C.—l

10

Sections 42, 43, and 44 allow of the exemption of lessees from conditions as to cropping, the postponement of rent of pastoral runs, and the postponement of rent of small grazing-runs respectively. It was deemed advisable to enact such legislation owing to the European war. Lands opened. More than double the area of land was opened during the year than during the preceding twelve months, and the attached table shows the areas offered in each district under the various tenures.

Land opened during the Year ended 31st March, 1915.

In addition an area of 49,536 acres of educational and other endowment lands was opened for selection, making the grand total of 1,202,260 acres opened during the year under all classes. Lands to be opened. During the current year it is expected to place in the market the following areas of land in the Dominion, some of which comprise pastoral runs subdivided and reopened for selection : — Acres. Auckland District.. .. .. .. .. ..107,676 Hawke's Bay District .. .. .. .. .. 121,376 Taranaki District .. .. .. .. '.. 56,840 V. Wellington District .. .. .. .. ..59,000 Nelson District .. . . . . .. . . .. 90,000 Marlborough District .. .. .. .. ..13,000 Westland District.. .. .. .. .. ..16,300 Canterbury District .. .. .. .. .. 33,200 Otago District .. .. .. .. .. .. 460,000 Southland District .. .. .. .. .. 12,000 Total .. .. .. .. .. 969,392 In addition, Surveyors have as " work on hand " a considerable area which it is hoped to survey, subdivide, and place on the market later. Lands selected. During the year the total area selected was 957,049 acres by 1,880 selectors. Of this about two-thirds comprised ordinary Crown land, the balance being made up of land-for-settle-ment holdings and national and educational endowments. This shows a marked increase over the previous year's figures of 503,737 acres, and it is hoped that the coming year will show an equally satisfactory area added to settlement. Full details of the selections, giving the various tenures, will be found in Table 3 published in the appendix. Lands made Freehold. The lauds made freehold under the Land Laws Amendment Acts of 1912, 1913, and 1914 aggregated 93,547 acres, held by 494 selectors, the purchase price being £174,412. From the date of passing of the Amendment Act of 1912 up to the 31st March, 1914, a total of 628

Renewable Li lase. n H __ Pastoral Pastor. d Runs. District. Optional System. Land - Land. Land for Settlements. Sag -. _ _,_. _ *f 1 on in Mining Districts under Special Regulations. Lease by Auction and Application. Small Grazingruns: Ordinary Crown Land. Ordinary Crown Land. endowment Land. Total. Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 67,556 4,285 18,381 21,624 22,389 4,302 Acres. 132 649 11 22 Acres. 10,397 5,809 5,309 11,309 Acres. 8.535 867 129 1,703 10,124 11,785 Acres. *630 57 85 64 1 {155 1 H330 200 424 Acres. f358 Acres. 379 1 69 277 72 99 78 **866 25 194 Acres. 7,150 13,640 2*,397 Acres. 5,328 Acres. Acres. 95,005 24,310 25,122 31,385 58,717 159,341 657,708 56,380 39,618 5,138 §9,155 14,800 143,000 544,790 102,870 47,900 814 2,888 4,040 593 5 537 41 ||7,284 4,177 434 7*,748 23,450 Totals 145,465 1,412 34,216 45,038 1,947 9,513 2,060 30,935 731,368 150,770 1,152,724 * Includes 12 acres endowment lands. [I •* Includes 270 acres land land for s j Includes . for settle; ettlemenfe 14 acres, meats, ant i. to Cheviot Es :i 1 aero Chi Irdinary Cr( itate. eviot Estatf twn landi t Incluc i. n les 43 acn deludes 38 land 7 acres lan< for settlom< Ifor settleir mts, and 7 lents. acres Che" § Nationalriot Estate, i.