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Windsor Park No. 2. — This is a further portion of Mr. E. Menlove's famous WindsorPark Estate, acquired shortly after that already dealt with. It was opened for selection on the 28th October last, and comprises a selection area of 2,177 acres, 2 roods 11 perches, in ten allotments. As in the other case there was a keen demand for the land, the applicants for the ten subdivisions numbering seventy-nine. The whole is consequently held by ten selectors, at an annual rental of £875 16s. Bd., the rates per acre varying from 3s. 6d. to lis. lOd. The receipts amount to £437 16s. 3d. So far, five houses have been erected, and there are ten persons residing. The improvements effected are valued at £519 19s. 3d. The estate has been too recently let for ordinary and rigid inspection. The Crown Lands Ranger remarks as follows : " This settlement was taken up too late in the season for anything to be done in the way of cultivation. Some of the settlers are effecting improvements. The land being held in fairly large areas, and the soil generally being of good quality, there is every prospect of this portion of Windsor Park being occupied profitably by the settlers." Duncan Settlement. —This small settlement, situated within a short distance of the Township of Brighton, was lately acquired from Mr. John Graham of that place, and opened for selection on the 29th December last in six ordinary farm allotments, the total selection area being 632 acres and 27 perches. In addition there is a small section of 1 acre 1 rood 16 perches which is under lease for coal-mining purposes, subject to rent and royalty, and which carries with it underground coal-mining rights in respect to some 14 acres of the adjoining section. The receipts on account of this lease will, of course, be credited to the Land for Settlements Account. The allotments on this settlement were not so readily taken up as was expected, considering the many advantages which it affords to small settlers. Its close proximity to market and easy access by road and railway, the creamery on the ground, and the adjacent coal-pit all seemed to be facilities which it was thought would have led to the whole of tbe settlement being quickly sought after. At the present time four out of the six allotments have been selected, including homestead, covering an area of 422 acres and 5 perches, at an annual rental of £171 16s. Bd., making, with the coal-lease area, a total area in occupation of 423 acres 1 rood 21 perches, by five holders, at an annual rental of £181 16s. Bd. in addition to royalties on coal. The two allotments unlet contain together 210 acres and 22 perches, the annual value of which is £56 13s. Amount of rent received, £85 18s. 4d. The homestead is at present the only house on the land, four persons are resident, and the improvements at date of selection were valued at £347 10s. 6d. The Crown Lands Ranger has not yet formally reported on this settlement. Summary. —The following is a comparative summary of information relating to the several settlements for the past two years : — 1901-2. 1902-3. Number of settlements or estates ... 14 17 Number of settlers, including holders of temporary licenses ... ... 407 462 Area in occupation, including temporary licenses ... .... ... 54,860 a. 3r. 35p. 61,458 a. Or. 33p. Average per selector ... ... 134 a. lr. 16p. 133 a. Or. 4p. Gross annual rental ... ... £17,460 3s. 6d. £20,194 16s. Bd. Receipts during the year ... ... £18,981 19s. sd. £19,617 6s. 6d. Total receipts from inception ... £72,690 3s. 2d. £93,032 Bs. Bd. Area unlet at 31st March ... ... 4,566 a. Or. 22p. 4,417 a. Or. 4p. Annual value of unlet area ... ... £688 3s. lOd. £723 17s. 4d. Value of improvements at 31st March £59,373 16s. 6d. £83,348 16s. Bd. Areas under cultivation— Oats... ... ... ... 5,759 acres 7,195 acres. Wheat ... ... ... 2,980 „ 3,566 i „ Barley ... ... ... 80 „ 213 „ Root-crops ... ... ... 2,426 „ „ 11,245 acres 14,006 acres Number of dwellinghouses ... ... 288 299 Number of persons resident... ... 1,138 1,195 General Remarks. —During the year vigorous steps have been taken with the view of securing a stricter compliance with the conditions of leases as regards cropping. For this purpose I had special field-books prepared in which the Rangers can note the different cropping paddocks and the rotation of crops, with a suitable record-book for same in the office; and for several months of the year Rangers Atkinson and O'Neill have conjointly gone over nearly the whole of the settlements, laying down the fencing with chain and prismatic compass, and noting necessary particulars for the accomplishment of the desired object. These inspections numbered 403, over an aggregate area of 59,583 acres. In regard to this matter there was a danger that, unless some systematic scheme of checking the order of cropping were adopted, a number of settlers would lapse into carelessness, if not designedly disregard the conditions of their leases relating to cropping—which conditions were intended to operate in the interests of permanent settlers themselves, as well as to prevent the State lands from becoming deterioi-ated by indifferent husbandry.