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the sections comprised fern land, much more difficult to work without capital than bush land. But the pastures are improving, and the progress made has given confidence to these very industrious settlers. Revenue. There was an increase of £13,000 in the revenue as compared with the previous year. The number of settlers in arrear was ninety-nine, and the amount owing- was £752. There are twentysix settlers who have obtained of payment of rent. With few exceptions, these are almost entirely improved-farm settlers. Ordinary settlers have not sought postponement to any great extent. Freehold. Although the facilities for acquiring the freehold of land not hitherto carrying the right to purchase should now be fairly well known amongst Crown tenants, there has not been an abnormal demand. Were it not for the opportunity to pay for the freehold by deferred payments, a course taken by more than half of the applicants, the number of those who have applied would appear small. The total area purchased, inclusive of those who paid the full capital value and those who are buying on deferred payments, is about 5,000 acres. Education Reserve Lands. As there are very few of these reserves available for disposal, there was very little business involved in the disposal of the 792 acres selected during the year. But, as in previous years, there was a considerable volume of work entailed in dealing with transfers, mortgages, subdivisions, subleases, and renewals. A number of leases carrying right of renewal involving arbitration are now falling in, and the time of one Ranger will be very fully occupied with these cases. Special Districts for roading. It is probable there will be a large number of applications under this heading. Up to the close of the year six petitions had been received. Some of the petitions have recognized the difficulty of commencing operations until there is a sufficient sum in hand to justify the start of comprehensive works, and it may be necessary later to provide some means whereby tho amounts to accrue could be hypothecated to pay interest on money required for immediate wants in the way of access. But the difficulty of hypothecation is the uncertainty as to what amounts will accrue under the section quoted. Money derived from rent may be payable into the fund, but the purchase of the freehold diverts the balance of payments to another fund. Hence a difficulty in hypothecation, or, for the matter of that, in any attempt to estimate the total amount likely to become available. " Thirds." Proposals for expenditure of amounts payable to local bodies out of " thirds " continue to show a preponderance of sums earmarked for maintenance. There seems to bo a general intention on the part of local bodies to refrain from suggesting new works out of money so derived. Transfers. There were 234 applications to transfer and sublease during tho year. On the whole, they wore in order, and legitimate transactions to which the Land Board could raise no objection; but, as in previous years, there were occasional instances of an attempt to force through dealings so complicated by exchanges as to cloud the real issue at stake. In one ease the Board, after exhaustive inquiries, declined to consent to an intricate .transfer, as it, was not satisfied as to the bona fides. Subsequent information revealed circumstances which proved that at least one of the parties was not aware of the full nature of the obligations being entered into. In regard to transfers generally, it is surprising how inconsistent some of tho applicants can bo. On the one hand they deplore the high price put upon the land, and in tho next breath ask proposed transferees for an amount on account of goodwill out of all proportion to their interest in the properties. G. H. Bullahd, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

WELLINGTON. Lands opened for Selection during the Year. The total area available for selection was 35,907 acres, a considerable increase on that for the.preceding year. The area standing open on the Ist April, 1913, was 3,021 acres, and 32,886 acres more were offered during the year, inclusive of education reserves. The lands placed in the market comprised principally the Heatherlea Settlement, 598 acres; Poroporo Settlement, 9,390 acres; South Waimarino Block, 5,417 acres; Whakaihuwaka Block, 8,923 acres; Mangatainoka Block, 1,773 acres; subdivisions of resumed small grazing-runs in Mangaone and Kopuaranga districts, 1,041 acres; and a number of forfeited sections in Hunua, Kaitieke, Manganui, Whirinaki, and other districts. Sales by auction were held of lots in Wellington City, Raetihi Township, Richardson Village, Mangahao, and Belmont districts, of subdivisions of an education reserve near Longburn, and of timber on two lots near Hunterville and Rangataua.