23

A.—4a

Experimental Farm. Work at the farm, during the past year has been largely confined to the raising of garden-produce. The Hospital and other Government institutions have received a regular supply of vegetables. The total revenue derived from this Source amounted to £552 1.95. 6(1. Many varieties of vegetables typical of more temperate climates have been successfully cultivated, and the experiment, has given impetus to the production of vegetables'within the community. There has hitherto been a lack of garden-produce available to Europeans. It is hoped during the year to extend the garden at the farm, and to increase considerably the quantity of vegetables available to the public. The citrus-plants imported from California a little over a year ago aro doing very well, and should form the nucleus of many such orchards in the future. Chickens and"Ducks. —Three pens of White Leghorn chickens and one pen of Indian Runner ducks arrived from New Zealand, in April last. It has been found that these imported strains of purebred birds require great attention until they become thoroughly acclimatized. The Indian Runner ducks are more easily acclimatized, and those received are thriving well. Stock.- Imports of stock for the year wore —Five horses, 138 cattle, seventy-nine pigs, and one sheep. Exports were —Two horses, one cattle boast, and twelve pigs. LANDS AND SURVEY. During the year the Legislative Council passed Ordinances concerning the water-supply, streetalignment, &C, necessitating plans and detailed descriptions both for the water-supply area and the proposed hydro-electric scheme ; also particulars of all properties intersected, and their approximate areas. A resurvey of the old municipal area is being carried out. This resurvey is necessary in order that all properties within the area shall be brought under a common and true meridian. The previous surveys were made on separate meridians, owing to the fact that the late German staff was never sufficient to undertake a complete survey of the district. The municipal district was divided into twenty-three circuits, of which eleven were completely traversed and platted on 1 : 1000, and co-ordinated in terms of the initial station at Mulinuu Observatory. The, average limit of error in bearing was considerably below the, New Zealand standard, and in chainage was 10 cm. per mile. All traverse points were marked by iron bolts or concrete, stones, and all old work refixed in most of the circuits. It is hoped by the end of this year to have the whole area, including all internal work, completed, and to be able to issue lithographic plans showing all details of building alignment, features, &c. Surveys were made of the whole of the pipe-line to the source of the water-supply, and the various properties affected were defined, and the portions to be dealt with renumbered and indexed. Survey expeditions were twice sent around both Savaii and Upolu as well as Manono to define boundaries and claims for the purpose of investigation by the Land and Titles Commission. During these expeditions, when possible, surveys for Native leases or other purposes were also made. All the old Flur or block-maps of the former German Administration were mounted and copies made, and most of the preliminary surveys for Land and Title Commission purpose were replotted and classified on a uniform standard sheet, making them more readily suitable, for future, reference. Duplicate plans showing the properties within the former plantation and municipal districts with references to numbers, owners, and, in many cases, Grundbuch registration data, were prepared and forwarded to the Registrar of the High Court. During the year most of the arrears of work (surveys waiting completion) were overtaken, which means that for the current year ample time, should be available for the proposed coastal traverse and completion of the resurvey of the former municipal district. Complete, maps of both Upolu and Savaii, as well as district maps of the former municipality and the plantation districts, were prepared showing all Government properties and properties taken over under the Crown Estates Order. Plans of both Upolu and Savaii were also prepared, showing available data at the time of compilation. These plans were redrawn and lithographed in colours in the New Zealand Government Printing Office, Wellington. Native Leases and Purchases. —Thirty-eight applications to purchase or lease Native lands were received, investigated, and reported on for approval or otherwise. A summary of the year's work is appended, as follows : — Field-work- : Land and Title Commission surveys, 27 ; boundary and subdivisional surveys, 18 ; leasehold surveys, 3 ; road surveys, 2 ; official surveys, 19 ; town surveys, 11 : total, 80. Office-work: Original plans, Land and Title Commission surveys, 42 ; tracings of same, 66. Original plans of leasehold surveys, 6 ; tracings of same, 12. Original plans, boundary and subdivisional survey, 12 ; tracings, 63. Original plans, general surveys, 6 ; tracings, 64. Original plans of compiled maps of Western Samoa, 2 ; tracings of same, 2. Original plans, official surveys, 8 ; tracings issued to various Departments, 88. Plans mounted, 18, Totals :94 plans and 295 tracings. Plans as under were registered and recorded : Native compass surveys in Upolu, 25 ; Native compass surveys in Savaii, 12 ; compass or prism surveys in Upolu, 7 ; diverse survey plans, 15; previously recorded, 1,04.9: total, 1,108.