C.-9

Southland. (Thomas Brook, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The work in connection with the settlement of discharged soldiers has considerably increased during the year. This class of work takes precedence, and has occupied a considerable part of the time of most of the officers. Forty-nine soldiers occupy about 14,000 acres of Crown and settlement land, and notwithstanding the severe season experienced the majority are shaping well and should eventually succeed. A large number of soldiers are taking advantage of the provision of the Discharged Soldiers Sett'ement Amendment Act, 1917, by purchasing freehold properties with the assistance of the Department. At the close of the year thirty-six applicants had been so assisted to purchase an aggregate area of 11,000 acres, and thirty further Applications were then under consideration. In addition to the foregoing, advances were authorized for the purchases of town houses in thirty-two cases. This class of applicant is on the increase, and since the close of the year as many as fifty-four cases have teen considered at one Board meeting. As mentioned in my general report on the district, the tendency of these operations has been to increase the value of properties considerably, and the increases are very apparent in the town of Invercargill itself. Houses are scarce, and at the present time it is almost impossible to find a suitable house to let. The total amount of money actually paid out from the soldiers' account during the year was over £60,000, while the total receipts were approximately £1,300. In conclusion I have to say that the staff has experienced probably the most strenuous year on iccord, but all have worked well and are deserving of commendation.

TABLE 1. Area of Land proclaimed for Settlement under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915.

10

Under Section 3 of the Act. (Ordinary Tenures.) Under Section 4 of the Act. (Special Tenures.) Total Area proclaimed. District. For the ,., t . . Year ended «£? Maroh 31st March, 1S i„,„ ' 1919. lvlw - For the Year ended 31st March, 1919. Total to 31st March, 1919. For the Year ended 31st March, 1919. Total to ! 31st March, 1919. I Ordinary Crown Lands — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. Acres. 571 25,937 13,812 8,340 884 4,127 13,621 Acres. 3,033 6,442 5,938 1,624 2*338 331 230 1,754 Acres. 3,033 6,442 5,938 1,624 Acres. 37,706 64,490 5,938 54,111 3,786 3.530 480 253 24,082 5,055 Acres. 3,604 6,442 5,938 1,624 4,127 2,338 331 Acres. 63,643 78,302 14,278 54,995 17,407 3,530 6,439 253 57,090 5,351 '. 5,959 2'338 331 33,008 33*008 296 230 1,754 33,238 1,754 59,396 Totals 37,706 101,857 21,690 199,431 301,288 Cheviot Estate, Canterbury .. 2,097 1,356 3,453 Land for Settlements — Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland - 707 8,072 632 792 24,208 5,445 1,758 20,908 7 [490 8,072 632 792 24,268 5,445 1,758 21,615 7*490 44,661 5,201 745 5,691 648 445 6,423 3,326 2,542 5,091 648 445 51,084 8,527 3,287 Totals 51,314 16,280 72,160 16,280 123,474 National Endowment — Auckland Hawko's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 1,592 2 [ 628 6,753 8,030 2,'625 9,609 1,592 2,625 0*753 8,036 2,625 9,609 2,694 18,870 5,227 33,640 14,275 6,263 2,694 18,870 5,227 33,640 1.4,275 6,263 5,461 5*401 Totals 37,995 79,675 37,995 79,675 Grand totals 75,701 234,943 37,970 272,947 113,671 507,890