... ... ... £48,374. Arrears of rent and interest ... ... ... ... £1,053. The following summary shows the position of village-homestead settlements in the District of Wellington : — Number of village-homestead settlements ... ... ... 41. Number of settlers ... ... ... ... ... 550. Number of souls on the land ... ... ... ... 1,740. Area of land occupied ... ... ... ... ... 9,467 acres. Annual rent and interest ... ... ... ... ... £1,616. Eent and interest paid this year ... ... ... ... £1,346. Total payments of rent and interest from the commencement of the system to the 31st March, 1902 ... ... ... £13,208. Arrears of rent ... ... ... ... ... £134 Arrears of interest ... ... ... ... 66 £200. Value of improvements on the land ... ... ... ... £53,511. In Canterbury, Otago, and Southland the position is as follows : — Number of village settlements ... ... ... ... 109. Number of village settlers ... ... ... ... ... 1,121. Number of souls on the land ... ... ... ... 2,965. Area of land held ... ... ... ... ... 23,559 acres. Annual rent and interest ... ... ... ... ... £3,739. Eent and interest paid this year ... ... ... ... £3,584. Total rent and interest paid from the commencement of the system to the 31st March under village-homestead settlements only ... ... ... ... ... ... £27,253. Arrears of rent and interest ... ... ... ~. £289. Value of improvements under village-homestead regulations ... ... ... ... ... £60,864 Under other tenures ... ... ... ... 20,095 £80,959.

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