REPORT OF THE No. 3 



Seven hundred and twenty-seven free grant locations were carried out as 

 against 718 for last year, while 1,204 individual sales, covering farm lots, were 

 allowed, or an increase of 226 over the previous year. 



The clay belt continues to be the most attractive, — one reason of course, is 

 the larger area from which to select, — but with its productive possibilities, quan- 

 tities of pulp and building material, natural drainage, ample waterways and 

 railway facilities, it holds a most unique position and is therefore unusually 

 attractive to prospective aggressive settlers. 



Exploiting lands of the Crown is prohibited and, while legitimate exchanges 

 of holdings are necessary and advisable in some cases, general traffic in un- 

 patented land is noticeably diminishing. 



Systematic and periodical inspections result in not only preventing specula- 

 tion in any form, but stimulating more vigorous settlement and cultivation of 

 the land by bona fide settlers. In a continued endeavour to eliminate the 

 timber farmer and absent holder, 535 free grant locations were cancelled and 

 507 sale holdings. 



Detailed tables showing the disposition of laoid for settlement purposes 

 according to districts, both as to free grant and sa^e transactions, are found in 

 appendices 13 and 14. A study of these tables discloses the fact that of the 

 total number buying land for settlement purposes, no less than forty-four per 

 cent, took up lots on the Transcontinental, between Cochrane and Hearst, 

 about twent}^ per cent, along the line of the T. & N. O. Railway, and the balance 

 in the various other districts. 



Clergy, Common, and Grammar School Lands 



The areas of lands set apart many years ago for these purposes are prac- 

 tically exhausted, and no dealings of any consequence are now consummated, 

 although in a few isolated instances parties clean up title, by paying outstanding 

 charges, and secure patent. On account of former sales in such cases the collec- 

 tions during the year amounted to $2,638.35. 



University Lands 



Some 3,710 acres were sold under this heading for $1,855.01 and $1,290.19 

 collected. 



Crown Lands 



For agricultural, townsite and tourist purposes, 173,643.3 acres were sold, 

 as against 154,018.94 acres for the previous year. The total collection on this 

 acreage and former acreage sold was $119,790.57 as against $107,900.26 for the 

 year 1922-23. Throughout the year 11,204.70 acres were leased for various 

 purposes, the revenue derived from all leasehold areas amounting to $89,775.48. 



Military Grants 



By an amendment in 1922 to the Vetera,ns' Act, cap. 6, 1 Edw. VH, the time 

 for making locations expired and now the holder of a certificate has only the 

 privilege of surrendering it for a cash consideration of $50, or applying it as 

 payment on Crown land at its face value, $80. During the year eighteen certi- 

 ficates were surrendered and twenty-two patents were issued. Under the 

 Act approximately 13,998 certificates were issued and all these have now been 

 absorbed with the exception of about 1,050 which are still outstanding. 



