C—l

10

Reports on Cognate Subjects. As in former years, separate reports are required to be laid before Parliament in connection with many of the operations carried out by the Department. They comprise— Surveys. —The report by the Surveyor-General on the work of the survey (or technical) branch of the Department is submitted in parliamentary paper C.-la. Swamp-drainage. —The report required by the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, is contained in parliamentary paper C.-4. Discharged Soldiers Settlement. —The annual report under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, is furnished by the Department in parliamentary paper C.-9. Scenery-preservation. —The statutory report containing details of reservations and statement of accounts appears in parliamentary paper C.-6. Advances for Roading of Crown Lauds. —The necessary report submitted in accordance with section 63 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, appears in parliamentary paper C.-7. Rangitaiki Land Drainage. —The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains is given in parliamentary paper C.-11. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains.—A full report by the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject is included in parliamentary paper C.-8. Head Office. In common with the District Offices of the Department, the work has shown a considerable increase during the past year,, but every effort has been made to deal with it in a satisfactory manner. Correspondence. —This has shown a marked increase. During the year ended 31st March. 1915, there was a total of 53,187 letters and telegrams received and despatched; during the next year 57,004 were dealt with; for the year ended 31st March, 1917, a total of 67,170 was recorded, and in 1917-18 a total of 71,200; but in the twelve months ended 31st March, 1919, the correspondence totalled 114,065, having thus more than doubled in volume within four years; and this, of course, indicates a corresponding increase in the correspondence of the District Offices. Cemeteries. Four new cemeteries were made during the year. The Highbank Cemetery was closed and vested in the Mount Hutt Road Board; the Hororata Cemetery was closed and vested in the Selwyn County Council; the Lumsden Cemetery was closed and vested in the Lumsden Town Board; and the Ohakune Cemetery was vested in the Ohakune Borough Council. There are now 530 cemeteries under the control of the Department. Public Domains. The public domains on the books of the Department now number 581, comprising an area of 85,367 acres. Five new domains were made during the year, the area being 61 acres. Fifty domains are under the control of the Commissioners of Crown Lands in the absence of controlling Domain Boards.

Proclamations , Notices, &c., prepared and issued.

There were also issued —four editions of the Land Guide, comprising a total of 6,800 copies; twelve monthly posters, comprising 33,500 copies; fifty-nine land-sale posters, comprising a total of 27,225 copies.

Proclamations. Orders in ('ouneil. Warrants and Notices. Totals. ■I I I Under the Land Act and the Land for Settlements Act 33 Under the Public Reserves and Domains Act Under the Scenery-preservation Acts .. .. 12 Under the Native Land Act .. .. .. 6 Under the Education Reserves Acts and Public Bodies' Leases Act Under the State Forests Act .. - .. .. 4 Under the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public 5 Bodies Empowering Acts Under the Cemeteries Act Under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 .. 102 Miscellaneous .. .. .. •. .. 8 8 91 174 80 174 80 8 215 171 20 6 23 II 12 12 I I 1 5 6 4 3 ■ 52 31 48 52 31 48 52 137 59 Totals .. .. .. .. 170 117 407 407 694