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now desire to avail themselves of the better opportunities provided by the State. The number of soldier settlers occupying Crown lands is 1,029, holding an area of 281,512 acres, while 644 settlers have been assisted in the purchase of single freehold farms, aggregating 88,896 acres, and houses have been provided for 797. The total revenue for the year was £137,962, an increase of nearly £3,000 on the previous year ; and the amount of loans outstanding at the close of the year was-- Instalment mortgages on farms, £977,767 ; on dwellings, £458,330; Current Account advances, £722,085 : total, £2,158,182. The decisions of the Dominion Revaluation Board have given generous relief in regard to arrears up to the 30th June, 1923, and in many cases postponements have been granted of payments due since that date, so that there should be no excuse for settlers failing to meet their obligations for the future. On house properties payments are, in a large majority of cases, being met satisfactorily, and failure to do so is usually found to be due to illness or loss of employment, which in country townships frequently necessitates removal. Great difficulty is still being experienced in some of these townships in effecting redisposal of vacated houses. General Condition of Settlement?. —A review of the position of the settlements, in the light of the concessions granted by the Dominion Revaluation Board, shows that in the majority of cases (there is no room for doubt of the success of the settlers. Many of them are already well on the way towards independence, and only needed relief from the immediate burden of past arrears. In the case of a few of the settlements special circumstances exist which render the future uncertain, although even in these cases 'the settler who possesses experience, energy, and thrift will win through to success. Adjustments of holding areas will in some cases be necessary, and additional areas not capable of successful occupation by themselves may be granted to those who have proved their ability. Caution will still be needed in dealing with applications for further Current Account advances, as many of the settlers still fail to discriminate sufficiently between further development work—which may, within reasonable limits, be a proper subject for further advances —and maintenance work, which must be provided for out of the returns from the farm. Care is necessary also to see that advances even for further development do not lead again to over-capitalization of holdings, which can only lead, to disaster. Abandoned Properties.- I regret to report that, owing to limited demand, and the depreciated condition of many of the abandoned properties, very little success has attended our efforts at redisposal. While I would certainly not advocate any course that would lead to unnecessary losses by the State, I am quite satisfied that in many of these cases it would pay the Crown to offer the properties on extremely liberal and easy terms, in order to ensure that they should be occupied and brought back into production. GrISBORNfi. (V. I. Blake, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) General. Now that the revaluation of soldiers' holdings in this district has been completed the 1 men are settling down and the outlook is quite promising. Probably in a few cases properties will come back on the hands of the Crown, but the number of such cases is rapidly diminishing. Forfeiture was found to be necessary in seven cases during the year. It is safe to. say that in. each case the soldier concerned would never have made good. The revaluation has made the task of the Land Board, as far as the collection of rent is concerned, considerably easier, and soldier settlers may now be said to be educated up to the fact that they must pay their rent. Some slight adjustments may still be necessary in the matter of stock and chattel mortgages. As a general rule, however, the various settlements are in a prosperous condition. Condition of Settlements. —Ardkeen Settlement, Wairoa : It was prophesied last year that the settlers on this fine settlement would have a very satisfactory year. One settler on 572 acres wintered 720 ewes, and got 680 lambs in addition to seventeen bales of wool. Three settlers whose holdings were on the small side have had their holdings increased by the addition of some Crown land adjoining. Seventeen selectors are residing, one being absent through ill health. The rents on this settlement are now in a satisfactory state. Under the favourable conditions now ruling these settlers must make good. Ohuka Settlement, Wairoa: This settlement was originally cut up into seventeen sections. Thirteen selectors are still residing. Three of the unselected or forfeited sections have been cut up and allotted to various adjoining settlers, thereby increasing their holdings to a payable area. One forfeited section is being held over for future requirements. The settlers on this settlement had a very fair season. Though they did not get many fat lambs away, they got a good price for their wool, and also sold their surplus stock at satisfactory prices. The settlers now realize the fact that they must keep the persistent growth of manuka in check. The Board has been compelled in some cases to grant further advances to this end. With the added area the great majority of these settlers should be able to make good. A large area of this settlement is very poor land. Putere Block : Originally there were seven settlers on this block, but the land is, as a rule, of such poor quality that only three now remain. The cost of carting and droving is very heavy. The settlers remaining are having their holdings considerably added to by the addition of forfeited, sections. A new road connecting this settlement with Mohaka will be finished shortly, and the settlers will then be able to send their wool to Napier by lorry if they wish. The construction of the NapierWairoa Railway will also help this block considerably. Pumice is the trouble on the block. It is very hard to establish even native grasses. The number of sheep on the block has fallen, off considerably during the past few months.