The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 73
Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 21st June, 1895
21st June, 1895.
Sir,—
The following returns give full details of village-homestead settlements in each of the provincial districts of the colony for the year ending 31st March, 1895.
During the past year twenty-four new settlements have been formed—seven in the North Island and seventeen in the Middle Island. Two hundred and ninety-five new selectors have taken up sections of land, representing in the aggregate 7,616 acres—an average of 25¾ acres to each settler.
Number of settlements in the colony | 144 | |
In the North Island | 43 | |
In the Middle Island | 101 | |
144 | ||
Number of original settlers | 1,814 | |
Original settlers now remaining | 1,150 | |
Number of present settlers | 1,395 | |
Resident | 939 | |
Non-resident | 401 | |
Not reported on | 55 | |
1,395 | ||
The number now settled on the land under the village-homestead settlement system including wives and families, is | 4,561 | |
In the North Island | 2,556 | |
In the Middle Island | 2,005 | |
4,561 |
There is still a large number not residing on their sections. It is partly due to the fact that many of them are sadly in want of means to build on their holdings before they can settle there with their wives and families; the others are new selectors, and the time allowed for residing has not yet expired.
The total acreage originally taken up was | Acres. | Acres. 48,156 |
---|---|---|
In the North Island | 26,959 | |
In the Middle Island | 21,197 | |
48,156 | ||
The total acreage now held is | 33,804 | |
In the North Island | 15,520 | |
In the Middle Island | 18,284 | |
33,804 | ||
Average area to each settler | 24 | |
Total area laid down in pasture or cultivated | 13,067 | |
In the North Island | 5,705 | |
In the Middle Island | 7,362 | |
13,067 |
The total amounts advanced from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last is as under:—
Equivalent to an advance of 15s. 3d. per acre.
Equivalent to a rental of 3s. per acre.
page 3The forfeitures and surrenders during the year number 56, the area being 1,127 acres, and the annual rent, including interest, £239 13s. 5d., as under:—
During the past year 48 settlers have been allowed to exchange their village-homestead settlement tenure for leases in perpetuity.
£ | |
---|---|
Capital value placed on the land when disposed of | 79,315 |
Amount advanced to settlers | 25,778 |
Payments made by settlers as rent and interest | 17,620 |
Value of improvements now on the land | 92,834 |
And if the amount advanced is deducted, there remains, as representing the value of the work done by the settlers | 67,056 |