49

C.—l

near the line of the foothills. In South Canterbury grain-crops are grown to a large extent, a considerable portion of the tenants availing themselves to the utmost of the cropping rights under their leases, while in a few cases there has been a tendency to exceed the proper limits, and this is receiving the close attention of the Land Board and Rangers. The extension of the dairy industry, especially recently in South Canterbury, is proving of considerable benefit to tenants, and is directing their attention to the profits and advantages of the system, which yields regular returns with comparative freedom from risks. There are now two creameries on the Waikakahi Settlement, and a third immediately adjacent; one has recently been established on the Albury Settlement ; and in some other cases there are creameries sufficiently near to the settlements to enable settlers to avail themselves of the advantages of the dairy industry. Generally speaking, the crops during the past season have been very good, and the yields reported from some of the settlements are much above the average. The harvest, especially in the southern part of the district, has been late, so that settlers have been delayed in realising. As regards the suburban settlements round Christchurch, most of these are now in a satisfactory condition. The occupiers are in general artisans, general labourers, gardeners, or workers at various trades or industries in the surrounding district; a majority of them have made valuable improvements, and find useful employment on their holdings in their spare time. These settlements are generally slower in being taken up than the rural settlements, but there is usually a fairly steady inquiry, especially after the first-comers have settled down and proved the advantages of such holdings. Lands offered during the Year. —The lands offered during the year included— The Lyndon No. 2 Settlement, comprising 15,845 acres of agricultural and pastoral land, in the Amuri district, about five miles westward from Waiau, was acquired from Messrs. D. and A. Macfarlane, and opened for application on the 21st April, 1902, in six lease-in-perpetuity allotments, varying in size from 467 to 833 acres, at rentals from 2s. 9d. to ss. per acre, and three small grazing-runs of 3,590, 3,684, and 4,520 acres, at rentals from Is. lOJd. to 2s. 7jd. per acre per annum. Thirty-two persons lodged applications, and all but one of the runs were disposed of at the first ballot; the remaining one was selected shortly afterwards. The Maytown Settlement, comprising 387 acres 2 roods 13 perches of undulating agricultural land, about one mile from the Township of Waimate, was purchased from Messrs. McGoverin and Hardy, and opened for application on the 28th April, 1902, in eleven lease-in-perpetuity allotments, varying in size from 10 to 60 acres, at rentals from 13s. 6d. to 16s. per annum. Applications were received from twenty-two persons, and the whole of the sections were taken up at the first ballot. The Eccleston Settlement, comprising 1,245 acres 1 rood 26 perches of agricultural downs land, situated about five miles and a quarter westward from the Otaio Railway-station and twenty miles south from Timaru, was purchased from E. P. Chapman, Esq., and opened for application on the 12th May, 1902, in four lease-in-perpetuity allotments of from 215 to 444 acres, at rentals from 7s. to Bs. 6d. per acre per annum. Forty-nine persons lodged applications, and the whole of the settlement was disposed of at the first ballot. Twelve small allotments, situated in the Waikakahi Settlement, near Morven, comprising a total area of 178 acres 3 roods 26 perches, were opened for application on the 28th October, 1902, under lease-in-perpetuity system. This land formed part of the original Waikakahi purchase from Allan McLean, Esq., and had been withheld from permanent disposal at the first ballot in case a demand should arise for small holdings in that locality. With the increase of settlement such a demand had arisen, and the land was therefore offered in small allotments, ranging in size from 10 to 27 acres, at rentals from 9s. 9d. to 17s. 6d. per acre per annum. Applications were lodged by forty-five persons, and all the sections were allotted at the first ballot. 7he Mead Settlement, comprising 5,906 acres 2 roods 16 perches of fair quality level agricultural land, situated on the north bank of the Rakaia River, west of the main line of railway, was acquired from S. Bealey, Esq., and opened for application on the 21st January, 1903, in twenty-one lease-in-perpetuity allotments, varying in size from 11J to 793 acres, at rentals from Is. to 6s. 9d. per acre per annum. Ninety-one persons applied, and the whole of the settlement was taken up at the first ballot. The Chamberlain Settlement, comprising 10,429 acres of agricultural downs and pastoral hills, generally of excellent quality, situated about six miles from Albury and about thirty-six miles inland from Timaru, was purchased from J. S. Rutherford, Esq., and a small supplementary block of 37 acres from A. L. Haylock, Esq. With these was conjoined a block of 9,523 acres of purely pastoral Crown land, which had been occupied by Mr. Rutherford on lease in conjunction with his estate. The homestead, with 640 acres surrounding it, was selected by Mr. Rutherford as vendor in exercise of his rights under the Land for Settlements Act, and a section of 200 acres was granted as low-lying land to the holder of a lease in perpetuity of adjacent pastoral Crown land. Included in the property is a coal-pit yielding lignite of good quality, which has been worked under lease from Mr. Rutherford for a number of years past, and which supplies the bulk of the coal used in the surrounding district. Under the special provisions of the Land for Settlements Consolidation Act for dealing with such cases, this pit, with a section of 125 acres surrounding it, is being leased to the resident tenant who was holding from Mr. Rutherford at the time of acquisition of the estate. The term of lease is fixed at twenty-one years, subject to the necessary conditions for insuring the proper working of the mine. The remaining 19,112 acres was opened for application on the 9th March, 1903 —6,950 acres of agricultural land in seventeen lease-in-perpetuity allotments, varying in size from 106 to 919 acres, at rentals from 2s. to 7s. 3d. per acre per annum ; and 12,162 acres in three small grazing-runs of 1,818, 4,644, and 5,700 acres, at rentals averaging 2s. 4d., 10£ d., and lOd. per acre per annum. There was very keen demand for land in this settlement, and no less than 248 applications were received for the twenty subdivisions, the whole of which were successfully disposed of at the first ballot. 7—C. 1 App.