27

C.—l

Summary of the Settlements established upon Estates acquired and Dealt with under the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Act up to the 31st March, 1927—continued.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. North Auckland. (0. N. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) Two new settlements have been purchased under the Lands for Settlement Act during the year —Tangowahine Settlement, formerly owned by Messrs. Coleman and Hawkins, and comprising a total of 4,265 acres, which will be offered for settlement soon; and Finlayson Settlement, 1,420 acres, at Mangapai, which was acquired under section 3 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, and settled as one holding by two selectors. Numerous other blocks were offered in different localities, but owing to unsuitability and high prices all of these were declined. Koremoa. —This settlement has not been a success so far owing to smallness of area of good land. A scheme of readjustment is now in train, and the settlers may pull through eventually. Motutara. —Seems to have improved slightly since last report. Hay crops were good, and the holdings that were top-dressed show marked improvement. Some damage was done during heavy downpour at Christmas-time, culverts, bridges, and roads being destroyed, and many cattle lost. Paerata. —Both settlers on this settlement seem to be getting on their feet. One, who is dairying, has a fine herd and a large butterfat-output, and the other, who is cropping, is steadily improving. Pakaraka.—This settlement is well established and in fair condition. The gorse problem on the unallotted areas is still acute, and causing trouble to the occupiers of adjoining sections. The settlers generally are doing satisfactorily. Puni. —This settlement was handicapped by smallness of good areas and isolation of rough sections. A regrouping has now been carried out, and in time it is hoped that all those at present on the sections will pull through.

Name of Estate. ! Principal Purpose for which Holdings are utilized. SemartoaiHjo Present Otago—continued. Tahawai .. .. 7 1 Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Taumata .. .. 9 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Teaneraki .. .. 23 . . Dairying .. .. .. .. Very fair. Te Puki .. .. 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. ... .. Good. Teviot .. .. 33 1 Grazing .. .. .. .. Fair. Tilverstowe .. . . 7 . . Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Tokarahi .. .. 79 2 J Mixed farming .. .. . . .. Good. Tokoiti .. .. 4 j Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Totara .. .. 27 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Wairuna .. .. 13 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Waitahuna No. 1 .. 1 1 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Waitahuna No. 2 6 1 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Poor. Westeott .. . . 7 . Mixed farming .. .. .. . . Poor. Windsor Park No. 1 37 2 Mixed farming .. .. . . .. Very good. Windsor Park No. 2 .. 10 . . Mixed farming .. .. . . .. Very good. Totals.. .. 1,119 62 Southland. Allenby .. .. 5 .. Dairying .. . . .. . . Good. Ardlussa . . .. 6 .. Pastoral .. .. .. .. Fair. Beaumont .. .. 10 2 Mixed farming .. .. . . .. Poor. Campbell .. . . 4 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Crighton Park .. 4 2 Pastoral .. .. .. .. Good. Edendale .. .. 102 50 Dairying .. .. .. .. Very good. Ermedale .. .. 10 2 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Fortification Hill .. 6 .. Pastoral .. .. .. .. Good. Glenham .. .. 35 9 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Very good. Knowsley Park .. 9 .. Pastoral .. . . . . .. Poor. Lambert .. .. 1 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Good. Lamont .. .. 6 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. Maori Hill .. .. 16 1 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Good. Merrivale . . .. 45 10 Mixed farming .. .. .. . . Good. Merrivale No. 1 .. 9 .. Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Merrivale No. 2 .. 7 . . Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Monte Cristo .. 4 .. Dairying .. .. .. .. Fair. Otahu .. .. 7 1 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Ringway .. .. 4 3 Mixed farming .. .. .. .. Fair. Stalker .. .. 8 ] Dairying .. .. .. . . Good. Strathvale . . .. 9 .. Dairying . . . . .. .. Good. Teihoka .. .. 2 .. Mixed farming ... .. .. .. Fair. Waiarikiki .. . . 7 .. Pastoral .. . . .. .. Poor. Waikiwi Town .. 38 18 Suburban building-sites .. .. .. Good. Totals.. .. 354 99 Grand totals .. 7,059 1,824