During the year just ended the separate selections under the various systams of disposal in force were 3071, and the to'.al area disposed of was 1,663,687 acres, being an excess over the previous year of 210,609 acres, while the number of selectors was greater than that ; of the previous year by 558. The trans actions of the year included thte leasing of 119 runs, of an area of 1,104,324 acres. Under *ha perpetual lease with right of purchase 355 selectors acquired an area of 122,557 acres ; under the system of occu pation with right of purchase 16lselectora acquired an area 'Of 64,271 acres ; the area of land leased in perpetuity without the right of purchase amounted to 55 320 acres, taken up by 126 fe'ectcrs. The area of land taken up by associations tha li B ht of purchase was 3/3,6/0 acre 3, the number cf selectors being 1874. Of that area 157,381 acres have been surveyed and the sections balloted for among S3S selectors, leaving 25 blocks whica still require to be snr veyed, and some of which are now in the course of being surveyed. The land dis posed of on deferred payment was 21 474 acres, the number of selectors hdvß 198 Then land _\vns sold for cash to 475 setters and 152 townspeople, the area purchased being 36 853 acres, and the So S nnn recelvre(l , £49 .W5. This includes 28,992 acres of perpetual leaseholds oon verted into freeholds. Ther.e perpetual leaseholds so Converted are occupied by 109 selectors, and uruount to 33,381 acres. These figures Bhow what very satisfactory progress has been made duriiig the year, It will also be noted that more selectors have acquired land than in any previous period for three years. ._ LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. [Mr Ward then detailed what had been done in purchasing lands under the Land for Settlement Act of last year. MaDy properties had been offered to the Govern ment, but not at prices considered low enough to justify purchase, and only three properties, totalling 1027 acres, had been bought. He indicated that the Government would ask for powers to compuborily pnrchase lands required for settlement at a fair price.] AGIUOTJLTUKE. As promised by the Minister of Agri* culture last yoar, he has given Consider able attention during the year to this department, and good progress has been made m its organisation. 