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on the Ist April, 1902, making a grand total of 68,672 acres open for disposal. The 40,496 acres of new lands thrown open comprised 26,406 acrps offered under the optional system (including the Tauakira Block on the Wanganui River, 13,303 acres, and forfeited sections in Hunterville No. 1, Marton Nos. 1, 2, 3, and other blocks), an area of 11,755 acres in the Kaitieke Block in the Waimarino thrown open on small-grazing-run system, the balance being made up of odd sections, township lands, &c. Sections in the following townships were offered for cash by public auction as follows : Mataroa, near Taihape, 30 lots ; Levin, 4 lots ; Carnarvon, 7 lots ; Makuri, 1 lot (purchased for creamery-site); Mowhanau Village, near Wanganui, 32 lots. Twelve lots, Mataroa Village Settlement, of an area of 43 acres 1 rood 12 perches, and 4 lots, Mowhanau Village Settlement, area 380 acres, were offered on lease in perpetuity, also 13 lots in the Horowhenua East Village Settlement near Levin, area 870 acres. The demand for land in the vicinity of Levin is shown by the fact that there were about 780 applicants for the lots offered in the latter settlement, considerably over 300 applications being received for several of the sections, and as many as 396 for one of them. The Linton Settlement, situated near Halcombe, and acquired under the Land for Settlements Act, area 550 acres, subdivided into five lots, was offered on the 17th September, 1902. There were only about nine applicants ; but all the sections, with the exception of one, which was selected during the following month, were disposed of on date of offering. Leases of fifty-nine lots in the Hokio Native Township, area 19 acres 2 roods 25 perches, situated on the sea-coast west of Levin, were offered on the 11th March last. The demand for them has not been very keen, only twelve of the sections having yet been selected. An area of 406 acres of rural Native land in the Waiioa district was offered and disposed of for cash by public auction, under the provisions of section 131 of Part 111. of " The Native Land Court Act, 1894."

Summary of Land Transactions, and Revenue collected, during the Year ended 31st March, 1903.

System. Transactions during the Year. Number. Area. Area under Lease at 31st March, 1903. Revenue received during the Year. Area. Number. Area. Cash— Rural Suburban Town 4 1 30 1,244 3 8 E. P. 0 0 1 20 2 39 A. B. P. £ a. d. Deferred payment Deferred payment made freehold Perpetual lease ... Perpetual lease made freehold 35 1,256 0 19 1,956 0 34 2,125 15 5 190 10 7 3 395 2 34 11 14 6,255 2 34 52 8,266 3 5 806 12 11 5,673 17 1 Occupation with right of purchase Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity conversions Lease in perpetuity, land for settlements Village settlement — Cash Perpetual lease Village homestead— Lease in perpetuity Lease in perpetuity conversions Perpetual lease Special settlement— Deferred payment Deferred payment (freehold) Lease in perpetuity Improved farms... Small grazing-runs Small grazing-runs, land for settlements Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases and licenses 23 6,391 2 0 618 182,898 0 15 9,662 12 2 2 570 0 0 1,235 18 1 7 2 1,493 2 0 2,426 0 0 459 132,666 3 12 5,163 18 7 20 695 0 34 194 14,395 1 0 6,952 2 10 19 9 1 35 1 12 1 11 143 16 0 33 8 1,510 1 6 108 0 10 486 9,558 1 14 1,540 17 4 86 961 3 13 212 10 5 " 9 949" 3 30 7 726 1 20 245 15 3 "6 3 855 0 0* 1,057 0 0 439 168 75 1 80,053 2 25 17,460 1 30 68,721 1 4 1,030 0 0 4,702 17 3 2,059 9 9 2,155 17 7 171 13 4 33 170 2 7 22 199 26,911 0 0 79,743 3 13 189 15 8 2,548 0 2 Carried forward ... 217 24,144 0 9 2,818 625,362 0 36 45,782 0 5