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A—i

Staff Employment. At the Ist April, 1927, the staff of the Department numbered 632 permanent and 75 temporary officers. Eighteen new appointments to the permanent staff were made during the year, and 12 officers were transferred from other Departments. On the other hand, 12 officers resigned, 5 officers died, 4 retired, and 5 were transferred to other Departments. The staff at the 31st March, 1928, numbered 636 permanent and 74 temporary officers. Departmental Changes. Retirements. Messrs. A. W. Duncan, F. A. Cullen, J. A. Rutherfurd, and A. H. Vickerman retired from the Service during the year. Deaths. The deaths of the following officers occurred during the year, and are recorded with regret, as they rendered very loyal and capable service to the State : Messrs. W. J. Lurch, A. L. H. Hay, 0. Mewhinney, S. Parkinson, and G. E. Tuck.

Senior Appointments and Promotions.

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 Swam]) 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. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains. —A report by the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject appears in parliamentary paper C.-8. Public Domains. —A brief summary of the year's operations, is given in parliamentary paper C. 10. Rangitaiki Land Drainage. —The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains is given in parliamentary paper C—ll. Kauri-gum Industry. —The annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, is given in parliamentary paper C. 12. National Endowments. —The annual report required by section 302 of the Land Act, 1924. appears in parliamentary paper C-14.

Officer appointed. Previous Position. Position to which appointed. Date. R. G. MacMorran Drainage Engineer J. A. Molver . . Clerk, Dunedin J. McGlyn . . Chief Dredgemaster, Thames P. Pearson . . j Dredgemaster, Thames I i Chief Drainage Engineer Senior Clerk, Invercargill .. j Mechanical Engineer, Land Drainage Branch Chief Dredgemaster, Thames 1/7/27 8/7/27 1/5/27 1/5/27