25

C.—l

serious in some instances, the general effect will be of ultimate benefit to the settlers, inasmuch as tinland has heen more thoroughly cleared of stumps and logs than could have been accomplished under the ordinary system of clearing. "Thirds," "Fourths," and "Halves." The sum of £3,640 Bs. sd. was paid to the local bodies, and expended in the following manner : 765 chains formation, 101 chains bush-olearing, £100 for bridges and culverts, £1,483 4s. for maintenance of roads, and £860 interest on loans borrowed for the formation of roads. The amount still to the credit of local bodies is £4,265 17s. 9d. I >i:i'.\!C I.MENTAL. The volume of departmental work continues to increase as further settlements are brought into the market and other business is placed under the management of the Department. Correspondence inwards and outwards, circulars, applications, parcels, fee., show a total of 39,658. The total cost of the Department for stamps during the twelve months was £157 Ifa. 6d Cheques were drawn to the amount of £17,467, and 684 vouchers dealt with, while receipts for rents, deposits, &c, totalled 3,450. The following changes in the Land Office staff occurred during tin- year : Mr. P. Bull. Receiver of Laud Revenue at Napier, retired after a set vice of thirty-six years ; Mr. J. H. O'Donnell was transferred from the Gisborne office to succeed him ; and Mr. H. P. Robinson, from the Auckland office, was appointed in the latter's place. In September last Mr. Denham Goldsmith, shorthand clerk and typist, was transferred to the Invercargill office, his post being afterwards filled by Mr. T). M. Yeates, formerly of the Government Life Insurance Department, Wellington. I have conducted several important land-ballots, notably Raumati, Kanakanaia, and Te Arai, at each of which the number of applicants was evidence of the steady demand for land. In concluding this report I would like to acknowledge the manner in which the officers of the Land Office staff, both at Gisborne and Napier, have carried out their several duties, as well as responded to extra demands made upon them from time to time. Hknry Trent, Commissioner of Crown hands. TARANAKI. The land transactions for the year ending the 31st March, 1908, are shown in the subjoined summary : —

4—o. 1.

Transactions during Year. Held at 31st March, 1908. Revenue Class of Selection. received during Number. Area. Number. | Area. I.. It. P. A. H. I". £ t, d. Cash ... ... ... 11 44 0 11 ... ... 43J 16 0 Perpetual lease made freehold 1 L80 0 0 ... ... Mil' 0 0 Deferred payment ... 1 99 0 0 8 16 LO Perpetual lease ... ... 12 8,781 0 16 219 2 9 Occupation with right of pur- 45 42,150 2 L8 449 246,684 0 6 6,105 2 1(1 chase Occupation with right of pur- 9 2,580 0 8 ... ... 3,658 15 7 chase made freehold Lease in perpetuity ... 4 2,231 3 12 170 178,746 3 36 5,004 15 i Lease in perpetuity—Land for 3 587 2 20 35 4,022 2 15 3,276 6 9 settlements Village settlements — Occupation with right of ... ... 9 8 10 3 9 0 purchase Lease in perpetuity ... ... ... 10 69 0 8 9 5 2 Special settlements —Lease in ... ... 87 16,210 1 16 867 L9 1 perpetuity Improved-farm settlements... 8 UO 0 30 247 32,681 I 6 1,661 2 11 Small grazing-runs 7 1 26 17 16,660 0 12 236 10 1 Miscellaneous leases ... 17 133 135 111 1,341 3 25 ass 3 10 Miscellaneous leases — Land ... ... 1 18 8 L6 340 I 5 for settlements Transfer and other fees ... . ... ... 198 2 0 Crown-grant fees ... ... ... 28 15 3 Endowments ... ... 2 143 3 12 47 0 0 Timber licenses and royalties ... ... ... ... 29 3 7 State forests ... ... ... ... 6 10 0 Survey liens ... ... ... ... 286 11 1 Survey fees, searches, litho- ••■ ••• ■•■ ••• 61 14 11 graphs, Ac. Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... 184 3 3 Totals ... ... 93 48,275 1 0 1,454 500,442 1 8 23,385 7 8