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and.stock are still increasing. There are 59 dwellinghouses in the settlement, valued at £10,290. The improvements required by law amount to £8,979 17s. 3d., and the improvements effected by the selectors, to £35,892 4s. 7d., including £4,071 2s. estimated value ol original improvements on the ground. The sawmill plant erected in the settlement by Messrs. Manso'n and Tuck, near Hampden Township, is now in full, swing, and turning out about 10,000 superficial feet per diem of mixed-timber from the Guavas Bush, four miles distant. Poultry-farming at the old " Brow " homestead is still thriving, Mr. Beyers, the lessee, having forty fowlhouses on different parts of his section. Each house is supplied with a tank, and house and tank together are turned out at the cost of about £7 10s., representing an outlay of £300 up to the present time for buildings alone. Forest Gate Settlement. —This settlement is situated in the western portion of the Hawke's Bay Land District, distant about fifty miles from Napier by rail and road, and ten miles from the Township of Waipawa. The area purchased was 8,822 acres and 13 perches. Number of occupied sections is 28, and the number of selectors 27 ; total population is 107 ; number of sheep 13,575, horses 110, cattle 594, pigs 56 ; area in grass 7,100 acres, area in white and green crops 1,559 acres, balance light bush and scrub. The settlement was thrown open on the.l9th May, 1902. Compared with last year's report there shows an increase of 10 in the population, 334 acres more under crops, 2,677 more stock, and improvements to a value of £1,809 ss. effected during the year, making the total value of improvements effected £11,426 lis. 7d., as against £2,400 Is. 2d. required by law. The 27 sections are paying an annual rental of £2,489 15s. There are 26 dwellinghouses erected, and 20 selectors residing on their holdings. The oat and wheat crops have averaged about 40 bushels and 50 bushels to the acre respectively.. Kumeroa Settlement. —This settlement was acquired from Mr. Thomas Crosse under the Land for Settlements Act, and was opened for application on the 12th May, 1902. The area purchased was 3,774 acres 2 roods 38 perches. The number of occupied sections is 15 ; total population, 78 ; number of sheep 7,525, horses 50, cattle 497, pigs 184 ; the area in grass is 3,589 acres, area in white and green crops 47|- acres, the balance bush and scrub. The area offered for selection was 3,745 acres, and is now all occupied by 15 selectors. The settlement is distant about six miles from Woodville by good metalled dray-road. There are 14 dwellinghouses, of a total value of £2,335. Fourteen selectors are residing on their holdings and one on land adjoining his section. The improvements effected are valued at £5,227 75., as against £1,523 14s. lOd. required by the Act. The two creameries—the Crown and Farmers' Union—are still in full swing; and a district school, much needed, has now been erected and opened under the name of Crosses Settlement, with a nominal roll of 25 children, and an average attendance of 23. Compared with last year's report the settlement shows an increase in population, in number of stock, and in the value of the improvements effected by the settlers. Manga-a-toro Settlement. —This settlement is situated in the southern portion of the Hawke's Bay Land District, about eleven miles from Dannevirke Township and Railway-station, and was acquired from the Assets Realisation Board by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act. The area purchased was 19,581 acres 3 roods 12 perches. The number of occupied sections is 26 ; total population is 127 ; number of sheep 32,321, horses 157, cattle 1,475, pigs 18; the area in grass is 14,700 acres, of which 1,700 acres have been ploughed, cropped, and again laid down in permanent pastures ; area in white and green crops, 492 acres ; balance, scrub and bush. All the sections are now occupied, 19,422 acres being held by 26 selectors. There are 25 dwellinghouses in the settlement, valued at £5,255, and 24 selectors are residing on the land. The total value of improvements effected is £18,840 Is. 9d., as against £6,023 17s. lOd. required by the Act; and a sum of £4,064 10s. represents the increase in improvements effected by settlers during the past twelve months. The dray-road formation of the Ongaha Road, completed during the year, gives an outlet to Dannevirke, which, in addition to being the shorter route by about three miles, avoids the Mangatoro Stream-crossings in the old road, which were dangerous in flood-times. The Mangatoro Stream is well stocked with trout, and is becoming a fashionable fishing-ground for Hawke's Bay anglers. Haluma Settlement. —This settlement is situated fifty-nine miles from Napier, on the Main Trunk Railway between Wellington and Napier, and lies near Waipukurau and between Oruawharo and Arlington Estates. It was placed on the market on the 25th April, 1901. The area purchased was 26,522 acres 3 roods 20 perches. The number of occupied sections is 59 ; total population, 250 ;" number of sheep 47,587, horses 291, cattle 1,880, pigs 49 ; area in grass, 22,670 acres, out of which 2,000 acres have been ploughed, cropped, and laid down again in permanent English grasses ; white and green crops, 1,887 acres 3 roods ; balance, scrub. There are 58 dwellinghouses in the settlement, valued at £10,648. The improvements effected are valued at £33,679 35., as against £8,690 14s. 2d. required by the Act. Hatuma Settlement has its own railway-station and siding, with a district school already established, and another school building now being erected at the far end of the settlement for the convenience of settlers' children living at a considerable distance from the Main School. Eric C. Gold Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

TARANAKI. Tokaora Settlement. —Situate four miles from Hawera, comprising 1,505 acres 2 roods 8 perches, divided into 16 sections occupied by 13 persons, and almost wholly devoted to dairying. There are 71 people resident, and live-stock consists of 1,015 cattle, 37 sheep, and 64 horses. The improvements effected by- tenants comprise 13 residences, valued at £2,018 ; outbuildings, fencing, &c, £2,001 : total, £4,019. The area in grass is 1,388 acres, in white crops 68 acres, in green crops 49 acres. The position of the homestead section is not satisfactory, but all the other settlers are making very fair progress.

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