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XXII

Nelson and Westport Harbour Board reserves. Westland : University reserves. Canterbury : University reserves, and Lake Ellesmere. Otago: Education (School Commissioners), Boys' and Girls' High Schools, Hamilton Public Library, Clutha River Board, and Clutha River Trustees, reserves. Southland : Education (School Commissioners) and Bluff Harbour Board. Native Townships. By reference to Table 23 it will be seen that two townships—Karewa, in the Auckland Land District, and Hokio, on the sea-shore, near Levin, Wellington Land District—were selected and surveyed during the year. Since the passing of " The Native Townships Act, 1895," fourteen townships have been laid off on Native lands, and submitted for lease in lots to meet the requirements of business people and to provide residential sites. The names of the townships are Kaimakau, Rotoiti, Parawai, Te Puru, and Karewa (Auckland District), Te Puia, Te Araroa, Tuatini, and Waipiro (Hawke's Bay), and Pipiriki, Tokaanu, Potaka, Parata, and Hokio (Wellington District) . The transactions for the year 1902—3 number 37, the area 55 acres, whilst the totals since the initiation of the system to the 31st March, 1903, for all the townships are 189 sections selected by lessees who hold 584 acres, paying therefor the annual rental of £786. The arrears amounted to £23 13s. 6d., or only 3 per cent. Revenue. The report of Mr. Runcie, the Auditor of Land Revenue, appended, gives particulars and comparisons as to the revenue collected by the Department for the year. It will be noticed that the total amount received, £448,379 165., is £21,241 Is. sd. in excess of that obtained during the previous year, and £17,041 2s. 9d. more than was collected during 1900—1 ; this, too, in face of the receipts from Hanmer Plains Sanatorium and Mount Cook Hermitage not being now accounted for by this Department. The territorial revenue is £2,658 13s. 7d. in excess of the amount for 1901-2, and £22,277 15s. Id. over the estimated revenue for the twelve months. Some points calling for remark in connection with the revenue are —the substantial increases in the occupation-with-right-of-purchase receipts, amounting to £5,937 ; lease in perpetuity, £5,041; small grazing-runs, £1,960; pastoral runs, £7,194 ; miscellaneous leases and licenses, £18,778; miscellaneous receipts, £4,145 ; improved-farm-settlement leases in perpetuity, £824; and, coming to the Land for Settlements figures, the chief items show a satisfactory advance, the lease in perpetuity being £14,723 in excess ; small grazingruns, £3,710 ; and miscellaneous receipts, £1,842. The principal decreases, as compared with the previous year's receipts, occur under the heads of deferred payments, £1,732; perpetual leases, £1,307; and village-settlement holdings made freehold, £721. Rebate of Rent. —The Crown tenants have continued to avail themselves of the reduction of rentals allowed in terms of " The Crown Tenants' Rent Rebate Act, 1900," and " The Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900." Particulars as to the number of tenants and the amounts remitted for the year are as follows : — Tenants. Amount remitted. & s. d. Auckland ... ... ... ... 1,101 679 18 2 Hawke's Bay ... ... ... 27 46 4 5 Taranaki ... ... ... ... 205 157 4 2 Wellington ... ... ... 1,849 1,951 1 10 Nelson ... ... ... ... 276 76 3 7 Marlborough ... ... ... 135 364 10 10 Westland ... ... ... ... 20 6 3 3 Canterbury . ... . ... ... 1,290 4,424 19 2 Otago ... ... ... ... 1,106 1,152 3 3 Southland ... ... .. ... 597 354 8 4 TotaU ... ... 6,606 £9,212 17 0 By comparison it is seen that the amounts of remission exceed those of last year by £1,158 ss. 6d., and the number of tenants who benefited by the discount granted was 1,233 more than that for the previous year.