XV

C.«--L

Considerable river protective works were carried out in Waimana and Opouriao Settlements, East Coast, and great relief will thereby be given to the settlers. The following is a summary of the work done in Waimana'and Opouriao Settlements in connection with Waimana and Whakatane Rivers: Fascining banks with willows, 419'9 chains; driving willow stakes 2 ft. apart and anchoring same with cables to posts, 362'7 chains; shingle •stop-banks covered with wire netting, 2,120"5 ft.; ordinary stop-banks unnetted, 727'3 ft.; atone groynes netted (3), 502 ft.; boom groynes (32), 1,808 ft.; river-diversion channels through shingle-beds scooped 60 ft. to 1 00 ft. wide (2), 3,125 ft. Total expenditure to date, inclusive of purchase of material, plant, and labour, £3,986 10s. 7d. This is charged against special votes obtained for the purpose. All this work has been carefully done, and has stood well considering the severe freshes experienced while works were incomplete. These freshes naturally were a cause of extra expense to the Department. The following large schemes were carried out by this branch, and, of course, comprise the major portion of the works: (J) Hauraki Plains drainage-works; (2) Hangitaiki drainageworks. The progress of these two large schemes are treated in separate reports Surveys have been carried on by two field parties, which subdivided the drained areas of the Hauraki Plains, and are also engaged upon the survey of adjoining Crown land, which is roaded and bridged by this branch. The area surveyed during the year is 2,579 acres, and further surveys covering some 11,000 acres are in hand. These lands are being prepared for settlement purposes. Surveys of some 700 acres of Native lands affecting the Hauraki Plains boundaries are also in hand. Engineering Surveys : Some eighty miles of engineering surveys have been made in connection with the Hauraki Plains and Rangitaiki drainage-works, Waitakaruru Loan Block, Kauaeranga Channel, and Wairoa River. Road-construction : Some 6 miles 5 chains of cart-road were duly constructed out of special grants, at a cost of £1,023 4s. 9d. Snagging of rivers : Some seven miles and a half of the Piako and Waitoa Rivers have been snagged during the past year, at a cost of £1,529 2s. 7d. against special votes. Land Conference. An event of more than usual departmental interest took place at the beginning of March last, when the several Commissioners of Crown Lands met at Wellington for the purpose of discussing matters connected with land-administration. The proceedings occupied three days, and much useful work was accomplished. Conferences of this nature are of considerable value to the administrative officers of the Department, as they not only enable many practical difficulties of administration to be discussed and overcome, but they tend to ensure uniformity of procedure in the different land districts and to promote mutual understanding between the head and district offices. It is hoped that opportunity may be found to hold further conferences at suitable intervals. Departmental Changes : Promotions, Transfers, Appointments, etc. Consequent on the promotion of Mr. James Mackenzie to the position of Surveyor-General, Mr. T. N. Brodrick was promoted from Canterbury to be Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor at Wellington. Mr. R. T. Sadd was transferred from Nelson District to fill the vacancy of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor at Hawke's Bay occasioned by the promotion of Mr. C. R. Pollen to fill Mr. Brodrick's position in Canterbury. Mr. F. A. Thompson, Chief Draughtsman at Napier, became Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for . Nelson District. Mr. H. Mackay, Land Transfer Draughtsman, District Office, Wellington, was promoted to be Chief Draughtsman at Napier, and Mr. R. S. Galbraith, District Inspecting Surveyor, Auckland, was appointed Chief Draughtsman at Invercargill in place of Mr. George Robinson, transferred to Canterbury. Mr. W. R. Jourdain was appointed Chief Clerk, Head Office, in succession to Mr. F. T. O'Neill, appointed Assistant Under-Secretary for Lands. Mr. G. R. N. Wright, Chief Clerk, Wellington District Office, retired on superannuation after forty years' faithful service. He was succeeded by Mr. H. M. Bannister, Chief Clerk, Taranaki, whose place was filled by the promotion of Mr. C. E. Archibald, of the Auckland Office. Mr- R A. Paterson, Chief Accountant and Native-land Purchase Officer, resigned from the Service, and Mr. A. C. Turnbull was appointed Chief Accountant at Head Office in his stead.