19

C.—l

The Crown Tenants' Rent Rebate Acts. —Under these Acts 205 rebates of rents were allowed to selectors, amounting to £157 4s. 2d. lam still continuing the method initiated by my predecessor—viz., basing the rebate on the merits of each case chiefly considering the question of access ; but I feel that it would be better to have a fixed rebate for each class of tenure. Grown Land Ranger's Inspections, dc. —The reports of the Crown Lands Ranger (Mr. John Barron) show that he visited 441 holdings in various parts of the district, comprising an area of 156,050 acres. The value of the improvements required to be effected was £44,967, and it was found that in nearly every instance considerably more than the required improvements had been effected, which in the aggregate were valued at £101,112, or more than double what was required to be done. Forty-four had not made sufficient improvements, and out of a total of 182 selectors required to reside forty-seven had failed to comply with the conditions. Steps have been taken in all cases to enforce the conditions of the Land Act, and it has been found necessary, in the interests of settlement and in justice to those who had complied with the Act, to declare the interest of some of these defaulters to be forfeited. The Land Board, however, only took extreme measures when it was evident that bond fide settlement was not intended by the selector. Settlers who for any reason through want of means or other circumstances beyond their control were unable to comply within the specified time have in all cases been allowed an extension; in fact, the Land Board's policy throughout has invariably been never to resort to forfeiture until all other measures have been exhausted. On the general conditions of our tenants the Crown Lands Ranger reports as follows : — '_. The improvement conditions have been well carried out; in most cases double the area required has been felled and grassed. In the few that are behind the cause is principally want of access, especially in the back settlements. Residence conditions have also been fairly well complied with, and in the few cases where land speculation comes in they have been dealt with-by the Land Board. In these latter conditions the Board have been more alive lately to their enforcement. The progress of the settlers since the dairying industry commenced has been very marked. Speaking generally, settlers are in a prosperous condition ; dairy factories and creameries are being established wherever there is a chance of making them pay. The principal requirements of the settlers, especially in the back and newly settled districts, are roads to give access to their sections and to get their produce to the markets. The principal work of the settler is bushfelling, fencing, and attending stock, supplemented byemployment on the public works in the district. The dairying industry absorbs a very large number in the season ; indeed, labour has been hard to find for this industry. This "year labour of all kinds has been scarce ; in many cases work has been at a standstill for want of men. The different classes of tenures are summarised thus :— Small Grazing-runs: Chiefly devoted to sheep and cattle raising; generally prosperous, although severely affected by the fall in wool. Improved-farm Settlements and Farm-homestead Settlements: Where settlers are of the right class they are generally in comfortable circumstances. Their means of subsistence are stockraising and dairying, supplemented by bushfelling contracts and work on the roads in the winter season. Village Settlements : There are only two small settlements of this class in this district, and these as settlements have not been very successful; the holdings have become merged into larger areas, for the reason chiefly that the class for whom they are intended is not very numerous in Taranaki, and work in the neighbourhood to keep settlers going is not very plentiful, or at any rate sufficiently regular. Land taken up under the ordinary conditions held under Part 111. of the Act: Settlers, after struggling in many cases through adverse circumstances, are yet holding their own and making progress, the great bulk, especially those engaged in dairying, being exceedingly prosperous. The prospects of the settlers look bright, and, should the price of butter hold good, the bulk of them will in a few years be in an independent position as regards outside employment. Improved-farm Settlements. Poti. —loB acres in eight sections, all felled and grassed; occupied by eight settlers, one being non-resident, but another person is in occupation ; there are twenty-seven persons on the land. Live-stock consists of 74 cattle and 7 horses. Value of improvements effected at selectors' own cost, £753 10s. Ngaire. —l7o acres in sixteen sections, all felled and grassed ; occupied by fifteen settlers, two being non-resident; nine families on the land, comprising forty-one persons. Live-stock, 117 cattle and 10 horses. Improvements at selectors' own cost, £670. Maata. —3o acres in three sections, all felled and grassed, and occupied by one family of two persons. Live-stock, 30 cattle and 1 horse. Improvements at selectors' own cost, £84. These three' settlements are close to the Borough of Eltham, in a thriving dairying district, and from the number of cattle it will be seen that the farms are well stocked, the settlers devoting their energies to dairying. These settlers have all good roads to their holdings, but of course it is not to be expected from the smallness of the areas that a living can be got from the holdings themselves ; still, such as they are, some of them do well, whilst others who make a little from their holdings (which always provides a good home and many of the necessaries of life) supplement their earnings by employment at sawmills, factories, roads, &c, and seem comfortable and contented. They have also school, store, smithy, and post-office conveniences within easy reach. Tongaporutu. —2,500 acres in sixteen sections, but only five are held by four families under the original tenure, the remainder having been forfeited or surrendered and taken up under the ordinary conditions of the Act. The area felled and grassed is 529 acres ; there are twenty-nine persons on the