C—]2b.

No. 93a; Glenlyon; 121,,000 Acres (76,000 Acres Bush and Waste Hand): Carries 6,000 Sheep as well as some Cattle. This run, which is beyond the basin of the Mackenzie, is too far out of the way, too scattered, and carries an insufficient number of sheep, to render it suitable for subdivision. The present lessee has spent a great deal of money and trouble in improving the run, and in every way has shoxvn himself to be an enterprising tenant, deserving of the Government's consideration and encouragement. No. 86; Simon's Pass; 30,600 Acres: Carries 10,000 Sheep. This run is among a number of leases at the lower end of the Mackenzie Basin, which are less susceptible to snow, but more troubled by drought than the runs at the upper end. In many respects it is suitable for closer settlement. It is comparatively safe from snow, though affected by drought; it embraces no high country, and it provides sxveet grazing, on xxhich half-bred sheep thrive. As a breeding-run it has sent away more good merino and half-bred surplus stock than perhaps any other station in the basin. Unfortunately, the tussock-grub, to which xve have referred, has sxvept a very large area of the flat country of this run. But. for this xve should have urged its subdivision into txvo blocks. As an alternative it might be expedient to transfer a portion of the Lake Pukaki end, sufficient to carry, say, 1,500 sheep, to the Wolds, leaving Simon's Pass xvith a capacity for about 8,500 sheep. In estimating the carrying-capacity of Simon's Pass, it must be borne in mind that included in the run are some 1,500 acres of freehold, capable of groxving winter feed, and that without this block the carrying-capacity of the run would be materially reduced. No. 85; The Wolds; £2,000 Acres. This run is at present being xvorked in conjunction with Irishman Creek. We estimate that it is capable of carrying about 16,000 sheep. It is something of the same character, though not so safe, as Simon's Pass. Here, too, the tussock-grub is at work, though up to the present it has been less destructive than on the Simon's Pass flats. There is an outlying freehold farm of 2,000 acres on this run, which, for purposes of subdivision, xve shall presume will remain xvith the leasehold. This run could lie divided into two, and, with the Lake Pukaki block of Simon's Pass, is suitable for subdivision into three; but there are certain reserves on it which it xvould be necessary to incorporate in the lease. » No. 8£; Irishman Creek; 23,500 Acres. This run is being xvorked as part of the Wolds. We calculate its carrying-capacity to be about 7,000 sheep. This is also a " low-oountry " station. It is not very dangerous, though its lessees have been known to sustain pretty heavy losses in bad seasons. It is small enough in its present state. No. 70; Haldon; 37,200 Acres. This run is being worked in conjunction with an Education reserve, the whole, with a block of freehold, comprising, the Haldon Station. The present lessee states that he is carrying 13,000 sheep on No. 70, but we are bound to add that in our opinion most impartial estimates xvould put tho carrying-capacity at about 10,000 sheep. Portions of the run are almost bare of feed of any sort, while others are particularly well grassed. The run is already fenced into six blocks. It is comparatively safe from snow, though affected by dry weather, and is good breeding-country, though in parts it ascends to an altitude of 5,000 ft. Accepting the present lessees's estimate of its carrying-capacity as substantially correct, there is no reason why this run should not be cut into two blocks. No. 72; Grampians; J f 5,000 Acres. Carries 15,000 Sheep. This run is worked in conjunction with another block, and therefore it is impossible to arrive at its carrying-capacity xvith exactitude. Our estimate, though only approximate, should not, however, be very xvide "of the mark. It is somewhat similar country to that on Haldon, though, while scarcely so sweet, it is better grassed, and less liable to suffer from dry weather. It is fronted by 1,400 acres of freehold belonging to the present lessee, on which are grown considerable quantities of winter feed. Though it catches a fair amount of snow, it is good breedingcountry, and, except in very severe seasons, its flock is self-maintaining. It can be divided into two. No. 73; Part of Gray's Hills; 26,000 Acres. This run has absolutely no value by itself. It is naturally poor flat, and it has been further impoverished by the tussock-grub. It, is particularly liable to snoxv, and includes no winter country. It is impossible to determine its carrying-capacity, for the reason that it is capable of carrying sheep for only five or six months of the year. It has lieen suggested that it might Inemployed, not unprofitably, for conducting experiments in the direction of preserving native pastures, and of ascertaining what grasses (if any) are suitable for surface-soxving this class of country.

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