A—i

XI

containing 81,551 acres, including 33,000 acres on the banks of the Wanganui Eiver. Each domain is managed by a Domain Board, which furnishes an annual report on the condition of the domain under its control, and the progress made in improving and beautifying it. A synopsis of the reports of the Boards will be prepared for presentation to Parliament as usual. Naval and Military Claims. As indicated in last year's report, the Stipendiary Magistrates were adjudicating upon claims that had been preferred by old soldiers, Volunteers, and others. Full particulars of the decisions that were arrived at were published in session of last year—Parliamentary Papers H.-21 and H.-21a. The number of claims received was 607, and 39 were submitted by the Stipendiary Magistrates for favourable consideration. It was decided that of this number 23 should be compensated, and £420 was accordingly appropriated by Parliament for the purpose. The following summary gives the position to date : Number of old soldiers, Volunteers, &c, compensated, 7,715. Some of these were granted land, some were paid in cash, and others were given scrip, which was used for the purchase of land. Area of land granted, 349,112 acres; money paid in lieu of land, £71,187; scrip used in purchase of land (land not included in area given above), £5,730. State Forests. At the 31st March, 1912, the area set apart as State forests and administered under the State Forests Act, 1908, was 2,118,118 acres. The revenue received during the year from sales of timber, &c, from these lands was £35,466, being £20,133 in excess of the previous year's returns. As soon as the milling-timber upon any reserve has been utilized, steps are taken to remove the reservation from the land, and to have it subdivided and opened for settlement. A separate report dealing with afforestation will be laid before Parliament, as usual, giving particulars as to the trees raised at the various nurseries, the areas planted, and the total expenditure. Native-land Purchases. The following shows the work of Native-land purchase carried out by this Department for the year ended 31st March, 1912 : — 1. Several blocks standing over from old purchases in the King-country were partitioned, and are now complete. They are as follows : — Crown Award. a. r. p. Taharoa A Block 1177 3 0 iQQ i n fin Parawai Townsbip, ia<j l ° I Taharoa A No. 5. Eangitoto A 3b, Section 1 .. .. 474 113 Turoto C No. 2b, Section 1 .. .. 175 119 Rangitoto A 22a .. .. 23 2 0 Rangitoto-Tuhua 35i, Section 3b, No. Iα .. 344 314 Te Awaroa A 3b, Section 1 .. .. 408 3 10 2. The purchases on hand are in the Waikato and Urewera country. The block in the Waikato is Moerangi Nos. 1 and 3 and Moerangi No. 2. The position is as follows : — Share Equivalent purchased. Area. Acres. Acres. Acres. Moerangi Nos. 1 and 3 33,725 19,630 19,667 Moerangi No. 2 .. .. .. *.. 11,757 11,735 11,757 3. The position of the lands in the Urewera at present being dealt with is as follows: — Share Equivalent Urewera Lands. purchased. Area. Block. ■ Aores. Acres. Acres. Otara .. .. .. .. .. 2,680 1,635 1,644 Omahuru.. .. .. .. .. 6,600 1,369 3,800 ParaoanuiN. .. .. .. ..3,400 474 1,755 ParaoanuiS. .. .. .. .. 5,510 1,014 3,214 Tauranga.. .. .. .. .. 39,320 2,536 21,875' Waikarewhenua .. .. .. .. 12,500 2,215 5,493 Part Maungapohatu .. .. ..7,000 823 3,725 Totals .. .. .. 77,010 10,066 41,506 The purchase-moneys paid during the year, in current work, amounted to £56,029 Bs. 6d. Included in the above sum is £310, compensation awarded by the Appellate Court for some outstanding shares in the Town of Rotorua.

iii—C. 1.