5

C.—l

Lands selected during 1907-8. The demand for land is still unsatisfied, and this is evidenced not only from the number of applicants during 1907, but the same holds good for those lands opened in 1908, since the passing of " The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907." The table below sets forth the total selections under every form of tenure; but it is only fair to remark that, for the reasons already referred to there were practically three months—viz., IVovember, December, and January-during which no lands could be offered for selection, hence the total number of selectors and areas selected do not equal those of 1906-7. Lands disposed of for cash have increased in number and area; the larger area is, however, accounted for by the fact that under a special Act the trustees of the Canterbury Agncultural College were allowed to purchase two considerable pastoral areas of 16 400 acres winch intruded into their endowments and could be utilised in conjunction therewith,' but were practically inaccessible from the Crown's point of view. Selectors of " settlement " lands (as estates acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts are known) and the area taken up by them exceed, however, those of the previous year by eighty-one tenants and 2,450 acres. The average size of holding (excluding pastoral runs and miscellaneous leases) is 388 acres for each of the 1 589 selectors. It will be noticed in the following table that the renewable-lease tenure appears for' the first time, select.ons under it having been made during February and March last both of ordinary and "settlement" lands, thirty-two selectors and 3,535 acres representing the first period and 151 selectors and 49,100 acres the second period.

Table E.—Number of New Selectors and Area taken up, from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908, and Revenue received during the Year.

Nature and Tenure or Lands selected. It S3 a j l<° Area selected. Cash received on Past and Current Transactions. Ordinary Crown LandTown iands sold for cash Suburban lands sold for cash .. .. ,. Rural lands sold for cash Perpetual leases made freehold .. .. .' Occupation with right of purchase made freehold Lease in perpetuity made freebold Deferred-payment instalments Perpetual leases Occupation with right of purchase.. Lease in perpetuity Rene*ab e leHsu .. Agricultural lease Village settlement, cash deferred payment perpetual lease . made freehold occupation with right of purchase lease in perpetuity » renewable lease Village-homestead special settlements Special-settlement associations— Perpetual lease Leave in perpetuity Improved-farm special settlements . made freehold Occupation leases, Mining Districts Land Occupation Act Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Ti'ermal springs, Rotorua.. Miscellaneous leases and licenses Miscellaneous Cheviot Estate— Lease in perpetuity Village-homestead special settlement Grazing-farms Pastoral runs .. .. .. - Miscellaneous leases Land for Settlements Acts — Cash Lease in perp3tuity . (village) Renewable lease Special-settlement associations (lease in perpetuity) .. Small grazing-runs Pastoral runs Miscellaneous leases Miscellaneous 160 112 114 354 214 17 3 3 3 70 15 ' 8 A. R. P. 102 0 23 368 0 23 28,005 2 18 187,799 0 35 63,871 2 5 8,427 1 0 83 3 32 3 0 24 2 3 22 2,300 3 32 108 1 37 410 0 30 £ s. d. 19,789 7 10* 9,113 7 11 33,037 14 10 1,032 0 0 2,221 11 0 3,003 5 3 42,875 17 9 • 36,737 12 9 56 11 8 27 3 6 25 10 0 41 10 0 253 3 0 248 11 3 11 2 0 3,977 2 7 1 12 7 2,065 5 1 49 0 10 6,422 2 4 4,800 11 4 1,632 12 2 983 3 7 30,299 18 3 74,158 8 6 2,149 0 7 79,563 16 Of 25,473 1 6 73 61 90 3,046 2 22 216,600 1 19 572,076 0 12 521 134,511 1 24 i 5,889 12 0 790 10 3 7,215 9 9 193 3 8 204 17 2' 2 130 1 0 ' 18 213 2 151 43 0 39 34,495 2 13 0 3 16 67,107 1 29 685 17 8 179,968 17 11 325 18 5 12,346 19 7 147 15 6 24,192 11 2 121 13 0 5,645 5 5 6,292 14 7 "8 10,157 0 0 *23 2,128 1 16 Totals 2,225 [1,326,780 2 31 624,076 10 2 • Excludes i'358 lis. 9d. paid on uncompleted purchase of cash lands. t Includei