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The Fruit Industry. This industry is year by year assuming larger proportions in the northern part of the district, and the demand for land for apple-culture continues unabated. The value of this business to the district is enhanced by the fact that hundreds of acres of lands hitherto considered worthless have proved eminently adapted to apple-culture. The Home markets and those of South America are being exploited, and the fruit is coming into such favour and repute that the future of the industry seems assured. Peaches, nectarines, and small fruit are grown to a considerable extent, especially in Motueka and the Waiineas, where there are six canning and preserving factories, all working at high pressure during the season in order to cope with the fruit coming in. The Dairy Industry. This important industry is growing fast, and is proving a valuable adjunct to the small farmer, and the number of butter and cheese factories is steadily increasing. One or other of these factories is now established at Takaka, Collingwood, Brightwater, Murchison, Purumahoe, Richmond, Karamea, Birchfield, Charleston, and Cronadun, thus being well distributed over the district. The Coal Industry. The vicinity of Westport, in the Buller County, is the most productive part of Nelson District with regard to coal, the output for last year being 848,200 tons. There are also some small mines working near Reefton, the total output from which was only 8,357 tons, all consumed locally, a considerable decrease on the previous year's figures, owing to labour troubles. Near Collingwood there are two companies in active operation—the North Cape and Puponga— both supplying considerable quantities of coal, which is in very good repute for household purposes. There is also another mine with excellent prospects being developed near Ferntown. In the Collingwood district, also, the industry was greatly hampered during the year by labour troubles. The Land Board. The usual monthly meetings were held in Nelson, and special meetings at Westport and Reefton. During the year Mr. J. S. Wratt, who had served many years on the Board, died somewhat suddenly at Motueka. On account of his ability and long experience, his loss will be greatly felt by the Board. Mr. Andrew Sinclair was appointed in his place. Change of Staff. I desire to place on record my appreciation of the long and faithful and zealous services of Crown Lands Ranger Mr. Frank Ward, who retired on superannuation in June last. Departmental. Owing to a variety of causes the office-work has been exceedingly heavy, and it has only been with the greatest difficulty that absolutely necessary current work could be coped with. There are now 2,625 Crown tenants, and the number of letters, telegrams, &c, despatched and received was 26,960. 934 vouchers, representing £22,221 6s. lid., passed through the books. I have to thank the staff, both office and field, who, with a few exceptions, have co-operated with me most heartily. F. A. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

MARLBOROUGH. Land opened for Sale or Selection. The total area of Crown land opened for sale or selection during the year was 11,736 acres, a considerable falling-off from the previous year. The principal block, containing about 10,000 acres (opened in March), is in the Upper Pelorus Valley, and being rather rough and of poor quality, only four sections, containing 3,441 acres, have so far been taken up. Operations during the coming Year, The only block of ordinary Crown land of any dimensions likely to be opened during the year is situated in the Opouri Valley, in the Wakamarina and Tennyson Survey Districts. This land (approximately 4,000 acres) contained the finest timber in the district, and Messrs. Brownlee and Co. (sawmillers) expect to finish cutting early next autumn. The valley contains a considerable extent of alluvial flats, and with the adjoining hill country should cut up into a number of dairy farms, as it is close to the Flat Creek Dairy Factory. The block will be easily roaded, and is handy of access to the main Nelson-Blenheim coach-road. Rangers' Repouts and Progress of Settlement. From the nature of the reports received from the Rangers it is evident that the Crown tenants have, generally speaking, had a good year. The exceptionally dry summer enabled the settlers to obtain good burns over the old as well as the newly fallen clearings, and greatly facilitated the clearing-up of rubbish preparatory to'resowing. These benefits have been discounted somewhat by the dryness of pasture towards the end of the season, and the consequent shortness