(from the Canterbury "evening hail," april 15.) This Appendix to Journals of the House of Repre sentatives, 1866, contains a remarkable document. It is a " Return of all Lands in the several Provinces of New Zealand held under Depasturing Leases or licenses, &c." It deserves notice that it was pre« sented to both Houses of the General Assembly by command of his Excellency, and not to an order of either House, on the motion of any member. This is significant. The run-holding element still holds considerable sway, both in tbe General, and in most of the Provincial, Legislatures. Asa class, the run holders are not over-aaxious to have the results of their dealings with the Provincial Governments as to the occupation of the public lands too prominently brought forward. The public have to thank the Staf ford Ministry for advising the Governor to supply this instructive information. The nature of lease, name of lessee, locality, amount of rent per year, and number of acres leased (estimated extent), are given in each individual instance. These particulars are given for each province separately ; and there is a "[Recapitu lation of Returns of all Lands in the several Provinces of New Zealand held under Depasturing Leases or Licenses, and of the Rents and Assessments paid in respect of the same for the year 1866." As this is placed first in the return, we will begin with that. Taranaki, of course, has no return to make, as the unfortunate colonists there are hemmed in within the town and its neighbourhood. From the other provinces, the return is as follows (we leave out shillings and pence) : — i

So that fifteen and a-half millions of acres are let for £55,675 a year, or at the average rate of less than one penny per acre ! It will at once be seen, how ever, that the rents obtained by the different pro vinces vary exceedingly. Wellington lets its runs at an average of three-halfpence per acre ; Auckland, at less than one-seventh of a penny per acre; Uawke's Bajvat about a half-penny ; Nelson, jess than three faTfthings; Maryborough, one-third oFi^ penny; Otago, about a farthing ; Southland, about two pence ; and Canterbury, not quite three half-pence. Canterbury has the largest income from this source, while Otago lets a larger extent of land. 