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years, and will require painting next year; but, as the Labour Department is taking over the control of the settlement, (his will be a matter Eor the consideration of that Department. Land proposed to be opened fob Selection in 11)11-12. There is not at present a Large amouni of land available for opening for selection. The principal areas thai will be dealt with are an area of 15,292 acres resumed from Moutere Run ; 10,895 acres at present included in Turnbull's Wanaka Run. These will be offered in subdivisions as small grazing-runs about November next. General Remarks (Rangers' Inspections). According to the reports of the Crown Lands Rangers, the settlers are generally complying well with the conditions imposed by their leases, and are steadily increasing the values of their holdings by the improvements they are effecting. The Crown Lands Ranger reports on ordinary Crown lands as follows : — "The tenants on ordinary Crown lands in Otago have made very fair progress during the year. Las! winter was exceptionally mild and open, and stock did not require very much in the waj of artificial feeding. The winter was also very dry, unfortunately, and the result was that the soil did not get what mighi be looked upon as a thorough wetting, The following spring and Bummer did not produce the usual necessary rainfall, and consequently there never was at any part of the season an abundance of feed for stock. There were intermittent showers, however, up till about the middle of January, and these kept the grain and root crops going, with the result thai over a large pari of Otago the grain crops have been fairly good. North Otago, however, did not fare as well as the central and southern parts, and owing to the shortage of rain many of the grain crops there were an absolute failure. After the middle of January for some weeks there was not a single shower of rain, and this has had a disastrous effect on the various root crops. These had promised very well until some time after New Year, but thej practically collapsed then for want of rain, and, to make matters worse, the blight became vei \ prevalent and destructive. In Central and North Otago the turnips and rape crops promised very well for a time, but the ultimate result might be looked upon as an absolute failure. Further south, though the root crops are not by any means up to the usual standard, they are fair to good generally. If another good winter conies, the lack of artificial feed will not perhaps be very severely felt, but, should the winter be a severe one, it will be a very serious matter for the general farming community. " The dairy-farmer throughout the northern part of Otago has not had a very good year. Feed has been scarce all through the spring and summer, and hence cows have not produced anything like the usual amount of milk. The shortage of turnips will be to some extent made up by hay, the crops of which have been something above the average, but it is to be feared that the year's general results will be disappointing. ■■Lambing percentages have generally been below the average in fact, in many cases they have been disappointingly small. It is difficult to assign a cause for'this, except it be the result of dry weather and shortage of feed. The wool-clip has been fair on the low country and good on the higher country. In fact, the high country, which stands the drought better than the lower parts, has been of considerable value during the past few years. "In the bush districts the past two dry years have produced some surprises. Usually with a rainfall that has been too heavy the bush settlers hail much cause to complain of wet surroundings —bad roots and too much water. All that has been changed lately, however, and they now find that the bush land takes very badly with drought, and they find also that the creeks from which are drawn the water-supplies give out only too quickly. Experience of the past two or three years has shown that without a fairly heavy rainfall bush settlement will not be very successful, as dry weather quickly burns up the supply of grass. It lias also shown the absolute necessity of a certain amount of bush-conservation in order to preserve the water-supply. There are a number of sharp high ridges covered yet with bush. The profit of clearing of them is somewhat doubtful, while if the bush were reserved the water-supply would lie guaranteed. This is a matter that has perhaps never Ixx'n brought very prominently home to the bush settlers, but the past two years has certainly shown them the necessity of something being done by way of bush-conservation. "Generally speaking, the Otago farmers have more than held their own this year, notwithstanding the poor rainfall. Their position is gradually but surely improving, and their prospects are very good indeed." Land Board, The business of the Land Board steadily increases, and several late sittings have been necessary in order to put it through in the monthly two-days sitting. During the year the Board suffered a severe loss through the death of Mr. John Tough. On aceoujit of his long illness, and the absence of Mr. Livingstone for six months, the Board had for that time to work with a bare quorum. The biennial election of a member by the Crown tenants took place in February, and resulted in the re-election of Mr. George Livingstone. Departmental. I have again pleasure in recording my appreciation of the good work done by the staff officers, and the ready and cheerful way in which it has lieen done. E. H. WILMOT, Commissioner of Crown Lands.