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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 73

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 21st June, 1895

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington,

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.

The position of the settlements on the 31st March last was as follows:—
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
page 2

£ s. d. The amount advanced this year for dwelling-houses, bush-felling, and grassing was 460 12 6 £ s. d. In the North Island ... 410 12 6 In the Middle Island ... 50 0 0 460 12 6

The total amounts advanced from the commencement of the system to the 31st March last is as under:— North Island—£ s. d. £ s. d. For dwelling-houses ... 9,104 8 1 Bush-felling, &c. ... 11,353 8 2 20,457 16 3 Middle Island— For dwelling-houses ... 4,511 0 0 Bush-felling, &c. ... 810 2 2 5,321 2 2 Total advanced ... ... £25,778 18 5

Equivalent to an advance of 15s. 3d. per acre.

The total annual rent, including interest or advances, amounts to ... ... £ S. d. 5,017 17 3 £ s. d In the North Island 1,966 4 5 In the Middle Island 3,051 12 10 5,017 17 3

Equivalent to a rental of 3s. per acre.

The amount received as rent and interest for the year ending 31st March last was ... 4,257 18 2 £ s. d. In the North Island 1,676 6 1 In the Middle Island 2,581 12 1 4,257 18 2 The total amount received for rent and interest from the commencement of the system to the end of the past financial year was ... ... ... ... 17,620 7 0 Classified as under:- North Island—£ s. d. Rent ... ... 5,114 4 2 Interest ... 3,163 15 4 8,277 19 6 Middle Island— Rent ... ... 7,881 3 1 Interest ... 1,461 4 5 9,342 7 6 Total receipts ... £17,620 7 0

page 3

The arrears of rent and interest on the 31st £ s. d. March last amounted to ..., 2,575 3 2 Namely:— North Island—£ s. d. Arrears of rent ... 1,042 18 11 Arrears of interest 1,082 17 0 2,125 15 11 Middle Island— Arrears of rent ... 389 6 8 Arrears of Interest 60 0 7 449 7 3 Total arrears ... ... £2,575 3 2

The 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:— Number. Area. Annual Kent and Interest. A. R. P. £ s. d. North Island ... 28 552 3 25 126 8 8 Middle Island ... 28 574 2 17 113 4 9 Totals ... 56 1,127 2 2 239 13 5

During the past year 48 settlers have been allowed to exchange their village-homestead settlement tenure for leases in perpetuity.

The value of improvements now on the land £ s. d. amounts to ... ... ...92,834 0 0 £ s. d. In the North Island 52,903 0 0 In the Middle Island 39,931 0 0 92,834 0 0

The financial position in round numbers is therefore this:—
£
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