o.—l

VIII

I think it will be admitted that the above figures demonstrate the correctness of my view as to the satisfactory outcome of the past year's transactions, when due weight is given to the altered circumstances as affecting the character and position of the lands available for selection during the several years respectively, the total area dealt with, the amount of revenue, which exceeds that of any of the preceding eleven years, and also that the number of Crown tenants (19,594) has been reached by successive substantial increments. The practice has prevailed throughout the annual reports of comparing the three main systems of tenure—viz., occupation with right of purchase, lease in perpetuity, and cash purchases, as represented by the respective selections where lands are opened under the optional system (Part III.) of " The Land Act, 1892," which allows selectors to take up land according to their individual wishes. The results since the passing of the Act are furnished in

Table E.—Lands opened on "Optional" System, showing Choice of Tenure.

It will be noticed that the selections under the occupation-with-right-of-purchase tenure are greatly in excess of those on lease in perpetuity, but that the disparity in area is only 10,492 acres. The number of cash selections, 79, totalling 15,348 acres, is no doubt accounted for by reason of the fewer number of people who prefer to pay for land right out, in order that, after effecting improvements within the prescribed seven years, they may secure the fee-simple. Cash System. It will be observed that the falling-off in the cash sales commented upon in last year's report is also a feature of the transactions in the year 1902—3. The only opportunity afforded the public of directly acquiring the freehold of Crown lands is when town, suburban, and village lands are submitted to competition by auction for sale for cash ; or in cases where small areas of rural lands are allowed to be acquired under special circumstances recommended by the Land Board and approved by the Minister under sections 114, 115, and 117 of " The Land Act, 1892 "; or where advantage is taken of exercising the right of selection on the cash tenure from amongst areas opened under the optional system (Part III.) of " The Land Act, 1892." The 17,1885 acres alienated by the Crown is contained in 154 town, 83 suburban, and 134 rural sections, of which 100, comprising more than half the total area, are in the Auckland District. In every one of the land districts, except Hawke's Bay and Westland, town and suburban lands were sold ; and, in all, rural lands ranging from 242 acres upwards were disposed of for cash. The practice, which so generally prevailed in the colony, of submitting rural lands at auction is now rarely resorted to, the exception being in cases of lands of special value (section 118). The usual way in which those who prefer the freehold acquire land is under Part 111. of the Act (section 136). The total area of Crown lands which have been converted into freehold by sale since the foundation of the colony is 14,730,635 acres, to which has to be added 9,778,484 acres reserved or specially granted, making a grand total of 24,509,119 acres.

Oooupation with Right of! Purchase. Lease in Perpetuity. Cash. Year. Number. Area. Number. Area. Number. Area. i 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 1897-98 1898-99 1899-1900 1900-1901 1901-1902 1902-1903 161 461 398 431 277 380 458 395 673 447 403 Aores. 54,271 108,133 75,477 84,967 59,647 81,414 109,949 117,771 262,729 128,893 118,557 126 447 336 415 278 299 362 348 295 241 285 Acres. 55,320 151,324 87,374 89,144 62,229 76,953 99,262 111,108 97,138 65,468 108,065 325 249 174 169 90 65 114 95 127 237 79 Acres. 35,785 33,200 33,323 26,030 9,835 6,680 17,824 16,510 37,862 26,739 15,348 Totals... 4,484 ! 1,201,808 ; 3,432 1,003,385 1,724 259,136 i