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ANNUAL REPORT.

The Under-Secretary for Lands to the Hon. Minister op Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands, Wellington, Ist June, 1906. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report, giving the results of the land administration of this Department for the twelve months ended the 31st March, 1906. In compliance with your instructions, I have endeavoured to make the report as concise as possible consistent with affording full information as to the work carried on in all the varied branches. Your direction to avoid repetition where the information to be conveyed is fully dwelt upon in the appended reports of the several Commissioners of Crown Lands has been borne in mind. I have, &c, William C. Kensington, The Hon. T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary for Lands.

Land Opened for Selection, 1905-6. During the year a total of 641,133 acres of lands Was opened for selection under various tenures, as fully exemplified in the subjoined table : —

Table A.—Lands opened for Sale and Selection during the Year.

SUMMARY. North Island .. .. .. -■ •■ •• •• 225,128 acres. South Island .. .. .. ■■ •• ■• ■■ 416,005 „ Total .. ~ .. .. .. 641,133

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Month. t . a n Lease in Lease by b.lr. p A1 . Optional C gf Au a °« 0Q ™ftf Pastoral G f™» Lander Native System. Auc b t Y on . A g.. *£& Buns. G ~" "Sgi? V™* L -^ 01 ' ToTOS - Totals. Ni >rth Isl( 'aid. 1905. April May .. June July.. August September October November Deoember Acres. 537 2,705 6,849 962 5,584 3,511 7,650 16,452 32,069 Acres. 5 3 Acres. Acres. 26 1,422 Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. 12,431 181 94 Acres. Acres. 12,999 4,311 6,943 1,213 10,201 5.397 32,359 18,477 93,143 151 251 150 4^316 13,142 l^886 284 8 9,932 100 4 21 171 11,283 1,896 1,000 8,541 41,426 1906. 24 127 11 40 790 54 132 64 24,694 15,327 January February March 23,645 12,959 2,303 Totals 112,923 425 2,285 1,772 13,142 19,824 43,312 6,212 25,233 225,128 SO' nth Isl :nd. 1905. ipril tfay.. lone fuly .. August September )otober November December "eo 3,748 14 220 26 30 54 69 38 52 77 820 1,206 417 8 442 197 1,010 3,766 97 83 47 76,020 1,200 30,731 44,762 •20,472 2,223 21,057 3 13,357 275 841 67,853 22,044 126,569 313 27,508 12,025 13,873 11,072 6,654 3,357 3,275 184 2,909 2,109 114 40 5 14 22,700 7,000 1,444 12,636 4,041 1,895 290 2,476 1906. 235 409 300 91,429 1,580 17^364 2 12,701 291 125,830 1,973 'anuary Pebruary larch 3,918 51 7 93 2 Totals 734 8,907 305 191,729 7,000 31,931 104,837 51,002 416,005 19,560 ♦ Iucludes 127 acres perpetual lease.