7

C.—lA

Staff. Retirements.- —Mr. W. Laing, Land Transfer Draughtsman, New Plymouth, retired on superannuation on the 31st March last, after completing twenty-eight and a half years service. Mr. Laing conducted a number of surveys in Taranaki for the Crown, particularly in the Tongaporotu, Whangamomona, and Waitotara valleys. He explored and graded a number of roads through bush areas in these localities, and has left a permanent record of his work in the Department as a pioneer surveyor in connection with this subdivision and roading. On the 6th October, 1909, Mr. Laing was appointed a District Surveyor. He joined the office staff as a computer in 1914, and. was promoted to the position of Land Transfer Draughtsman in October, 1921. His retirement from the service is a loss to the Department, and he proved himself a capable and efficient computer and draughtsman. Mr. William Arnsby Styche, Draughtsman and Computer, Nelson, retired on superannuation in October last after forty-seven years' service, twenty-two years of which were spend in the Christchurch Office and twenty-five years in Nelson. Mr. Styche was one of the old school of expert lithographic draughtsmen whose work placed the mapping of the Department on a high level of excellence. He was recognized as a conscientious officer of the utmost integrity of character. Mr. Thomas Carroll joined the Department as a surveyor in November, 1899. He was appointed Assistant Road Surveyor in April, 1901, and was transferred to the Lands Department in September, 1909. At the date of his voluntary retirement he was stationed in the Auckland District, with headquarters at Te Kuiti. Appointments, Transfers, &c. —Twenty-four draughting cadets have been appointed during the year under report; nine have been transferred from the clerical staff and three from other Departments, as against three transferred to other Departments and one to the Clerical staff. One draughtsman has been appointed to the permanent staff, and one transferred to the printing Department. Seven field cadets were appointed surveyors on passing the Survey Examination, and will be employed in the office until their services are required in the field. Mr. H. E. Walshe, Senior Draughtsman, Head Office, was promoted to the position of Chief Draughtsman; Mr. C. G. S. Ellis, Draughtsman, Wellington, to Computer at the Head Office; and Mr. W. M. Atkinson was promoted from Gisborne to be Land Transfer Draughtsman at New Plymouth. The following surveyors were transferred to cope with the demand for surveys : Messrs. H. A. Adams, Auckland to Christchurch ; T. G. Phillips, Wellington to Dunedin ; T. R. Burt, Auckland to Gisborne ; and Survey cadet T. S. Little, Auckland to Invercargill. Obituary.—Mr. S. T. Burton served as an articled pupil with the late Mr. G. M. Barr, C.E., of Dunedin, and afterwards had further experience on the late District Surveyor Langmuir's party at Otakau Native Reserve, and with Mr. Neill on settlements surveys in the Oamaru district. He joined the Department as a licensed surveyor in June, 1904, and was first stationed in the Westland District. He was transferred to Otago in 1908, and was there engaged principally on settlement and subdivisional surveys. He was an officer with an excellent record and a promising future, and his sudden death was a shock to all his departmental friends. Mr. A. H. Saunders joined the Department as a draughting cadet in Dunedin in September, 1895. For health reasons he was transferred to the Standard Survey Branch in Auckland, in April, 1909, and rendered excellent service there. Although suffering from physical disabilities and not enjoying good health, it was apparent early in his career that he would make an excellent draughtsman. He was always a willing, conscientious, and reliable officer with a thorough knowledge of his work. Appreciation.—ln conclusion, I am pleased to bring under your notice and to place on record the appreciation by the various Chief Surveyors of the manner in which their officers have carried out their duties during the year, and I desire to convey my thanks to the whole of the Survey staff for their good Vork.

Table 1. —Return of Field-work executed by Head Office Staff from 1st April, 1924, to 31st March, 1925.

A - ' ' Standard Surveys. Geodetic Triangulation. — Other Work Land District. Completed. In Progress. Completed. In Progress. Miles. Cost. Miles. Cost. files' 3 Cost. 6 Cost - Cost. £ s. d. £ s. d. I £ s. d. £ s. d. £ Vs.' d. North Auckland .. 24 1,179 4 6 .. 105 6 0 .. .. .. .. 718^10^11 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. \ 0 .."Si Gisborne .... .. .. .. J Taranaki .. .. .. .. 1,545 5 2 .. . . .. . . ] Southland .. .. .. .. 1,792 16 7 .. ......... .. I ' . i I • ■